Talking about Pedro Alvarez. Yes, he struck out three times last night and he’s done that quite a bit this year (81 times ), and last year he struck out 180 times. He’s got to cut down on that. He’s hitting .214 and that needs to improve. But doggone it, that rascal will find a way to come through in the clutch. He had a key two-run single in the first inning last night against the Cincinnati Reds and played stellar defense helping lead his team to a critical 4-0 victory last night at the Great American Park in Cincy. The Pirates HAD to have last night’s game as they had lost to the Reds, 4-1, Monday Night. Pedro hit his single off the tough right hander Matt Latos. Pete now has 15 homers and 43 RBIs. He’s on pace for a 40-120 type season. If he can just cut down on those strikeouts and get that average to keep climbing. I wish he could get it to .280 by the end of the sesaon. But his at bats are getting more and more productive and efficient. Pedro was close to and maybe was a .400 hitter at VU so I know he can be a .300 hitter in the big leagues. He looks like he’s lost some weight too and he’s hustling and moving well. He’s playing phenomenal defense too. Really proud of him. With the 4-0 win last night, the Bucs moved to 42-29, three games back of the awesome Cards and a half game back of the Reds. Bucs have the Reds tonight and tomorrow night, so we need to keep winning. The Csrdinals did lose last night to the Cubs, 4-2. By the way, Pedro hit a three-run homer to lead the Bucs over the Dodgers and their tremendous pitcher Zack Greinke., who was the American League Cy Young award winner in 2009 for the Kansas City Royals. Greinke is still tough. Pedro hit it off Greinke over the center field wall in PNC Park in Pittsburgh with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Pedro has struggled some at the plate at times this season, particularly with left handed pitchers as Pedro hits left, but he has provided a lot of clutch hits for his team. I’m very proud of him. He’s got a chance to be special. He’s getting closer and closer.
Rays just can’t seem to get it together. Got swept by Bosox yesterday in a twin bill. Lost the first game 5-1 and then were down 1-0 in the nightcap when Kelly Johnson homered in the top of the ninth to tie it up at 1. But Joel Peralta, our usually highly reliable middle reliever, gave up a two-run blast to Daniel Nava in the bottom of the ninth. Rays are now 36-35 and seven back of Sox. Had the Orioles in the World Series against the Nationals, but the Braves look a lot better than the Nats right now. I’m going to stick with my O’s pick in the World Series– but like Boston and Oakland a lot– and have them playing the Cardinals at this point. Will have my final pick at the beginning of August. It’s just such a fluid situation with all of these outstanding teams, but I will be firm in August. Not giving up on my Bucs, which I shouldn’t; they have a great team. Not giving up on the Rays either, but they need to turn this thing around quickly or it might be curtains for them by August. Play Sox tonight then go to the Bronx for four against the Yankees. They’re getting in must win territory right now. Dave Price needs to get back out there as soon as possible. Rays young pitchers have been struggling at times and some position players are underperforming. Andrew Friedman, the Rays Executive Vice President and General Manager, said that last Sunday that some players underperformed last year when the Rays didn’t make the playoffs. It’s happening again this year. Players are underperforming. That needs to change immediately if the Rays want to have any chance at the postseason. Friedman has done a tremendous job assembling players on a limited budget–much like general manager Billy Beane has been doing in Oakland,–but the players aren’t performing up to expectations, and it’s frustrating for Friedman, manager Joe Maddon and the Rays fans. I’m one of them and I’m almost on my last nerve with them. Dave expected to be back in early July it looks like now. Would like to see him get at least one start before the All-Star break.
Sonny Gray got the victory for the Sacramento Rivercats (Triple A Oakland) on Sunday throwing six innings, giving up three earned runs with one walk and six K’s. Sonny threw 95 pitches with 58 for strikes to 37 balls. He seemed to pitch well overall. He moved to 7-4 with a 2.62 ERA.Looking close to major league ready.
Sam Selman had a very good outing Saturday Night against the Winston Salem team. Sam went six innings for the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals Advanced A club), giving up three hits, one earned run, with four walks and five K’s. Nice work by Sam. Sam moved to 5-5 with a 4.79 ERA. He got rocked on Monday Night, so his ERA kind of shot up, but good stuff on Saturday Night.
Anthony Gomez is hitting .280 for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Florida Marlins Advanced A ball). He had two hits in five at bats in his last outing and played short. AG is playing both shortstop and second.
Jason Esposito had three hits in six at bats for the Frederick Keys (Baltimore O’s Advanced A ball) on Saturday Night. A lot of these teams in an All-Star break right now. Jason playing third and hitting ..225 with two homers and 18 ribbies, but getting better and better. See Jason as a major league talent as I do all the other guys I mentioned.
Curt Casali, another guy who looks like major league material, is hitting over .300 for the Charlotte (Port Charlotte, Florida) Stone Crabs (Rays Advanced A).
Aaron Westlake and Grayson Garvin are both hurt right now. Grayson, a teammate of Casali’s on the Charlotte club, has been battling an arm injury. Hope Grayson can get back eventually. Aaron has been injured a while for the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers Advanced A), so a little concerned about him. Hopefully, Westy can get going again soon.
Taylor Hill threw a complete game for the Potomac Nationals against the Frederick Keys on Friday Night. Taylor moved to 5-2 with a 3.14 ERA for the Washington Nationals Advanced A team. The game went only seven innings due to travel issues, but Taylor pitched a beauty, giving up two hits with no runs. one walk and four Ks. Really like Taylor’s stuff too. He’s got a future in the game.
Antoan Richardson is hitting .287 for the Rochester Red Wings, the triple A farm club for the Minnesota Twins. Antoan also has 11 stolen bases and playing center and left for the Red Wings. Would love to see Antoan get the call up. Hopefully before the year is over. He’s so close now He’s getting around 30 years old, so he needs to get up there pretty soon.Looks like a major leaguer to me.
Tony Kemp and Conrad Gregor are on the Tri-City Valley Cats’ roster now. The Valley Cats are the short season Class A team for the Houston Astros. I’ll find out more on Tony and Conrad along with Connor Harrell (who’s with Detroit organization), Kevin Ziomek (Detroit), Spence Navin (Dodgers) and Yaz (Orioles). Also will look up some of our other guys in the pros. Wow, there are a lot.
Pirates play Reds tonight in third game of four game series. The Pirates young 25-year old pitcher Jeff Locke is going Locke has been spectacular this season, going 6-1 with a 2.19 ERA. Key start for the young guy tonight. Pretty tough assignment. He, Pedro and the Bucs will be facing tough right hander Bronson Arroyo of the Reds. Arroyo is 6-5 with a 3.27 ERA. He has 53 K’s and 15 walks in 93.2 innings, so this will be a challenge for Pedro, Locke and their teammates. Reds are an excellent team.
Rays send Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 5.67), a 26-year old pitcher who has been somewhat of a disaster this season– though he had a good outing the game before last–against Ryan Dempter, a pretty solid veteran pitcher for the Sox. Dempster can be erratic though. He’s 4-7 with a 4.21 ERA, but has 87 K’s in 83.1 innings. He’s walked 40 and given up 73 hits. Teams are hitting .226 against him, so he can be a challenge.
Had the Heat over the Spurs in seven two weeks ago. Of course, I’m sticking with that. That game last night was a transcendent classic, a 103-100 overtime victory for the Heat. It was like great poetry with the marksmanship and play in general, if you don’t mind my intellectualizing it. That’s what I do.