Press Your Luck

It’s like Terry Collins is channeling the ghost of Grady Little … which is hard because Grady Little is still alive.

This time, it was R.A. Dickey in the game for a few batters too long.   Certainly, it was the eighth inning … and Dickey was pitching very well as he held the Pirates scoreless.  But Collins pressed his luck after Dickey dove in vain for a bunt attempt.  For a pitcher that was already hobbling, you had to think that physical exertion was going to affect him.  And after a hit batter and an RBI single, it was probably prudent to get him out of there to get Jason Isringhausen to pitch to Andrew McCutchen.  But Dickey walked McCutchen, and then was left in to face Neil Walker.  Walker, of course, hit a floater back up the middle for a lead that Pittsburgh would not give up.

The game was also notable for the return of Bobby Parnell in the ninth, and it didn’t go well. Brandon Wood (the same Brandon Wood who Pirates fans have been complaining about lately) provided the death bloop with the bases loaded after a Ruben Tejada error helped things along for the Pirates.  Also, Jason Bay got a hit … hooray!  A sixty foot dribbler to drive in the only run.  This is what the Mets are paying $60 million plus for.  You know the saying “a walk is as good as a hit”?  For Jason Bay, it’s “an at-bat where the on deck batter doesn’t get maimed by a flying bat is as good as a hit.”  Yeah, standards have gotten pretty low ’round here.