In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost last night to the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 4-3 in extras.
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The loss was even more infuriating as noted Pirates killer Billy Hamilton struck the deciding blow off of the struggling Daniel Hudson.
In their four losses against the Reds in 2017, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been outscored by 18 runs. While we’re on the subject, now might be a good time to note the futility shown against the Red Legs over the past five years:
[table id=230 /]Though the team result is baffling against a Reds team that has been on the downswing since that fateful October night in 2013, it was encouraging to see Gerrit Cole turn in a very good start against the team that seems to be his personal nemesis. We have previously explored the phenomenon of Cole’s performances against the Reds, which have often been middling at best.
table courtesy of Baseball Reference
Indeed, the Reds seem to have no trouble touching up Cole with a solid batting line, though to be fair Cole has put up solid peripherals in other areas, namely in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Last night’s start – 6 IP / 2 ER / 7 SO / 1BB – may have gone a long way towards flinging the Red Monkey off of Cole’s back.
Philip Gosselin Is Not Getting It Done
Going into the season, Pittsburgh Pirates fans talked themselves into Phil Gosselin being a viable approximation of the value that Sean Rodriguez brought to the team last year.
That simply has not happened. Through his first 23 at-bats with the Pirates, Gosselin has been a -0.3 WAR player, slashing .130/.161/.174. He has a lone RBI and has struck out five times against one walk.
The club is in a bad way with Gosselin – they need him to be a serviceable bat on an already weak bench – but perhaps they should have seen this slow start coming, as his career splits indicate.
table courtesy of Baseball Reference
It is very hard to judge any kind of split with a part-time player, but Gosselin’s early season struggles are well documented. The problem the Pittsburgh Pirates face is that more at-bats might get him going, but with the team looking to put an 11-13 April behind them to get back to winning baseball, that might not be an option.
Speaking of options, Gosselin does have one usable option for a trip to Triple-A to play everyday. That move becomes a more viable …option with each passing cameo from Gosselin.
Baseball Talk on the Web
- Alex Stumpf begins his residency for Fangraphs by looking at why Ivan Nova is not the next Phil Hughes
- In an ugly display, Boston fans made racist remarks and threw peanuts at Orioles CF Adam Jones. Disgusting.
- Noah Syndergaard will miss some time with a torn lat.
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