Hoping to avoid Pitt-falls (Aug 14-16)

[Frayed Knot]

Last time we saw these guys they were sweeping our butts out of their place in mid-May. At the time they were still stumbling (18-22) but used that series as their launching pad and have gone 48-24 since. At the moment, they and the Cubs look to be fighting it out to see who hosts the other in the WC game where the winner would in turn play StL. Seems odd to play an entire season to determine who�s the best team in the Central and then decide it all again via 4-6 more games - but that�s the nature of the playoff system in the WC era.

Anyway, the good news is that the three pitchers we faced during that May sweep (Cole, Burnett, Liriano) won�t be toeing the slab this weekend. Cole & Liriano just pitched and Burnett is DL�d (although vows to be back before this season/his career ends). Instead we will see the exceeding average (if that) trio of:
JA Happ (the LHP formerly of the Phillies, Astros, Jays & Mariners) on Friday. He�ll be making just his 2nd start for Pitt, will face Colon
Charlie Morton [7-4, 4.48] on Saturday 7:10 vs Niese
(LHP) Jeff Locke [6-7, 4.43] Sunday at 1:10 vs Harvey

Also not appearing in your picture this weekend:
3B Josh Harrison - trade deadline pickup Aramis Ramirez was brought in the replace the injured �Jay-Hay�
SS Jordy Mercer - the very hot Korean import Jung Ho Kang moves over from 3B. Reportedly he�s not the greatest SS in the world, but if you hit .379/.443/.621 like he did in July you get cut a whole lotta slack

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

JA Happ is the kinda guy, like Tyler Clippard, who I hate for getting a victory against us as a young pitcher.

This would have been July 4, 2009 (?). I recall being unbelievably upset the Mets couldn't take down this punk, who was opposing Santana. We went out and saw fireworks then the Pail vomited all over the house.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I'm comin' to play, be very afraid!

[Edgy MD]

I'm encouraged by the .411 career OPS that Yoenis Cespedes has against Happ.

Wait... .411?! This thing must be broken.

[Frayed Knot]

d'Kong76 wrote: I'm comin' to play, be very afraid!

McCutcheon is once again a legit MVP candidate even after his start this year which saw him hit just .194/.302/.333 in April
But he's hit about .325 since then so, even with that start, he's now up to the superstar 300/400/500 level for the entire year -- .299/.395/.520 to be specific

[Guest d'Kong76]

I didn't check, but it at least seems he's always a thorn in our sides.

[dgwphotography]

d'Kong76 wrote: I didn't check, but it at least seems he's always a thorn in our sides.

For his career, he's .338 /.441 /.514 vs. the Mets, and 349 /.416 /.697 against the Nationals.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Guest

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Fun Fact: JA Happ made his 1st -- and 2nd -- career appearances against the Mets.

The second one was that game against Santana on July 4. He only went 4.2 so had a ND; in my mind it was a complete game masterpiece so what do I know.

[Frayed Knot]

The guy who's not having a particularly good year is 1B Pedro Alvarez.
The NYC native and former #2 overall draft pick (2008) was moved to 1st base from 3rd because of his bad fielding, but already has 16 Errors this season which is an absurd amount for a 1st baseman in 2/3 season.
Also his twin 30+ HR seasons (2012-13) have shrunk to 18 last year and 17 this. Combine that with low OBAs, a bad glove, and [u:3qhd4j2o]ONE[/u:3qhd4j2o] HR vs LHP and the Pirates are starting to platoon him, even going out and getting the well-traveled Michael Morse recently with that in mind.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

They should trade for Ike Davis.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Pedro Alvarez's new platoon partner? Maybe not Morse, so much. Instead, it looks like it's another third-base refugee.

Since Harrison and Mercer have been out, Kang's been conquering opposition pitching (.352/.412/.625, 5 HR, 14 XBH since the ASB)... or, rather, he had been, in July (slightly-less-meaty .237/.310/.447 over the last two weeks).

I hope we get to see Arquimedes Caminero out of the pen, because... Arquimedes Caminero.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Arquimedes Caminero. That sounds like a muscle car that can drive underwater.

[dinosaur jesus]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I hope we get to see Arquimedes Caminero out of the pen, because... Arquimedes Caminero.

Oh, he's good. He's got a nasty screwball. I saw him pitching for Syracuse last year.

[Edgy MD]

Holy crap, the chicks my cousin used to get when he was driving his Arquimedes Caminero. He beat up some asshole for keying it and it got seized when he went to prison.

[Lefty Specialist]

It would be so cool if they had a second baseman named Kodos.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Holy crap, the chicks my cousin used to get when he was driving his Arquimedes Caminero. He beat up some asshole for keying it and it got seized when he went to prison.

Were they all named Ariel?