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Now That's RefreshingCaught the game during lunch break. It was the first baseball I've seen since last season, and it felt good.Perez did well 5 2/3 INN, 7K, 1BB, 1ER retired his last 14. I never saw the gun top 90 but there's been some speculation about that. For a guy claiming to be all about the team and unmotivated by strikeouts, Perez was pumped by every single one. At one point in the bottom of the 5th, after striking out the first two batters, Perez was obviously frustrated that Trot Nixon would not go down with 2 strikes. I don't really care if Oliver strikes everyone out, as long as he only tries to do it once he has the first two strikes. It's him starting an at bat by trying to strike out a guy that worries me. I'm also worried about his gazelle leap over the foul lines, maybe we could tone that down a bit before he twists a foot off. posted by Rory at 7:08 PM | |
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Fairy ExplanationsRemember Rich Loiselle, you know our closer back in '97. The following year he couldn't quite hold onto a lead and the coaches explained that Rich always prepared in the spring as a starter, it messed with his approach to prepare as a reliever. So we all accepted this magic explanation and thought that by taking a different preseason approach, we'd see the old Rich, but he never showed.Now magically Oliver Perez was wild last year because he didn't pitch winter ball. Everyone's buying into it. Excuse me if I don't. But I have trouble believing that beaning hitters in Chihauhua is going to make Perez the total package this year. If you ask me, something is either physically or mentally wrong with Perez, any explanation ignoring either of these two aspects is ignoring the problem and is just PR. Now I will hope that Perez does come back as much as the next guy, let's not let one shaky appearance in the WBC shake that. Do you remember Perez's 2004 spring? Probably not. That's because it became inconsequential once he started striking out 10 batters a game (for the record, he sucked). I think its foolish we put so much weight into these preseason performances, lest we forget the feats of Ryan Vogelsong and Mark Johnson. posted by Rory at 8:37 PM | |
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What the Shit?!?Does Jack Wilson enjoy having procedures done right before the season starts? Last year was his appendectomy, this year he suddenly needs his wisdom teeth pulled a week before spring training. You didn't know you needed this done say, I don't know, five months ago? I know you came in ripped this season Jack, I hope you exercised that brain a little bit too.And while we're on a similar topic, I can chime in on Kip. I'm glad his surgery went well and all, but does he and Pirates management really expect us to believe that this had nothing to do with his performance the last two years. You don't have 100% blockage of the primary artery carrying blood to your pitching arm appear overnight. Unless they pulled a chicken wing out of there, I completely expect this to be the cause of all the stiffness, numbness, blisters and awkward deliveries. And Kip is not entirely blameless in all of this. He doesn't speak up for himself or seek a second opinion on his ailments. Just another case of Wells just doing what he's told and nothing more. Which is why when he returns, I do not expect him to put it together. posted by Rory at 11:28 PM | |
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This is a blog about the Pittsburgh Pirates. My vision: to write about the games at the games. Want to email me? Make it out to rory at bleache... you know the rest. |
