Heard on the Local Pirates Radio Broadcast Last Night

[gam]

By Pirate announcer Joe Block - who ironically came to the Pirates a  couple of years ago from the Brewers crew (perhaps he's responsible for the reversal of fortunes there, but I digress) - referring back to the first inning throw out at home of Pirate 3rd baseman Colin Moran  - "who was out by a furlong."  Was  quite surprised to hear that and it provided a little levity in what was not-so-soon to become another humiliating, lopsided Bucco defeat.  

[shoes]

gam- How far back does your Pirate fandom go? I adopted the Buccos as my National League team (born a Tigers' fan) when I became a big Clemente fan in the 60's. Loved the Lumber Company and watching "The Great One" do his thing in right field, the epic 7 game defeats of the O's in 71 and 79, Pops, Blass, The Cobra,, the duels with the Phillies in the 80's and into the Bonds- Bonilla teams. Pleased with the somewhat brief relatively recent resurgence.

[gam]

Shoes, basically to some point in the '70s. I grew up in Erie, PA and moved to Pittsburgh when I began attending Pitt in the 80s. When I became interested in sports as a kid I guess I adopted the Pirates over the Indians, which would have been the other logical option. Remember the We Are Family Buccos of 1979 reasonably well and the battles with the Big Red Machine in the mid-70s. I've been attending a lot of games the last decade or more, even when they've been bad. It's been quite frustrating of late and the Pittsburgh fanbase has essentially revolted against the owner who might be one of the most unpopular individuals in Western PA currently. Despite all that I had to laugh hearing Joe Block's reference last night. Wonder if he's a closet horse racing fan.

[hezethebest]

While strictly a Yankee fan all my life I lived in Utica, N.Y. from 10 through my school years and being the largest city closest to Cooperstown the teams participating in the annual Hall of Fame game would stay there the night before heading to Cooperstown. I have an impressive autograph book that includes half a dozen or more eventual Hall entrants. Pittsburgh played Detroit 1 year and from those pages I see your Pirates and Tigers autographs that include Roberto Clemente, Matty Alou, Jose Pagan, Bill Virdon, Don Clendennon, Willie Stargell, Al Kaline, Maury Wills, Mickey Stanley, Pat Dobson, Jim Price, Mayo Smith, Jon Warden and Jim Bunning. Those are the ones whose handwriting was decent enough to make out. Years later I got Moises Alou to autograph the book right below Matty's. 

LL

[gam]

Larry, funny that you chimed in here as, after thinking about it a minute, if anyone were to create/mimic a baseball call and utilize a racing term, it'd probably be you.

[halochef]

we watch the pirate tv out here in Ca. on MBL network. did you watch the Brown/Walk interview on tv? when i was living in west view i went to the camp horn giant eagle and saw walk there often shopping. Malkin went there alot to visit the liquor store. LOL

[bigdaddy]

way to go Bucs....sweeping the Brew Crew allowing the beloved Cubs to enjoy a 2 1/2 game lead in the Central at the break.....we're most grateful!




b.d.

[gam]

Quite a surprising long weekend (a rare 5-game sweep owing to a rainout on the Brewers' last trip in). If you ask me, the Brewers just may be done, although there are rumors of them being aggressive in trade negotiations ahead of the deadline. Vegas oddsmakers were signaling the belief the Cubs would overtake the Brewers at some point anyway. The Bucs simply hastened that maybe. We shall see.

Ticket prices in Pgh have always been cheaper and seats more available than many MLB cities but it's gotten bad in Pittsburgh this season. On a gorgeous July Friday evening I grabbed a seat on StubHub a few hours before first pitch straight up from the visitors' on deck circle, lower level for $15.90. It was also "Free Shirt Friday" with a 20,000 shirt supply. Arrived about the time of first pitch and there were plenty of shirts still in the boxes. A couple of years ago if you weren't in a half-hour before game time, you weren't getting the giveaway.

Sean, are the Cubs thought to be looking to add a starting pitcher? Seems to me like their greatest need.

[bigdaddy]

you're right GAM about starting pitching....or any for that matter...Hu Darvish has turned out to be a bust...I think he's damaged goods...bullpen kind of beat up but coming back...

[frangooch]

We have Andrew McCutcheon now. Always admired him as a competitor. He's a shell of what he was, but I still enjoy watching him play. Wish we had him 5 years ago!

[gam]

Gooch, you still may get a couple months of red hot Cutch. His BA and run production have dropped off the last few years but he's generally had at least a strong stretch mid to late season. Last year, for about 2 months, he was as good or better than ever.