Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card

>From: "Mr. Brian Allen" blah.DeleteThis@blah.com

>So much for playing the spoiler.

That would be Milwaukee, and the Astros choking, as usual, when it counts.
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

>From: "Stephen Zielinski" stephen_zielinski.RemoveThis@hotmail.com

>That 2nd game lineup had to be the worst thing I've seen in a long time.
>Supposedly, this Pirate team is about winning games. So, sit Kendall on the
>bench.

How often do you see the same catcher playing both ends?

> Then run Redman, Nunez, Mackowiak, C. Wilson and Rivera out as your
>first five hitters.

When your starter gives up six runs, five earned in 1.1 innings, it's hard to
blame the offense.
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 19:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Brian Allen" <blah.DeleteThis@blah.com>
enlightened me with:

>So much for playing the spoiler.
>

McClendon's quote afterward was idiotic: "I wanted my young
guys to see this tonight, this celebration, to see what they're
playing for."
Yeah? Are they playing to roll over for opposing teams? I'm
sure that's a great learning experience.

H

Feel the burning stare of my hamster and change your ways!
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

> McClendon's quote afterward was idiotic: "I wanted my young
> guys to see this tonight, this celebration, to see what they're
> playing for."
> Yeah? Are they playing to roll over for opposing teams? I'm
> sure that's a great learning experience.

Actually, it makes perfect sense. They might as well learn early that other
teams will celebrate at their expense.
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

Let's hope these ex-Pirates do the braves in, still remember 1991 & 1992
Go Cubs
Beat'em Bucs
"Mr. Brian Allen" <blah.RemoveThis@blah.com> wrote in message
news:vnc5m2k8jm6p27@corp.supernews.com...
> So much for playing the spoiler.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

> Let's hope these ex-Pirates do the braves in, still remember 1991 & 1992
> Go Cubs
> Beat'em Bucs

The Braves don't need any help choking in the playoffs. They're turning it
into an art form.
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

"KatyMaria" <katymaria7.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030927225000.14508.00000426@mb-m28.aol.com...
> >From: "Stephen Zielinski" stephen_zielinski.DeleteThis@hotmail.com
>
> >That 2nd game lineup had to be the worst thing I've seen in a long time.
> >Supposedly, this Pirate team is about winning games. So, sit Kendall on
the
> >bench.
>
> How often do you see the same catcher playing both ends?
>
> > Then run Redman, Nunez, Mackowiak, C. Wilson and Rivera out as your
> >first five hitters.
>
> When your starter gives up six runs, five earned in 1.1 innings, it's hard
to
> blame the offense.

Vogelsong was coming off of 2 strong performances. I heaped abuse on
McClendon as soon as I saw the lineup. Vogelsong would have had to throw
another shutout if the Pirates were to have a chance in this game with this
offense.

This was the most important game of the year for the Pirates and the whole
of baseball and its fans were aware of the game and its importance. So,
McClendon sits his best hitter? Kendall has all winter to rest before he
goes to spring training with the Padres. Send him out there to battle the
Cubs. Do it for pride!
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

"Stephen Zielinski" <stephen_zielinski DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:te6dnVmUs7vvY-uiU-KYgA@comcast.com...
> Vogelsong was coming off of 2 strong performances. I heaped abuse on
> McClendon as soon as I saw the lineup. Vogelsong would have had to throw
> another shutout if the Pirates were to have a chance in this game with
this
> offense.
>
> This was the most important game of the year for the Pirates and the whole
> of baseball and its fans were aware of the game and its importance. So,
> McClendon sits his best hitter? Kendall has all winter to rest before he
> goes to spring training with the Padres. Send him out there to battle the
> Cubs. Do it for pride!
>
can the pirates get a top prospect by trading kendall to the padres in the
off season as it has been widely rumored? based on kendall's offensive
performance this year i expect no less than a top every day player prospect
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 19:58:59 -0400, "Stephen Zielinski"
<stephen_zielinski.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:

>"Mr. Brian Allen" <blah.TakeThisOut@blah.com> wrote in message
>news:vnc5m2k8jm6p27@corp.supernews.com...
>> So much for playing the spoiler.
>>
>That 2nd game lineup had to be the worst thing I've seen in a long time.
>Supposedly, this Pirate team is about winning games. So, sit Kendall on the
>bench. Then run Redman, Nunez, Mackowiak, C. Wilson and Rivera out as your
>first five hitters. Only Redman and Wilson are major league hitters. Next,
>send up Bay. Bay has hit well since he came to Pittsburgh. But, because he
>is a rookie, Mac doesn't want to put him into the the 3 hole. Follow Bay
>with J. Wilson and J. Hernandez. Wilson is in a slump so both are automatic
>outs. As recently as two monthes ago, Nunez, Mackowiak, Rivera, J. Wilson
>and J. Hernandez were emblamatic of much of what ailed this Pirates team --
>the inability to hit major league pitching.

It was not the inability to hit that hurt this team, it was the
failure of the bullpen. If they would have had the same performance
from the bullpen that they got last year, these games would have been
for first place, not to be spoilers. It was a very weak Central
division.
>
>Just terrible. I found it embarrasing to see this team on the field in such
>an important game.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

"Mr. Brian Allen" wrote:
>
> > Let's hope these ex-Pirates do the braves in, still remember 1991 & 1992
> > Go Cubs
> > Beat'em Bucs
>
> The Braves don't need any help choking in the playoffs. They're turning it
> into an art form.

The NL post-season will be of great interest to me! My heart will go
with the boys from Chicago and their long-suffering and loyal fans.
Their travails make the Pirates franchise history look like an unbroken
string of success.

Alan
'Fergie Jenkins fan'
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Stephen Zielinski wrote:
>
> "KatyMaria" <katymaria7 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20030927225000.14508.00000426@mb-m28.aol.com...
> > >From: "Stephen Zielinski" stephen_zielinski DeleteThis @hotmail.com
> >
> > >That 2nd game lineup had to be the worst thing I've seen in a long time.
> > >Supposedly, this Pirate team is about winning games. So, sit Kendall on
> the
> > >bench.
> >
> > How often do you see the same catcher playing both ends?
> >
> > > Then run Redman, Nunez, Mackowiak, C. Wilson and Rivera out as your
> > >first five hitters.
> >
> > When your starter gives up six runs, five earned in 1.1 innings, it's hard
> to
> > blame the offense.
>
> Vogelsong was coming off of 2 strong performances. I heaped abuse on
> McClendon as soon as I saw the lineup. Vogelsong would have had to throw
> another shutout if the Pirates were to have a chance in this game with this
> offense.
>
> This was the most important game of the year for the Pirates and the whole
> of baseball and its fans were aware of the game and its importance. So,
> McClendon sits his best hitter? Kendall has all winter to rest before he
> goes to spring training with the Padres. Send him out there to battle the
> Cubs. Do it for pride!

Catching back to back games of a Doubleheader? Posada got national
press for catching a day game after a night game this week! It's
nonsense. Kendall would have been less of an offensive threat in the
second game than his rested replacement.

Alan
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"Alan & Erin Williams" <williams5 DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3F76FF4E.F7382178@mindspring.com...
> Stephen Zielinski wrote:
> >
> > "KatyMaria" <katymaria7 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in message
> > news:20030927225000.14508.00000426@mb-m28.aol.com...
> > > >From: "Stephen Zielinski" stephen_zielinski DeleteThis @hotmail.com
> > >
> > > >That 2nd game lineup had to be the worst thing I've seen in a long
time.
> > > >Supposedly, this Pirate team is about winning games. So, sit Kendall
on
> > the
> > > >bench.
> > >
> > > How often do you see the same catcher playing both ends?
> > >
> > > > Then run Redman, Nunez, Mackowiak, C. Wilson and Rivera out as your
> > > >first five hitters.
> > >
> > > When your starter gives up six runs, five earned in 1.1 innings, it's
hard
> > to
> > > blame the offense.
> >
> > Vogelsong was coming off of 2 strong performances. I heaped abuse on
> > McClendon as soon as I saw the lineup. Vogelsong would have had to throw
> > another shutout if the Pirates were to have a chance in this game with
this
> > offense.
> >
> > This was the most important game of the year for the Pirates and the
whole
> > of baseball and its fans were aware of the game and its importance. So,
> > McClendon sits his best hitter? Kendall has all winter to rest before he
> > goes to spring training with the Padres. Send him out there to battle
the
> > Cubs. Do it for pride!
>
> Catching back to back games of a Doubleheader? Posada got national
> press for catching a day game after a night game this week! It's
> nonsense. Kendall would have been less of an offensive threat in the
> second game than his rested replacement.
>
> Alan

But, his replacement had also played the first game.
 >> Stay informed about: Chicago should mail the Pirates a thank you card 

>From: "Stephen Zielinski" stephen_zielinski RemoveThis @hotmail.com

>This was the most important game of the year for the Pirates and the whole
>of baseball and its fans were aware of the game and its importance. So,
>McClendon sits his best hitter? Kendall has all winter to rest before he
>goes to spring training with the Padres. Send him out there to battle the
>Cubs. Do it for pride!

This has nothing to do with pride. You're blaming McClendon for not playing
his catcher in both ends of a DH when managers just don't do that. It's just
the Pirates misfortune that their best hitter happens to be their catcher.

When the schedule makers did the Pirates the grave injustice of making them
play Thursday night in Shea, followed by a day game in Wrigley, Kendall said he
wanted to play on Friday. That, in itself, rarely happens. Most catchers,
including Kendall, sit during a day game preceded by a night game. But Kendall
is gritty and wanted to break the mold. Lloyd agreed, and had him penciled in
for Friday's game.

Mother Nature had other plans.

Saturday rolled around, and Kendall never said he wanted to play both ends. If
he had, Lloyd would have done it. He proved he'd throw the book out by his
lineup for Friday. But Kendall himself knew he couldn't do both games. It has
nothing to do with having all season to rest up. It's knowing your body isn't
capable of handling the wear and tear for six hours.

It would have been nice to have Kendall available, not to mention Reggie, but
them's the breaks. The Bucs banged out the same number of hits in Game Two as
the Cubs did. Vogelsong just blew the game apart early.

The Cubs had Prior, Clement and Wood scheduled. They were favored to win. As
were the Astros, by an even greater margin. This entire weekend turned not
because of what the Pirates did, but because of what the Astros failed to do.
They choked, as they historically do when it counts.

Playing your best lineup hardly guarantees victory. Just ask Biggio, Ensberg,
Bagwell, Kent, Berkman and Hidalgo.
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