MEET THE PIRATES: A Series Preview

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 11, 2008 1:24 AM EDT

[Note by Fat Vegas Alan, 04/10/08 11:20 PM EDT ]

Editor's note: I'm gonna try to provide a new feature for ya Red Reporters. "Series Previews" every third or fourth day as we change opponents. My goal is to have them up sometime after any postgame threads have cooled off and yet with enough time before each new series begins so that we'll all have time to yak about whoever is up next and how our boys might fare against 'em.

For the first few previews (Pirates, Cubs and Brewers) I'm gonna focus almost exclusively on whatever pitchers we should expect to see- the three starters projected to go against the Reds and perhaps any late-inning set-up men and closers that the opposition might throw at us. (I've always thought that traditional media don't provide fans with much information about pitching staffs from around the league. I want to try to do a little bit better for ya'll. Bear in mind that I'm no expert, but I can Google shit real good.) I plan to eventually also include some info about each team's major offensive threats and a little bit of who-knows-what that might make things interesting.

Anyway, check 'em out and I hope you enjoy 'em. The content and the format will likely change and then change again until I settle into a "template" that I like. And let me know if there's something else that you think I might easily throw into these previews. I'll take any suggestions into consideration. Unless you're stupid and new.

Friday: Paul Gurner Maholm (In the future there'll be a stat line here but right now there's only this.)

25 yrs. 6'2" 230# LHP

Drafted by PIT 2003 1st rd out of Mississippi State

good-to-great command... uses several pitches but none dominant ...ground ball pitcher with a few Ks... 90 mph fastball

2007 stats: (0-2 5.48) 23 IP / 14 ER / 14 K / 8 BB / 31 H / 4 HR

Struck out alleged funnyman Billy Crystal last month and shut out the Astros one night last year. But Brandon Phillips and Edwin are not impressed.

Maholm has had some impressive stretches since his impressive MLB debut in 2005 but has also suffered some rotator cuff and back injuries and never really put it all together. (Please forgive my lazy sports analyst cliche here. It's late and I'm tired. And lazy.)

Based on what I've read, the Pirates like this guy and he may be an inexpensive part of the middle of their rotation for a few years to come. (And that oughta make Paul's mum at least a little bit proud. You really don't want your business card to read "Pirates' Fifth Starter." )

Saturday: Ian Dante Snell (the pitcher formerly known as Ian Oquendo)

27 yrs. 5'11" 195# RHP

Drafted by PIT 200 26th rd out of high school (Delaware)

94+ mph fastball...nice slider...average curveball

2007 vs CIN: (1-3 5.92) 24 IP / 16 ER / 16 K / 9 BB / 31 H / 4 HR

~150 Ks in '06 and '07...Snell is good. Just ask the Astros.

Evidently the old Pirates regime was concerned that this bantamweight wouldn't hold up for 200+ IP season after season. So last July they asked him to try to rely more on his curveball. Yeah, Dave... not so much.

Sunday: Thomas Steven Gorzelanny

25 yrs 6'2" 220# LHP

Drafted by PIT 2003 2nd rd out of Triton College (and St Cloud RiverBats)

92+ mph fastball...nasty slider...good changeup

2007 vs CIN: (1-1 6.75) 12 IP / 9 ER / 7 K / 4 BB / 16 H /1 HR

More to come Friday afternoon. Check ya later.

via img.dailymail.co.uk

4 recs | Comment 52 comments

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Comments

Nice work Alan

Good first episode, and I'm looking forward to reading these.

by Obi Juan Kenobez on Apr 11, 2008 2:20 AM EDT 0 recs

I'll take the middle pirate...

AKA redsfan68 Nobody listens to Andrew

by nlt-andrew68 on Apr 11, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

it's a trick

that pirate doesnt have a third leg

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Apr 11, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

In Soviet Russia, boobs talks about Keira Knightley

by Brendanukkah on Apr 11, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sure

you get sort of a 2fer there with little Ms. Overbite in an Asian motif.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 1:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Cool idea.

And I did not realize we tore up those three Pirates starters that badly last year.

by Geki on Apr 11, 2008 2:57 AM EDT 0 recs

sehr helpful

thanks alan. why are we getting their 3 through 1 pitchers in reverse order?

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Apr 11, 2008 3:28 AM EDT 0 recs

Maholm is their number 5

As i recall, he almost didn't make the rotation out of Spring. Snell was their OD pitcher, followed by Gorzelanny, Duke, and Morris.

I bet Dunn gets the night off tonight. He's career 2 for 20 against Maholm with 2 singles and 8 strikeouts. He hasn't hit Snell very well either (2 for 17 with 2B and HR). Not a good couple of pitchers for him to try to snap this slump.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 11, 2008 8:31 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

Dunn will probably get the night off. I hope he doesn't though. He is right on the verge of breaking out and with the way the pitching has been, if Dunn gets on track and starts raking, look out! Championship!

Worse lately: Being a Bengals fan or Being a Reds fan?

by jmgard6 on Apr 11, 2008 9:54 AM EDT up 0 recs

Sweet

I really like the idea it should be fun to see what the opponents have coming in form of probables without having to leave RR. Snell, Maholm, and Gorzelany all have great stuff but it seems the Reds have a good track record against them.

"If I ever find a pitcher who has heat, a good curve, and a slider, I might seriously consider marrying him, or at least proposing." - Sparky Anderson

by bphil2b on Apr 11, 2008 8:24 AM EDT 0 recs

Good stuff

I like this idea.

by ken on Apr 11, 2008 9:02 AM EDT 0 recs

From mlb.com:

The five runs that Maholm allowed in five innings in his first start of the season mask what was an otherwise outstanding first appearance for the lefty. Maholm struck out a career-high nine hitters, but took the loss after allowing a grand slam to Florida's Mike Jacobs. Maholm has faced the Reds 10 times in his career, which is more than he has faced any other team in the Majors. The Pittsburgh lefty is 2-3 with a 4.84 ERA in those 10 appearances.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080410&content_id=2512853&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

by ken on Apr 11, 2008 9:27 AM EDT 0 recs

Speaking of fifth starters...

Looks like Josh Fogg is getting his turn.

"We do want to stay with the hard, hard, soft, hard, soft pattern of pitchers," Baker said. "It didn’t seem to affect Volkie the last time he went on extra rest—actually two times (counting his last start in spring training..."

What a difference a year makes. Last year, we would have to stay with the hard, soft, crap, crap, crap pattern of pitchers.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Apr 11, 2008 10:24 AM EDT 2 recs

Hard, hard, soft, hard, soft -- got it.

Who needs Coutlangus when you've got a formula like that!

Seriously though, isn't our rotation Harang, Arroyo, Cueto, Fogg, Volquez? So, Harang, Arroyo and Fogg are the flamethrowers, and Cueto and Volquez are the crafty, soft-tossing junkball artists? Man, I sure don't understand baseball as much as Dusty does.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 11, 2008 10:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

Since they moved harang after the day off

It's Harang, Volquez, Arroyo, Cueto, Fogg

Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser?BOOSE BONZER?

by Lakeman on Apr 11, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up 1 recs

We may have to see a doctor...

If the hard part of the rotation lasts longer than four hours.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Apr 11, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

Don't forget the swirl at the end

That's the secret to the move.

The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!

by TheC on Apr 11, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

"Volkie"????

Christ, we might as well call him "little girl".

Abraham Lincoln said that if you're a racist, I will invade you with the north.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 11, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

I think this is encouraging

The knock on Baker when we got him was that he overworked Wood and Prior. Any mention of extra rest for the young guys is welcome, IMO.

Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser?BOOSE BONZER?

by Lakeman on Apr 11, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up 0 recs

We'll see later in the year.

Dusty's biggest issues with Prior and Wood came late in the season when the Cubs needed some quality innings out of them.

That said, he's been good so far, so perhaps the lesson has been learned.

by Geki on Apr 11, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think he is also being realistic (hopefully) and not abusing them early in the season

Even if the long term affects are debatable, I don't think there is anyone that believes that a pitcher will still be strong at the end of the year if he is over-pitched early on.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 11, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

exactly

Get some quality starts, good bullpen management and hope we are close when September gets here. I am excited to get to listen to watch and also listen to a radio broadcast tonight.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Apr 11, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

How's the recovery coming?

Please Note: I may be totally full of shit.

by jch24 on Apr 11, 2008 12:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

i read the reds article

in cincinnati magazine (which I could do a fanpost if folks wanted) and Dusty said one of the biggest misconceptions about him is that he doesn't like young players. He didnt mention whether or not he likes to wear out young players' arms, but he did say that he doesn't have a preference for veteran presence.

also, freel said Farney was "a joke gone bad", which i guess we all knew but pretended wasn't true because it's funnier to imagine the alternative.

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Apr 11, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd like to see that article

if it's not too much trouble.

by ken on Apr 11, 2008 1:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

k

here she be

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Apr 11, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

I liked that Alex Gonzalez was on the cover

I don't think I could have guessed that if you gave me 25 chances.

by Red Menace on Apr 11, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sunday's starter has lingering shoulder issues

Today's local Pittsburgh article here

Gorzelanny encouraging
Struggling starter Tom Gorzelanny had what all concerned termed an encouraging throwing session on flat ground before the game. He has experienced lingering but minor tightness in his left shoulder, dating to the discomfort that briefly shelved him early in the spring. That might have cost him some zip on his fastball Monday, when he allowed seven runs in less than three innings, but he also achieved an unusually high 94 mph on one pitch. He will pitch Sunday on five days' rest.

by rojosoto on Apr 11, 2008 10:39 AM EDT 0 recs

I love it that

many of our pitchers now achieve a usually high 94 mph on one pitch.

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Apr 11, 2008 11:28 AM EDT up 0 recs

nice job

rec'd

"Never perfect but perfectly forgiven." -Petra

by shortstopv2 on Apr 11, 2008 11:11 AM EDT 0 recs

Thanks for the compliments, gang.

Keep reading. They'll get better.

Red Reporters, don't forget to scroll down and look for "Features" on your left and "Fanposts" on your right. Don't get stuck in the middle!

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 11, 2008 11:25 AM EDT 0 recs

Good work, FVA.

Keep 'em coming.

"I don't want your life." - Johnny Moxon

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Apr 11, 2008 12:47 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice work Vegas

but I am a little disappointed that you didn't go with this image.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 12:49 PM EDT 0 recs

Paisley Dropcloth

Could be the name of a hippie Bond girl.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 11, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

What is that, some sort of boomerang?

Red Reporters, when viewing the front page, don't forget to scroll down and look for "Features" on your left and "Fanposts" on your right. Don't get stuck in the middle!

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 11, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

pirate-themed, not australian

it's an eyepatch

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Apr 11, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

I thought it was a double fistband, no?

by satyanaas on Apr 11, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

A double fistband?

Wow. You must know some really big assholes.

Red Reporters, when viewing the front page, don't forget to scroll down and look for "Features" on your left and "Fanposts" on your right. Don't get stuck in the middle!

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 11, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Let me introduce you to one

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

And

this little vignette is cute as well.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think this one needs a Not Suitable for Human Eyes tag

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 11, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

What do you have against science?

This is a site about analysis, is it not?

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Science is bad

unless it serves my purposes.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 11, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ah

like a God of the Gaps philosophy for number huggers, huh?

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh and

I owe you a drink. Thank you again for that.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's my way of making you meet up with us again

It's a new age guilt trip.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 11, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nothing new about it

My Catholic family has been using that one for generations. But it is a very effective method. I'll be around a few times this year sans toddler, and we'll whoop it up some.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

by satyanaas on Apr 11, 2008 4:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

They's

Ian Snell's lucky gameday drawls.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

For those who have not seen it

Baseball Think Factory did a nice "Looking Forward" for this years club (minus the typos). They have a projected win total of 84. But the retooled bullpen takes a beating.

I'm thirsty.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 11, 2008 2:00 PM EDT 0 recs