PNC Park - Matt Bandi/PLC

Earlier in the season, I took a stab at breaking down the Pirates’ unusual outfield alignments. About a week after writing that article, I set out to gather some additional data. I wanted to get a better idea of where the outfielders were positioning themselves for various batters. So on April 21st, I grabbed my camera and headed to PNC Park. Well, things never really panned out. I photographed the Pirates’ defensive positioning for the first 16 Brewers hitters, but I didn’t really know what to do with the data. After studying the photos a bit, I forgot about them and moved on to something else.

After catching some of the recent Pitch f/x Summit in San Francisco, which focused primarily on the new Field f/x system, I decided to dust off the photos. I plotted the Pirates’ defensive positioning for each of those 16 batters. Red dots indicate positioning for right-handed batters, while blue dots indicate a left-handed hitter. Prince Fielder was the only lefty in the lineup on this evening, so the left-handed sample is very limited.

As a caveat, these are only approximate defender locations. I did my best to estimate each fielder’s location based on photos similar to the one above, but they are still just estimates. I had particular difficulty determining the fielder’s depth.

The one thing that sticks out to me is that the team did not play the so-called “No-Triples” defense, in which the left fielder shifts drastically toward center field, as much as it appeared. In this game, Lastings Milledge was only positioned in left-center for two or three hitters.

Do you have any other thoughts when looking at this information?

Andrew McCutchen got things going early. He walked leading off the first and stole second base. Former Pirate David Ross throwing error allowed Cutch to advance to third and he scored on a grounder from Jose Tabata.

The Braves knotted the score in the second inning. Derrek Lee and Matt Diaz singled to start the inning. Alex Gonzalez was HBP to load them up with no one out. David Ross hit a sac fly to score one run. But Burres got Nate McLouth on a pop up and Braves starter Tommy Hanson grounded out to end the inning.

The Pirates collected two hits in the sixth inning. Tabata singled and Neil Walker followed with a two run homer. That was all the scoring. Burres went six innings and allowed just five singles. He walked none and struck out three. Hanson gave up four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out four.

Atlanta loaded the bases against Chris Resop in the seventh but came away empty when Martin Prado grounded out. Evan Meek stranded two men in the eighth. Joel Hanrahan put the tying run at the plate by allowing a hit before shutting the door for the save.

The Good
Gotta be happy with Burres. Low hit count. No walks.

Walker extended his hitting streak to thirteen games.

The Bad
Other than a Ronny Cedeno error, nothing.

The Rest
Burres is now 1-1 against Atlanta. This was Hanson’s first career appearance against Pittsburgh. Although I believe the pop group Hanson played a post-game concert back in 1997 at Three Rivers.

Bucs came into the game 1-12 in games in which they collected four or fewer knocks.

Former Bucco Nate McLouth was 1-4 with a stolen base. David Ross was 0-2 with the sac fly and was pulled in the late innings for a pinch hitter.

Neil Walker - ZumaPress (Mike McGinnis/CSM)

By continuing to hit baseballs very hard, Neil Walker has made a case for some Rookie of the Year consideration. When FanHouse baseball writer Ed Price posted the following on his Twitter feed this afternoon, I thought it might be a good idea to take a closer look at Walker’s chances.

Those are some very interesting numbers, but they are mostly cherry-picked stats. Let’s take an overall look at each of the four players, along with some other notable National League rookies.

Walker, as well as Jose Tabata, should certainly be in the Rookie of the Year conversation, but there are much better options outside of Pittsburgh. At this point, it looks like a three-way race between Jason Heyward, Buster Posey and Jaime Garcia. That should not diminish what Walker and Tabata have accomplished in their rookie seasons. They have been very good, two bright spots in an otherwise dark Pirates season. Unfortunately, the National League has boasted a very strong rookie class this season.

EDIT: Just as I finished up this article, Tabata singled and Walker homered to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead in the 6th inning. Love it.

Braves rookie Jason Heyward - Gary C. Caskey/UPI (Newscom)

Probable Starters

Monday, September 6th – 1:35 PM: RHP Tomy Hanson vs. LHP Brian Burres
Tuesday, September 7th – 7:05 PM: RHP Tim Hudson vs. RHP James McDonald
Wednesday, September 8th – 7:05 PM: TBA vs. LHP Zach Duke

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference. Current as of 9/6/2010

Morton shot himself in the foot early on. Mad Nyjer Morgan led off with a single and moved up on an errant pick off throw. He scored on a grounder from Ryan Zimmerman. Things got out of hand in the fourth. Adam Dunn led off with a solo homer. Roger Bernadina and Michael Morse singled. Garrett Jones misplayed a grounder from Adam Kennedy. All were safe and Bernadina scored. Rookie catcher Wilson Ramos singled to load the bases. But Morton got opposing starter Jason Marquis to ground into a force that retired Morse at home. Morgan whiffed. But with two gone, Ian Desmond singled in one and Ryan Zimmerman singled in two. That was all for Morton. Daniel McCutchen relieved to get the final out of the inning.

The Pirates got one back in the form of a Pedro Alvarez solo homer off Marquis in the home half of the fourth. That was all Pittsburgh would get off of Marquis.

Joe Martinez made his Pirates debut in relief of McCutchen. He gave up two unearned runs in the sixth with help from a two out error on Alvarez. Zimmerman and Dunn provided the run scoring knocks.

Morton gave up eight hits and struck out one in 3-2/3. Marquis went six innings and allowed just the solo blast from Alvarez. He struck out two, gave up six hits and walked none.

The Good
Welcome Joe Martinez. Three innings and no earned runs in relief. Two unearned runs scored.

Neil Walker had three hits. Jose Tabata and Anrew McCutchen each had two. Tabata was HBP in the first inning but appears to be fine.

The Bad
Losing a series to a last place club.

Bucs drew no walks.

The Rest
Morton is 0-2 against Washington in his career. Marquis is 11-6 against Pittsburgh, marking his career best in wins against a single club.

This was the ninth time in 2010 that Pittsburgh hitters failed to reach base on a walk.

Bucs one through three hitters went 7-14 yet failed to score a run or drive in a run.

This was the fourth four (or more) RBI game for Zimmerman in 2010.

Dunn’s homer was his 350th career blast. Dunn’s career HR pace is slightly better than what Manny Ramirez was doing through roughly the same number of at bats.

The first five batters in the fourth reached safely with Ivan Rodriguez – the fourth man up – hitting a two run single. Danny Espinosa singled and Justin Maxwell lofted a sac fly. After a successful sac bunt from John Lannan, Mad Nyjer Morgan singled off his old team to make it 5-0. I-Rod was back at it the next inning. Michael Morse singled off of Paul Maholm and Rodriguez followed with a two run dinger to push the lead to seven to nil. That was all for Maholm. He was pulled for Sean Gallagher and the Pirates bullpen finished the final 4-2/3 innings

Lannan was on his wasy to a nice outing. He allowed Andrew McCutchen’s fifth inning solo jack and no runs besides that one in seven innings. Washington added two more runs off the Pirates bullpen and Ronny Cedeno’s RBI double in the eighth was way too little and a little too late.

Maholm went 4-1/3 and gave up seven runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked four.

The Good
Neil Walker’s hitting streak continued with a double.

Lastings Milledge had three hits.

The Bad
Ugh. Maholm’s outing.

Pedro Alvarez committed another error.

Washington committed three errors. But the Pirates were unable to capitalize.

The Rest
Maholm is 0-4 in seven career starts against the Nats. Lannan picked up his first victory in four career decisions against Pittsburgh.

Maholm has dropped seven of his last eight decisions over his last nine starts. His ERA is near 9.00 during that stretch. This is the second straight game he allowed at least seven runs.

Rodriguez had not driven in four runs or more in a game since 2007. This was his 30th career game with 30 or more runs driven in.

Milledge had not had three hits in a game since June 19th.

Bucs need to go 18-9 to avoide 100 losses.

The first two innings were silent. Nationals rookie Danny Espinosa led off the third inning with a dinger off Zach Duke to start the scoring. Pittsburgh answered in the bottom of the third. Ronny Cedeno led off with a double against Hernandez. Duke sacrificed successfully. Small ball tied it when Andrew McCutchen lofted a sac fly to score Cedeno. Jose Tabata kept the inning alive with a two out single. Neil Walker drew a BB and Garrett Jones delivered a clutch two out, two run double.

Ryan Doumit hit a homer leading off the fourth inning to push the lead to 4-1. Tabata started a fifth inning rally with a one out single. Walker singled and Jones doubled again, plating Tabata. Pedro Alvarez doubled and two more runs scored. Hernandez was pulled and Miguel Batista entered. Doumit singled in Alvarez to make it 8-1. Pittsburgh would manage only two singles for the rest of the game.

Duke breezed through five innings but wouldn’t record an out in the sixth. Ian Desmond walked. Ryan Zimmerman singled and Adam Dunn’s single scored Desmond. After Michael Morse walked, Duke left and Sean Gallagher relieved. He got Ivan Rodriguez to ground into a run scoring double play, erasing Dunn from the bases. But Justin Maxwell singled in Morse and Espinosa doubled scoring Morse. Washington pulled to within 8-5 with three of the four runs being charged to Duke.

John Russell used five pitchers to get the last nine outs. It worked those five combined to give up just one hit and no runs.

Duke went five plus and was charged with four runs. He struck out five and walked three. Hernandez only lasted 4-1/3. He gave up eight hits and eight runs.

The Good
Jones drove in three runs with two doubles.

Doumit was a triple shy of the cycle and knocked in two.

Walker’s hitting streak is at 10 games.

Alvarez did not strike out.

Duke has won his last two decisions.

The Bad
Alvarez committed his 11th error. He’d be the league leader at that pace had he been up all year.

The Rest
Duke is 2-2 against Washington. Hernandez is 5-5 in his career against Pittsburgh. In his first start against the Pirates in 1997, the Pirates starting lineup looked like this:

Tony Womack – 2B
Jermaine Allensworth – CF
Al Martin – LF
Eddie Williams – 1B
Joe Randa – 3B
Jason Kendall – C
Jose Guillen – RF
Kevin Polcovich – SS
Jason Schmidt – P

Buc pitchers combined for double digit whiffs for just the tenth time all year. But they have struck out nine or more in six of the last seven games.

Former Pirate ‘Mad’ Nyjer Morgan was 0-4 and will likely be missing a couple of weeks of games as the result of a couple of recent incidents.

Newcomer John Bowker made his first start and was hitless in three at bats. He is 0-4 as a Pirate.

Nyjer Morgan brings the fun to Pittsburgh this weekend - Gary Cameron/Reuters

Probable Starters

Friday, September 3rd – 7:05 PM: RHP Livan Hernandez vs. LHP Zach Duke
Saturday, September 4th – 7:05 PM: LHP John Lannan vs. LHP Paul Maholm
Sunday, September 5th – 1:35 PM: RHP Jason Marquis vs. RHP Charlie Morton

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference. Current as of 9/3/2010

Medlar Field - Matt Bandi/PLC

I was in attendance this evening as the State College Spikes fell to the Auburn Doubledays by a score of 1-0. The Spikes bats went silent as the team only managed two hits in the game. Here are a few of my observations from the park.

Zac Fuesser made the start and pitched well. His fastball sat around 86-88 MPH on the stadium gun, touching 91 once. The logic behind the Pirates’ fastball-heavy philosophy at the lower levels was evident tonight. Fuesser threw some decent secondary stuff, with occasional struggles commanding it, and the Auburn hitters could do little against his curveball/change repertoire. It was easy to see how a young pitcher could fall into a pattern of repeatedly flicking off-speed stuff up there and watching inexperienced hitters flail. Fuesser’s most impressive display tonight came with the glove. On two or three occasions, he darted off the mound to retire hitters on slow rollers. He looked very athletic out there.

Mitch Fienemann relieved Fuesser and threw two clean innings. His fastball sat around 85-88 MPH and touched 90. He has that tall, projectable body that makes you think he may add some velocity as he ages. Fienemann also made a nice defensive play, fielding a roller to his left and hustling to the first base bag when he realized that no one was covering.

Drew Maggi struggled with off-speed stuff all night. I counted three off-balance swings against breaking balls, one of which resulted in a strikeout. He didn’t see much action in the field. In the first, he leaped to snag a soft liner. It was one of those balls that appeared harder hit off the bat than it actually was, the kind that often leads to a mistimed jump. Maggi got a good read and was able to time his jump perfectly. I believe he only had one other opportunity in the field, on a routine ground ball. He looked smooth getting the out, for what it’s worth.

Gift Ngoepe was unimpressive at the plate. He simply doesn’t have the swing of a professional hitter, and he was overmatched on this night. That being said, he clearly has very good defensive tools. He effortlessly fielded a few routine grounders, before making a tremendous diving play on a sharply hit ball in the eighth inning. It was an MLB-caliber play that shows me that Ngoepe has a future if he can somehow figure things out on the offensive side.

Mel Rojas Jr. has a very athletic frame, with that natural ballplayer look that is evident as soon as he steps onto the field. From the few at-bats I saw, he seemed to have good bat speed and solid pitch recognition skills. I did not get much of a look at him in the field. He took a bit of a goofy route on one fly ball, but adjusted to make the catch easily. He walked in his second plate appearance, but was picked off first by the Auburn catcher. There was a runner on when he came up again, and Rojas squared to bunt on three consecutive pitches. He fouled two back to the screen before missing completely on his third attempt for the out. He was visibly disgusted as he returned to the dugout, and was removed from the game shortly after. Not a great evening for the Pirates’ third round pick in 2010.

As a whole, it was a pretty uninteresting game to watch. The Spikes did very little at the plate, outside of seven walks. Kelson Brown paced the offense with two walks and the only well struck single of the night.

A few other notes.

- Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie were behind home plate signing autographs before the game. I snapped a quick photo.

- I had a nice conversation with Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects before the game. Here is his recap. Tim was also tweeting live from the press box.

James McDonald didn’t pitch poorly. Tom Gorzelanny didnt’ pitch long. Koyie Hill’s two out double in the second gave the Wriglies a 1-0 lead. Gorzy left the game after getting hit on the wrist on a comebacker from Jose Tabata with one out in the third. Neil Walker greeted new pitcher Thomas Diamond with a game tying solo dinger. The Cubs came right back with two in the home half of the fourth. Starlin Castros singled in front of a Kosuke Fukudome double to break the tie. Fukudome would score on a two out double from Tyler Colvin.

It stayed that way until the fifth until Andrew McCutchen doubled in McDonald who had walked with one out. After hitting Tabata with a pitch, Diamond was pulled and Scott Maine was summoned to put out the flames. Walker hit in a fielder’s choice and Garrett Jones whiffed to end the threat. McDonald worked out of a runners on second and third with none out jam in the fifth and didn’t come back out for the sixth inning.

Fukudome’s double started a two run rally in the seventh to extend Chicago’s lead. They almost gave it back as an error and three walks in the top of the 8th gave Pittsburgh a run without the benefit of a hit. But Carlos Marmols struck out Tabata to end the inning and strand three runners. Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth to end it and get the save.

McDonald needed 100 pitches to get through five innings. He gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out six. Diamond got the win – the first of his career – in relief of Gorzelanny. Marmol picked up his 25th save of the season.

The Good
Walker had three hits. Ronny Cedeno had two hits.

McCutchen drove in two with a double and a bases loaded BB.

The Bad
Bucco hitters whiffed twelve times.

The Rest
Gorzy remains 1-0 against his old club. McDonald lost in his first start against the Cubs.

Walker has a nine game hitting streak and collected eight hits in the three game series.

After striking out 40 times in August, Pedro Alvarez struck out two more times on September 1st.