Power Pros Forum

OPENING DAY: PIRATES vs. CUBS

Messy Game For Cubs as Pirates Win Opener

CHICAGO--The Cubs made two errors and countless mistakes on defense as the Pirates pick up an Opening Day victory in Wrigley Field. Maholm, the starter, did not pick up the win after leaving the game with the score tied at 2. Said manager Benny Leo after the game: "It's Opening Day and Maholm still isn't as loose as we'd like him to be. He gave up the tying run in the fifth, and we didn't want to risk another inning. So when we went scoreless in the top of the sixth, I didn't want to push Maholm any more."

F: 3-2 PIT
W: Capps (1-0)
S: Yates (1)
L: Zambrano (0-1)
HR: Teixeira (1), Ad. Laroche (1)

HOME OPENER: PIRATES (2-2) vs CARDINALS (1-3)

Bucs Can't Get Rolling, Lose By 3

PITTSBURGH--The Pirates couldn't recover from the Cardinals' 4-run fourth inning as they lost the home opener, 5-2. The four nuns were the only runs given up by starter Gorzelanny, who lasted 55 innings. Said Gorzelanny after the game: "I felt good. I thought I was rolling. But, fourth inning, I make some poor decisions. I don't walk Molina, and he gets two RBIs. I just was not myself today."

F: 5-2 STL
W: Mulder (1-0)
S: B. Thompson (1)
L: Gorzelanny (0-1)
HR: Eckstein (1)

TRADE RUMORS

Jays, Bucs Talking Halladay/J.Wilson?

How does this trade look?

PIRATES GET:

Halladay
V.Wells
B.J.Ryan

BLUE JAYS GET:

J.Wilson
Maholm
Gorzelanny

It adds about $30 million (30,000P) to our salary, but we turned a $32 million (32,000P) profit last year. We have cash to work with here. The plan is to put Wells in center and bring Eckstein back to short. Halladay and Ryan give us HUGE pitching depth, which is my #1 concern at this point. I've gone through several teams' worth of offers, and this is the one that really stands out. Most other deals involved Eckstein, who is untouchable for me. Go for it?

Definitely go for it. Pitching is your weak point right now, and Halladay and Ryan are huge upgrades over Malholm and Gorzelanny. Wells can easily replace Wilson's bat in the lineup too. You already said you've got the cash necessary, so pull the trigger on this one.

BLOCKBUSTER DEAL MADE

PITTSBURGH--The Pirates have acquired Halladay, B.J.Ryan, and V.Wells from the Blue Jays in exchange for J.Wilson, Gorzelanny, and Maholm. Nomo will fill the vacant rotation spot, as Osoria will go down to AAA. Eckstein will go back to short, while Wells will be the starting center-fielder. Ryan will be the new closer for the Pirates. Yates and Saarloos will become middle relievers, and Capps will be the new right-handed set-up man.

PIRATES vs ASTROS

Halladay Gives Up 5 In Debut, Pirates Can't Get Walkoff In Ninth

PITTSBURGH--Roy Halladay and Vernon Wells made their debuts today as the Pirates dropped the game to the Astros. Roy Halladay pitched 5 innings and gave up 5 runs. Vernon Wells would not be a factor in the 4 runs the Pirates scored. Down one run in the ninth, the Pirates got a runner to first but couldn't get him around to score.

F: 5-4 HOU
W: Sampson (2-1)
S: Valverde (7)
L: Halladay (2-4)
HR: Mientkiewicz (5)

MAY IN REVIEW

The Pirates went 12-16 this month, bringing their overall record to 23-33. Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells, and BJ Ryan were acquired by the Pirates, but seem to be making little impact on the club so far.

CURRENT STANDINGS

CUBS (37-19, --.-)
ASTROS (29-27, 8.0)
REDS (29-27, 8.0)
CARDINALS (28-28, 9.0)
BREWERS (27-29, 10.0)
PIRATES (23-33, 14.0)

DRAFT RESULTS

The Bucs picked 12th in this year's draft, and the Pirates picked up two southpaws this year. Let's meet them.

#56 Maxwell Maxwell
23 Years Old
Bat/Thrw R/L
TOP SPD 85
CTRL: G (95)
STAM: C (81)
CB: 2
FORK: 2
LEVEL: AAA

#063 Mario Montanez
20 Years Old
Bat/Thrw L/L
TOP SPD: 93
CTRL: D (120)
STAM: C (105)
CUT: 3
CB: 2
FORK: 3
LEVEL: MLB
TOP SPD: 93

I'm liking the Astros performance here.

That Montanez guy you've got has some potential. If you want him as an SP train his Stamina, or if you want him in the 'pen then improve his breaking stuff.

Yeah, I'm training Montanez in Stamina. This guy might be the Tim Lincecum of the future.

FIRST HALF IN REVIEW]

The Pirates made some huge additions in the offseason and the first half of 2009, including Halladay, Teixeira, O.Hudson, and Eckstein, but remain in last place in the division. Here are the current standings up to the All-Star Break.

CUBS (63-36, --.-)
ASTROS (52-47, 11.0)
REDS (52-47, 11.0)
BREWERS (46-53, 17.0)
CARDINALS (45-54, 18.0)
PIRATES (42-57, 21.0)

NL EAST: BRAVES, 1 GA
NL WEST: PADRES, 5 GA
NL WC: METS, 1 GA

AL EAST: YANKEES, 3 GA
AL CENTRAL: INDIANS, 6 GA
AL WEST: ATHLETICS, 3 GA
AL WC: RED SOX/RAYS, 4 GA

HOME RUN DERBY

Participants:

AL

Beltran, BOS, 22 HRs
M.Ramirez, BOS, 23 HRs
Swisher, CHW, 26 HRs
Hafner, CLE, 26 HRs

NL

C.Jones, ATL, 25 HRs
A.Soriano, CHC, 26 HRs
A.Jones, LAD, 25 HRs
D.Lee, CHC, 23 HRs

ROUND 1

Beltran: 9
M.Ramirez: 8
Swisher: 56
Hafner: 6
C.Jones: 12
A.Soriano: 8
A.Jones: 4
D.Lee: 7

Swingoff:

M. Ramirez: 5
A. Soriano: 6 (DNF)

Round 2 Lineup:

A.Soriano: 8
Beltran: 9
C.Jones: 12
Swisher: 56

ROUND 2

A.Soriano: 8+9=17
Beltran: 9+7=16
C.Jones: 12+37=49
Swisher: 56+DNP=56

Final Round: C.Jones vs Swisher

FINAL ROUND

C. Jones: 8
Swisher: 7

CHIPPER JONES: HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION