Ron Cook on GM Neal

As those of you who know me know, I am not a big fan of PG columnist Ron Cook, but he has a good column in the Sunday paper today, wherein he really puts the wood to Bucco GM Neal A. Huntington. In case you missed it....

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10150/1061870-87.stm?cmpid=bcpanel0

"Sex and the City 2"

Well, Mrs. Grandstander and I made our way to the dumpy Showcase North Cinema tonight to catch the new "Sex and the City Movie." the theater was fairly crowded for a late afternoon showing, and I think I spotted one - count him - one other guy in the audience! That's OK, though. I am secure enough in my masculinity to pull this one off!

I was a fan of the HBO series, and enjoyed the first SATC movie two years ago, but I gotta tell you folks, with this money-grab of a movie, Sarah Jessica Parker and Company have definitely jumped the shark.

I will only tell you not to waste your money at the theater on this one. If you REALLY feel the need to see it, wait a few months until it hits the Redbox and rent it for a buck a night.

Only a few observations to share with you:

** It hurt the movie by having the bulk of it movie take place in Abu Dabi. They should have kept the setting in New York City.

** The climactic scene of the movie with the girls getting out of Abu Dabi was ridiculous. Lucille Ball was doing this schtick - and doing it a lot better - 55 years ago on "I Love Lucy."

** The four stars should fight at all costs this movie EVER being released on Blue Ray disk or being shown on HD television. All four of them looked really bad. It has only been two years since the last movie, but it looks they all aged about thirty years. What was with Cynthia Nixon's hair color?????

Morton and Russell Strike Again

Reds 8 - Pirates 2. Reds bat around in an inning not once, but twice, against Charlie Morton. Morton goes to 1-9 with a 9.35 ERA. In a radio sound bite heard this morning, John Russell states that Morton "continues to make progress" and that, yes, he will continue to stay in the rotation.

First observation: If Morton is going to be an effective pitcher one day - and we all know he has "great stuff" - what is accomplished by having him serve up batting practice to the National League start after start? I fear that his confidence will be completely shattered by what he is going through to the point that he may never recover. Forget about how Morton is killing the Pirates right now, and consider the fact that the Pirates might be killing him.

Second observation: Whatever credibility that John Russell and by extension, Neal Huntington, had with he Pirates fan base erodes further and further every time Morton starts a game, and every time JR makes an inane comment such as the one cited above.

Third observation: Why are Aki Iwamura and Jeff Clement still on the roster, much less playing in games on a regular basis? (See above comment re "credibility.")

Another Gem from GM Neal....

According to this morning's PG, GM Neal says that newly recalled Neil Walker "will see playing time off the bench and in spot starts." I guess this means that Walker's hot .320+ average in the minors will be allowed to cool off on the major league bench while we still get large doses of the pathetic Aki Iwamura batting lead off and playing second base. I am waiting for GM Neal to next tell us that Aki is ready to turn it around based on hitting a triple last night. (For those of you who didn't see the game last night, Iwamura's triple was a lazy can of corn the center that the center fielder lost in the lights.)

For a humorous and better written view of the current Buccos, I refer you to Gene Collier's column from this morning, which features commentary on Pirate standouts, Iwamura, Charlie Morton, Jeff Clement, and Lastings Milledge:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10146/1060789-63.stm

Welcome Neil Walker

A nice win for the Pirates tonight, an newcomer Neil Walker gets a double and his first career RBI. Well done! He also gets picked off of second base. Ouch! Let's give the kid a pass on this one rather than chalk it up to "Sam Old Pirates" base running. After all, it was nice play by the Reds' catcher and to paraphrase Beano Cook, the other team gets paid too.

The Future is Starting to Arrive

So, Steve Pearce goes on the DL and Neil Walker, or, as he is constantly referred to in the media, "Pine Richland's Neil Walker", is recalled to replace him on the roster. Now, let's just hope that PRNW actually plays when he arrives. Sit Aki's ass on the bench and make PRNW your second baseman. Period. Give Walker the same chance that has been given to Jeff Clement.

Speaking of Clement, Walker's arrival and Pearce's disabling only gives Clement more opportunity to raise his batting average above .200. How about Jose Tabata in RF and Garrett Jones at 1B? (At least until Pearce gets back.)

If I turn on the game tonight and Russell has Iwamura playing 2B, I'll scream.

Some Stats....

A Tale of Two Second Basemen:

Aki Iwamura, PGH: .161 BA (137 AB), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 15 R
Neil Walker, INDY: .323 BA (164 AB), 6 HR, 28 RBI, 24 R

A Tale of Two Pitchers:

Charlie Morton, PGH: 1-8, 8.71 ERA (41.1 IP), 13 BB, 33 K
Brad Lincoln, INDY: 5-2, 3.77 ERA (57.1 IP), 23 BB, 41 K

And for good measure, we'll throw in Pirate 1B Jeff Clement: .180 BA (100 AB), 4 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R.

From reading Dejon's PBC Blog this morning, it sounds like moves from Indy are coming soon.

And to wrap up one other statistical story, presumptive NL Rookie of the Year Jason Heyward finished the series against the Pirates by batting .500 (4-for-8) with a HR, 3 RBI and 3 walks. He would be playing in Altoona this year if he were Pirates property.