Is He Feeling Alright?

In the game tonight against the Reds the Pirates did something that they have not done in over 50 years. They did NOT have the pitcher bat in the nine hole. The Pirates had last had the pitcher bat 8th to start the game in 1957. The game was against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Brooklyn, and the pitcher was Luis Arroyo. For your reference in the game Arroyo popped out in his only at bat.

Other teams have tried it this season, mostly in the National League central. I know that the Cardinals and Brewers were two teams that adopted it. And earlier this season John Russell told Paul Meyer that it was unlikely he would do such a thing. Well that line of thought must have changed. I saw that before the game Russell had said that he, Don Long, and Gary Varsho go over the games and make decisions, like batting order, and felt that this was something that they'd try out. It makes a lot of sense and I would like to see them do it with some more regularity. Except how about shifting Wilson and Sanchez around?

Freddy still seems a little lost at the plate and that is not a very good thing for someone that you have batting leadoff to do. I am not one to put a ton on emphasis on the leadoff hitter, as he is most likely only going to leadoff one inning ever, but you do need to have a productive hitter there. We need to have men on base for McLouth, Bay and Doumit when they come up. Right now Freddy is not doing that for us.

The sad tale of tonight was that we wasted a good start by one of our pitchers. Maholm gave us a ton by being able to go 7 tonight. That really saved our bullpen. Unfortunately Matt Capps was unable to close out the game as he normally would, when his change up ran into Griffey's bat.

One more thing about tonight's game, and I should give credit where it is due, Adam LaRoche had a great game. Though I am getting tired of all the hopeful quotes that he is now going to break out of his funk. There was this one from John Russell:

"We've been waiting on it," manager John Russell said. "You see signs of it. I think he's starting to feel a lot more comfortable. That would be a big lift for us if he gets going like he's capable."

The season is half over. How much more comfortable does he need to get? The only thing I see him comfortable with is failing miserably with runners in scoring position. Comfortable? Could someone get him a Lazy Boy recliner? He just is not comfortable doing what he has been doing for most of his life, playing baseball.