Philadelphia's Insight into the Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates had an interesting weekend. They won two of three from the World Champion Phillies.

The third game was curious and worrisome. After being down 4-1, the Pirates worked their way back and, in the bottom of the ninth, were tied 4-4. Their closer, Hanrahan, who throws in the upper nineties easily and who has an excellent slider, finished the top of the ninth. McGehee, who had a pinch-hit double earlier, doubled again. Presley sacrificed his pinch-runner, Harrison, to third. One out and Tabata up next followed by McCutchon and Walker. What is Phillie to do? They have their closer in the bullpen and first and second base open. The next three batters are possibly the only real hitters on the Pirate team.

They do not bring in their closer. The Phillies pitch to Tabata and he strikes out. McCuchon is next. He has two hits on the day and is one of the team's two fastest players so an infield grounder is a potential game-winner. Next up would be Walker, a switch-hitter but slow. Walk McCuchon, right? No. They pitch to him, he goes 3-2 and then lines the ball off the center-field wall. The Pirates win.

The talk shows are thrilled; the Phillies have been out-managed! Baloney. The Phillies played as if the Pirates could not have beaten them with Buicks. They played as if they did not need strategy, as if the Pirates were so bad it would take an act of God for them to win.

The Phillies are a very fine team with serious management. This game looked as if their assessment of Pittsburgh was incredibly negative; in a tight game they could rest their closer and pitch to anyone.

They lost but it doesn't mean they are wrong. If they are right, this could be a long year for Pittsburgh.