The Bucs [Fail to Restart] Here: Phils Look to Keep Up Momentum Against Flailing Pirates

Over the last two years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have basically been baseball's equivalent to Logan's Run--as soon as a player starts to show signs of genuine quality, they are shipped elsewhere for prospects, spare parts and financial relief, never to be heard from again. In the midst of the rebuilding process to end all rebuilding processes, the Pirates' sole representative in the all-star game this season is second baseman Freddy Sanchez, having something of a bounce-back year. So of course, you know what that means--Sanchez has recently been the subject of trade speculation, likely being moved to Colorado or Minnesota, soon to join the ranks of Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Nate McLouth, Nyjer Morgan and Eric Hinske in the dearly departed. Better keep that ERA up a little, Zach Duke, or you could be next.

Now having decisively slid back to their comfortable slot in the NL Central cellar, the Pirates come to Citizens' Bank Park in the midst of a 2-6 July. With the Phillies hitting being as hot as it is, and the pitching looking livelier as well, this should be a stellar opportunity for our boys to keep their foot on the velocimatrix, and maybe get a little more separation between us and the Marlins going into the All-Star Break. Hopefully asssting them to that end will be the imminent return of the badly mised (although slightly less so recently) Rauuuuul Ibanez to the line-up--either tonight or tomorrow, depending. But even if he's not joining us tonight, with Dobbs hitting like a champ and the rest of our lineup clicking as it is, I like our chances about just about anyone.

Also, a note towards the future--come All-Star tuesday, a couple of us here at the Level are hoping to do a liveblog of the event, now starring five of your favorite Phillies. So keep one eye on your TV and one eye on your computer as we break down the guys' performance, and make other whimsical observations about interleague relations as the NL tries to end a decade-long winless streak.

Comments

[Paul]

God, I hope Larry Andersen fucking curbs these two schmucks.

[bigmyc]

I swear that girl on the jacket of that Pirate type movie is a spitting image of Jesse Jane....

[Hopper]

1 hour 45 minutes through 7. In the words of Night Ranger, this game is "MOTORIN"!!!"

[And now it will inevitably come to a screeching halt.]

[David F.]

Joey B. was dealin' tonight. He's allowed more than 3 runs just once since June first and his ERA has dropped from 6.15 to 4.44. Not bad!

[Hopper]

Jeeze, forget Pedro, forget Doc Holliday, forget Oswalt... get Zach Duke!

[David F.]

Btw thoughts on the Church for Francoeur blockbuster?!? Hahahahahaha

[Hopper]

I'm beginning to hate this guy more than Mitch Williams. If Cholly pulled Lidge for Chan Ho Park, I'm not sure I'd object. This guy must have been under a hypnotherapist in '08.

[Steve]

@ David F

This was the exact text I sent my friend the Mets fan.

Franceour for Church ahem hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[PhiPhan5648]

@Hopper, do me a favor. Jump of a high structure, and remove yourself from the Phils fan pool.

[BriWilly]

has anyone gone to a mets blog lately and read the comments?

comedy at it's best

btw: mets lose 3-0 to what ron darling proclaimed "the reds staff ace" Bronson Arroyo....made me chuckle

[phillyfan412]

@BriWilly-

I live in Northern NJ. Sports radio, which is already hilarious on a daily basis thanks to the Mets fans, was hilarity at its finest today. One Mets fan (and this is an exact quote): "I'm not gonna say this deal puts us over the top, but it's pretty close". I was driving and I thought I had to pull over, I was laughing so hard.

God created Mets fans for entertainment purposes only.

[David F.]

Well played, Steve.

[Steve]

He has yet to respond.

[David F.]

He probably won't.

[Drew]

Nice image of an adult film for the post...

On a more related note, I hope the Phils can win these next two games and go into the All-Star break on a high note.