Jul 08 2005 09:50 AM
Pittsburgh Pirates
www.pittsburghpirates.com
Ever wonder how the Pittsburgh Pirates got their name? It’s not what you’re thinking…
I always thought it was because of the rootin’ tootin’ history of the riverboats in Pittsburgh, but that’s not it.
It is because in 1891, the Pirates “stole” player Louis Biebauer from the rival Philadelphia Athletics, and the pirate legend so began.
Baseball in Pittsburgh began in 1887, as the Pittsburgh Alleghenies. That name lasted until the legendary piracy of 1890 mentioned above, when the Pirates got their new name, which lasts til this day.
The Pirates best season ever was 1902 when they were 103-36, and their worse season ever was 1890, at 23-113. No wonder they went after Biebauer.
Great Pirates through the years include
Honus Wagner: 1900-1917
Our own Ralph Kiner (1946-1953)
Mr. Cooby’s personal fav Willie Stargell (1962-1982)
Bill Mazeroski (1956-1972)
Roberto Clemente (1955-1972)
2004 Pirates:
Finished 5th in NL Central with a record of 72-89. Their main losses from the team have been Kris Benson and Jason Kendall.
Bright spots in 2004 included
- Jason Bay, who won the first ever Rookie of the Year award for a Pittsburgh Pirate
- Jack Wilson, All Star representative and Silver Slugger award winner. Jack had more than 200 hits in 2004.
- Oliver Perez, who finished in the NL top ten in ERA and strikeouts
2004 SEASON SERIES: Pirates - 5-0.
Pirates who used to be Mets:
Rick White
(what’s that you say? Where is Ty Wigginton? He’s playing for the AAA Indianapolis Indians.)
Pirates born in NY: None
Mets born in PA: Piazza
Mascot:
Pirate Parrot
2005 to date:
Record: 37-47
Major Injuries: Oliver Perez, broken toe
Craig Wilson, injured finger
Neither player will appear in this series
Who’s Hot:
Jason Bay, .310 avg., 16 HRs and 59 runs
Daryle Ward, 52 RBIs
Matt Lawton, 9 SBs.
Probable Matchups:
Friday, July 8 PNC Park | 7:05 PM ET
Victor Zambrano, RHP (4-7, 3.80) @ Josh Fogg, RHP (4-4, 4.42)
Scouting Report:
Zambrano gave the Mets a quality start on Sunday against Florida, but he was outdueled by Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis. Despite taking his seventh loss, Zambrano lasted eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Zambrano has avoided being hit hard lately, allowing one homer since May 6 and not surrendering more than three runs in a start during that span.
Fogg has been the king of the no-decisions for the last month, going 0-1 with five no-decisions since his last win on June 1 against the Florida Marlins. The right-hander has one win in seven starts at home, and the opposition is batting .313 against him at PNC Park.
Saturday, July 9 PNC Park | 7:05 PM ET
Kazuhisa Ishii, LHP (2-7, 5.50) @ Dave Williams, LHP (6-6, 4.37)
Scouting Report:
Ishii had a no-decision in the Mets' Monday victory against the Nationals, but for the fourth time in his 12 starts, he gave his team a chance to win. Even with that no-decision, he has a 1-4 record in his last six starts. And he hasn't had two successive starts that were adequate yet. Through Tuesday, the Pirates had lost 14 of the 25 games in which they were opposed by a lefthanded starter.
Williams will look to rebound from his worst outing in what has been an otherwise solid season. In the Phillies? 12-1 drubbing of the Bucs on July 4, Williams was tagged for eight runs in four innings, causing his ERA to jump 69 points. Williams has dropped four of five decisions at home.
Sunday, July 10 PNC Park | 1:35 PM ET
Pedro Martinez, RHP (9-3, 2.80) @ Kip Wells, RHP (6-8, 4.25)
Scouting Report:
Martinez hasn't opposed the Pirates since they beat his Expos -- but not him -- on Sept. 15, 1997. He hasn't faced them in such a long time that only one of their players, Matt Lawton, has any history against him. And what Lawton has isn't good -- he's 2-for-21. When a pitcher in unfamiliar to hitters, he has the advantage.
Mired in a four-start losing streak, Wells pitched perhaps the finest game of his career in his last outing. The right-hander held Philadelphia to three hits and three walks on Tuesday, and tied a career high with 12 strikeouts to notch his first shutout since he blanked the Chicago Cubs on May 29, 2002.
=blue]Pitching scouting reports courtesy pittsburghpirates.com
Special note: This weekend will be African American Heritage Weekend at PNC Park. In the Saturday evening game, the Pirates will wear replica Pittsburgh Crawfords uniforms, and the Mets will wear New York Cubans. Watch for it!
