I'll take it (16-31)

If that is James McDonald struggling I will take it. Now the Pirates lost this game, but I really think this is the best lost we have had in a long time. James McDonald proved a couple of things. One, he does have struggles. Two, he is a strike out machine even without his best stuff. Three, he can be the ace.

Number one is easy enough. McDonald gave up four runs in 4.2 innings. That is not as good as 6 shut out innings.

Number two is also easy to prove. In less than five innings he struck out 7. That is one shy of last game, and he had four less outs to do it in. He did not have his best stuff either. Still a good fastball that MLB was clocking at 93 in the fifth. His breaking ball was still nasty, but if they do not swing it is not going to be a strike. And his change up this game was no where near as good. Yet, that is a recipe for 7 strike outs. It has been a long time since the Pirate organization has had a real strike out guy.

Number three is a bit more complex. But it involves number two. McDonald is the strike out pitcher in our line up. Take this into consideration. Every other pitcher when they struggle ends up letting in a lot of runs at the beginning of the game. Morton did it every night. Ohlendorf has done it, so has Duke. Even Malholm did it the other night. Only Karstens appears to be immune to the give away the game early problem. McDonald really struggled in the first. He took 30 pitches to get out of it. But he did get out of it. No runs allowed. He gave up his first run in the fourth. He gave up three in the fifth, but they were all two out hits. Now if a real right fielder had been playing rather than Ryan Doumit then the inning would have been over with no runs scored. But Doumit let one drop in front of him, playing it safe but everyone else would have caught it with ease. Doumit makes that catch the Padres have one run, and the Pirates win the game 5-3. Instead, it is the beginning of four runs and the Pirates lose 8-5.

Now, there were really only a few hitting highlights. Doumit just did miss a homer, and it plated two runs, but going 1 for 4 did not really make up for his poor defense. I hope it pleased some AL suitor looking for a DH. Alvarez got another RBI. Walker had two hits, and Tabata was held to only one. Again, the Pirates were robbed of a couple of hits by great defensive plays by the Padres. In key situations too.

McCutchen is in a mini slump. He is in danger of falling below .280. He needs to wake up soon.

This game makes the Pirates the worst in baseball. With Baltimore playing better maybe Kansas City is our last real competition for the first over all pick.