2008 Pittsburgh Pirates
From BR Bullpen
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[edit] 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates / Franchise: Pittsburgh Pirates / BR Team Page
Record:, Finished n NL Central Division (2008 NL)
[edit] History, Comments, Contributions
Pirates fans expressed little hope for the team for the 2008 season. Coming off a 95-loss campaign in 2007, the organization had not made any major changes to the lineup or pitching staff nor were any promising rookies part of the Opening Day roster. The only significant adjustment was a new management team, led by John Russell.
Pittsburgh's Opening Day was one of the wildest in over 120 years of the franchise's history. Playing the Atlanta Braves with a 4-4 tie in the 8th, the Pirates' Xavier Nady homered off of Manny Acosta and Nate McLouth added a 3-run homer. Carrying a 9-4 lead into the bottom of the 9th, Russell called on Damaso Marte, an effective pitcher in 2007. Marte walked Mark Kotsay and one out later walked Ruben Gotay. Russell then turned to closer Matt Capps, who had walked only six batters in all of 2007. Capps struggled with his control as well, walking Martin Prado to load the bases then walked Yunel Escobar to force in a run. Chipper Jones hit a two-run single to close it to 9-7. With two outs, Brian McCann hit a fly to left that dropped in between LF Jason Bay and CF Nate McLouth when neither made an attempt to get the ball. Escobar and Jones came home to tie the game before Capps retired Jeff Francoeur. Nady hit a 3-run homer off of Blaine Boyer in the top of the 12th but that lead was almost blown as well. With Franquelis Osoria in his third inning of work, Francoeur homered with one out. Mark Kotsay doubled and Matt Diaz singled him in to make it a 12-11 game. Osoria escaped by retiring Corky Miller on a fly to McLouth to end the roller coaster ride.
Pittsburgh kept falling short of .500 in the first half of the season, getting close only to slump backwards. They were hindered by the poor performance of Matt Morris, who was released, the typical slow start of Adam LaRoche, injuries to Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson and the disappointing mound work of Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny. The bright spots in the first half were outfielders Nate McLouth, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady and catcher Ryan Doumit.
On June 30, Pittsburgh batted their pitcher other than 9th for the first time since 1957 when Paul Maholm hit 8th and Wilson 9th. They were the third NL Central team to bat their pitcher 8th that year, as the Cardinals routinely did so and the Brewers did it early in the season.
[edit] Awards and Honors
- All-Star: Nate McLouth
[edit] Team
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AL East: Baltimore • Boston • New York • Tampa Bay • Toronto NL East: Atlanta • Florida • New York • Philadelphia • Washington |
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