The Pirates announced that infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and right-hander Hunter Stratton has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list. They opened one roster spot yesterday by placing outfielder Bryan Reynolds on the bereavement list and opened another today by designating left-hander Josh Fleming for assignment.
Fleming, 28, signed with the Bucs in the offseason and now gets the DFA treatment for the second time this year. The first time resulted in him clearing waivers and accepting an outright assignment, which eventually led to his second stint in the big leagues this year.
He has logged 31 1/3 innings for the Pirates between those two stints, allowing 4.02 earned runs per nine. His 54.3% ground ball rate is quite strong but both his 12.3% strikeout rate and 10.1% walk are subpar.
Fleming is out of options and can’t be sent down to the minors without first being exposed to waivers. He was non-tendered by the Rays at the end of last year and signed a deal with the Bucs that pays him $850K in the majors and $240K in the minors. As a player with more than three years of major league service time, he has the right to reject outright assignments in favor of free agency. But since he’s south of the five-year service mark, doing so means forfeiting whatever money he’s still owed. That’s likely why he accepted his assignment the last time Pittsburgh sent him through waivers and why he may do so again.
His numbers this year are fairly similar to his time with Tampa. Overall, he has a 4.77 ERA in 254 2/3 innings. He has struck out just 14.6% of batters faced but has kept walks down to a 7.6% clip and kept balls in play on the ground at a 58.4% rate.
Perhaps some club will be interested in acquiring Fleming in the coming days. With the trade deadline on Tuesday, some teams will be opening holes on their rosters via trade and might need to fill some innings. Fleming could be retained via arbitration for three more years after this one but, as mentioned, he cleared waivers once already this year.
Wow. He’ll be starting for the Rays by Monday
If Bae could bring just 80% of his .943 OPS at AAA…
If only he had been up all year, not hurt or in AAA, go Bae
Does 60% work for you?
Actually my model says that Bae will have an OPS of 833 the rest of the year. She says that he will be up 200 times with 50 hits and 50 walks,but that the hits will be all singles.
What’s the prediction for runs and strikeouts in tonight’s game?
Taylor is playing center field
Palacios in left field
Bart is catching, who by the way is good at taking strike three without ever moving his bat
Without Reynolds, my prediction is 3 runs or less and double digit strikeouts
I’ll go with 7. And I love that the best batting average in the lineup is at .263
But I’m going with Cruz and Tellez having big night
Jack has a hit and strikes out looking twice. He’s back!
That’s the dreaded Haines effect, TheMan.3.
We’ve seen it with pretty much every Pirates hitter this last three years and it never, ever ends well.
11 strikeouts. Figures. And SportsNet Pittsburgh is blathering about the HR Derby-like foul ball Cruz hit.
Jeez. What a town. How long before pierogi races are televised in prime time
In a happier note, I hear Dream is watching Mr Baseball tonight and taking notes about how real baseball guys fix swings and attitudes. I expect a new, reinvigorated Dream tomorrow
Cruz had a big night alright, his 3 strikeouts led the team
I am sorry to see them try to send Fleming down again.He has done a decent job at starting and relieving.I thought that they would send Stratton down as he has options left.I think that they have almost been impressed with Santana but he has only pitched in low leverage situations.
Trade coming maybe 2!
They certainly don’t believe in any urgency since they will be without Reynolds, arguably their best hitter, for at least 2 days due to a death in his family
And Bae is not the answer either
yeah they will trade Fleming for some double A hitter who has no chance of getting promoted to the majors this year or a hitter who resembles what they already have, in center field
Nuttings favorite return. Cash
You guys are lucky. Pittsburgh media and fans on Twitter and every other site still believe Suwinski is awful and needs sent down or even worse sent out.
Mlbtr pirates community knows….
#JackIsBack
#Time2GetRowdy
and
#rebuildoverbutnotenoughqualityplayersadded
First off, there are only certain types of morons who go to twitter anymore
Second, Jack is not back. At least, your measuring stick should be longer than a couple games. But I’m sure that you’re busy trying to figure out who to pair him with so you can call him an all star. Again
Thirdly, you mean Steelers coverage 365 days a year is overkill?
Yea tired you are right…all the sports locally starts out with steelers useless coverage. Well training camp started today and s source says that the toilet paper holders were stolen. More coverage at 11.
Sad the pirates could win the world series and they will talk about Tomlins never having a losing season.
Somehow they got Greg Brown on 93.7 and he had to calmly explain to Filiponi or the other idiot that Mitch Keller is a good pitcher. The Pittsburgh local sports market is abysmal
Pillowponi is the biggest egotistical moron on the air. Pillowponi and his sidekick Chris Mooler are the laurel and hardy of talk sports. They think they know everything. Notice they don’t take many calls. They just like to hear the crap that they spew
My sources tell me that the Pirates would offer Ashcraft,T Johnson,and Chandler to the Rays for what is left of the Archer trade- Shane Baz.
Who says no?
I would think all that Nutting would want in return is cash considerations
they can always scrape the bottom of a dumpster to replace those players
The pirates also throw in Haines and Skelton. Actually Shelton is Reds grandson
Pirates in on Rooker and Mountcastle! Both good fits.
Rooker – yes.
Mountcastle – no and why?
Is mountcastle a relative of Randolph mantooth
After last night’s 1 run loss, it’s imperative that cherrington trade for 1 or 2 hitters. Though the bucs have been hot of late. These 1 run losses are accumulating at an alarming rate. A 4 or 5 game losing streak will ruin a very good season. Most teams will go on a little losing streak. But for the anemic offense the pirates have and with great pitching,suck s streak will not be easy to overcome. So this is why they must trade for at least 2 ML ready hitters. To waste such great pitching is a terrible setback.
Bucco, fasten your seatbelt. They’re going to waste Skenes, Jones and Keller for the lifetime of their contracts. They’re going to sign low tier guys and try to convince you that, see, they’re trying to win
I agree with you. But it’s clear that the owner wishes to win with financial statements first and foremost.
And if these pitchers continue to progress, he’ll either trade them or they’ll wish to go someplace they can compete for the biggest stage.
.500 is all I expect in this city. I just enjoy debating the true believers who somehow believe the Pirates are close to being elite
Yea tired I agree…guys like you, the man and me are old enough to remember, clemente. Stargell billy maz, bob prince and the Great mid 60 and the 70s teams. I was a backer of nutjob Nutting. But he’s just a MORON LIKE THE MORON HE HAS MANAGING THE TEAM
Might have 1 year with the rookie black and gold trout. Then have the black and gold trout but not pitching! Pirates way.
one hitter that he won’t be trading for, Chisolm is going to the Yankees for 3 prospects
when your lineup consists of players who wouldn’t be starters for any other team, when those players don’t still take pitches nowhere close to the plate and instead swing at them and when your hitting coach was fired from his previous team for failing to improve the team’s offense and for the same reason he should be fired here, you’re not going to win many games
No loss where Chisholm is concerned. While I’m sure he’ll flourish in a tough batting order, he wasn’t gonna move the needle here
You’re absolutely right to critique the hitters in this lineup and their hitting coach, I try to think outside the box as to answering the inevitable question in all regards: why?
Why have the guy in charge of all hitters when over two seasons, Pirates hitters have been among the worst in MLB?
The front office isn’t stupid. Between keeping him and Shelton, the strange signings and “We threw our hands up” DFA’s, there must be some mission statement at work
I’d normally say that they are sticking to a 3 year…uh, 5 year plan. That it’s all about quietly preparing to make a run in the near future
But for the life of me, I just can’t see when that is
I’m gonna watch the game tonight!! Game thread right here? Keep me company?
Pirates couldn’t even really get Randy A or Jazz if they wanted to. They don’t have the prospects. They have better prospects and obviously worse prospects but not the in-between prospects in these trades. Marlins in 2 major trades went after massive elite tier power. Pirates don’t have that player. TJ Bubba Ashcraft far more valuable to move for Jazz or anyone available really.
Cherington hates trading for rentals but he easily has the prospects to aquire them without drastically hurting the farm.
I look for a Perez Gonzales trade for bat or reliever. But he has the farm to get rentals. Has the farm to get Jazz Puk. Just the Marlins have lost some trades. Literally on a power trip. Don’t care if the kid is a 1b or strikes out 200 times.
The Mets are reportedly acquiring Winkler so the decent numbers of rentals are quickly getting smaller
I am beginning to think that the only position player that they might trade for who will be available by Tuesday, Josh Bell
How sad
Dream just provided a laundry list of names on the Winker thread. Funny thing is, only the two guys from Oakland address the needs of this year and the future both as players and as contractual control
But it’s yet another pipe dream here
List was small before Winker left. Good list though. But Winker was the perfect fit. Sounds like Oakland guys aren’t being moved. I would call them 1 more time before deadline ends just to be sure. Cruz would be my plan b. Years of control. Everyday player on Pirates. Miami has been weak with their trades. Canha doesn’t move the needle much but I like him because he can play outfield (lil better than Joe) and 1b. Joe 2.0 so just a depth piece and another LHP destroyer. Siri in Tampa. Lots of control. Michael Taylor when he was good. Ward doesn’t seem like strong bet to move but better Joe multiple years. No 1b though but maybe as he has played 3b so better Joe. Love Pillar for CF vs LHP. Move to rf to close out games with Taylor in cf. Cards have any extra outfielders? Marco or Perez is right up their alley.
And 2 runs from Palacios grounder. If they positioned the 2b differently…
I’m still out of the country. No access. Will rely on you. Looking for Mr Baseball on Netflix. The ultimate baseball movie
Marco Priester bad.
Gonzales groin maybe hammy something could be done for month or who knows.
So utility trade guy replaces him and still have Tri as utility. Knowing been there is no trade and we get a lot of Bae who actually looked good.
A loss tomorrow Ben might punt. Maybe not. Who knows with these guys.
Enjoy the lady boys. Show them Mr baseball. Tell em that was you when you were younger!
Completely different part of the world. This fascination with lady boys almost rivals your obsession with bright eyes.
Hey, I was a pretty good hitter but wouldn’t listen to analytical data
Most people thought the 3 legs of baseball data batting average, rbi, and era would be enough to get by but it’s kinda like this 3 legged stole I’m sitting on. Little wobbly! But I think I might have a solution. What many people don’t realize is that your biggest asset might very well be analytics and using analytics could play a vital part in improving your team. Analytics could add a 4th leg to your plan. Much better than a 3 legged stole. A analytics chair! 4 legs. More stable. Analytics. Bringing stability to your team.
there’s always that phenomenal utility player Ben signed to a minor league contract the other day, Jose Rojas
He fits right in with this no hitting lineup of misfits and might be the lone addition Cherington makes this season
Pathetic as expected
Except that their 3 or 5 year plans never amount to anything substantial and before the fans know it, the team is going through another rebuild phase
This is Cherington’s 4th season as GM. His first 2 seasons were total losers, they went through rebuilding during his first 3 years and this was supposed to be they would be competitive
I don’t view a .500 team as being competitive
Rebuild was done well. He ran the blueprint. I will give him a B. 2020 21 22 he wasn’t trying to win games. Was trying to lose 100 games. 2023 he made a effort to win but wasn’t max effort. You simply can’t lose JT Velasquez Burrows Cruz for entire season basically and win. Unfortunately not max effort this year but darn close. Was no catchers 1b cf available. Was outfielders though and he choose Olivares. But Jones made opening day roster. Didn’t wait until June 20th to call Skenes up. So he really went for it this year. Season just begun. First third you find out what you need. Next third you aquire what you need to win. This final third you win. Is Cherington a winner? He has 3 days and tonight to show us what kind of a man he is.
Your dream gm would be getting you Winker and Pillar and a reliever. Might have to settle for Thomas Cruz or Canha. Utility bat I am looking hard at as well. I’m getting 2 bats though.
Hitting development is the glaring weakness though. It’s starting to improve but not fast enough. And let’s be real. He didn’t have a Turner Soto Scherzer to trade for multiple elite prospects. Brutal rebuild to oversee. 2020 super weak draft. He did well with Gonzales and A+ with Jones.
Well, other than power hitting outfielders. How many failed? Left a gaping hole in the lineup
All of them. I can’t think of anyone who reached their potential. Cruz Gonzales got a good chunk of the way. Jack did for awhile.
Reynolds they didn’t develop. Hayes look at him in 2020. Look at him after working with Altoona coach.
Davis Endy can still be something. Takes time for a lot of guys. Like to see someone just succeed quickly.
Ben was always going to punt, never had serious intentions of trading for a much needed center fielder or right fielder
Winkler is going to the Mets and Chisolm to the Yankees. Two players who could have helped this team
He won’t part with prospects of any real, proven ability. To some degree, I get that. Injuries happen and you want to build depth
But this all again screams that they are undecided in so many areas
An MLB roster is just that. The guys who’ll help you immediately plus those who are on the cusp. I don’t get the thinking that yeah, player A or B will help with the now, but I don’t want to part with guys where there is great depth. It doesn’t make a lot of sense
To me, it makes a guy like Pham coming here much more predictable. A placeholder yet again. Something to assure the true believers that hey, we’re trying
As I been saying. Big dogs eat. Ben comes in for scraps. Right idea. Still no Winker return announced but he didn’t have the right prospects for Randy Jazz. And they went for good prospects. Good pass on them. He might have to punt. Might not have to and punts anyways. Will find out Tuesday evening.
Yep, just do enough to convince the gullible rubes in order to put people in the stands and to make them believe that they are serious about winning
Not much else to do. You aren’t leading your division. More than 5 games out of division. Don’t have a wild card spot. You don’t want to get crazy in this situation. You can be aggressive on someone who really helps you and for future years. But Oakland doesn’t seem interested in trading that guy. Be patient and wait for your trade is all you can do.
I disagree with your assessment that Ben made an effort to improve this team for this season
He had the chance to bring Santana back to play first base and instead opted for Rowdy
Yes, Rowdy has come on lately but where was he for the first 2 months of the season when you’re trying to win games? By June you’re trying to play catch up
Santana has 14 homers and 45 rbi to go along with 15 doubles I believe. He’s been hitting all season. The reason Ben didn’t bring him back was the difference in money he wanted and what they were willing to pay Tellez
And if the rebuild was so successful why do they still stink?
I was wrong, Santana has 20 doubles and has already matched the hits he had as a Pirate before being traded to the Brewers last year with 81
Tell me again how our “baseball experts” determined that he lost something in his swing?
Being wrong and effort aren’t the same thing. He wasn’t worried about 2 million. After Rowdy he spent 15 million on Chapman and Taylor. Gave 2 million to Grandpal. 8 million to Perez. 8 million to Hill last year. Had no problem paying Santana even more $ last year. You can keep saying it but he wasn’t worried about 2 million. That’s nothing even for the Pirates. Reynolds got 100 and some million.
No team in baseball thought he was worth more than 5 million. Rowdy has been just as good actually better when good. Everyone has slumps pretty much. You don’t know when.
Carlos Santana is batting .269 with 54 hits, 7 home runs, 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 59 games since May 14, 2024
Rowdy Tellez has a batting average of .301 with 43 hits, 8 home runs, 28 RBIs and 21 runs scored in 47 games since May 14, 2024
Look a lot like the same guy to me. Now Rowdy was awful in April but Pirates got off to a pretty good start anyways. I don’t think Santana would have helped enough to worry about.
Going to put you on the spot. What one do you want moving forward for rest of season?
Santana .213 batting average for July.
Rowdy .315 batting average for July.
You know I’m not a average guy. And when the Pirates signed Santana in 2023 many fans hated it and I gave it a strong endorsement. So strong that you muted me I believe because you weren’t a fan of the signing. Maybe someone else muted me. Someone did. Maybe you and someone else lol. I been muted a lot over the years. If you go back and look I doubt there was a bigger Santana fan than me. I loved the guy and still love him. Even with all that I think I am going with Rowdy. *If back and hand are ok lol.
Then why did he take a chance on a player coming back from injury ( Rowdy) instead of going with a proven player who didn’t have a history of injuries?
you’re making excuses again. If we would have had the Santana of pre May 2024 instead of the Rowdy of the same period we might be in better position to make the playoffs
I don’t mute others over disagreements or opinions, Dream, you included
what if his hand requires a trip to the IL?
Joe becomes the full time first baseman?
They have no depth in the minors to replace any position player who might get hurt
You asked me what I want now? Other than better player development, for management to stop using analytics to make decisions because they don’t have the talent to be using analytics
4th inning 1 hit. Sounds about right
Tom missed the 115.5 mph cruz missile and the 23 replays of it.
2 3 and 4 loses out of the 3 wild card spots. 2 months to gain 2 games. Have to buy. Whoever the other teams aren’t hot on is your man. Give this team a chance. Look how thirsty all these teams are for pitching. You have Skenes Keller Jones Falter Ortiz that’s about as good as it gets. That’s the expensive to aquire part. Pirates aren’t developing most their prospects. Trade em and get some bats. Let’s go bucs.
Which again is the reason that BC should back up the truck for Rooker and Bleday
Priester? Sold
Peguero? He’s yours
Harrington? Sure
Termarr? Why not?
Davis? Well supply the catching gear
A couple pierogis? Done
I think he should make a fair deal. But if they don’t get traded then they weren’t available. There are some aggressive and desperate gms out there. Much more so than Ben should be.
throw in a few fireworks too
Winker to the Mets tonight
Jazz to the Yanks
Randy to Seattle after watching his former team from the stands today
The Pirates…..are still trying to figure out who they are. But hey, ‘25 is their year. Sure it is
With Gonzales injury here is the pep boys special. Luis Rengifo. Old timer dinosaur player. Hits for average and doesn’t strike out. Good defender at 2b. Solid at 3rd. Can play outfield. Would be solid in RF at PNC and not a major liability elsewhere. Not a rental.
there’s just no urgency to this manager during any game this season
Your down 4 runs going into the 7th inning and he doesn’t use any of the players sitting on the bench as pinch hitters
He just goes with the players in the original lineup
By the way, for those who complained about picking up Santana, his 5 ks in 2.1 innings says otherwise
This team is done, they have very little chance of making the playoffs. Collectively they can’t hit and score enough runs to make them competitive
Not much of a bench with Gonzales and Tellez hurt. I would go to it either. Who was on the bench Wack and Hack Jack? Grandpal? Managers hate to use back up catcher and it’s Grandpal.
You talking Tom? How could they give up on Hernandez!!!!!
Shelton could have used Grandal to pinch hit for Cutch who had struck out 3 times or Jack to pinch hit for Bae
Making excuses for this mediocre manager doesn’t fit your narrative, Dream
you’re better than that
What? Say what? Bae hit the ball in the air and got the rbi. Looked good. Take him out for ground ball Jack SuWIFFski? Grandpal, like for real Grandpal for Cutch? Grandpal is going to magically win the game? Grandpal? Remember I’m just your dream gm, not dream manager but Grandpal pinch hitting for Cutch wins the game? .185 average Grandpal?
I know I told you he was going to be better, remember July 4th .171 I said it was going up. How about a round of applause? But Grandpal? For Cutch? Grandpal for Cutch?
I’m talking about getting on base not hitting a grand slam or winning the game with one swing
Shelton never sees any urgency to be competitive, not even when Priester is busy hitting 2 batters and giving up 5 runs in 4 innings.
Why not bring in Stratton when it was apparent Priester wasn’t effective?
Thursday is an off day, Shelton could have left Santana pitch another few innings instead of bringing in Priester who wasn’t effective at all in his 4 innings of relief
Santana had thrown 26 pitches, 19 for strikes giving up one hit while striking out 5 in 2.1 innings.
Face it Shelton is a horrible manager and not having anyone warming up when it was obvious that Priester was ineffective
I can answer that one. Starter left early. They needed innings to save pen. Priester had to suck it up.
Santana couldn’t go further. Arm is trained to go 1 or 2 innings. Anymore is jeopardizing his health.
that doesn’t explain why they didn’t let Santana pitch further into the game but you’re right, Priester does suck
okay, what about Stratton when it was apparent that Priester couldn’t prevent the Diamondbacks from scoring runs
Priester isn’t the only pitcher in the bullpen
Long season. If your starter fails to go 5 you have to get innings from someone. He used Santana to give team a chance. I can’t remember the details of game as I didn’t watch it closely. If Pirates had a lead then Priester should have had a shorter leash. If they were losing then he stays in no matter what to eat innings. And remember Priester looked downright amazing last time. He was clearly awful but someone has to pitch. If Pirates scored 5 runs and took the lead in 7th 8th 9th then you would have seen Holderman Chapman Bednar.
Sure make excuses for this dysfunctional team
Your favorite players both struck out looking, Connor Joe and Suwinski
And with Gonzalez now on the IL, they promoted another no hitting player, Alika Williams
Palacios should be dfa but they don’t have anyone to replace him and Bae needs to learn how to take a pitch instead of swinging at the first pitch he sees
Basic baseball 101 not excuses.
this is a fact
if Cherington fails to make a significant addition to this team by the end of the trading deadline window the local media will tear him apart and make the case to the fans that this organization doesn’t care about winning and outside of when Skenes pitching at PNC Park, attendance will suffer
Sure, the gullible rubes will continue to believe the lies but those looking for a potential winner will focus their attention elsewhere like on the Steelers and with any luck this organization will be looking for new management after this season ends
Only for 1 day then it’s Steelers practice 24 7. And let’s face it, they would have torn him apartment unless he got all 3 of Jazz Robert Rooker. The media isn’t a premium insider like you. They couldn’t even begin to understand how good Pillar Siri Canha are.
and apparently neither did Ben, he didn’t trade for either
I suspect he will be selling off the 1 year players for prospects before it’s all over and blame the failures on injuries even though every team has them
Rather than admit that his player development is so poor for position players there was no one else he could have promoted to help this team win
According to baseball insiders, Miami wanted a catcher included in any trade for Jazz and they didn’t want either Davis or Endy had either been offered
Dunno. Yankees catching prospect is about as good as Davis was before drive line improved him. He isn’t close to being a mlb catcher right now. Has huge bat though something the Pirates couldn’t offer.
there’s been 20 transactions since this was posted and not one involving the Pirates
With the better players already traded, Cherington will do one of the following things
Sit back and do nothing
make a trade for an over the hill player
use the waiver wire to claim someone no one else wants
or
surprise everyone by making a trade for a player who can really help this team
I choose A. do nothing
I been saying for a long time he wasn’t going to do anything until today earliest. Might not do anything to Tuesday or nothing at all! I’d say Perez Gonzales are available and can go any time. Next tier is Chapman because of his price. Can see Taylor Grandpal as well if someone wants them bad enough. Falter Priester only for the right deal.
I gave you the names. If they are still available on Tuesday Ben might come in a pick them up on a bargain.
Lots of teams have needs. So many trades left to come. Better teams than the Pirates who will end up making 2 or 3 trades at least have made 1 or many none. Lots of arms traded. Pirates need bats. Most trades have been Seller wins. Good Great prospects sent.
How expensive has it been? I wouldn’t have traded for Winker. Do you think anyone likes him more than I do? I would have traded the guy the Mets did for him but the Pirates don’t have that guy. They have imo a much better guy in that tier. So if Washington was determined to get the best 1 arm they could get then as Pirates gm I am out. I could easily beat the Mets offer but wouldn’t. That’s why Mets made the trade. They had a guy in that tier that they were willing to give up. I haven’t seen a trade yet Ben should have and could have made.
I want to trade so if he passes on something he could have done I will be vocal about it.
the player who the Nationals sent to the Mets played in double AA and isn’t a top prospect
With Bell being waived by the Marlins today, Ben should claim him. He can’t be worse than Connor Joe
Top 30 Top 20 prospect according to all the scouting sites I checked. I don’t think of him as highly but I use different criteria. Closest Pirates comp is Patrick Reilly. Similar in rankings. I think Reilly is much better and wouldn’t trade him for Winker.
Miami placed Josh Bell on waivers. He’s had a down season but could still help the Bucs lackluster offense
Will Ben claim him?
I don’t think so and I wouldn’t either. Too expensive. If you wanted him you trade a nothing prospect and Miami pays for part of him. I don’t think he gets claimed by anyone. I would be surprised. Someone might trade for him.
he’s hit a homer in four consecutive games
When was the last time Joe hit a homer?
Taking Bell wouldn’t break Nutting’s wallet, he’d still make a profit this year
Joe can play outfield. If Rowdy is out long term I am interested in trading for Bell.
2 guys on base with no outs and the losers who followed couldn’t even advance the runners let alone drive one in
Loser Connor Joe looks at strike three, worthless Palacios pops out and Hayes hits a weak grounder to 3rd base
So my question is, who teaches these players how to hit? Helen Keller?
It’s disgusting watching these so called players play
2 guys on base again with no one out and they can’t score a single run
Someone needs to be held accountable for this failing offense and since you can’t fire all of the players, it should be Andy Haines
Looked like that pitcher could just throw nothing but thay curve and strike out Jack Cruz 100 times.