Nice article in the Post Gazette on Zach's upcoming battle with the Cards tonight. Sounds like they are talking about shutting him down a little the rest of the way due to the number of innings he has pitched already (165). This may make it tough for Rookie-of-the-Year consideration.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05235/558390.stm

Zach faced the big guys for a couple of innings and held them to no hits. They should have let him pitch another couple of innings.

The Pirates website has a headline that Zach was removed after 2 innings due to injury. Gameday says it is to the ankle or foot. Let's cross our fingers!!!!

Zach hit (but then again so did everybody else against Marquis ), and apparently sprained his ankle going in to second or leaving it. He was doubled off the base, and was immedietly seen to be limping. The Pirates pulled him right then.

He was doing exceedngly well against my Cardinals. The Cards announcers were going on and on about The Kid, with a sidelight about his "Hollywood name" .

Well, a Duke outranked a Marquis by a million miles tonight!

Fingers crossed, chickens sacrificed, candles lit and good mojo to Zach for his ankle problem being minor.

Let's hope and pray that Zack will be alright.

In the top of the fifth the Pirates lead 7-0. Torres seems to be doing a good job finishing what Zach had started. I don't want to jinx him but Torres has a no-hitter going on.

tas, I have no problem at all with your jinxing Torres !

Go Cards!

Just read an article on the Pirates website and it appears to be a minor sprain. He is expected to only miss one start but read what Zach has to say about that!.....What a gamer!

"I went to go back to the bag and my foot was closer than I expected," said Duke. "My foot just hit the bag and rolled underneath me."

"There's no breaks or anything," said Duke. "[The medical staff] is saying one start at the most. Hopefully I can just make a speedy recovery and get back out there in five days."

Zach will be fine, thank heaven. This does give Lloyd a reason to shut him down, though, a somewhat controversial headline that not only appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, but all over Western PA (it was the sports news of the day here, too). No one (Zach most likely included) is in favor of that. Look what shutting down Oliver Perez (not allowing him to pitch winter ball) did for HIM!

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
tas, I have no problem at all with your jinxing Torres !

Go Cards!

Orlando, I did jinx Torres. Oops! LOL. Didn't he still get the win? I believe he did.

Another Zach Duke article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05236/558991.stm

That was an outstanding read Isn't it funny how it is always obvious to everyone after the fact. Jeremy Guthrie was mentioned in that article who was drafted by the Indians in the first round. He got around a 2-3 million dollar signing bonus as I recall. At this time, some scouts in the Indians organization have been quoted off the record that they are not sure if he will ever make it to the big leagues.

Don't thank I ain't watchin, OPP.

Hope Zach gets better or he can't represent the HSBBW every 5th day. Maybe he will have time to drop in and say hi? That would be cool. Get better Duke from up in AK.