Today against the Atlanta Braves, Zach Duke amazed me again, I was first on here and I was oh this guy, hes probably trash just hyped up or something you know... but I am giving him the props he truly deserved and I am a growing Pirates fan since that is where I am from. Go Zach Duke, when is his next scheduled start, anybody know?
~Come in clock to work, everyday I get bigger, stronger, faster and built to hurt~
The Pirates are probably on a 5 man rotation so he would pitch in 5 games ... which would be Saturday, in Pittsburgh, against the Dodgers.
By the way, am also from the Burgh and was there (tho very young) when Mazaroski hit the game winning, series winning (?) home run in the world series ... I think that was 1961.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
OPP will be down, Bighit may come down, and Leftydad, may join us for the ballgame. If you can make it let one of us know, send us a PM. I'll have a sign that reads..." You just got Duked!"
"Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world." Babe Ruth
Could be several reasons, but here are two that I think are likely: >>Pitch count may have been up >>After an outing like that, you don't want to have the pitcher lose the game, so you give the bullpen the opportunity to finish it up for him. >>Combination of both of the above
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
i love the pirates and zach duke is an amazing player, as for the question about mcclendon, this is suprisingly a smart move. go to mlb.com and go to the pirates' fan forum, we love our team, yet hate our manager.
"Snap in that curveball and make the batter look like a monkey screwin a football"
Posts: 72 | Location: Dummmmmmmmfries | Registered: June 04, 2004
Just listened to an interview with Zach on the Morning Extravaganza. What a great level headed young man who has his head on straight!! He mentioned that there were many people in Clifton who were keeping his feet on the ground. Mr. and Mrs. OPP done good!!
Here's my story:
Because of OPP and the HSBBW, when Dartmouth was in Bradenton two years ago for their spring trip, I made connections with Zach to take him to dinner. It worked out with Josh for him to go with us. Josh wasn't sure and didn't know what to expect. After meeting Zach and getting his story of minor league life, realizing they were about the same age, all of us came away very much impressed! Zach had a game plan and I'm not talking baseball. At the time he was low A and we've been following him ever since. He is very mature beyond his years.
Go Zach!! Two thumbs up!!
______________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher, and since it's in English, thank a soldier !!"
Posts: 1696 | Location: Pueblo,CO,USA | Registered: December 27, 2002
I hear you loud and clear Dad04! Also, did you notice he was still hitting the low 90's with his fastball in the 9th inning? Wouldn't be surprised in the least to see him throw in the mid 90's as he matures. Although, he is pretty darn good as he is right now - isn't that the understatement of the day!
He is the entire franchise right now. They can build a team around him. He obviously appears to fit the role of a "stopper." I know, I know, the rest of the league hasn't adjusted to him yet.... The kid looks like a great one to me regardless.
He has the potential of being the type of guy who stops losing streaks. He's being compared to a young Glavine, which might be jumping the gun a bit right now, but there is little else to crow about in Pittsburgh these days. He is a real good one for sure.
If he goes like this for another season and stays healthy, he will be compared with Santana, Willis, Glavine and a few others, not many though.
Do we dare mention the 2006 All Star Game yet???
Posts: 4795 | Location: Florida | Registered: December 26, 2002
Look...I am sure if OPP looked in on this conversation he would be pleased on the one hand but nervous on the other that we may be jinxing Zach. I don't believe in that stuff and I am an oldtime Pirate fan at heart. I am talking Clemente, Stargell, Sanguillen, Oliver, (Mazerowski before my time) etc.
I have to call them the way I see them. This is how many of the great ones come onto the scene. I thought of Glavine the first time I saw Zach pitch against Curt Schilling this year. I also thought his ERA may go down in the majors because he now has a major league defense playing behind him. Of course there will be scouting and adjustments will be made. However, I think if Zach continues in this way (not even with the ridiculous ERA he has now) who else would Pittsbugh put in the All Star game next year?
Here are some Braves quotes from the Pitts. Post Gazz:
[...Duke struck out only two, but he seemed more satisfied than when he has fanned eight or nine.
"To be honest," he said, "I felt like I had my best stuff all year."
The Braves would not have disputed that.
"That kid, I don't know how he went in the 20th round," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "Somebody did a good scouting job ... or a bad scouting job. He's as good as they come. He knows what he's doing."
"The Pirates got a gem," third baseman Chipper Jones said. ...]
Zach is definately legit, watching him pitch im amazed at how he hits his spots consistently and makes the pitches he needs to make time after time. Not very many people, even in the majors can do it, and he seems to be doing it very consistently. I'm having fun watching him on sportscenter, thats for sure!
Posts: 227 | Location: Panama City Beach,Florida | Registered: February 20, 2003
If you speak to OPP (you can find him sometimes in the chat room), he will tell you that there is a long road ahead. However, I saw Zach pitch two innings and he does have the composure of a seasoned pitcher. If any of you are wondering why he is so special, he is deceptive, great mechanics, polished, releases just about the same spot every time (as pointed out by Big), and has a very effective CHANGE UP. He also gets into a very good rythym, which is most important. In other words, he is in COMMAND. I don't think he has to pitch in the upper 90's to be effective. I also hear is a fine young man. Zach is the perfect example of why one succeeds as a pitcher, he has all the right "stuff".
So all you dads (and moms) out there, get the little guys off the curve, improve mechanics and teach the fastball and change up!
Posts: 10788 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
TPM - I agree on the upper ninties thing. He has great stuff as it is. I just said it wouldn't surpise me if his velocity goes up from here. I think he would be an excellent pitcher for a young player to model his game after. Especially how he handles himself on the mound.
