7-10-21 – By Gary Morgan
This was a well played ballgame, and sometimes that in and of itself is more bearable than the blowout we watched last night. It’s certainly not the goal but when you watch 14 innings of baseball and can honestly say your team was in it for all 14, you’re having a pretty nice day at the ball yard.
Now, Max Kranick was making his anxiously awaited return to the mound after his perfect debut. His perfection would come to an end rather quickly as Francisco Lindor posited a single into the outfield grass.
Kranick struggled, looked like he was hanging most of his breaking stuff but to his credit, and Jacob Stallings handling of his pitcher allowed him to muscle through 4 innings only giving up 3.
The offense couldn’t get the job done at the end of the day but they stayed close. And Jacob Stallings (who I humbly submit is warming up a bit) did this.
They were in this one til the end but the Mets tacked one more on in the 7th and Diaz was just too much in the bottom half. Bucs fall 4-2 to NY in game two of the twin bill.
Back at it tomorrow afternoon as the Bucs send Chase De Jong to face well, we don’t know it’s this TBA guy, I hear he’s pretty good.
Also be sure to stay tuned tomorrow. Craig Toth will be dropping his big and obviously final Draft Preview. It’s deep, it’s detailed and it’s smart. We can’t wait to share it with you. The draft will start tomorrow night at 7:00 PM on MLB Network and Craig is taking you through the first 4 Bucco Picks. Strap in, this is a big day for the franchise potentially.
To tide you over, check out some things we’ve already put together on the draft.
From Joe Boyd – Draft Deep Dive Using Sim Scores
From Craig Toth – Early look at the field
From Gary Morgan – How does Slotting Work?
News & Notes
- Max Kranick had a tough game tonight but the way he fought though adversity to keep it close shows his maturity. Who knows how this rotation develops, even when, ok if, Anderson is traded you have to figure Brault is just about there. Max has if nothing else made himself part of the conversation going forward.
- Jacob Stallings’ father and former Pitt Head Basketball Coach Kevin Stallings was in attendance tonight in NY, I bet it never gets old seeing your kid pop one no matter how old they get. Speaking of, that homerun (7) is Jake’s career high and he has half a season to go. He’s also already surpassed the most innings he’s ever caught at this level in a season.
- I’ve written it before but hey, just in case. My official prediction is Marcello Mayer with the first overall pick.
- Kevin Newman bunted for a single early in the contest and advanced to third on a sharp single by Hayes and was driven in by Reynolds. This is a perfect example of how Newman can help this team, but he simply has to improve his OBA. He’s making contact but it isn’t leading to getting on often enough
Inside The Bucs Basement 