9 years in the past on October 1, 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds within the Nationwide League wild-card recreation that may simply be probably the most memorable occasion in Buccos historical past.
It wasn’t a lot memorable for the Pirates’ victory that propelled them into the divisional championship however relatively what the followers did that evening particularly to Reds starter Johnny Cueto. In lasting simply 3 1/3 innings, Cueto was on the mound a sufferer of chants of his title by the followers that had been extremely and unbelievably LOUD. Just like the famed Bobby Thomson “shot heard ‘around the world” on October 3, 1951, a walk-off dwelling run by Thomson that gave the New York Giants the Nationwide League pennant over the Dodgers, this occasion in Pittsburgh may as effectively be termed “fan heard ‘around the world.”
For this author, it was probably the most superb occasion I’ve ever witnessed within the 50 years I’ve been following Pittsburgh Pirates baseball. Alongside the way in which, I used to be lucky to observe males like Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Steve Blass, Al Oliver, Andrew Mccutchen, Manny Sanguillen, simply to call a number of. Nonetheless, regardless of the Corridor of Fame gamers that I witnessed, and the 2 World Collection titles I used to be capable of watch and attend (was in any respect 3 video games in 1979 in Pittsburgh), not one night or day recreation matches what I watched and heard on October 1, 2013.
Listening to these superb followers taunting Cueto despatched chills up my backbone due to how superior it actually was. The perfect half nevertheless was what the chanting did to Cueto. These followers obtained inside the top of the Reds starter inflicting him to make mistake after mistake. Within the quick look he made, Cueto surrendered eight hits and 4 earned runs whereas he coughed up two dwelling runs. This in lower than 4 innings of pitching.
It was within the second inning that former Pirate Marlon Byrd smacked a round-tripper off Cueto with Russell Martin within the on-deck circle. Together with his title being heard throughout downtown Pittsburgh and throughout radios and televisions in every single place, Cueto ready to face Martin and with the chants of “Cueto” in his ears, he dropped the ball on the mound. When he resumed pitching with the subsequent toss to Martin, the previous Pirates catcher blasted into the stands for a back-to-back dwelling run and the gang went wild.
Simply look ahead to your self beneath and if you’re a Pittsburgh Pirates fan you possibly can’t inform me 9 years later this nonetheless doesn’t get you fired up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/N1P7-b793m8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/TcLUw3_oN1g
The Pirates had an impressive workforce then however for 22 years prior from 1993 to 2012, the Bucs failed to complete a season above .500. Their newly discovered success in 2013 was short-lived. Successful 94 video games in that illustrious 2013 season they might make the playoffs two extra consecutive seasons successful 88 after which 98 video games earlier than falling again beneath .500 in 2016. In 2018 they obtained a successful season once more successful 82 video games however missed the playoffs and completed in fourth place within the N.L. Central.
Since 2018 the Pirates noticed all these gamers from 2013 head elsewhere and shedding is now once more the norm within the ‘Burgh. This leaves us to marvel no matter grew to become of that beginning 9 for Pittsburgh on October 1, 2013, and the pitchers that threw that evening for the Buccos?
Right here’s the place these males headed and the place some are as we speak.
Pedro Alvarez – As a rookie in 2010, Alvarez was extremely regarded and thought to change into one of many Pirates’ subsequent nice sluggers. In that playoff season of 2013, Alvarez led the Nationwide League in dwelling runs with 36. In six seasons with the Pirates, Pedro Alvarez smashed 131 round-trippers. Following the 2015 season, Alvarez grew to become a free agent and signed on with the Baltimore Orioles. This was after a ultimate marketing campaign in Pittsburgh the place he hit simply .243 and managed solely 27 dwelling runs. It obtained no higher for him as an Oriole the place in three seasons he hit simply .238 with solely 31 dwelling runs. By 2018 Pedro Alvarez was out of Main League Baseball as a participant when the Miami Marlins signed him in December and minimize him on March 25, 2019, when Alvarez opted out of his contract. This 12 months he was employed by the Milwaukee Brewers serving as an assistant to the baseball operations workforce.
Clint Barmes – Barmes was what you may name a “journeyman” in baseball having performed for 4 totally different groups in his 13-year skilled baseball profession. He started in Colorado as a member of the Rockies then performed one season in Houston earlier than spending three seasons in Pittsburgh. A profession .245 hitter, Barmes left the Pirates for the San Diego Padres in 2014 taking part in two seasons earlier than being signed by the Kansas Metropolis Royals in 2016 however by no means made it by means of spring coaching. He formally retired on Might 23, 2016.
Marlon Byrd – For his quick keep in Pittsburgh Marlon Byrd was relatively standard amongst followers. His baseball profession ended nevertheless in a vogue he’s most definitely not pleased with. On June 1, 2016, Byrd was suspended by Main League Baseball for 162 video games on account of a second constructive PED take a look at. At that time when his suspension started he let others know his profession was over. Having endured 15 seasons in Main League Baseball, Marlon Byrd by no means discovered a real dwelling with anybody workforce. You cannot rely the variety of groups he performed for on each arms as his rely is 11 totally different golf equipment (Phillies, Nationals, Rangers, Cubs, Pink DSox, Mets, Pirates, Phillies, Reds, Giants, and the Indians). Nonetheless, Byrd had some respectable seasons spending probably the most time in Philadelphia (5 seasons).
Jason Grilli – Like Marlon Byrd earlier than him, Jason Grilli was throughout Main League Baseball. He practically matches Byrd’s variety of groups to have performed for with 9 (Pirates, Tigers, Rockies, Braves, Rangers, Marlins, Blue Jays, Angels, White Sox). However in his 4 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Grilli saved 47 video games and was a big-time stopper in that 2013 season with 33 saves and 74 Ks in 50 innings pitched. Grilli pitched his final recreation in 2017 whereas taking part in for the Texas Rangers.
Starling Marte – In a transfer that absolutely angered and upset Pirates followers, the entrance workplace traded Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020 for money and infielder Liover Peguero in addition to pitcher Brennan Malone. Tragically, Marte misplaced his spouse to a coronary heart assault in Might 2020 after which this 12 months Marte misplaced his grandmother to a coronary heart assault in the exact same month his spouse had handed, this a girl who basically raised Marte from the age of 9. It was a disgrace to see the Pirates commerce away Marte who left the ‘Burgh with a .287 batting common in eight seasons with the Bucs. A lifetime .289 hitter, Marte did not make it by means of a full season in Arizona and was traded once more to the Oakland A’s in August 2020. As a free agent final 12 months, Marte signed with the New York Mets and finds himself this season on certainly one of baseball’s greatest groups for 2022. This season Marte has performed in 60 video games and is hitting .278 on the time of this text.
Russell Martin – One of many heroes of that Reds wild card recreation was Russell Martin who blasted a Johnny Cueto pitch into the outfield stands for a house run after Cueto dropped the ball whereas prepping on the mound. Martin’s profession started in Los Angeles as a Dodger however would journey to the east coast and signal with the New York Yankees the place he would play two seasons in pinstripes. His subsequent two seasons had been with the Pirates which he abruptly left and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. 5 years later Martin signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers the place he completed his profession in 2019.
Andrew McCutchen – Simply the preferred participant on the workforce on the time and one of the crucial revered gamers in Pirates historical past is Andrew McCutchen. So when the Pirates traded him to the San Francisco Giants in January 2018, ‘Cutch left behind many offended Pirates followers. Not at him however the entrance workplace for buying and selling such an ideal participant. In 9 seasons in Pittsburgh, ‘Cutch slammed 203 dwelling runs and his common was .291. When you didn’t suppose a commerce might have an effect on a participant suppose once more. Since leaving the Pirates McCutchen was traded once more this time to the Yankees by the San Francisco Giants the place he performed out the rest of the season with the pinstripes showing in simply 25 video games. Within the low season of 2018, ‘Cutch grew to become a free agent and subsequently signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. When that contract ended final 12 months, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers the place he’s laying this season.
Justin Morneau – Morneau lasted 14 seasons in Main League Baseball however spent only one season in Pittsburgh. His profession started in Minnesota and completed in Chicago with the White Sox. In between, he had the one season with the Pirates but in addition performed for the Colorado Rockies. Within the playoff season with the Bucs, Morneau performed in simply 25 video games.
Travis Snider – Nicknamed “Lunchbox” for being referred to as a journeyman, Snider was standard amongst followers in Pittsburgh. Snider wore the colours of the Buccos for 4 seasons hitting for a .242 common whereas taking part in in Pittsburgh. A commerce on January 27, 2015, despatched Snider packing to the Baltimore Orioles with the Pirates receiving Stephen Tarpley and Steve Brault in return. Nevertheless, the O’s launched Snider seven months later and he signed a minor league cope with Pittsburgh. In October 2015 Snider opted to change into a free agent and he signed with the Kansas Metropolis Royals the next January. Over the subsequent 5 years, Snider couldn’t discover a everlasting dwelling and bounced round from the Royals to the Rangers, then with the New York Mets through commerce. A free agent once more in 2017, Snider might solely discover a job with the Lengthy Island Geese a workforce within the Atlantic League of Skilled baseball in 2018 and he performed one season there. On January 19, 2019, Snider signed a minor league cope with Arizona Diamondbacks. He grew to become a free agent as soon as once more in November however the next January re-signed with Arizona till they launched him in Might. The Miami Marlin had been subsequent on Snider’s resume however they too launched him in beneath a 12 months. Final 12 months the Atlanta Braves got here calling and he performed in 63 video games for his or her minor league consultant the Gwinnett Braves. After hitting simply .174 the Braves launched him. This previous January Snider lastly introduced his retirement.
Neil Walker – Right here we’ve got the one Pittsburgh native on the 2013 roster. Neil Walker was born and raised in Pittsburgh and a graduate of Pine-Richland Excessive Faculty. The Pirates drafted the native child within the first spherical of the 2004 Main League Baseball draft with the eleventh decide total. Like Andrew McCutchen earlier than him, Neil Walker was immensely standard amongst Pirates followers. The primary seven seasons of his profession had been with the Bucs. Extremely and to the shock and anger of Pirates followers, Walker was dealt to the New York Mets for Jon Niese. Niese lasted lower than one season with Pittsburgh earlier than returning to the Mets after which being out of baseball for good when the season ended. As for Neil Walker, in seven seasons with the Pirates, he had a .272 batting common and slugged 418 dwelling runs. Walker can be traded once more in 2017 when the Mets made a cope with the Milwaukee Brewers. A season later as a free agent, Neil Walker signed with the New York Yankees. As Walker saved signing one-year free company offers, in 2019 he moved himself to the Miami Marlins the place he once more agreed to phrases for only one season. As a free agent in 2019, Walker signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 22, 2020. The Phils despatched him all the way down to the minors in September which Walker refused to conform and he grew to become a free agent once more. The next April with out a workforce, Neil Walker retired.
The attention-grabbing story about Neil Walker evolves not round him however his father Tom. In 1972 Walker was taking part in as a rookie for the Montreal Expos and was on a winter league workforce in Puerto Rico a teammate of the good Roberto Clemente. Studying about Clemente’s deliberate humanitarian aircraft journey to assist survivors of an earthquake in Nicaragua, Walker approached Clemente and provided to help and accompany him to Nicaragua. However #21 informed him to remain behind and revel in his New 12 months’s Eve. The remaining is historical past as everyone knows Clemente perished on that aircraft when it crashed. Had Clemente agreed and Walker obtained on that aircraft, he too would have died and Neil Walker would by no means have been born.
Tony Watson – Watson is yet one more participant who obtained his begin in MLB with Pittsburgh however failed to remain there. As soon as once more, Pittsburgh Pirates are left scratching their heads as to what passed off with this 2013 Pirates workforce. Simply as what was finished with McCutchen and Walker amongst others, Watson was traded away in 2017 this time the receiving workforce was the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates making an attempt to rebuild had been handed, Angel German and Oneil Cruz. German by no means made it to the bigs and is now out of baseball. Cruz did seem in 12 video games with the Pirates final season and is on the common roster this season however is hitting simply .211. For Watson, he grew to become a free agent after his stint with the Dodgers and headed to the rival Giants. From there he signed with the Los Angels for a part of one season earlier than being traded again to San Francisco the place he referred to as it quests following the season.
Jason Grilli – Jason Grilli constructed a status as a flame-throwing aid pitcher whose highest save complete for his profession got here in that 2013 season with the Pirates. Ending with 33 saves that 12 months, Grilli additionally performed probably the most years of his profession in Pittsburgh and Detroit (4). Like Marlon Byrd earlier than him, Jason Grilli was throughout Main League Baseball. He practically matches Byrd’s variety of groups to have performed for with 9 (Pirates, Tigers, Rockies, Braves, Rangers, Marlins, Blue Jays, Angels, White Sox). However in his 4 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Grilli saved 47 video games and was a big-time stopper in that 2013 season with 33 saves and 74 Ks in 50 innings pitched. Grilli pitched his final recreation in 2017 whereas taking part in for the Texas Rangers. In the long run of his 79 profession saves, 33 had been with the Pirates.
Francisco Liriano – One other participant from that 2013 workforce that’s now not taking part in in Main League Baseball is Liriano. He did play in 14 seasons, 5 of them with the Pirates. His profession started in Minnesota and after his stint with the Pirates, he performed for Toronto, Detroit, Houston, and the Chicago White Sox earlier than quitting the sport in 2019. His time with the Pirates, nevertheless, obtained off to an odd begin when after inking a two-year cope with Pittsburgh, Liriano was goofing round along with his children throughout Christmas 2012 and in making an attempt to scare them he broke his non-throwing arm. His contract was voided due to the damage however he later signed a brand new deal the next February. Liriano was one of many Bucs’ greatest pitchers in 2013 if not their ace ending the season with a received/loss file of 16-8 and a pleasant .302 ERA. He additionally struck out 163 batters in 161 innings of labor. These 16 wins had been probably the most of his profession for one season. As soon as once more one other commerce passed off. Liriano was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays with Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez for one participant…Drew Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s profession by no means panned out with the Pirates because the commerce was deemed a failure and the newly acquired pitcher spent extra time with Pittsburgh’s farm groups than he did within the bigs in 2017 he grew to become a free agent and for the subsequent three seasons frolicked on the rosters of the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, and with a minor league workforce in Milwaukee referred to as the “Milkmen.: Hutchinson took one final stab at Main League Baseball in 2021 signing with the Detroit Tigers who despatched him all the way down to the minors and he spent solely a restricted time making appearances within the majors. This 12 months he’s nonetheless with Detroit however nonetheless of their farm system.
The gamers listed above all performed in that wild card victory over Cincinnati and the boxscore from that Pirates victory seems beneath.
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