The easiest response to a 15-5 loss in which Jaff Decker throws a scoreless inning is probably to laugh. You know the tropes here — a 15-5 loss is the same as a 1-0 loss, and seeing a sub-six-foot outfielder sling 82 mph fastballs towards Major League hitters is never not hilarious.
The problem, of course, is that this entire situation was created by AJ Burnett being able to hit 90 mph with his fastball until he got mad at Joe West in the third or fourth inning (I don’t remember, to be honest). He’s now made three starts since the All-Star Break and allowed six, five, and eight runs on 11, 11, and 10 hits. With Charlie Morton struggling, too, the Pirate rotation suddenly looks awfully thin and the words JOE BLANTON are flashing in my brain.
Also, the Pirates are now 2-8 against the Reds. How is that even possible? Try again tomorrow, I guess.
Photo credit: Jamie Sabau, Getty Images
