importance of the set piece as attacking platforms

CINCINNATI -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost seven of 11 and are clinging to slim hopes of securing one of the two National League wild card spots. The Pirates trail by six games for the coveted second spot and have three teams to leapfrog.Injuries have been a common theme. Gerrit Cole was shut down for the season this week. The Pirates have used 54 players this season, eclipsing the franchise record of 52 in 2011.We did set the record, and we gave it some gap, right? manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday. Im guessing we need to be done. If we need any more, I think weve got another challenge on our hands.The Pirates playoff chase continues Friday when they begin a four-game series against the Reds at Great American Ball Park, where more protective gear might be needed.Over the past four seasons, Reds pitchers have hit 51 batters, including 18 this season, the most by any major league staff against any opponent. Pirates pitchers have hit 45 Reds batters, including nine in 2016, second-most of any staff.And, Pittsburgh doesnt just plunk the Reds.Over the past four seasons, Pirates pitchers lead the major leagues in number of batters hit. Going into their series finale on Wednesday at Philadelphia, the Pirates had hit 295 batters, following by the Reds 264 and White Sox 243.Taking aim on Friday will be right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, whos 5-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 22 career appearances including 12 starts.Vogelsongs last outing against Cincinnati didnt go well. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits and walked three in an 8-0 loss at PNC Park on Sunday.He missed nearly two months after being struck near the left eye by a Jordan Lyles pitch on May 23. He suffered facial fractures but managed to return in early August.Right-hander Robert Stephenson, one of the Reds top pitching prospects, will make his fifth career appearance and third start since he was promoted in September.Stephenson was the first Reds pitcher to win his first two major league starts since Larry Luebbers in 1993.The Pirates come in with some momentum after Andrew McCutchen hit two homers in a 15-2 win at Philadelphia.Cincinnati has gone 30-26 since the All-Star break, including winning five of its last six. But, the Reds do have some injuries with shortstop Zack Cozart missing four games with a sore knee and center fielder Billy Hamilton out indefinitely with a strained left oblique.Its always a high-tension affair when these two NL Central rivals square off, and this seasons series has been evenly played. Pittsburgh has gone 7-8 this season against the Reds including 2/3 at Great American Ball Park.On Saturday, theyll play a day-night doubleheader. The first game beginning at 12:10 p.m. EST will make up the May 10 game which was rained out. The second game will begin at approximately 6:10 p.m. Larry Fitzgerald Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Darius Philon Jersey . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-brandon-williams-jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Vincent Valentine Jersey .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Damiere Byrd Jersey . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Michael Cheika denies compromising the Wallabies lineout with the surprise selection of Ben McCalman for Saturday nights Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks.McCalmans inclusion as blindside flanker - not his specialist position - comes at the expense of the ever dependable Scott Fardy and leaves Australias back-row short of genuine jumpers.Fardy secured an equal-best 12 lineout throws for the Wallabies during last years tournament and, at 198cm, gave the back-row important height to complement shorter ball-pilfering dynamos Michael Hooper and David Pocock.At 192cm, McCalman brings a different skill set, chiefly strength and mongrel, and Cheika has no doubts the rugged performer will step up at the set piece too.Bens performed really well in the lineout, the coach said.Weve been working on a few things there and hes shown his quality there and we know that New Zealand are the best lineout defenders in the game.So were going to have to be on our money tactically in what we do there and then each one in his role, Ben included, when the games on in the heat of batttle, really clear on what their job is inside of our lineout.ddddddddddddheika admits McCalman will likely pack down at the back of the scrum sometimes to allow Pocock, picked again at No.8 to accommodate fellow openside specialist Hooper, to serve as a second flanker.Theyre pretty interchangeable now, the three lads. They can all play in the different spots and well probably have a few variations of where everyone stands, Cheika said.All Blacks coach Steve Hansen acknowledged the importance of the set p