Game 30: Pirates at Mets

Maholm and Maine at one.

Pirates have scored more than the other teams (125 to 121) but are five games under .500. Either the coaching has not been so good or more likely, the Pirates have run up the score on some bad bullpens in blowout victories. Probably some of both. For sure we've seen the coaches jeopardize the pitcher's next start to get another inning, with bad results, as in the case of Ian Snell. That's a pretty classic example of inefficiently handling your resources. On the other hand, the resources have not been all that impressive and it's hard to understand how they have outscored the other teams in 29 games.

The Pirates are 12-17 and sharing the basement with Houston.

Game 29: Pirates at Mets

Karstens and Niese at seven. If things get out of hand, consider "Can we induce learned helplessness?" for edutainment.

Game 28: Pirates at Cardinals

Ohlendorf and Wellemeyer today. Bucs are knocking on the cellar door.

Game 27: Pirates at Cardinals

Zach Duke and Mitchell Boggs at eight. A perfectly healthy but recovering Ankiel patiently awaits his head-first assault on the beer fort.

Game 26: Brewers at Pirates

Snell and Suppan as the beer fort smolders.

Game 25: Brewers at Pirates

Gallardo and Maholm at seven.

Pirates have been shut out three of the last four games. Gallardo threw eight scoreless against them last Wednesday; Maholm was hit hard by the Brewers last Tuesday. Despite nine earnies in his last eleven and one-third innings, Maholm is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA.

Game 24: Reds at Pirates

Cueto and Karstens at 1:30.

Pirates are 12-11, have won 5 of the last 10, and are tied up in second with Chicago and Cincinnati, a half-game ahead of the 12-12 Brewers.