In the dark

Get out your candlesticks.

The Bucs should consider pausing games with transformer explosions when they're losing, especially on SkyBlast.

Early Bucco Christmas

First Frodo, now Sean Casey.

NFL week 12-13: wins

One has to wonder when the NFL will realize that these essentially meaningless games could be more efficiently replaced with a playoff bye system where superior teams like the Steelers wouldn't have to go through the motions of the regular season.

Astros demoted to AL

Good riddance.

Occupy First Place

The tents are restful up here.

NFL week 10: Steelers 24, Bengals 17

Nowhere better to rest than first place.

NFL week 9: Ravens at Steelers

Missed the last minute or so of this one, but am celebrating the magical victory. For no reason however, as these pre-playoff games don't matter much either way.

NFL week 8: Patriots at Steelers

Enjoying Arizona's beat-down of Baltimore as a pre-game appetizer. Go Whis.

NFL week 7: Steelers 32, Cardinals 20

The eternal defending World Champion Steelers are in first place. Again.

World Series: Bye

The Bucs will face the winner of the Rangers vs. Cardinals in the World Championship. For now, rest.

NFL week 6: Steelers 17, Jaguars 13

Steelers win, but Tomlin needs work on his really strong, slap, grab handshake.

NLCS: Bye

The Bucs are resting peacefully, passed out at a red light with their shirts untucked.

NFL week 5: Titans at Steelers

Starks wins game ball, Couch Nation celebrates.

NLDS: Bye

The Bucs rest up during their bye and watch the other playoff teams fight for second place.

NFL Week 4: Steelers at Texans

Ben would get more rest on a segway than on crutches.

Game 162: Pirates at Brewers

Congratulations to the World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates! Ever since the Bucs were in first place, it's been hard to believe such a magically entertaining year.

Game 161: Pirates at Brewers

New guy Matt Pagnozzi is no stranger to the BUNT.

Game 160: Pirates at Brewers

One of the Charlie Mortons is leading the Pirates to a 4-2 advantage in this one, now in the fourth.

NFL Week 3: Steelers at Colts

Steelers look to keep the magical season rolling with a big win tonight on SNF.

Game 159: Reds at Pirates

Although our statistical analyses will be presented behind the pay wall at HW-plus, it's looking like if you correct for missed BUNTs and baserunning gaffes, the Pirates will represent the NL in the World Series. Again.

Game 158: Reds at Pirates

Four score and seven months ago, the Bucs also won 70% of their games.

Game 157: Reds at Pirates

John Locke will try to BUNT the Bucs over the 70% winning percentage mark that they haven't touched since 2004. Good times.

Playoffs

Players and fans should use the off day to rest up for the Bucs' first round bye.

Game 156: Pirates at D-backs

Ohlendorf will clinch home field advantage this afternoon.

Game 155: Pirates at D-backs

Blissful rest to prepare for the playoffs continues.

The Bucs are just two games away from clinching a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Game 154: Pirates at D-backs

The Bucs will rest most of their starters tonight for the playoffs. Game starts at 9:40.

Off day

The Bucs take the day off today. Yeah, that's it.

NFL Game 1: Seahawks at Steelers

Steelers up 14-0 in the second quarter in the season opener.

Game 152: Pirates at Dodgers

McDonald and Lilly starting soon.

The Bucs are 10 bunts back and it feels like the season is starting to slip away.

Game 151: Pirates at Dodgers

There will be baseball tonight, in Los Angeles, after the children are all in bed.

Locke and Kuroda will start.

Game 150: Pirates at Dodgers

Ohlendorf just hit a three-run dinger, putting the Bucs up 4-1 in the second.

Game 149: Cardinals at Pirates

Late in a day game, and the Pirates are working on their 82nd loss 68th win.

Game 148: Cardinals at Pirates

Karstens and Carpenter at seven.

The Cardinals are 6.5 games back, passed out at a red light.

Game 147: Cardinals at Pirates

Lincoln and Lohse at seven. The Cards are six games back in the division and 4.5 games back in the wild-card, and unlike the Bucs, have not yet clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Game 146: Marlins at Pirates

Huntington extended three years. Bucs lose again.

Last preseason game

The Steelers will use today's last meaningless preseason game to experiment with different looks, like turning the ball over many many times.

Game 145: Marlins at Pirates

Troy Polamalu will retire a Steeler.

Game 144: Marlins at Pirates

Nolasco and Ohlendorf at seven.

Pirates are 66-77 with football season starting any day now.

Off day

Take a day off.

Game 143: Astros at Pirates

Burres and Happ at seven. If it wasn't for Happ, this entire contest would be hapless.

Game 142: Astros at Pirates

When Moskos strikes somebody out, even if no bunts are laid down the entire evening, the Bucs WIN in my book.

Game 141: Astros at Pirates

Sosa and McDonald after this delay.

Pirates are 64-76. Will need to finish 17-6 to break even.

Game 140: Pirates at Cubs

Morton and Wells at 2:20.

Welcome back, Long Balls.

Game 139: Pirates at Cubs

Ross Ohlendorf and Gary Coleman at one. Lee and McCutchen return.

Game 138: Pirates at Cubs

Brian Burres and Ryan Dempster at 2:20, with win #63 on the line.

Game 137: Dodgers at Pirates

Lincoln and Eveland at four.

The Bucs need to win one game to prevent another 100-loss season.

Game 136: Pirates at Astros

McDonald and Happ at eight. Happ has won 4 games and lost 15.

Advantage: Bucs (for being Happ-less).

Game 135: Pirates at Astros

Charlie Morton and Henry Sosa face off at eight. The maximum number of strikeouts per 9 inning game is 54.

Game 134: Pirates at Astros

Ross and Wandy at eight. The hapless Astros are 44-90.

Game 133: Pirates at Cardinals

Pirates down 5-4 in the fifth.

Game 132: Pirates at Cardinals

Lincoln and Carpenter at 4.

Pirates are 17 games out of first and 9 games under .500.

Game 131: Pirates at Cardinals

McDonald and Westbrook at eight.

After the game, maybe someone will take a nap in a car, at a stoplight.

Game 130: Pirates at Cardinals

Morton and Jackson at 8:15. The Bucs must win to keep playoff hopes alive.

Game 129: Brewers at Pirates

Aaron Thompson, seven year minor league veteran, makes his MLB debut at 12:35. Speaking of seven, the Pirates will try to not give up that many runs in one inning again this week.

Game 128: Brewers at Pirates

Return of Ohlendorf at seven. Speaking of seven, the Brewers will try to not give up that many runs in one inning again this week.

Game 126 and 127: Brewers at Pirates

Don't untuck yet, doubleheader today.

Game 125: Reds at Pirates

Leake and McDonald starting any time now.

The start has been delayed, but it looks like they will get this one in.

Game 124: Reds at Pirates

Iron Balls and one of the Charlie Mortons try to derail the D-train starting soon.

Game 123: Reds at Pirates

Correia and Bailey at seven with third place on the line.

Off day

No game today. Reds this weekend at home, and then more Brewers.

Game 122: Cardinals at Pirates

Paul, please pitch around Pujols.

Game 121: Cardinals at Pirates

Karstens and Carpenter at seven. If Newly-Acquired-Upside somehow counted as runs, the Bucs win this game by 100.

Cole and Bell sign

SI's Jon Heyman reports. Wow. We are having a Slot-Busting Party on the roof of the Beer Fort. Upside for everyone!

Game 120: Cardinals at Pirates

McDonald and Westbrook at seven.

Meanwhile, the draft deadline hovers at midnight. Must. Sign. Upside.

Game 119: Pirates at Brewers

Morton and Marcum at two. From deep within the Beer Fort, I smell a WIN.

Game 118: Pirates at Brewers

Correia and Erik Estrada at four. Derrek Lee texts Armando Rios with his one good hand.

Game 117: Pirates at Brewers

Maholm and hidden vigorish take on Greinke at eight with the pennant on the line. Prepare to untuck.

Off day

The Bucs rest today, and watch video of Nyjer Morgan in preparation for the Brewers tomorrow.

The losing streak not surprisingly has hurt the playoff odds, which have dipped to 75.5%.

Game 116: Pirates at Giants

Karstens vs. Sanchez in a day game. Bucs must win to keep playoff hopes alive.

Game 115: Pirates at Giants

McDonald and Bumgarner at ten.

We shudder to think that before yesterday an entire cohort of zero-to-ten-day-olds had never tasted a WIN.

Game 114: Pirates at Giants

Charlie Morton swaggers into San Francisco to take on the New and Improved Ryan Vogelsong and Jeff Keppinger at ten. Playoff implications abound.

Game 113: Padres at Pirates

Correia and Latos this afternoon. The Bucs need to swagger and BUNT to victory.

Game 112: Padres at Pirates

Skyblast! Bad baseball to be followed by even worse music. Game starts soon.

Maholm and Iron Balls take on some no-name guy. Pedro gets the night off. Derrek Lee is busy in the trainer's room, reading texts from Armando Rios.

Game 111: Padres at Pirates

Karstens hosts the Harangutan and the last-place hapless Padres at seven.

We just got the Win Meter back from the shop, and it's glowing green and beeping loudly.

Game 110: Cubs at Pirates

McDonald and Lopez at seven.

It would be magically exciting to see Ludwick BUNT. Again.

Game 109: Cubs at Pirates

Home Run Derby, featuring only Derrek "Long Balls" Lee (aka Operation Moonshot), starts tonight at seven. One of the Charlie Mortons will pitch.

All four wings of the Beer Fort are either on fire or smoldering. Must. Win. Now.

Game 108: Cubs at Pirates

Derrek Lee Home Run Derby starts at seven.

We're still working on a new nickname for the 2011 World Series MVP. Leon? D-Manlee? D-Leong Ball? Jose DeLeeong Ball? Derrek Ballgame? Bill MazeroskLee? Roberto ClementLee? WilLee Stargell?

Game 107: Cubs at Pirates

Derrek Lee, Ryan Ludwick, and Maholm lead the new look Bucs vs. Zambrano at seven.

Game 106: Pirates at Phillies

Karstens and Worley starting now. Overbay gets his likely final start at 1B with Lee joining the team tomorrow. With the deadline approaching, no other trades reported yet.

Bucs trade for Derrek Lee

Bucs trade minor league 1B Aaron Baker to the Orioles for Derrek Lee and cash, the Baltimore Sun reports.

The only red flag here is that Derrek Lee has not laid down a bunt since 2004, and has only 2 in nearly 8000 plate appearances. As long as D-Lee is willing to work within the new system and work on his bunting game, this is a huge win for the Bucs and their playoff roster.

Game 105: Pirates at Phillies

McDonald and Lee at seven.

Iron Balls McKenry: 666 OPS on the season, 790 OPS in July, 935 OPS the last seven days.

Game 104: Pirates at Phillies

Roy Halladay and one of his clones, a Charlie Morton, at seven.

Andrew McCutchen #2 in NL for WAR.

Game 103: Pirates at Braves

Correia, Lowe, and (hopefully) the return of Iron Balls at seven.

Game 102: Pirates at Braves

Maholm and Jurrjens at seven.

Last night's six-hour, nineteen-inning game ended with the most egregious blown call, in any sport, I've ever seen. I've watched a lot of sports. Seriously, that has to be the worst call by a baseball umpire ever.

Game 101: Pirates at Braves

Karstens, Pedro, and Fort Iron City Balls take on the Hanson Brothers at seven.

Game 100: Pirates at Braves

McDonald and Hudson at seven.

First place again. Playoff odds rising.

Game 99: Cardinals at Pirates

Lohse and Morton at 1:30.

Kids Jose Tabata jersey day.

This is a real public service for all thirteen-year-old boys out to impress the college girls.

Game 98: Cardinals at Pirates

Garcia and Correia at seven.

Pirates will wear the Grays uniforms.

I will do the same in the beer fort, and juggle sparklers afterwards.

Game 97: Cardinals at Pirates

Friday at seven: Carpenter and Maholm.

Pirates are six games up, and they should be getting some players back over the weekend.

I am curious to see how anticipated whipping-boy Pedro Alvarez would fare if promoted to the Show to work on that 587 OPS. Any talk about bringing him up should be grounded in the fact that his 2011 season has been a huge bust to date. It's not Ryan Braun we'd be getting back.

That said, I was looking around at various pre-season projections and whatever he did in 2010, was clearly promising for a man his age. ZIPS suggested a 116 OPS+ and 116 RBI with 28 HRs in a near-full season. Alvarez looks like the kind of player a budget-minded team would trade for--the next Andy Laroche, maybe.

The Pirates should give him another shot with that in mind. Some of these guys will be for real, and the opportunity to be the team that finds out, is a valuable one that is not to be squandered, especially when Ronny Cedeno might be the third or fourth best hitter on the active roster. He's up to a 924 OPS at AAA. I'd like to see him recalled when hot and then, if he does not hit much in a week, sent down again. I'm not sure if that is practical in terms of minor-league options etc., but this team does not hit so well that they can afford to keep Alvarez down there, destroying minor-league pitching.

Game 96: Reds at Pirates

Cueto and Karstens at 12:30.

Game 95: Reds at Pirates

Leake and McDonald at seven.

Good $60 seats available in the baseball club level.

Standing tall

The Pirates not only in sole possession of first place -- a half game over the Brewers and the Cardinals -- they are also a good six games above .500.

Game 94: Pirates at Reds

Willis and McDonald at seven.

Pirates are 49-44, and a half-game back of the Cardinals.

The simulations give the Reds a greater chance (~81%) at the playoffs. The Reds are a little more worthy than the hapless Astros, making this series an important test.

It will help answer the question, never far from my mind: "Will the Pirates squeak into the playoffs, or will they win 105 games, like they did last year?"

Game 93: Pirates at Umps

Pirates could have done a lot of things better last night, sure.

Correia and Rodriguez at two.

Game 92: Pirates at Astros

Game on at seven.

Maholm and Norris to start.

First Place Party

Going on up here.

Game 91: Pirates at Astros

Karstens and Myers at eight. The Bucs are one game back.

Now that the burgeoning baseball market in Pittsburgh could support two MLB franchises, why not move the hapless 30-62 Astros to the AL, as the Pittsburgh Astros? We wouldn't cover them here, of course, but at least they'd have fans show up to make noise.

All Star Break

That's right, take a break.

Game 90: Cubs at Pirates

Last call before the All-Star break.

Old Ramon Ortiz and Paul Maholm at 1:30.

Also Kid's Peirogy Wind-Up Racer Day.

Game 89: Cubs at Pirates

The hapless Cubs will try again at 7.

Cryin' Dempster and Cy Correia to start.

After the game, more sparklers and an eight-track.

Beer Fort McHenry

Surprised but cannot disagree with Dejan Kovacevic's case that last night's homer was the best of the sad, short history of PNC Park.

Game 88: Cubs at Pirates

Last nights' loss mucked up my Skyblast. Hall & Oates tape would not play, and the sparklers burnt holes in both the carpet and the leather sofa. Not entertained.

Nevermind. More than 24 hours to prepare for the next game.

Friday at seven: Lopez and McDonald as the Pirates gun for their 46th win.

Game 87: Astros at Pirates

Norris and a Morton at seven.

After the win, here in the beer fort, our own private Skyblast (beer, Hall & Oates tape, juggling sparklers).

Game 86: Astros at Pirates

Wandy and Karstens at seven.

Pirates are a game and a half back of St. Louis and three games over .500.

Game 85: Astros at Pirates

Myers, Maholm, and a whole bunch of Chuck Tanner floppy hats at one thirty.

Game 84: Pirates at Nationals

Correia and Marquis at 1:30.

Pirates are 42-41, 2.5 games back of the Brewers and Cardinals.

Game 83: Pirates at Nationals

Game two in progress.

Bottom of the second with Brad Lincoln auditioning for a role on the playoff roster.

Nats up 1-0.

Game 82: Pirates at Nationals

It was a regular pistol-whipping as the Pirates took game one of this doubleheader.

Game 81: Pirates at Nationals

Coasting into the middle point of the season, the Pirates are on pace for 98 wins.

They take their big, powerful-looking big bats into Washington, where our starters will stand tall against the slouchy National pitchers.

One of the Charlie Mortons and Tom Gorzelanny at seven.

Game 80: Pirates at Blue Jays

After a minor setback, the Pirates continue their dominance of the hapless, banjo-hitting AL.

Karstens and Cecil to start. Game on at 7.

Game 79: Pirates at Blue Jays

This dominance of the hapless AL continues tonight at 7pm.

Maholm and Morrow will start.

Game 78: Pirates at Blue Jays

Top of the fifth, Pirates up 6-3.

Perez and Correia are pitching.

Off day

Pirates get a day off to pack things for the trip to Toronto.

Game 77: Red Sox at Pirates

McDonald and Miller starting soon.

The Bucs don't want to tip their hand since these teams will likely meet again in the playoffs, so some of the backups are playing.

Game 76: Red Sox at Pirates

Return of Wakefield tonight at seven.

Flattery is rooting around in somebody's dumpster, finding something you like, then using it for 17 years.

Game 75: Bucs 3, Red Sox 1

If the league was realigned into overall talent tiers, the elite teams like the Bucs, Red Sox, and Yankees would get to play each other more often.

Still three back.

Three back

The Bucs are off today, and just three out of first place.

Game 74: Orioles at Pirates

To have any chance for the Cy Young, Kevin Correia must beat Zach Britton today. Game starts at 12:35.

The latest odds of the Bucs winning the division have dipped to 30%. Again: Must. Win. Game.

Game 73: Orioles at Pirates

Pirates have four runs after 2, which is pretty impressive, the way they have been hitting.

Woody Guthrie and James McDonald are the pitchers.

Pirates are back to being two games under .500 and need the win, of course, as always.

Game 72: Orioles at Pirates

Another match-up I'd like to see much more often.

But not with this result. Orioles lead 7-0 in the bottom of the second.

Bad Charlie started. Jake Arrieta pitching for the 5's and 2's.

Game 71: Pirates at Indians

Karstens and Masterson starting soon. Offensive call-ups and trade acquisitions still en route.

Game 70: Pirates at Indians

Pirates still above .500.

Paul Maholm and Hector Carrasco at 7.

Game 69: Pirates at Indians

Correia and Tomlin at seven.

Pirates are 35-33; the Indians, who once had the best record in all baseball, are 36-31.

How great would it be if these two teams were division rivals. The Indians could be the Browns of baseball.

Game 68: Pirates at Astros

The winning Pirates take on the hapless Astros again.

Game starts in about half an hour. McDonald and Lyles are the starters.

Time to start brainstorming about who the Pirates will add, at the trade deadline, for the defense of their national championship.

Those Mets had a pretty good-looking catcher who might be available, given the pathetic down-on-their-luck condition of that scandal-plagued franchise.

Game 67: Pirates at Astros

One of the Charlie Mortons takes on Happless tonight at eight.

The Bucs are 33-33 and four games out of first place. Playoff odds are 75.5%.

Game 66: Bucs 1, Astros 0

We raise our glasses to the proposed league realignment, and the day the mighty Bucs won't have to regularly play the hapless last-place Astros.

Game 65: Mets at Pirates

Maholm and Pelfrey at seven.

In other news, all hail new Trib columnist Dejan Kovacevic, who now has a free blog, reports Bucs have signed a new catcher, thinks Huntington should be extended, and like me, cried* outside after Bream's slide (* very briefly in our case).

Game 64: Mets at Pirates

Was mighty entertained by last night's game. McCutchen took that HBP like a chambpion.

Today it is Chris Capuano and Huntington's Correia at one-thirty.

Game 63: Mets at Pirates

McDonald, Dickey, and Ronny Ballgame open up for Zambelli Fireworks and Huey Lewis and the News. Prepare to be entertained.

Game 62: Mets at Pirates

The Pirates welcome the Mets to town.

Gee and Morton at seven.

Game 61: D'backs at Pirates

Collmenter and Karstens for the white-hot Lumber Company. At 7.

Game 60: Bucs win!

Bucs clinch the pennant with a dramatic clutch Cutch jack in the 12th! And many beverages ensued.

Game 59: D'backs at Pirates

Dion Hudson and Cy Correia at seven.

In a Cole sweat

The World Champion Bucs came in first place in the draft today, and selected UCLA RHP Gerrit Cole. Despite the big, powerful Cole not being the best bunter on his college team, we are penciling him in to start Game 1 of the 2015 World Series.

On Pittsburgh, Cole aptly notes the "...fans are unbelievable." We raise our glass to young Gerrit, who sorely needs a nickname. Stone Cole?

Game 58: Phillies at Pirates

It's a beautiful day for another beatdown of the hapless Phillies.

McDonald and Halladay at 1:30.

Game 57: Phillies at Pirates

Dion Kendrick and a Charlie Morton at seven.

Pirates are 27-29 and 5 1/2 games out.

Game 56: Phillies at Pirates

Hamels and Karstens at seven.

Game 55: Pirates at Mets

The entertainment continues this afternoon.

Maholm and Pelfrey at one.

Game 54: Pirates at Mets

Cy Correia and Dion Capuano at seven.

I looked but could not find Josh Harrison on the All-Star Ballot. Maybe I'm spelling his name wrong?

Game 53: Pirates at Mets

Game underway. Mets 1, Entertainment 0 in the fifth or something.

Game 52: Pirates at Mets

At seven, one of the Charlie Mortons and Dion Gee in the House of Madoff.

Game 51: Pirates at Cubs

Pirates continue to play possum, bobbing along just under .500. And the Cubs are making it tough for them to continue to lay low. The difference between the two teams is just that striking.

Karstens and Dempster will start. Game on at 2:20pm.

Look for Iowa Pirate in the crowd. No description necessary -- you'll know him when you see him.

Game 50: Pirates at Cubs

Today, the Pirates continue their pounding of the hapless Cubs.

Paul Maholm will get the win.

Game 49: Pirates at Cubs

Tomorrow at 2pm, Correia and Davis to start.

Correia should be primed to re-assert his frontrunner status for the NL Cy Young award.

Game 48: Braves at Pirates

Bucs BUNT but lose? If the Bucs are going to average 1 run per game, they will need to draft many more talented pitchers.

Game 47: Braves at Pirates

Game on. Jurrgens and one of those Charlie Mortons.

Game 46: Tigers at Pirates

Maholm and Porcello starting soon as the Bucs try to get back to .500.

Steve Pearce gets the start at 3B for the raptured Pedro Alvarez.

Game 45: Tigers at Pirates

Scherzer and Correia at seven.

Nice day for a ballgame.

Game 44: Tigers at Pirates

Somewhere in the award-winning archives I have a proposal for radical MLB realignment, with Detroit and Pittsburgh in the same division.

Little-known fact: Jerome Bettis is from Detroit.

Baseball game is on. No score last I checked.

Game 43: Pirates at Reds

BUNT. Win. Again.

Playoff odds rising.

Game 42: Pirates at Reds

A Charlie Morton with Bronson Arroyo for the upstart Reds, at seven.

Game 41: Pirates at Nationals

Maholm and Lannan in this preview of a likely playoff match-up.

Game at seven.

Game 40: Pirates at Brewers

Correia and Greinke starting soon.

The Bucs own the hapless Brewers so hopefully the umps can keep this one close today.

Game 39: Pirates at Brewers

Karstens and Narveson at four.

Game 38: Pirates at Brewers

After last night's rainout, the Pirates remain a game under.

McDonald and Gallardo at eight.

Game 38: Dodgers at Pirates

18-19, but still three games back of St. Louis.

Maybe the Cardinals fell asleep at the wheel, waiting for the light to change.

Jon Garland and a Charlie Morton at seven.

Game 37: Dodgers at Pirates

Bucs at 18-18, three games behind St. Louis.

Kuroda and Maholm at seven.

Game 36: Dodgers at Pirates

Lilly and Correia at seven.

Beer fort in magnificent shape.

Game 35: Dodgers at Pirates

The Pirates, at 17-17, are moving in on first place in the NL Central.

The Dodgers, at 16-19, must envy the stable leadership of the Nutting family.

Billingsley and Karstens will start. Game on at seven.

Game 34: Astros at Pirates

McDonald and Happ at 1:35 as the Bucs attempt the unthinkable.

Call your mother.

Game 33: Astros at Pirates

Norris and a Charlie Morton at seven.

Game 32: Astros at Pirates

Pirate nemesis Wandy Rodriguez and playoff MVP Paul Maholm at seven.

Pirates are a game under .500 and 2 1/2 out of first.

Game 31: Pirates at Padres

Bucs win 7-4 against the hapless last-place Padres.

Cy Young candidate Correia leads the NL with 5 wins.

Game 30: Pirates at Padres

Game start at ten. Karstens and Latos.

Pirates are one game under .500 and two games out of first.

This despite some disappointing numbers in the HBP department. Hurdle should coach them up on this. Can't spell "Champbion" without HBP.

Game 29: Pirates at Padres

Bucs up 4-2 at the end of the seventh. No bunts yet.

Game 28: Pirates at Rockies

One of the two Charlie Mortons takes on Ubaldo starting soon. Amezaga gets the start and bats second for the Rockies.

Game 27: Pirates at Rockies

A historic night, as Maholm, Hammel, and Amezaga usher in the Danny Moskos Era.

Game 26: Pirates at Rockies

Huntington's Correia and Shawn Chacon at 8:40.

Looking forward to the day when the Pirates play at Straub Field or Dogfish Head Field.

2011 NFL draft

While we were sleeping, the Steelers have been adding some players.

Game 25: Giants at Pirates

Day game,--Vogelsong (!) and Karstens at 12:30.

Game 24: Giants at Pirates

Bumgardener and McDonald at seven.

McDonald should have a killer 2012 Topps ATTAX card.

Game 23: Giants at Pirates

Cain and Morton sometime later.

Chance of a rain delay, I imagine.

Game 22: Nationals at Pirates

Maholm gets the win against Adam LaRoche, Sean Burnett, and Brian Bixler. Bucs are two games out of first.

Game 21: Nationals at Pirates

The resurrected Kevin Correia takes on Jason Marquis today, at a time only the Bucs know.

Game 20: Nationals at Pirates

Karstens and Hernandez at seven.

The Bucs are 8-3 when they successfully BUNT, and 0-8 when they fail to do so. Baseball is not rocket science.

Game 19: Pirates at Marlins

Florida vacation continues with McDonald and Volstad starting soon.

Game 18: Pirates at Marlins

Morton and Nolasco in fifteen minutes.

Game 17: Pirates at Marlins

Maholm and Johnson at seven.

The white-hot Bucs are in first place.

Game 16: Pirates at Reds

The streaking Pirates send out Kevin Correia to pistol-whip the hapless Reds and their starter, Kerry Wood.

Game on at seven.

Game 15: Pirates at Reds

Pirates flashing their 2010 form as the season gets rolling.

Karstens and Volquez at one.

Game 14: Pirates at Reds

McDonald and Leake at one.

McDonald will eat some innings today we predict.

Game 13: Pirates at Reds

Morton and Arroyo at seven.

After getting clubbed and tazed at home, the defending World Champion Bucs need to tuck their jerseys back in, and trust that their hard work in spring training will pay off and move runners from station-to-station.

Game 12: Brewers at Pirates

Game on. Brewers up 2-0 in the sixth. Maholm and Wolf started, and are still in the game.

Game 11: Brewers at Pirates

Correia and Marcum at seven. Beer and bunting at eight and nine. More beer, billy clubs, and tasers at ten. Every day, I think I need to do something.

Off day

Nothing to see here.

Game 10: Rockies at Pirates

McDonald and Chacin starting soon.

The Bucs might not be able to afford Manny Ramirez or Dodger killer Larry Walker to intimidate Jim Tracy in the on-deck circle. If so, they could sign Jose Hernandez to stand in the circle to flex and pose, causing Tracy to pay zero attention to the game.

Game 9: Rockies at Pirates

Reynolds and Morton at seven.

Regarding McCutchen's appearance in the on-deck circle late last night -- as described here by MLB.com writer Thomas Harding --

Behind Tabata was the pitcher's spot, and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had no choice but to go with Olson, 1-for-6 in nine career at-bats. The last Bucs reliever remaining, Evan Meek, was not available to throw, Hurdle revealed after the game.

Hurdle sent Andrew McCutchen, who was due to hit two batters after Tabata, to the on-deck circle. Rather than say he did it to keep the Rockies from noticing the next turn was going to be taken by Olson, who hasn't batted since 2009, Hurdle explained the move creatively.

"We put him up there just to help with a play at the plate," Hurdle said. "He has more experience, rather than have Garrett try to figure that out. Garrett -- we wanted to keep him as far away from the plate as we could until he had to hit."

Tracy said there was risk in walking Tabata.

"To walk him into scoring position -- you know something, I know they have somebody over there that maybe takes a swing and not have to hit the ball very far at all to end up winning the game," Tracy said.

It really speaks to what Hurdle adds to this team. Tracy is no fool. He knows the Pirates would have Garrett ready to bunt -- ready "to not have to hit the ball very far at all to end up winning the game."

Game 8: Rockies at Pirates

De La Rosa and Ohlendorf at 7:15? Yes, at 7:15.

Game 7: Rockies at Pirates

Hurdle vs. Tracy? Yes, at 1:35 in the home opener.

Are the Bucs in first place? Yes, with the Rockies just two bunts back.

Game 6: Pirates at Cardinals

Correia and Carpenter at 1:45.

It's probably no coincidence that the Bucs lead the majors in bunts and are only 1.5 games out of first place.

Game 5: Pirates at Cardinals

Pirates winning 71.5% of their games. Sorry we doubted those experts. Baseball has a funny way of making us look foolish.

McDonald and McClellan at 8:15.

Half game back

Bucs are just a half game back, and wide awake as the light turns green, ready to accelerate. Since I'm not driving, I'll drink to that.

If the Bucs are going to run the table in the playoffs again, all strategical possibilities, such as this Straight-Outta-Iowa trick, should be considered.

Game 4: Pirates at Cardinals

Looks like rain in St. Louis, but maybe it clears up in time for Morton and Lohse at eight fifteen.

Playing to win

The awesomeness of Jenifer Langosch's spot-on game recap deserves some quotation for further internet immortality purposes:

CHICAGO -- Neil Walker was running all the way -- just as manager Clint Hurdle would have wanted him to.

Walker's sprint from second to home on Pedro Alvarez's infield hit capped a two-run ninth for the Pirates, who stunned the Cubs with some unconventional strategies to steal a 5-4 victory in the finale of a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Sunday. The inning was advanced by cleanup hitter Lyle Overbay, who bunted with runners on first and second base.

"There's going to be a lot of things that happen with this ballclub that I don't think are going to be traditional this year," said Hurdle, who has emphasized aggressive baserunning for weeks. "We're going to play to win. That's why those guys work on that all spring."

But asking the cleanup hitter lay down a bunt? And attempting to score two runs on a squibber that never made it to the infield dirt?

Sure, and without hesitation, actually.

It is wonderful to see that people outside the advanced blogs are starting to just plain get it.

Game 3: Pirates at Cubs

Ohlendorf vs. the hapless Garza in ninety minutes.

Game 2: Pirates at Cubs

Maholm and Zambrano starting soon.

It's a little early to get excited about magic like this, but it has not escaped our notice that Kevin Correia leads the league in BUNTing.

Opening Day: Pirates at Cubs

Kevin Correia and Ryan Dempster at two-something our time.

HW 2011 Readers' Poll

It's time. Please prognosticate in the comments.

1. How many Bucco wins?
2. Who gets traded first?
3. 2011 Whipping Boy?
4. Most bunts?
5. Other predictions?

I'll start:
1. Experts are predicting the Bucs will win 71.5% (116) of their games this year. Honestly, that seems way too high. I'll take the under and conservatively predict 75 wins.
2. Doumit.
3. Overbay.
4. Last year's bunting leader, Zach Duke with 8, is gone. This year the 2010 runner-up, HomeRon Cedeno, wins this contest hands down.
5. Continuing the trend of willingness of top Bucco brass to engage loyal fans for interviews, Spike makes a mint off Nutting family biography.

Preseason winning continues

Charlie Morton scored two bunts and Wimberly one, as the Bucs outbunted the Rays 3-1.

Still preseason? Yes.

Can Clint Hurdle impersonate Jim Tracy? Yes, reports the P-G.

"Can he drive a ball out of the park? Yes," Hurdle said. "Can he drive in runs? Yes. Has he got a slow heartbeat when he plays in the field and [is] at the plate? Yes. Those are the things we were looking for."

Preseason baseball

It's going on. Pirates are looking good.

Bucs destroy Manatees

Inspired by Bob Nutting's will to win, the Bucs pistol-whipped the hated Manatees, 21-1.

Hats off to any remaining Manatee fans - we can only imagine what it feels like to have your favorite team lose by 20 runs.

Nutting: must get better

Bob Nutting raises the bar.

It is critically important that they understand, and we understand, that 2011 is not going to be a year where small bits of incremental beer are going to be adequate.

R.I.P. Chuck Tanner

Pour some out for Chuck Tanner, champion skipper. (PG obit here).

Bizarro World

It is very disorienting, after the Pirates' championship and the Steelers' run through the playoffs, to see the Steelers lose a game.

Nuts. Spring training can't come soon enough.

Super Bowl XLV: Steelers and Packers

Wrapping up our week of wall-to-wall Super Bowl coverage, I conclude with my keys to victory for each team:

Steelers: Veteranosity and clutchiness.

Packers: Luck and poor officiating.

Enjoy the game, Steeler fans!

AFC Championship Game: Jets at Steelers

Kickoff at 6:30. Sometimes it feels like we're just making this stuff up.

Update: Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl ... again!

NFL Divisional Playoffs: Ravens at Steelers

See you there.

Top 20 Pirate Prospects

John Sickels likes him some Pirates Prospects. Excellent pitching aside, it is hard to not get excited about so many options for future utility infielders.

NFL week 17

When the NFL gets reorganized into upper and lower tiers, the Steelers will not have to bother playing the small market hapless Browns.

Bye week allows the Steelers to kick back, relax, and enjoy the newly released 2010 Pirates World Championship DVD.