NFL week 6: Cardinals at Steelers

The Michael Vick Era continues vs. Carson Palmer and the 4-1 Cardinals.

NL Wild Card: Cubs at Pirates

Cole and Arrieta tonight at 8. Season on the line.

Game 162: Reds at Pirates

J.A. Happ and Josh Smith, whoever that is, starting soon. Home field on the line.

Game 161: Reds at Pirates

Bucs trail 2-1 in the 4th as Burnett makes his final start. Home field on the line.

Game 160: Reds at Pirates

Liriano and Sampson tonight, home-field on the line.

Off day

Cubs and Reds are scoreless in the second. Meanwhile, the PBC prepare their Arrieta voodoo dolls.

Game 158+159: Cardinals at Pirates

Cole and Wacha then Lyons and Morton. Division on the line.

Rained out

No game tonight, doubleheader tomorrow.

Game 157: Cardinals at Pirates

Happ and Lynn underway. Division on the line.

Game 156: Pirates at Cubs

Sunday night baseball. Mad bunter A.J. Burnett vs. Arrieta at 8.

Pirates going for ninth straight W.

Game 155: Pirates at Cubs

Liriano and Hammel in a likely NLDS Game 2 preview.

Hammel has been chased and the Bucs lead 3-0 in the 5th after a Mercer 3-run tater.

Game 154: Pirates at Cubs

Cole and Lester today in a likely NLDS Game 1 preview.

Game 153: Pirates at Rockies

Jeff Locke and Jerome Bettis' kid Chad today.

The lackluster-of-late Wacha starts for the Cards vs. the Brewers, so should be a good day to pick up a game.

Game 152: Pirates at Rockies

Morton and Bergman tonight. Prepare to uncork.

Game 151: Pirates at Rockies

Happ and Rusin tonight as the Bucs make their final pennant push. Magic number two.

Game 150: Pirates at Rockies

Burnett takes on perennial loser Jon Gray and the hapless last-place Rockies tonight. Prepare to untuck.

Game 149: Pirates at Dodgers

Cole takes on Mike Bolsinger, whoever that is, starting shortly. Cards are up 4-2 over the Cubs after three.

NFL week 2: 49ers at Steelers

The Steelers are pistol-whipping the 49ers 29-3 after three quarters. Extra point guy needs more practice.

Game 148: Pirates at Dodgers

Kershaw and Liriano in the 6th, Bucs up 2-1. Frankie has 9Ks already and has retired 16 in a row.

Game 147: Pirates at Dodgers

Locke and Greinke later tonight. Cards vs. Cubs starting soon.

Game 146: Cubs at Pirates

Morton and Hendricks underway. Bucs down 3-1 in the third.

Game 145: Cubs at Pirates

Burnett and Arrieta tonight.

The PBC "A" team returns and will try to prevent Arrieta from becoming the first Cubs pitcher since Jon Lieber in 2001 to win 20 games.

Game 144: Cubs at Pirates

J.C. Happ takes on Jon Lester in Game 2 as the PBC continue their journey to the division title.

What's the buzz, tell me what's a-HAPPening?

Game 143: Cubs at Pirates

Cole and the Bucs are up 4-1 in the sixth in the first game of today's doubleheader. Cole has a 3 hitter going with the pennant on the line.

Game 142: Brewers at Pirates

Bucs have battled back to tie it up 6-6 in the seventh. Cards won earlier today.

Game 141: Brewers at Pirates

Locke and Davies tonight with a chance to pull within 2.5, after the hapless Cards lost twice today.

Game 140: Brewers at Pirates

Morton and Nelson tonight with the playoffs on the line. Only 4.5 games back.

Game 139: Brewers at Pirates

AJFB returns from the DL to make the hated Brewers STFD. Prepare to untuck.

Game 138: Pirates at Reds

J.A. Happ and Keyvius Sampson (whoever that is) tonight at seven.

Bucs are now 4.5 games behind the Cards and just 2 games in front of the Happless Cubs. Cubs are up 3-1 in the third.

Game 137: Pirates at Reds

Francisco Liriano and Raisel Iglesias (whoever that is) tonight at seven.

Bucs are now 5.5 games behind the Cards and just 2 games in front of the hapless Cubs.

Off day

Bucs took the day off today. Happy Labor Day!

Game 135: Pirates at Cardinals

Cole and Lackey underway, scoreless in the second. The Bucs are 6.5 games back and really need a win, or at least a well-placed BUNT, tonight.

Game 134: Pirates at Cardinals

Morton and Garcia underway. Bucs are down 2-0 after three.

Game 133: Pirates at Cardinals

Pirates are bringing the Happ to St. Louis for the first of a three-game series. The Cardinals trot out Carlos Martinez. Game on central time.

Game 132: Pirates at Brewers

Liriano and Jungmann tonight on Aramis Ramirez Day. Win, please.

Game 131: Pirates at Brewers

Jeff Locke takes on some scrawny kid tonight. Bucs are now six games back.

Game 130: Pirates at Brewers

Cole and Nelson at eight. Untucking at nine.

Game 129: Rockies at Pirates

Bucs down 5-0 after seven. Nothing to see here.

Game 128: Rockies at Pirates

Happ and Rusin starting soon. Cards are up 4-0 in the 8th.

Polanco's frozen rope looping on the Beer Fort wall.

Game 127: Rockies at Pirates

Liriano and Gray on Friday Night Block Party. Stop by the Leinenkugel Bar and meet Pirates Alumni Al Oliver.

Game 126: Pirates at Marlins

Cole and Nicolino tonight. Still 4.5 games back.

Game 125: Pirates at Marlins

Locke and Narveson tonight as the PBC pennant push begins in earnest.

Game 124: Pirates at Marlins

Morton takes on Mr. Hand tonight. Morse at 1B, JHay at 2B.

Game 123: Pirates at Marlins

Happ and Koehler tonight. Meanwhile, the Cards face the D-backs.

Game 122: Giants at Pirates

Franky beat White Flag yesterday 5-2. Bucs are 3.5 games back.

Game 121: Giants at Pirates

Cole and Leake on Free T-Shirt Day. Scoreless in the third.

Game 120: Giants at Pirates

Byrd just put one out for an early 3-0 lead.

Game 119: Giants at Pirates

Morton and Peavy tonight. Cards are off, so a win would bring the PBC to within four and a half.

Game 118: Diamondbacks at Pirates

J.A. Happ takes on Johnny Ray tonight. Five games back.

Game 117: Diamondbacks at Pirates

Francisco Liriano takes on Jimmy Anderson tonight.

Game 116: Diamondbacks at Pirates

Cole and Hellickson tonight. Five games back.

Game 115: Pirates at Mets

Locke and Harvey underway. Tied up 1-1 in the fifth.

Game 114: Pirates at Mets

Morton and Niese starting soon. Morse at 1B, Serpico in left. Forecast: PAIN.

Game 113: Pirates at Mets

Happ and Colon underway. NFW went yard in the first as the Bucs lead 1-0 after one.

Game 112: Pirates at Cardinals

Liriano and Lynn tonight at 7:15. Bucs are now seven games back and need a WIN.

Game 111: Pirates at Cardinals

Cole and Wacha tonight in a likely NLCS preview.

Game 110: Pirates at Cardinals

Locke and Martinez with the pennant on the line.

The 2015 PBC World Champions DVD Box Set will feature a montage of highlights from this game, set to the tune of Accept's "Balls to the Wall."

Game 109: Dodgers at Pirates

Bucs down 5-3 in the 7th. Cards lost earlier today.

Game 107: Dodgers at Pirates

Dodgers up 2-1 early. Cole and Kershaw.

Game 106: Cubs at Pirates

Jeff Locke and Dan Haren tonight at seven. Bucs still 5.5 games back.

Game 105: Cubs at Pirates

Happ makes his debut against Arrieta and the Happless Cubs.

Game 104: Pirates at Reds

Pirates up 3-0 in the sixth.

Prediction for the rest of this fight: Pain.

Game 103: Pirates at Reds

Cole goes for win 15 vs. Julio Iglesias and the hapless Reds. Bucs are just 5.5 games back.

Game 101: Pirates at Reds

3-1 Reds going into the bottom of the second.

It never gets old, raiding small-market rebuilding teams at the deadline.

Game 100: Pirates at Twins

Liriano and Santana, tied 1-1 after three.

Game 99: Pirates at Twins

Morton and Pelfrey at 8.

Off day

Nothing to do but root against the Cardinals.

Game 98: Nationals at Pirates

Ross and Cole starting soon.

Pirates have slipped to 7 back of the Cardinals.

Game 97: Nationals at Pirates

A.J. and Gio tonight at seven. Batting fourth and playing 3B, Aramis Ramirez.

Game 96: Nationals at Pirates

Scherzer and Locke at 7. Free t-shirts. Aramis Ramirez (maybe).

Game 95: Nationals at Pirates

Liriano and Fister, tonight at seven. Bucs will wear camouflage, and try to win from tree stands.

Game 94: Pirates at Royals

Et tu, Edinson? Game on at eight.

Game 93: Pirates at Royals

The 13-3 Gerrit Cole takes on Jason Vargas and his gimpy elbow in another likely World Series Preview game.

Prepare to untuck.

Game 92: Pirates at Royals

Bucs win a wild one 10-7 in a likely World Series preview. Bucs are only four games back.

Meanwhile, the hated Cards probably spent their off day corking their bats and injecting each other with PEDs.

Game 91: Pirates at Brewers

The New and Improved Jeff Locke takes on Taylor Jungmann and the hapless last-place Brewers this afternoon.

Game 90: Pirates at Brewers

Liriano and Nelson tonight at seven. Bucs 3.5 games out of first.

Game 89: Pirates at Brewers

Morton takes on Fiers and the hapless last-place Brewers at 8. Untucking at 9.

Game 88: Cardinals at Pirates

Liriano and Cooney tonight, with the pennant at stake. Bucs just 3.5 game back.

Game 87: Cardinals at Pirates

Burnett and Lackey tonight, with the playoffs on the line.

Game 86: Cardinals at Pirates

Cole and the PBC are up 5-2 in the sixth. NFW is 3-for-3 with a dinger.

Game 85: Cardinals at Pirates

Bucs spotted the first game of this series to Knife Hunter Mike Matheny and his cheating Cards. Now that the false sense of confidence has been instilled, look for the Bucs to pounce and run the table en route to the NL Central Pennant.

Game 84: Padres at Pirates

Morton and Cashner underway. Bucs trail 1-0 after the first and are just 4.5 games back.

Game 83: Padres at Pirates

Liriano now facing Rich Garces on in relief, underway in the fourth. Bucs trail 2-1.

Game 82: Padres at Pirates

Burnett and Shields tonight at seven. Bucs still just six games back.

Game 81: Indians at Pirates

Cole and Salazar underway. Bucs are getting outbunted, 1-0.

Game 80: Indians at Pirates

Jeff Locke weighs in against Jimmy Anderson tonight. Bucs are just six games back.

Happy Fourth to you and yours. Already untucked here in the Dandy House.

Game 79: Indians at Pirates

These two teams should play more often.

Bauer and Morton. Game on at 7.

Free shirt looks pretty sweet. Hard to believe the Pirates are older than this blog.

Game 78: Pirates at Tigers

Bucs up 4-3 in the 8th looking for the sweep. PBC just seven games back.

Game 77: Pirates at Tigers

A.J. Burnett takes on Randall Simon, starting shortly. Bucs are just eight games back.

Game 76: Pirates at Tigers

Cole and Verlander underway. Bucs lead 1-0 in the top of the second.

Game 75: Braves at Pirates

Locke and Wood, scoreless after three. Cutch back in the lineup.

Game 74: Braves at Pirates

Morton and Teheran underway.

Cutch left the game after getting beaned on the elbow before the Bucs batted around and put up a 5 spot in the first.

Game 73: Braves at Pirates

Liriano faces Williams Perez, whoever that is, tonight at seven.

Game 72: Reds at Pirates

Burnett and Scarface, starting soon.

Game 71: Reds at Pirates

Cole and Leake on Free T-Shirt Day.

Game 70: Reds at Pirates

After a couple of meaningless games--scrimmages really--the Pirates return for real tonight.

Smith and Locke at 7.

Game 65: Pirates at White Sox

Locke and Danks tonight, as the Bucs look to extend the Immaculate Deception.

Game 64: White Sox at Pirates

Charlie Morton and Jose Quintana.

Soon.

Game 63: White Sox at Pirates

Bucs outhit the White Sox 18-2 and boat raced their hapless last-place opponents, 11-0.

Game 62: Pirates at Phillies

Bucs are winning so many games, it is hard to keep track of them all.

Game 61: Pirates at Phillies

Cole and O'Sullivan. Domination begins at 4pm.

Game 60: Pirates at Phillies

We get an extra day to sit around and daydream about the glorious victory that this will be.

Friday at 7. Locke and Correia to start.

Game 59: Brewers at Pirates

Morton and Lohse at 7.

Untucking at 8.

Game 58: Brewers at Pirates

Bucs trail 3-1 after 8.

Game 57: Brewers at Pirates

A.J. Burnett and Willie Nelson starting soon. Jose Lind's son Adam starts at 1B for the hapless last-place Brewers.

Already untucked.

MLB draft

Round 1 starting now. You can never have too much UPSIDE.

UPDATE: The Bucs have selected Arizona SS Kevin Newman with the 19th overall pick. I like what I see.

Game 56: Pirates at Braves

Cole and Wood, scoreless in the third.

Game 55: Pirates at Braves

Locke and Teheran warming up. The hapless Braves have lost three in a row.

The 245-pound 37-year-old Juan Uribe is starting at 2B and batting sixth.

Game 54: Pirates at Braves

Charlie Morton takes on Oliver Perez tonight. The hapless Braves have lost two in a row.

Meanwhile, the Bucs are now sitting in the Wild Card catbird seat.

Game 53: Pirates at Giants

Liriano and Hudson, starting soon. The hapless Giants have lost four in a row.

Game 52: Pirates at Giants

Burnett will try to pry the baseball from Heston's cold, dead hands.

Bucs are six games back.

Game 51: Pirates at Giants

West Coast victory tour continues.

Cole and the pitcher formerly known as "White Flag" at 10pm.

Game 50: Pirates at Padres

Oliver Perez gave up 7 runs as the Bucs trail 7-0 in the 5th.

Game 49: Pirates at Padres

Morton and Ross later. Everybody Kang Chung tonight!

Game 48: Pirates at Padres

Liriano and Shields at 10pm.

Now that all those meaningless exhibition games are over, and the weather has turned, we are starting to see what the season will really look like. And no surprise, it looks pretty good so far.

Game 47: Pirates at Padres

Burnett and Kennedy underway. Citizen Kang just hit a long towering drive into the upper deck to put the PBC up 3-0 in the first. Bucs looking for their 7th win in a row.

Game 46: Marlins at Pirates

The PBC have charged back to take the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th. Prepare to untuck.

Game 45: Marlins at Pirates

Locke takes on rookie Urinal and the hapless Marlins, starting in a bit.

Game 44: Marlins at Pirates

Charlie Morton won his first game of the year as Cervelli and Pedro both went yard. Bucs even up to 22-22.

On the 2015 PBC World Champs DVD, the highlights from these last four games will be set to Accept's "Balls to the Wall" on the lead-up-to-the-playoffs montage.

Game 43: Mets at Pirates

Frankie struck out 12 while the Bucs boat raced the Mets again today, 9-1.

Game 42: Mets at Pirates

Burnett and Harvey, underway.

Game 41: Mets at Pirates

Cole and Pendergrass, tonight at 7.

Game 40: Twins at Pirates

Locke and Pelfrey tonight.

Bucs are just 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race.

Game 39: Twins at Pirates

Liriano spotted his former teammates a seven run lead, but the PBC have fought back and now trail 8-2 in the fourth.

Game 38: Pirates at Cubs

Burnett and Arrieta, scoreless after four. Citizen Kang gets the start at short.

Game 37: Pirates at Cubs

Cole and the PBC lost 4-1 to Lester and the Cubs today. Bucs are 17-20.

Game 36: Pirates at Cubs

Bucs are down 10-6 in the 8th. JHay just went yard.

Game 35: Pirates at Phillies

The Harangutan is befuddling the PBC, who trail 4-0 in the 8th.

Still tucked in.

Game 34: Pirates at Phillies

Liriano and Hamels tonight as the PBC try to win their 5th straight.

Sean Rodriquez is batting second and playing 1B.

Game 33: Pirates at Phillies

Burnett got the bunt down without incident, Bucs win. Cutch and J-Hay went yard.

Game 32: Pirates at Phillies

Cole takes on Jerome Williams and the hapless last-place Phillies.

Prepare to untuck.

Game 31: Cardinals at Pirates

Locke and Lyons, starting in a bit. Sean Rodriguez is starting in RF.

Game 30: Cardinals at Pirates

Bucs win a thriller 7-5. In case you missed it, Neil Walker and the new Dandy House guy pulled off the first 4-5-4 triple play in MLB history. Entertained.

Game 29: Cardinals at Pirates

Frank the Tank and Wacha, starting soon.

The PBC are one game back in the Wild Card race.

Game 28: Reds at Pirates

Burnett will try to shutout the Reds while the PBC tries to score a run vs. some hapless rookie kid.

Game 27: Reds at Pirates

Game on at 7.

Gerrit Cole will pitch for the Pirates. The Reds start Mike Leake.

Free t-shirt night.

Game 26: Reds at Pirates

Bucs are down 4-1 in the 7th and have just two hits. Still tucked in.

Game 25: Pirates at Cardinals

Bucs and Cards in extra innings again, with the Bucs leading 1 bunt to zero.

Game 24: Pirates at Cardinals

The Bucs outbunted the Cards 2-0 today. Let's just leave it at that.

Game 23: Pirates at Cardinals

The PBC will try to bunt a run in for Mr. Shaving Cream Pie tonight, as he faces off against the delicate Lance Lynn

NFL Draft

Steelers pick 22nd tonight, as the PBC rests.

Game 22: Pirates at Cubs

Gerrit Cole takes on George Hendrick, starts in a bit.

Game 21: Pirates at Cubs

Locke and Wood, getting ready to start. PBC two games back.

Game 20: Pirates at Cubs

The Vanimal battles M.C. Hammel tonight.

John Russell's kid makes his Wrigley debut as the Bucs look for their 6th win in a row.

Game 19: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Liriano and Hellraiser underway.

Bucs up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Already untucked.

Game 18: Pirates at Diamondbacks

The surging Pirates will beat down the half-decent Arizona team in about an hour.

Burnett and "Rubby De La Rosa" are the scheduled starters.

Game 16: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Cole and Colanderhead, later tonight. The PBC is three games out.

Game 15: Cubs at Pirates

Jeff Locke and George Hendrick, underway. Bucs down 4-1 in the 5th.

Game 14: Cubs at Pirates

The Vanimal takes on Hammel, starting soon.

Game 13: Cubs at Pirates

Liriano and Wood underway. Bucs are down 3-2 after four and a half.

Game 12: Cubs at Pirates

Burnett and his astronomical SCPITFORP (Shaving Cream Pies In The Face Over Replacement Player) will try to move runners from station to station with the game's most exciting play, the sacrifice bunt.

Meanwhile, the hapless Cubs start a bunch of kids whose names I don't recognize.

Game 11: Brewers at Pirates

Cole and Garza, underway.

Still untucked from last night's Marte Partay.

Game 10: Brewers at Pirates

These meaningless Spring Training games must end pretty soon.

Meanwhile, Nelson and Locke at 7. Untuckery at 9.

Game 9: Tigers at Pirates

Liriano takes on Randall Simon tonight.

The PBC are 2 games out of first place.

Game 8: Tigers at Pirates

Burnett and Greene, starting soon.

Rajai Davis is leading off for the hapless Tigers.

Game 7: Tigers at Pirates

Home Opener today features Cole taking on Anibal the Cannibal and the Tigers.

The Tigers are 6-0, so their odds of winning another consecutive baseball game are approaching zero.

Game 6: Pirates at Brewers

Sadler and Lohse.

The Pirates will start another long winning streak at two.

Game 5: Pirates at Brewers

The Pirates continue their winning streak against the winless Brewers tonight.

Worley and Jimmy Nelson will start. Game on around 7. Untucking by 9.

Game 4: Pirates at Brewers

Locke takes on Fiers and the hapless, winless, 0-3 Brewers. Game starts soon.

Game 3: Pirates at Reds

Burnett got the bunt down, without injury or incident.

Game 2: Pirates at Reds

Free T-shirt Night as Cole takes on Leake.

Game 1: Pirates at Reds

Cueto and Liriano, starting soon.

2015 HW Readers' Poll

After a long relaxing off season in the Beer Fort Dandy House, it is prediction time again.

1. How many wins for the 2015 Bucs?
2. On what day will the Bucs clinch the NL Central?
3. Which Bucco will be the World Series MVP?
4. 2015 Whipping Boy?
5. Other predictions?

I'll start:
1. 94
2. September 22nd
3. Polanco
4. Kang, who will later reveal he injured himself carrying a dead deer up a steep flight of stairs
5. New defensive shift where Sean Rodriguez stands halfway up third base line then as ball is thrown, runs and dives in front of batter to deflect liners. LaFramboise converted to 1B. Bastardo fisticuffs. Tony Sanchez acts like fool during post-World Series White House visit.

Spring training

It's going on right now.

Pirates are quickly returning to dynasty shape.