Game 121: Phillies at Pirates

Moyer and Maholm at seven. Skyblast again, so I expect a full house with lots of fans arriving around the eighth inning.

Craig Monroe

Dejan Kovacevic reports that Craig Monroe has cleared waivers.

Game 120: Phillies at Pirates

Durbin and Gorzelanny at seven.

Durbin has been in the bullpen, and he's not expected to go too many innings tonight.

Coming off a shutout, Gorzelanny is due to get bombed. I'm hoping he's better than that, but I've developed that expectation over the years. It seems to me that a lot of starters get blown out in starts after the All-Star game and starts after complete-game shutouts.

Pirate news

Dejan Kovacevic's P-G notebook has something to say about Littlefield's contract extension, Jack Wilson clearing waivers, and that prospect guy who wanted "$10 million and a major-league contract." (The nerve of that guy ... thinking the Pirates have $10M in payroll to throw away.)

Game 119: Mets at Pirates

Brian Lawrence and Tony Armas. The Benny Hill music starts at seven.

After the game ... Skyblast. And Styx in concert. Yes ... Styx.

Skyblast + Styx = sold out Pittsburgh baseball stadium.

Game 118: Mets at Pirates

Maine and Morris, starting soon.

67.8

The Pirates are on pace for 67.8 wins.

Game 117: Mets at Pirates

Snell vs. Hernandez, starting now without Kuwata, who has been released, and Doumit, who was put on the DL, Dejan Kovacevic reports.

Armas and Morris, Doumit and Paulino

Brian O'Neill makes some comparisons.

Phelps to catch

Dejan Kovacevic reports that Tracy says give him credit, Phelps looks good catching the ball.

Games 115 and 116: Giants at Pirates

Cain and Maholm, Lowry and Youman. Game one at five.

I'm off to scout Latin America, but I hope to be back in time to catch the second game.

God to punish Pirates

Great, just great.

Salomon Torres explains in Post-Gazette report from Dejan Kovacevic.

God's wrath will surely end the Pirates' long run of winning seasons.

It was fun while it lasted.

Game 114: Pirates at Giants

Gorzelanny and Zito at three.

Preseason football: Packers at Steelers

Steely McBeam to play quarterback in the second half.

Game 113: Pirates at Giants

Armas and Lincecum sometime later this afternoon.

Low-cost talent

Dejan Kovacevic notes the Pirates have signed Victor Zambrano and inserted him into the Indianapolis rotation.

Ronny Ballgame

Ronny did a good job catching the ball last night. From Dejan Kovacevic's Post-Gazette recap:

Ortmeier was between Bautista and Paulino at home plate, and the throw would have to go inside the runner.

"I was expecting it to come to the other side," Paulino said.

Because of that, Paulino had to dramatically change his glove position to backhand the ball and, as he did, Ortmeier was beginning a hook-slide to elude him.

But Paulino, as he had earlier in the game on a similar play at the plate, swept his tag and banged Ortmeier in the back of the helmet.

"All I tried to do was to find a way to get the ball to Ronny," Bautista said. "He made the better half of the play."

The view from the other dugout was half-and-half in that record.

"That was a heck of a play, and it ended up being the ballgame," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "Their third baseman did a heck of a job to get to the ball and make the throw, and the catcher made a really good tag."

. . .

For Paulino, that tag and the previous one- on Ryan Doumit's excellent throw from right field that gunned down Pedro Feliz in the second -- might have represented vindication for a catcher who has struggled all season with plays at the plate.

"Give credit to our catcher," Tracy said. "He had a terrific game."

Unlike Paulino, Matt Morris did not play well, except, in my opinion, for the part when his veteranosity induced a double play after beguiling the Giant hitters with seven consecutive balls. "That's not how I pitch," he said.

Game 112: Pirates at Giants

This does not start for about four hours, but I am already drinking beer and tailgating somewhat around the old radio.

Matt Morris and Russ Ortiz tonight.

Tonight it's part two in the ongoing series, "Is Matt Morris a better bet, going forward, than freely available low-cost pitching?"

Morris was tagged for four earned runs in his last start, so he's still looking for his first quality start as a Pirate.

Friday afternoon

Any outrage du jour on the menu, or is it just the usual fare?

Game 111: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Snell and Davis starting soon.