Preseason: Twins at Pirates

Bedard and Doyle starting now. Barajas batting cleanup.

Original Bunter

Ten days late with this, but happy belated birthday to Dickey Pearce, the inventor of the "tricky hit".

Preseason: Pirates at Red Sox

NRI Shairon Martis and Buchholz at seven.

Bunting eyepatches?

After thinking this through, it seems that a batter would be much more likely to bunt out the eye closest to the field (e.g. the left eye for a RHP), so a facemask might be overkill. Instead, a simple protective eyepatch should get the job done, and plays into the whole Pirate theme. The online options are numerous.

Bunting facemasks?

With so much invested in McCutchen now, the Bucs should consider some form of protective headgear for the bunting. For example, in obvious bunting situations, McCutchen, the pitchers, or whoever could bunt wearing a catcher's mask. This could provide extra strategic options for Clint - for example, sending McCutchen to bat in an obvious bunting situation wearing the mask, only to have him swing away, belting one into the river.

Six more years

McCutchen extended. Win Meter warm to the touch.

Lincoln wins, does not bunt eye out

Let's not let the Burnett mishap overshadow the Joy of Brad Lincoln, 2012 Bunting Champion.

Bunting is hard

This is why we can't get too excited when players step up from the AL to the NL Central.

Other reports indicate that Burnett will need surgery to repair the damage. I trust he will return a better and stronger bunter, and perhaps this will help push Burnett to bunting level: Kris Benson.

Get well, AJ.

Beer fort on wheels

Kids, if you're going to try this at home, please try the less dangerous unmotorized options.

Joyous bunting

Prepare for joy, the P-G reports:

"It's going to be a fresh start, it's going to be fun," Burnett said Monday outside of the Pirates spring training facility, his first day in black and yellow after he was acquired from the New York Yankees. "Coming back to the National League where I can hit and bunt. Get the joy back into the game."

Pitchers and catchers

Eleven days to practice the most exciting play in all of professional sports, and then the Blue Jays on March 3.

Dmitri Young

What could possibly be worse than not getting the BUNT down? Injuring yourself trying to get the BUNT down. Well played, Neal.

AJ Burnett

Knows how to BUNT to victory.

How to BUNT

Time to start thinking about the important stuff.

Playoffs

So far this New Year feels just like any other, where the Steelers and Bucs both win championships.

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.