NFL week 12

A most improbable Steelers win. I’ll never get over it. Ever.

Meanwhile, the Bucs have traded Zach Duke and one of the Indian reality show finalist kids for Adam LaRoche as we prepare for Manny Christmas.

NFL week 11

Skippy, Zach Duke, and the last LaRoche cheer on from the sidelines as the Steelers destroy the hapless Raiders.

All in

New manager Clint Hurdle acknowledges the Bucs' deficiencies to the P-G, while also going "all in".

"I wanted to look them in the eyes and ask them, 'Are you in?' " he said. "And to a man they looked me in the eye and said 'We're in.' "

"Behind the scenes in the baseball office we've used that phrase a lot, 'all in,' " Huntington said. "And Clint came in during our meetings, he used that phrase, all in. A phrase is a phrase, but it means something to us."

To a man we look Clint Hurdle in the eye and say "We're in" and "Please not so much bunting."

NFL week 10

First place = victory.

NFL week 9

Despite the distractions of all the Bucs' 2010 World Championship parades, the Steelers beat the hapless Bengals 27-21.

NFL week 8

While the Pirates celebrate their imminent 2010 World Championship, the Steelers travel to New Orleans for a Halloween-themed Sunday Night Football.

I admit I was a little disappointed to go to the party and find all the men dressed as Steely McBeam. I had hopes of being the only one. I think it is this World Championship thing, it has me in an emotional frame of mind. Every sunrise is inspirational, and even the plastic flowers bring tears to my eyes.

McBeam removes himself from consideration

While the Pirates rest up enjoying their third round playoff bye, the 2011 managerial distractions continue: Steely McBeam has officially removed himself from consideration.

Carlos Tosca, Jeff Banister, Joey Porter and Tony Pena have yet to withdraw their candidacy, as the James Harrison player/manager scenario looks more and more likely.

NFL Week 7: Steelers at Dolphins

One more big fine on James Harrison, and he'll retire to coach the Pirates with bench coach Steely McBeam.

NFL week 6: Browns at Steelers

As the Pirates continue resting and perfecting their fastball velocity, the Steelers come off their bye to face the hapless, small-market Cleveland Browns.

Bucs clinch second round bye!

We raise our glasses to the magical 2010 Bucs, who, with the Yanks loss and Giants win, have excitingly clinched both a first and second round bye in the playoffs.

With JR now busy scouting the other teams, driving the pennant float through the Burgh, and planning the shifts and bunts for the World Series, the Bucs are expected to appoint an interim manager to start preparing the Dynasty for 2011. Early favorites include Phil Garner, Enrique Romo and Steely McBeam. Cast your vote in the comments.

NFL Week 4: Ravens at Steelers

Should be a good one.

Game 162: Pirates at Marlins

Burres and Sanchez at 1.

Morton may have pitched himself into a playoff start. I look forward to watching JR manage the pitchers in the World Series.

Game 161.0: Pirates at Marlins

Charlie Morton gets his last bit of work before the playoffs, where he'll probably be needed most as a swingman from the bullpen. Sanabla pitches for Florida. Game at seven.

Game 160: Pirates at Marlins

As Paul Maholm basks in the clinching of his Cy Young award after Zach Duke graciously bowed out yesterday, Daniel McCutchen will attempt to clinch Rookie of the Year with his 18th victory.

Throw in Ronny Ballgame's wizardly tutelage, and you have magically exciting and meaningful Bucco baseball in October. Again.

Game 159.5: Pirates at Marlins

In the final and perhaps most important series of this magical 2010 season, Ronny Ballgame will work pro bono with the Bucs' pitchers to help determine who will make the postseason roster.

Coonington might want to consider retaining Ronny during the Bucs' first and second round playoff byes to help bunting instruction.

Game 159: Pirates at Cardinals

The Cardinals are still passed out at a red light, and now are officially eliminated from the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the clinchy Bucs have a few tough postseason roster decisions to make before they rest up and practice bunting during their first round playoff bye.

Game 158: Pirates at Cardinals

Bucs up 7-2 in the ninth. Hopefully the Bucs will not pick up any bad habits from the hapless Cardinals right before their clinched first-round playoff bye.

Game 157: Pirates at Cardinals

OutBUNTed. Nice win though.

NFL week 3: Steelers at Buccaneers

I will try to keep one eye on this football game. The other eye will be on the Bucs team that will end the season in the playoffs.

Game 156: Astros at Pirates

Maholm and his 106 mph fastball pitch to contact against the hapless out-of-contention Astros at 1:35.

To advance deep in the playoffs, the Bucs need more practice bunting runners from second to third, especially by good hitters with no outs. It would make a world of sense to get this practice today, even when there are no baserunners.

Game 155: Astros at Pirates

Norris and Duke at seven.

It might be wise to plan on using bullpen arms that won't be making the playoff roster. I won't be surprised if Duke makes an early exit then.

Game 154: Astros at Pirates

Ace McDonald vs. Brett Myers at seven.

With the Bucs having already clinched, these games serve primarily to sort through who will make the post-season roster.

Game 153: Cardinals at Pirates

Brian Burres vs. the hapless 1-7 Jeff Suppan at 12:35.

Eight games out of first and the Wild-Card , the Cardinals are sleeping at the wheel at the intersection and had errors on their roadside tests. And now with the BAC being over 0.08. What would be really high for a number that would get you really concerned? Two something? Three? One?

Game 152: Cardinals at Pirates

The uber-reliable Charlie Morton is up 6-1 in the fifth as the Bucs look to be cruising to another win.

The hapless Cardinals are passed out at a red light, hopelessly short of the Wild Card.

Game 151: Cardinals at Pirates

Maholm pistol-whips Westbrook as the Bucs clinch with yet another win.

The lowly Cardinals are passed out at a red light, haplessly short of the Playoffs.

Off day

Baseball's hottest team will be back on Tuesday.

Game 150: D'backs at Pirates

Hudson and Duke for the streaking Pirates at 1:35.

NFL week 2: Steelers at Titans

Football.

Game 149: D'backs at Pirates

Barry Enright, Ace McDonald, and meaningful baseball at seven.

Game 148: D'backs at Pirates

The lowly small-market Diamondbacks roll into town to get clinched.

Kennedy and Burres at seven.

Game 147: Pirates at Mets

Charlie Morton will match his 11-1, 0.95 ERA stuff against Mike Pelfrey and the Mets at seven.

Pirates are going to clinch something soon. It has to be that way.

Game 146: Pirates at Mets

A little more than two weeks to go, and the Pirates are competing graciously with the small-market Mets, who appear to be doing nothing more than playing out the string.

Maholm and Mejia at seven.

Game 145: Pirates at Mets

Duke and Dickey at seven.

Game 144: Pirates at Mets

Ace McDonald, Dillon Gee, and the magical season continues at seven.

Game 143: Pirates at Reds

The Pirates go for the four-game sweep in another game with major playoff implications. Burris and Cueto will start.

NFL week 1: Atlanta at Pittsburgh

With playoff fever sweeping western Pennsylvania, it is not that surprising that hardly anyone remembers or cares there is a football game this afternoon.

Remember football? I didn't think so. Meaningful baseball is tough to eclipse. It just sucks up your whole mind and makes everything else kind of blurry.

Maybe this explains how the black and gold are the underdogs, in a home opener, against an out-of-conference dome-based club, that has never done anything to deserve this kind of respect. The Falcons are not the Saints.

My prediction: Steeler D scores a bunch of points and the Steelers roll, 24-10.

Pick 'em Pool

All are invited to join our pick 'em pool at Pigskin.com.

To get in the pool, poolname: "Honest Wagner Pick 'em Pool" and password: "51yardparker".

It will be hard to think about football with the Bucs in the playoffs, but the Bucs' winning streak can't possibly continue into November.

Game 142: Pirates at Reds

Charlie Morton and Edinson Volquez at seven.

Game 141: Pirates at Reds

Bucs up 3-1 in the seventh. Maholm dealing. Game has serious playoff implications.

Game 140: Pirates at Reds

Maholm and Bailey at seven.

Game 139: Braves at Pirates

Lowe and Duke at seven.

The hottest team in the NL Central, the Pirates are peaking at just the right time.

Game 138: Braves at Pirates

Tim Hudson and Ace McDonald at seven-thirty.

Game 137: Braves at Pirates

Burres and Hanson at 1:30.

I'm sure the Braves are hoping to spoil the Pirates' playoff chances, and that makes me feel sorry for them.

Game 136: Nats at Pirates

Pirates go for the sweep at 1:30. Marquis and Morton will start.

Game 135: Nats at Pirates

Skyblast tonight to punctuate the epic winning streak. Soon we'll be able to determine if the path to the NLCS goes through the wild card (my preference; more exciting) or through winning the division outright.

Lanman and Maholm will start. Game on at seven. Get there early if you want to enjoy the suspense inherent to games in which the Pirates have not yet taken the lead.

Game 134: Nats at Pirates

Livan Hernandez, Zach Duke, a Pirate Fleecie, and victory for all strong-willed fans at seven.

Off day

It is tough to enjoy a late summer day with no meaningful baseball.

Game 133: Pirates at Cubs

Pirates look for their third straight 14-run victory at two this afternoon.

Ace McDonald and Tom "No Doubt About It" Gorzelanny will start.

Game 132: Pirates at Cubs

Just rolled out of bed. It was a late night, celebrating the huge 14-2 win. The details are fuzzy. I remember there was a pet monkey cracking nuts. And the landlord's wife. But whatever. What a game.

That's gotta clinch something. Hopefully the Pirates celebrated more responsibly.

Tonight it is Karstens and Dempster at eight.

Game 131: Pirates at Cubs

Two months ago, no one would have expected this game to have playoff ramifications.

Maholm and Zambrano at eight. At eight-fifteen Ronny Cedeno will bunt with no outs, men on first and third, and the pitcher on deck.

Game 130: Pirates at Brewers

With the Pirates smoking hot, it's a great time to go to the ballpark and take in a game. And the road wins are the best. Nothing stirs the envy of opposing fans like your Pirates jersey and your pillbox cap.

Charlie Morton and Dave Bush at two.

Game 129: Pirates at Brewers

Duke and Capuano at seven.

It should be an exciting year to be a September call-up.

Game 128: Pirates at Brewers

Ace McDonald and Chris Narvesson at eight.

The hapless small-market Brewers, mired in another long losing streak, are luring fans to the ballpark with a post-game fireworks show.

Off day

What do you got?

Game 127: Cardinals at Pirates

McCutchen pistol-whips Westbrook at seven.

Bucs extend winning streak at nine.

Game 126: Cardinals at Pirates

Maholm beats Wainwright at seven.

In the future, once all known cheating factors can be corrected for in a standardized way, the Bucs win this game 20-0.

Game 125: Cardinals at Pirates

Ironhead Ohlendorf wins over the hapless Lohse. Game starts at seven.

Game 124: Mets at Pirates

Duke wins over Santana starting at 1:35.

Honestly, I could care less what Ronny Ballgame puts into his body, as long as he goes about his business day in and day out, is a consummate professional, and plays the game in the right way. Rumors are that RBG could replace the increasingly unpopular JR for the playoff run in a strictly managerial/game-calling/sign-stealing role. The contract would continue into the Dynasty phase with Ronny as manager/backup catcher.

Game 123: Mets at Pirates

Ace McDonald and Niese at seven.

In other news, the 18-year winning streak continues.

Game 122: Mets at Pirates

Karstens wins over Pelfrey, starting at seven.

In other news, 16 year old Luis Heredia joins the Dynasty for 2.6 million.

Game 121: Marlins at Pirates

Maholm and Sanabia at seven.

JR should rest all the starters for the wild-card surge, rather than have them be further humiliated by Ronny Ballgame, who now wins games on the base paths.

The Marlins probably were a little nervous when Paulino tagged up on Ramirez’s short fly ball in foul territory, but right fielder Lastings Milledge’s throw was up the third base line.

“I was very close to pinch-running, but then after I saw that, it was a very good heads-up play by Paulino,” Rodriguez said. “It was the difference in the game. Perfect slide, great jump.”

Game 120: Marlins at Pirates

Ohlendorf vs. Josh Johnson at seven.

With any other matchup, we could will Ross' second win no problem. But Ronny Ballgame is immune to our willing powers, and might have plans of his own.

Best pure stuff

John Manuel of Baseball America thinks the Bucs won on draft day.

Game 119: Marlins at Pirates

Duke and Nolasco at seven.

In the Major Leagues, it is uncommon for pitchers of one team to seek advice from catchers of the opposing team. Unless, of course, the opposing team's catcher goes by the name of Ronny Ballgame.

Dynasty

We raise our glass to the two latest Dynasty cornerstones, Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie, who both signed today.

These kids need nicknames. Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve? Allie Bumaye!?

Game 118: Marlins at Pirates

Ace McDonald, Volstad, and Ronny Ballgame - all tonight at seven.

Game 117: Pirates at Astros

Karstens wins over the hapless Happ. Victory begins at two.

It must be hard to be an Astros fan, never winning the World Series.

Game 116: Pirates at Astros

Maholm gets the win over Bud Norris. Show starts at seven.

Game 115: Pirates at Astros

Ironhead Ohlendorf punches Myers and the lowly Astros at eight.

It is exciting to think that in 2042, the Bucs will be wearing the throwback unis of this 2010 World Championship team.

Game 114: Pirates at Padres

Duke and Garland at 6:35.

Even though everyone knows the Bucs will win this game, the players still have to go through the motions.

Game 113: Pirates at Padres

Ace McDonald and Kevin Correia at ten.

Looking ahead to possible World Series opponents for the Bucs: the once-hapless Orioles are suddenly the league's hottest team.

Game 112: Pirates at Padres

Playoffs. Pedro! Pale ales. Pittsburgh Pirates.

Karstens and LeBlanc Flag at ten.

Game 111: Rockies at Pirates

Pirates to continue the winning streak at 1:35. People starting to notice what we have long known, that this is a playoff run.

Rogers and Maholm the starters.

Game 110: Rockies at Pirates

Ironhead Ohlendorf headbutts De La Rosa at seven.

The Bucs will try to outBUNT the Rockies and keep their winning streak alive.

Game 109: Rockies at Pirates

Duke and Hammel at seven.

Should fisticuffs erupt, Chan Ho Park is ready to fight.

Game 108: Rockies at Pirates

The James McDonald Era starts at seven.

With Chan Ho joining the Bucs, the lowly, hapless Rockies should prepare to be drop-kicked.

Game 107: Reds at Pirates

Bucs win, 9-4 I think it was. Cutch, Clement, and Pedro all went yard.

Game 106: Reds at Pirates

Bucs up 6-0 in the second. Leake, the starter, is still in the game. Maholm started for the Pirates.

Game 105: Reds at Pirates

Pirates will try to keep this winning streak rolling tonight at seven.

Wood and Ohlendorf will start.

Game 104: Pirates at Cardinals

Duke and Wainwright starting shortly.

The Chris Snyder Era begins with Snyder calling the game from the bench.

Game 103: Pirates at Cardinals

McCutchen and Suppan at seven.

All a-glowing with the magic of the trade deadline, these Pirates can now get back to winning. They are a few games back of these Cardinals, and this is a great chance to make up some ground in the wild-card race.

July 31, 2010

With so many hapless and over-budget teams out of contention, the Pirates have a golden opportunity to add some good-looking players for greater depth on the playoff roster.

... Chris Snyder is the first big winner at the trade deadline.

... Other winners include Pedro Ciriaco, John Bowker, Joe Martinez, James McDonald, and Andrew Lambo.

... Octavio Dotel may be forced to retire with that 7.88 postseason ERA.

Game 102: Pirates at Cardinals

Karstens and Carpenter at eight-fifteen.

Pirates might be losing their grip on the current winning streak.

Game 101: Pirates at Rockies

Paul Maholm and the very, very good-looking third baseman who just showed up take on the big, strong, powerful man Ubaldo Jimenez at three-ten.

The hapless Rockies have lost eight in a row and are struggling terribly.

Game 100: Pirates at Rockies

Ohlendorf and Cook at eight-forty.

Because the bar has been raised so high, we've analyzed and over-analyzed what we've done. We may wind up being comparable to the '98 Yankees or the '86 Mets. I think there's a strong chance that will happen. But maybe that's not fair right now.

Game 99: Pirates at Rockies

Duke and De La Rosa at whatever time they start games in Colorado, wherever that is.

Off day

Here is your chance to stop thinking too much out there. Go someplace else and get that taken care of.

Winning streak resumes tomorrow in Colorado.

Game 98: Padres at Pirates

Lincoln and LeBlanc at one-thirty.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

Game 97: Padres at Pirates

Latos and Karstens at seven.

This winning streak that ends in April has had more texture and drama than I expected.

Game 96: Padres at Pirates

Maholm and Correia at seven.

I'd be entertained if all the Bucs, including JR, grew in dreadlocks and got huge tattoos. The tattoo parlor visit would make for a hilarious clip on the World Championship DVD.

Game 95: Brewers at Pirates

Ohlendorf and Gallardo at seven.

It's amazing to think that come next April, there could be an entire generation of young Bucco fans who have never experienced a loss. Without losses, would wins still have meaning?

Game 94: Brewers at Pirates

Duke and Wolf at seven.

With the Kratzalyst calling pitches and stealing signs and Pedro hitting multiple dingers per game, this winning streak could easily continue through next April.

Game 93: Brewers at Pirates

Lincoln and Bush. Four score and seven years ago, a thousand points of light.

I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but it is easy to believe that this game might be the start of a winning streak that ends in October.

Game 92: Brewers at Pirates

Karstens and Capuano at seven.

Macha should worry less about his small-market hapless players getting plunked, and more about getting absolutely boat-raced by the white-hot Bucs on Kratzmas III. Prepare to untuck.

Game 91: Astros at Pirates

Maholm and Oswalt at 1:35.

To enhance drama for the 2010 World Champs DVD, JR might want to rest the Kratzalyst for at least the first few innings of Kratzmas II.

Game 90: Astros at Pirates

Ohlendorf and Bud (no relation to Chuck) Norris at seven.

When we're interviewed for the 2010 Bucs World Championship DVD, we should appear modest, as taking full credit for the trophy might not sit well with some of the players.

Game 89: Astros at Pirates

Wild-card magic begins tonight at seven with Duke and the Bucs, willed by the fan base, figuratively pistol-whipping Brett Myers and the hapless Astros.

Rest

Historians will look back upon this rest as transformative when trying to explain how the 2010 Bucs charged back to win the pennant.

Game 88: Pirates at Brewers

Seventh day of Lincolnmas vs. Randy Wolf starting soon.

Bucs might want to rest today for an extended break.

Game 87: Pirates at Brewers

Karstens and Bush at seven.

I'd be entertained if All-Star Evan Meek pitched every single game from here on out.