Warm up the win meter

A week out from real baseball and honest bunty goodness, the Bucs open with a 72.7% chance of winning the division.

Preseason: Pirates at Yankees

In tonight's World Series preview, I expect to see me some good bunting.

Preseason: Pirates at Orioles

McDonald and Arrieta in 1979 World Series rematch at one.

Preseason: Phillies at Pirates

Morton and Worley at one.

Worley is no stranger to protective eyewear and seems determined to not bunt his eye out.

Preseason: Pirates at Devil Rays

Correia and Niemann at one.

It's nice to see the Bucs driving the ball, but I don't see how that prepares them for winning real games if players can't move runners from station to station.

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.

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.