Pirates acquire Travis Snider

Snider's another left-handed bat with power and not so much bunting credentials.

Game 102: Pirates at Cubs

Bedard and Germano at eight.

Pirates need a win.

Game 101: Pirates at Astros

McDonald and Harrell at two.

McDonald has not pitched so well in July and needs to dominate this hapless Astros offense.

Game 100: Pirates at Astros

New acquisition Wandy Rodriguez starts tonight against Andres Galarraga Jr. and the hapless Astros.

Clearly a must-win situation for the Pirates. The MLB playoff structure heavily favors division winners this year.

Astros have lost eleven in a row. You'd think they'd be desperate for a win, but nooo, apparently this is not the case.

Browns

Good on the Steelers for signing Antonio Brown long term. Mike Wallace has overplayed his hand. I'm not sure what will come of him, but I do not despair of losing him to either cowardly play in 2012 (does he think he will die before the end of this season?) or some kind of trade/holdout.

Also entertained that a die-hard Steeler fan is going to buy the Cleveland Browns. That's committment, right there.

Game 99: Pirates at Astros

Karstens and Lyles on central time.

Not excited about the idea of trading Kevin Correia, who has won seven of his last ten starts. Starters don't go on trees and a team always needs more starting pitching than most expect.

Anyway win meter humming happily. New picture for the beer fort wall.

Game 98: Pirates at Astros

Burnett and Keuchel tonight at 8.

Two and a half games out of first, the Pirates are literally chasing the Reds, who leave Houston happy.

Game 97: Cubs at Pirates

Getaway day underway. Dempster and Correia dueling; Blatz fumage in the home plate area.

Cubs up on a Frank Rizzo home run.

Welcome Wandy

Pirates acquire longtime Pirate-killer Wandy Rodriguez.

One less hap for the hapless Astros.

Game 96: Cubs at Pirates

Maholm and McDonald at seven.

Pirates are 54-41, a game and a half back of the Votto-less Reds.

Facing a pitcher with a pedigree like Maholm's, the Pirates might be fortunate to scratch out two infield hits. McDonald will need to bring his A game.

Game 95: Cubs at Pirates

Bedard and Samardzija tonight.

Just a half game back, the Bucs need wins against the hapless teams.

Game 94: Marlins at Pirates

Anibal Sanchez and Jeff Karstens in an hour.

Pirates are 53-40, 1/2 game out of first. Last year on this day they were 51-46 and one game out.

Kids run the bases after the game.

Game 93: Marlins at Pirates

Big A.J. vs. Lil' Z for the win.

Game 92: Marlins at Pirates

Correia vs. Nolasco tonight. Bucs need a win for a chance at first place tomorrow.

If the Bucs trade for a Drew or Scutaro or other upgrade at SS, Barmes could start in RF.

Off day

No game today. Bucs are tied for first, with the Reds hosting the D-backs today.

Preparation for the postseason should not involve rest, but instead extra batting practice and maybe even a buntathon.

Game 91: Pirates at Rockies

J-Mac and Guthrie in a must-win day game. Hopefully some of the infielders can run around in the outfield today.

RF prospects

Quickly looking through the minors for utility infielders who could start in right field, it's clear that Altoona is the first place to look, with an impressive and affiliate-leading 54 bunts. However, closer inspection reveals Cumpton bunting his ass off is in part responsible, with a jaw-dropping 8 SH in only 25 PA. He's a pitcher though, not a utility infielder.

Benji Gonzalez in Bradenton is the obvious choice, leading the minors with 9 SH while playing 2B/SS/3B, so probably ready to jog out into RF and learn on the job.

Game 90: Pirates at Rockies

Bedard and Friedrice tonight.

Bucs need a win to drive away the creeping languor.

Game 89: Pirates at Rockies

Karstens and Francis tonight.

The Bucs need to bunt and trade their way back into first place.

Game 88: Pirates at Brewers

A. J. Burnett and Gallardo at two.

Here's hoping that Larry Vanover excused himself from last night's Blatz party.