Preseason winning continues

Charlie Morton scored two bunts and Wimberly one, as the Bucs outbunted the Rays 3-1.

Still preseason? Yes.

Can Clint Hurdle impersonate Jim Tracy? Yes, reports the P-G.

"Can he drive a ball out of the park? Yes," Hurdle said. "Can he drive in runs? Yes. Has he got a slow heartbeat when he plays in the field and [is] at the plate? Yes. Those are the things we were looking for."

Preseason baseball

It's going on. Pirates are looking good.

Bucs destroy Manatees

Inspired by Bob Nutting's will to win, the Bucs pistol-whipped the hated Manatees, 21-1.

Hats off to any remaining Manatee fans - we can only imagine what it feels like to have your favorite team lose by 20 runs.

Nutting: must get better

Bob Nutting raises the bar.

It is critically important that they understand, and we understand, that 2011 is not going to be a year where small bits of incremental beer are going to be adequate.

R.I.P. Chuck Tanner

Pour some out for Chuck Tanner, champion skipper. (PG obit here).

Bizarro World

It is very disorienting, after the Pirates' championship and the Steelers' run through the playoffs, to see the Steelers lose a game.

Nuts. Spring training can't come soon enough.

Super Bowl XLV: Steelers and Packers

Wrapping up our week of wall-to-wall Super Bowl coverage, I conclude with my keys to victory for each team:

Steelers: Veteranosity and clutchiness.

Packers: Luck and poor officiating.

Enjoy the game, Steeler fans!

AFC Championship Game: Jets at Steelers

Kickoff at 6:30. Sometimes it feels like we're just making this stuff up.

Update: Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl ... again!

NFL Divisional Playoffs: Ravens at Steelers

See you there.

Top 20 Pirate Prospects

John Sickels likes him some Pirates Prospects. Excellent pitching aside, it is hard to not get excited about so many options for future utility infielders.

NFL week 17

When the NFL gets reorganized into upper and lower tiers, the Steelers will not have to bother playing the small market hapless Browns.

Bye week allows the Steelers to kick back, relax, and enjoy the newly released 2010 Pirates World Championship DVD.

NFL week 16

After the Bucs' World Series sweep and another Steelers' playoff clinching, Christmas seems kind of superfluous this year.

NFL week 15

Steelers clinched yet another playoff berth in a meaningless game against the hapless Jets.

Only 68 more days until Spring Training.

NFL week 14

Bengals gift-wrap two pick-sixes. That's what losers do.

NFL week 13

Flying Samoan warrior chop for the win. I'll never get over it. Ever. Again.

Offseason moves

Playoff MVPs traded, released, etc. Soon to acquire more playoff MVPs.

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."