Game 29: Nationals at Pirates

Jackson and Burnett starting now.

Hoping to see Burnett lay down a bunt.

Game 28: Reds at Pirates

Morton and Latos starting soon.

One day into the Pedro Alvarez Batting Cleanup Era, and the Bucs are undefeated.

Game 27: Reds at Pirates

Bucs up 2-0 in the fifth on a two-run Walker jack. Pedro hitting cleanup.

Game 26: Reds at Pirates

Cueto and Correia at seven.

Frodo batting third. Beer Fort McKenry catching.

Game 25: Pirates at Cardinals

Bedard and Westbrook in a day game.

For perhaps the first time the season, both the Win Meter and the Bunt Meter have fell oddly silent. Bucs need a win. Or at least a bunt.

Game 24: Pirates at Cardinals

The Bucs are spotting the Cardinals a nice lead in the first. Once the Cards are tired out from running around the bases, they'll be unable to field all the bunts.

Game 23: Pirates at Cardinals

Charlie the Bunt and Wainwright, just underway.

Game 22: Braves at Pirates

McDonald and Minor pitching. Game underway.

No bunts but magically the Braves have a 2-0 lead. F'n Braves.

Game 21: Pirates at Braves

Correia has a perfect game in the fourth - two ABs, two bunts.

Game 20: Pirates at Braves

Bucs have scored three runs for Bedard through three innings, and the Bucs lead 3-1. Bedard has apparently won back the respect of his teammates by laying down a nice BUNT.

Game 19: Pirates 1, Braves 1

Tie game, one bunt each.

DeCastro

Steelers draft Stanford G David DeCastro in the first round. All hail this big, powerful-looking, big man!

Games 17 and 18: Rockies at Pirates

Pirates to practice hitting balls in the sun and bouncing them off the foul pole in today's doubleheader.

Game 16: Rockies at Pirates

The Bucs take a day off to prepare against Jamie Moyer.

Will Moyer be a consummate professional and go about his business like he does day in and day out? After the game, what will Jim Tracy ask himself?

Game 15: Cardinals at Pirates

Bedard and Lohse starting soon. Barmes at .095 has cleared the LaRussa Line, and all the designated drivers are on the bench.

Game 14: Cardinals at Pirates

Westbrook and Burnett at seven.

Pirates umbrella day at the park.

Game 13: Cardinals at Pirates

Pirates return from the west coast rested and ready to kick some BUNT.

Lynn and Uber Bunter Morton to start. Pretty soon.

Game 12: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Bucs won the day game one BUNT to none.

It has been brought to our attention that Pedro Alvarez now has more home runs than Albert Pujols.

Game 11: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Karstens and Kubel. Game on now, 1-1.

Barajas (.083) just over the legal limit. As expected Alvarez (.050) on as DD tonight.

Game 10: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Bedard and Saunders starting now.

Rod Barajas (.050) returns as designated driver.

Game 9: Pirates at Giants

Correia and Vogelsong.

Refurbished win meter plugged back in and purring quietly.

Game 8: Pirates at Giants

2011 Bunting Champion Charlie Morton returns to face Barry Zito.

Half of the Bucs starting position players have batting averages lower than Coonelly's BAC (after a holiday party).

Game 7: Pirates at Giants

Pirates down 2-0 in the sixth.

Had to unplug the win meter. Something's not right with it.

The early start will leave extra time after the game for re-enacting the bunt-off win on the lawn outside the beer fort.

Game 6: Pirates at Dodgers

Karstens and Capuano, with the Bucs down 3-0 in the third. Yamaico Navarro is playing LF and batting fifth.

Win meter making a soft, almost whining noise.

Game 5: Pirates at Dodgers

Starting now. Bedard and Billingsley.

Win meter making a loud, almost shrieking noise.

Game 4: Pirates at Dodgers

Correia and Kershaw starting soon. Pirates looking for a bunt-off win.

HW 2012 Readers' Poll

A few days late with this, and the Bucs are already on pace to bunt to 108 wins, but it's time to prognosticate:

1. How many Bucco wins?
2. Most bunts?
3. Other predictions?

I'll start:
1. 83 wins. Finally.
2. Morton, again.
3. Bucs clinch wild-card same day Cutch bunts for the cycle.

Game 3: Phillies at Pirates

Worley and McDonald at one thirty.

I did an LED upgrade on the win meter. Now it's even prettier.

Game 2: Phillies at Pirates

Lee and Karstens at seven.

Pirates still looking for their first bunt of the year.

Game 1: Phillies at Pirates

Halladay and Bedard at 1:35pm.

Win meter warmly glowing, emitting a low hum.

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.