Game 131: Pirates at Brewers

Karstens and Rodgers at 7.

This would be a good night to unveil some new, aggressive defensive shifts.

Prepare to untuck.

Game 130: Cardinals at Pirates

Kelly and Wandy at 7.

Pirates need to reach back and be the better team they imagined in the pre-season. Yessir, it's time to bunt somebody's eye out.

Game 129: Cardinals at Pirates

Westbrook and McDonald at seven.

Would be a good time for McDonald to throw that no-hitter.

Game 128: Cardinals at Pirates

Burnett and Lohse at seven.

Pirates got to bunt them down, get back on that 100-win pace.

Game 127: Brewers at Pirates

Bedard and Rogers underway and free today on mlb.tv.

Game 126: Brewers at Pirates

Marcum and Karstens at 7.

It's my hunch that Takahashi shoots a mean clay pigeon.

Game 125: Brewers at Pirates

Pirates come home to lick their wounds.

Fiers and Wandy, standing up straight, at seven.

Game 124: Pirates at Padres

J-Mac and the Bucs try to Stand TFU at 6:35 with a playoff berth at stake.

Game 123: Pirates at Padres

Burnett thinks Marquis and the Padres need to STFD.

Game 122: Pirates at Padres

One of the AAA starters, probably Wilson or Leroux, will likely get the call against Volquez tonight. Bucs need a win for the playoffs.

Game 121: Pirates at Cardinals

Karstens and Garcia starting soon.

The PBC 2012 World Champions DVD will feature a segment where they reenact the critical turning point of Tabata's bus (limo?) ride from Indy to St. Louis, where he returns to lead off and start in LF today.

Game 120: Pirates at Cardinals

Bedard and Lynn today at four.

Late afternoon start leaves plenty of time for Bucs fans to buy their World Series tickets, which are finally on sale.

Game 119: Pirates at Cardinals

McDonald and Westbrook tonight at 8:15.

Some meaningful bunts could put the Bucs one step closer to a first-round playoff bye.

Game 118: Dodgers at Pirates

Burnett and Blanton at four.

Bucs are 36 games away from another 100 win year.

Game 117: Dodgers at Pirates

Wandy and Kershaw tonight.

When we watch the 2012 world champion PBC DVD in 7 months this part of the season will be the dramatic lowpoint, where the camera goes sharp to blurry and players, bat on shoulder, look out in the distance a la 1000 yd stare, THEN, the dramatic, uplifting music begins...and so the push starts.

Game 116: Dodgers at Pirates

Correia and Billingsley tonight.

Bucs are five games back and 1.5 games up in the wild card race. Bucs need some bunts to regain momentum.

Game 115: Dodgers at Pirates

Karstenstein vs. the Harangutan tonight.

Given the match-up, fans with small kids should probably just listen to this one on the radio. Bucs need a win.

Game 114: Padres at Pirates

Bedard and Ross Ohlendorf today as the Bucs try to get back on track for a first-round playoff bye.

Game 113: Padres at Pirates

Burnett tries to stop the languor before fireworks and Styx.

Game 112: Padres at Pirates

J-Mac and Volquez tonight in another must-win game with playoff implications.

Game 111: Diamondbacks at Pirates

Wandy and Saunders today at four with a first round playoff bye at stake.

Reds play in Wrigley at eight.

Game 110: Diamondbacks at Pirates

Correia and Kennedy tonight with the World Series parade in the balance.

Reds play the Brewers in a day game.

Game 109: Diamondbacks at Pirates

Karstens and Corbin with the division on the line.

Game 108: Diamondbacks at Pirates

Bedard and Miley at seven in another must win game.

Game 107: Pirates at Reds

Game on now.

Progress of the series so far emphasizes the need to win the division outright.

Game 106: Pirates at Reds

McDonald and Leake tonight in the most important game of the year.

We gonna get down. We gonna do the do.

Game 105: Pirates at Reds

Wandy and Latos starting soon in the most meaningful series in twenty years.

Game 104: Pirates at Cubs

Karstens and Wood this afternoon.

Wood is a lefty, so I am curious if we will see Good Pedro (day splits) or Bad Pedro (lefty splits). Probably depends on which way the wind is blowing.

Pirates need to get this win. Day off tomorrow and then twenty games in a row, starting in Cincinnati.

Game 103: Pirates at Cubs

Burnett and Dempster tonight at eight.

Pirates need to shake off all those bad habits they picked up in Houston. It's a real danger playing hapless teams ... playing down to the competition is not how the Pirates will win another championship.

Fortunately the Cubs have been playing well since about when they promoted Rizzo -- I count 18-10 in that department -- so it should not take too long for the Pirates to re-learn how to play the game right. The problem will be if they lose too many games in the meantime.

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.

Game 87: Pirates at Brewers

Correia and Estrada at seven.

A lot of hand-wringing about last night's bloodbath, but any team will lose a game like that, here and there, so there are no worries in the beer fort.

Prepare to untuck.

Game 86: Pirates at Brewers

McDonald vs. Greinke tonight, if Zack can avoid getting ejected.

The Bucs are only one game up, so to stay in first place and continue their first half momentum, they really need to win this game.

All-Star break

All but two of the Bucs rest while Cutch assures home-field advantage for the Bucs in the World Series. Then Hairyhands will probably try to give it away.

The Home Run Derby would be more entertaining if it was just one of many contests of baseball prowess. Like a bunting contest (or marathon). And synchronized defensive shifts involving whole infields and/or outfields, set to music.

Game 85: Giants at Pirates

Burnett vs. the Freak today.

Despite the calming influence of Vogelsong, the Freak Whisperer, Timmy has been a wreck this year. Bucs need a win to carry momentum and sole possession of first place into the All-Star break.

Game 84: Giants at Pirates

McDonald takes on Ryan Vogelsong and his NL lowest ERA.

Facing a pitcher with a pedigree like Vogelsong, a 1-0 victory is about the best we can hope for.

Game 83: Giants at Pirates

Bedard and Zito at seven.

Finally the Bucs get to play a real MLB team. If the Bucs want a bigger first place lead, they really need to win this game.

Game 82: Astros at Pirates

Karstens and Norris at seven.

If the Bucs want to retain sole possession of first place, they really need to win this game.

Game 81: Astros at Pirates

Keuchel and Correia in an hour.

Match rockets and sparklers line the battlements for post-game patriotic festivity.

The Pirates are at .550 and tied for first with the Reds. As good as they've been the last month, they'll have to play better. Tied with the hapless Reds? ... this will not do.

Sadly, there appear to be no photos of Sutton connecting for the beer fort wall. The photojournalists need to step up their game too.

Game 80: Astros at Pirates

Burnett goes for his 9th straight win against Harrell, a bunting threat.

If the Bucs want to win the division, they really need to win this game.

Game 79: Astros at Pirates

McDonald and Lyles at seven.

Bucs need a win if they want to increase their rapidly growing playoff odds. 83.2% are pretty good odds, but it'll be fun to watch that converge on 100%.

Game 78: Pirates at Cardinals

Bedard and Westbrook today.

If Bedard fancies himself a starter in the Bucs' playoff rotation, he really needs to win this game.

Game 77: Pirates at Cardinals

Karstens and Lynn today.

If Karstens fancies himself a starter in the Bucs' playoff rotation, he really needs to win this game.

Game 76: Pirates at Cardinals

Correia and Wainwright tonight.

If Correia fancies himself a starter in the Bucs' playoff rotation, he really needs to win this game.

Game 75: Pirates at Phillies

Burnett and Kendrick in a day game.

If Burnett wants a statue outside of PNC, he really needs to win this game.

Game 74: Pirates at Phillies

J-Mac and Raul Valdes at seven.

The Bucs need to win if they want a first round playoff bye.

Game 73: Pirates at Phillies

Bedard and Worley at seven.

Most scenarios where the Bucs go deep into the playoffs involve a win tonight.

Game 72: Pirates at Phillies

K-Star returns to face Blanton and the hapless last-place Phils tonight.

Bucs are one game out and tied for the wild card lead.

Game 71: Tigers at Pirates

Correia and Verlander starting soon.

If the Bucs are going to go deep in the playoffs, they need to regularly rest the starters like today with Tabata, Rowdy Rod Burrito and NFW on the bench. Cutch is playing, so the Bucs are still heavy favorites.

Game 70: Tigers at Pirates

Lincoln and Scherzer at four.

Smells like first place.

Kevin Youkilis has never laid down a BUNT in his career. Not sure what message signing him would send. He could at least show the other Bucs how to shake up a bottle of champagne and spray it around the clubhouse.

Game 69: Tigers at Pirates

Burnett and Fister tonight in a possible World Series preview. Bucs just two games back.

Game 68: Twins at Pirates

McDonald and Hendriks tonight.

Must win (or bunt) game if you care about the playoffs.

Game 67: Twins at Pirates

Bedard and Liriano tonight.

Bucs are 2.5 games out of first. For the first time in recent memory, the Win Meter, the Playoff Meter, and the Bunt Meter are all glowing various hues of green.

Game 66: Twins at Pirates

Correia and Diamond tonight.

We'll be thoroughly entertained if Pedro hits three dingers.

Game 65: Pirates at Indians

El Toro goes berserk as the Bucs win 9-5.

Game 64: Pirates at Indians

Burnett and Jimenez starting soon.

Rumors about a possible Manny Ramirez acquisition have not been substantiated.

Game 63: Pirates at Indians

McDonald and Masterson today at four. Win meter turned off and back on.

Game 62: Pirates at Orioles

Bedard and Hunter tonight. The Bucs need to get back to fundamentals, like bunting and defensive shifts.

Game 61: Pirates at Orioles

Correia and Matusz tonight. Matusz is recovering from a serious bunting accident.

No No: A Dockumentary

Dock Ellis has a posse.

Game 60: Pirates at Orioles

Lincoln and Chen tonight in a likely World Series preview.

First place

Nice view from up here.

Bucs have Monday off to prepare for the 1979 World Series rematch.

Game 59: Royals at Pirates

Burnett and Chen starting soon. Alvarez, Jones, and Tabata are all on the bench, stealing signs.

The Bucs are one game out. Playoff meter glows the hue of lush infield grass.

Game 58: Royals at Pirates

Mazzaro and McDonald at 7:15.

Pirates are three games over .500 and two games out of first.

Boyz II Men playing after the game.

Game 57: Royals at Pirates

Bedard and Hochevar tonight. Two games back.

Game 56: Pirates at Reds

Correia and Leake tonight with the playoffs on the line.

Game 55: Pirates at Reds

Lincoln and Cueto tonight, with the Bucs just two games out.

Bucco playoff odds holding steady around 77%.

Game 54: Pirates at Reds

Tomorrow, June 5. A.J. Burnett vs. Homer Bailey.

The Pirates are 27-26 and three games back of these 30-23 Reds.

Draft

Bucs draft Stanford RHP Mark Appel with the #8 pick, and HS OF Barrett Barnes with #45. In the late rounds, the Bucs should just draft the BBA - Best Bunter Available.

Game 53: Pirates at Brewers

McDonald and Fiers on now. Bucs are down 2-0 in the first.

Game 52: Pirates at Brewers

Bedard and Marcum tonight with the Bucs still three games back.

We will untuck.

Game 51: Pirates at Brewers

Correia and Wolf tonight with the Bucs three games back.

Game 50: Reds at Pirates

Burnett and Cueto at seven usher in the Jordy Mercer Era.

Jordy was an accomplished bunter, but has been stone cold buntless in 2012.

Game 49: Reds at Pirates

Morton and Bailey at seven.

The Bucs are just three games back and have won four in a row. Only Zoltan knows whether today's Assault will be on the Infield Grass or Outfield Walls, but either way, the playoff implications are substantial.

Game 48: Reds at Pirates

McDonald and Arroyo today.

The Bucs are four games behind the first-place Reds. Some Meaningful Bunting in late May could put the Bucs back at .500.

Game 47: Cubs at Pirates

Bedard and Garza today. Remember all of the bunts that rolled foul.

Game 46: Cubs at Pirates

Paul Maholm returns to PNC to face Correia and the Bucs' bunting juggernaut.

Meanwhile, ZOLTAN! closes the book on the Sam and Frodo Era.

Game 45: Cubs at Pirates

Burnett and Dempster tonight.

When looking for offensive help in the minors, it's hard not to notice Jo-Jo Reyes, currently leading Indy with three bunts.

Game 44: Mets at Pirates

Morton and Niese in a daytime bunt-off.

Game 43: Mets at Pirates

McDonald and Dickey tonight at seven. Bucs three games back.

Game 42: Mets at Pirates

Hairy Hands on to finish it. Bucs up 5-4, top of the ninth.

Not too far out of first place, too.

Game 41: Pirates at Tigers

Correia and Scherzer starting now. Don Kelly and his .635 career OPS are leading off and playing CF for the Tigers.