Game 12: Reds at Pirates

Bucs down 2-0 in the second. I'd be entertained if Phil Irwin mixed in the eephus along with his filthy curve.

Game 11: Reds at Pirates

Cueto and Locke tonight at seven

Game 10: Reds at Pirates

Bucs won, Leake gets another free shirt.

Game 9: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Cactus League action continues. When will this meaningless west coast road trip end.

D'backs lead the league in sacrifice flies and are tied for fourth in bunts. Good thing these games don't count.

Game 8: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Bucs up 6-4 in the top of the seventh, thanks to a buntless 5(!) run fourth inning.

Game 7: Pirates at Diamondbacks

Zoltan's return has lifted the Bucs up 4-3 after seven. Pedro drew his first walk but Wandy left in the third with a tight hammy.

Game 6: Pirates at Dodgers

Locke and Ryu starting soon. Iron Balls, Tabata, and McDonald all starting, so bench is stacked with pinch-bunters.

Game 5: Pirates at Dodgers

Exhibition season continues as the Pirates play again in Los Angeles.

Kershaw and Burnett to start.

Game 4: Pirates at Dodgers

Bucs have one hit off Greinke as they trail 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth. Jonathan Sanchez is getting into trouble and seems to want him some whipping post. Russell Martin batting fifth for the Bucs. Meanwhile, Xavier Paul hits a pinch-hit grand slam as the Reds crush Zach Duke and the Nats 15-0.

Game 2: Cubs at Pirates

BUNT ---> Win. Bucs went about their business and played the game the right way today.

2013 HW Readers Poll

It's that time of year again.

1. How many wins?
2. How many bunts?
3. 2013 Whipping Boy?
4. Other predictions?

I'll start: 81, 81, Jonathan Sanchez. Travis Snider fractures skull in freak bunting incident, Jose Tabata converted to reliever, John McDonald starting at 1B and batting fourth by June, Wandy wins 17, and Iron Balls is World Series MVP and stands in the lead limo during the World Series parade.

Game 1: Cubs at Pirates

No bunts, no victory.

Champions

Bucs are in first place in Spring Training, bunting circles around lesser teams like the Red Sox and Yankees who are still laughably buntless.

It's been so long since real games that even the MVP doesn't remember the glory of winning the 2012 World Championship.

Grilli

Jason Grilli is on the TV throwing beanballs for some Italian team.

Pirate sighting

In the delirium of my hard and lonely existence in the beer fort, I saw the Pirates playing baseball last night on the television.

Incredible I know. Difficult to believe at the time. And harder to believe this morning. Was last year not the season to end all seasons?

Will they keep playing for some reason?

Spring Training

No bunts yet, but the Bucs win big in their first Spring Training game.

Hot stove

Cole on trying not to bunt his eye out:

MiLB.com: Being on a National League club, you got a couple at-bats this season. How good are you with the bat?

Cole: (Laughs.) Oh, I'm about as good as any random person would be. We work on getting bunts down, but that's about it. My priority at the plate is getting a bunt down and not getting hurt.

In other news, Cutch does Cruise.

NFL Week 16: Bengals at Steelers

Season on the line, again, right here.

HOKA HEY

NFL week 12: Steelers at Browns

First one to seven turnovers, wins.

NFL week 11: Ravens at Steelers

Byron breaks some ribs as the Steelers successfully pull off Operation Instill False Sense of Confidence. Advantage bumblebees.