Game 81: Phillies at Pirates

Kendrick and Maholm at seven.

The sizzling magical Pirates are the hottest team in all the majors.

Game 80: Phillies at Pirates

Moyer and Ohlendorf at seven.

Pirates are heating up. Playoff odds up 2000% in the last few days.

This would make a good song for the fireworks show.

Game 79: Phillies at Pirates

McCutchen and Hamels at seven.

Playoff teams usually win at least six games in July.

Cereal bowl night. All fans get a Pirate cereal bowl.

Game 78: Pirates at Cubs

Fifth day of Lincolnmas vs. Tom Gorzelanny at two.

If you add some ELO to the playoff odds, they show some life.

At the end of June the Pirates are at an inflection point. They need a lot of ELO. Perhaps the front office could add an ELO post-game concert this weekend. They would jazz up Saturday's Zambelli fireworks and subtly increase the playoff odds.

Game 77: Pirates at Cubs

Karstens and Lilly at eight.

Until the hapless Cubs are willing to dive at liners, Lilly will never win.

Game 76: Pirates at Cubs

Maholm and Wells at eight.

If the Cubs' infielders aren't willing to dive for Big Z, don't expect Wells to get much help tonight. Advantage Bucs.

Game 75: Pirates at A's

Ohlendorf and Gonzalez at four. Winning on the road is HARD.

Game 74: Pirates at A's

McCutchen at Cahill at ten.

A lot of drama packed into the playoff odds.

Game 73: Lincolnmas IV

Lincoln and Sheets at ten.

Defensive shifts would be more entertaining and perhaps more effective if they occurred right before and during every pitch. For example, two seconds before each pitch every infielder sprints toward the plate. Hitters could not concentrate with that kind of distraction, especially if a strategically-chosen subset of Bucs either jumped into the air, or dove in a strategically-chosen direction.

Game 72: Pirates at Texas

Karstens and Feldmen at eight.

Maybe Maholm needs to rest up for the playoff run like Duke.

Game 71: Pirates at Rangers

Maholm vs. Nippert and the lowly bankrupt Rangers at eight.

Game 70: Pirates at Rangers

The NL Central's hottest team take on the hapless, small-market Rangers at eight.

Ohlendorf and Hunter are the starting pitchers.

Off day

No game for the red-hot Pirates.

Game 69: Indians at Pirates

Masterson and Lincoln at one thirty.

Fueled by last night's win, the Pirates' playoff odds surge to 24 percent of a percent of a percent. This is exciting and magical.

Game 68: Indians at Pirates

Playoff odds now at nine percent of a percent of a percent.

This number should be getting bigger as the season progresses.

Huff and Karstens at seven.

Game 67: Indians at Pirates

Neil Walker cures the sick then hits dingers into the river. Show starts at seven.

Game 66: Pedromas II

Pedro cures the sick then hits dingers into the river. Show starts at seven.

Game 65: Pedromas!

Duke and Danks and the beginning of the Pedro Alvarez Era at seven.

Please join us at six along the banks of the Allegheny to collectively will Pedro to walk across the river during the pre-game show.

Pedromas!

We are hardly ready.

I vote we go with Bones' plan, i.e., collectively will Pedro to make his PNC entrance and debut after walking across the river. In full gear, bat in hand.

Because there is no plan B.

Game 64: White Sox at Pirates

Brad Lincoln and Freddy Garcia at seven. Hopefully the Bucs will not pick up any bad habits from these hapless American League teams.