8:00 PM –
What a pathetic lineup we are fielding tonight.  We feature Michaels playing left, Nyjer Morgan in center, Steve Pearce in right, and Andy LaRoche at third.  None of these guys has more than a handful of games - if any - at Busch.
What a defensive disaster.
Let’s hope it plays out better than it [...]

I mentioned the other day that is was sad to see Pittsburgh Pirates fans all starting to hammer each other across Pirate Nation after the deadline deals.
Now the media is getting into the act hammering each other too.
Bob Smizik at the Post-Gazette had the balls to call out Rocco DeMaro’s on-air claim that he scooped [...]

Quick observations. 
Another game, another loss.   If we continue to play .313 baseball all the rest of the way, we’ll obtain the 4th pick in the 2009 draft, all things remaining equal.  I suppose that’s the only silver lining to all this since we aren’t evaluating talent from the farm other than a few arms which we [...]

Boring, boring baseball. 
McLouth misplaying flyballs, Pearce with absolutely no idea how to cover the ball defensively, we’re puting down sac bunts with our pitcher twice in a game we’re down four or more runs, Doumit is so slow out of the box batting lefty that on a slow squibbler to third with a man at [...]

The Nuttings finally caved in and spent some of George Steinbrenner’s welfare money (or was it from the salary dump this year or last?) to improve the competition on the field.

The fans feel like there’s a new beginning yet continue to wear their gas masks as the place still smells of rotten Nutting eggs.

“The Pirates lack of scoring can be attributed to the fact they have been playing contending teams since the deadline which have better quality pitching.”  Bob Walk said something like that 8/15 during the Pirates MLB broadcast
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While it’s true the Pirates have played four teams in the thick of their division races, one quick look [...]

Pedro Alvarez represents Aramis Ramirez to the fans that Ogden Nutting gave away five years ago.

Nutting got control of the club raking millions while the fans waited patiently.

Now the fans expect Nutting to pay them back.

Pony up for Alvarez, they say.

Or else.

.

Pirates offense:
1st: Runners at first in second and no outs.  Stranded.
5th: Runner at third less than 2 outs.  Stranded.
7th: Bases loaded, no outs.  Stranded.
Reds record in August before hitting PNC: 1-9, and they won 2 of 3 in this series.
Reds batting last 10 days: 2cd worst in MLB at .230. Reds BA in series: .255.
Reds pitching [...]

Take the pitcher with the worst ERA in the game (more than 60 innings) and pit him against the team with the worst OPS and BA in the game last seven days (.580 OPS, .209 BA) and what do you get?
A team that manages just six hits over 4.2 innings with five of the six going for [...]

The Pirates came off a four city road tour to play in their home park, more than 23,000 fans showed up to watch them, and how did the players respond?
Indifferent, during the game, that is.  Going through the motions.  Call it anything you want.
Slow to the ball in the outfield by the corners and even slower to throw, [...]