Oh Goody, Here Comes Inter-League

As the birds chirp, the flowers bloom, and America prepares itself for another glorious Memorial Day weekend, and most likely a long, hot summer; our very own Battlin' Buccos prep themselves for their annual free fall that generally coincides with the beginning of inter-league play. For those that don't read in between the stats on the score cards, early June is generally when the Bucs slide from three or four games under .500 to about a dozen or so under in just a few dreadful weeks. It all starts with that first inter-league pitch.

The Pirates are clearly the worst MLB team when it comes to inter-league play, with a career winning percentage under .380! As history bodes for the Bucs, any promising season in which the team exits spring hovering just under .500 gets wiped away by the club getting clobbered over the next few weeks. When late June breaks, and the team is 10 or 12 games under, the "fuck it" attitude has already hit the spectators, and the front office scours the clubhouse for any resemblance of a tradeable veteran. By the 4th of July, the team is usually at least 15 games under, and we're all just counting down days until Latrobe opens.

Last night's squandering of another masterful Zach Duke outing was as appropriate of an inter-league opener as it gets for the Buccos. Getting blanked on two lousy hits by a misfit with an ERA over 7, simply unacceptable. Let's hope I'm wrong, but if history serves true, our Battlins' should be on the brink of sub .400 ball within the next week.

Hanging a Ten Spot

In early efforts to woo an offensive outburst out of the Penguins, our very own Battlin' Buccos conducted their own offensive onslaught yesterday, creaming the Colorado Rockies 11-4. The Buccos conjured the ghosts of the old Lumber Company by dropping an impressive 10 runs in the seventh inning. Nate McLouth would spearhead the Bucs' remarkable assault with four RBIs. Zach Duke looked strong once again in gaining his fifth win of the early season.

All focus, however, is now on the men on skates, as the Pens are less the seven hours away from opening puck drop of the Eastern Conference Finals. The odds favor our Flightless Birds, winners of the last four series in which they've held home ice advantage. Let's start the road to five tonight.

El Duke-Ay

For fear of inspiring any jinx in any form, I am reserving any postings on the Pens until tomorrow morning. That leaves me with the only Pittsburgh team that has won a game in the last 72 hours, the Battlin' Buccos.

Some quick props to Z Duke for another masterful gem on the hill last night to FINALLY end the seemingly endless losing streak. Oddly, this is the second flattering post on Duke in the spring from a writer whom has become a fairly harsh critic of the inconsistent lefty. Once again, quality starts = wins. It's that simple.

Cue Fred Claus...

Duking it Out

Contrary to the constant and profane protestations of A Dawg, MP, (and virtually my entire reader base), the Buccos are alive and well, as they extend their winning record deeper into the season with a creaming of the Astros, 7-0 yesterday. Zach Duke continues to resemble a cross between Sandy Koufax and Jesus, with his 0.59 era through two starts.

All indicators suggest that pitching coach Joe Kerrigan is rubbing off on this young staff, which is already enjoying an impressive April. More to certainly follow on this epic story. Let the angry comments begin...

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the left arm of God???