Buccos Continue Losing Trend - Lose To Dodgers 9-3

Even Clint Hurdle Can't Watch These Guys

I feel like I've written the same article the past 3 days, but its just the fact that the Pirates continue to lose in the same fashion over, and over, and over, and over again.  I said on the last BNGBlitz Podcast that the Pirates needed to win 5 of their next 7 games to contend for the division.  If what I said is the honest truth, then the Pirates are in some deep trouble.  They've dropped 3 in a row to the Dodgers (Giving up 25 runs in 3 games), and after the series wraps up tonight they head to St. Louis the face the Cardinals.  Things aren't looking good for the Black n' Gold that currently reside in PNC Park.

The Pirates were the proud recipients of another lackluster outing by Wandy Rodriguez last night, who is starting to have many a Pirate fan ask, "Where is the Wandy Rodriguez that used to crush the Pirates?"...count me among those fans asking that question.  Wandy gave up 10 hits (all be it most of the singles) as the entire staff gave up 15 hits in the game allowing 9 runs.  Its funny how some people say that Wandy was only giving up singles...singles lead to base runners and singles with runners on second and third can lead to 2 runs.  Hits are hits, and right now the Pirates pitchers can't get batters out when the have to. 

Add insult to injury (no pun intended...okay, maybe a little), the Pirates best player the past 2 months (2B Neil Walker) dislocated his right pinky finger during last night's game.  There hasn't been anything released yet about when he could possibly return or how long he will be on the shelf, but that makes an already talent-deprived infield even worse.  Does Clint Hurdle move Josh Harrison to 2nd, or put Jordy Mercer there?  Both of them are decent fielders with sub-par hitting ability.  Regardless of his decision, most signs point to the fact that with them using a utility infielder, Pedro Alvarez will have to play third.  Pedro Alvarez is by far the most overrated player on this Pirates team, and one of the more overrated Pirates player that I can remember in the last 10 years.  This guys is the definition of lazy.  I'm going to stop there before I go on my daily "Pedro-Rant".

I typically end these posts with some optimism, but after these past few games, I've decided to just say this, "Lets see how this whole thing turns out".