Pirates Reaching Lower Depths

After Monday's extra-innings loss to the Padres the Pirates moved yet one more game closer toward 100 losses. They are 56-92 and need to finish 7-7 over their final 14 to avoid losing 100 games for the first time since 2000. Pittsburgh is losing at an alarming rate. Consider these numbers:

• 13-36 in their last 49
• 3-17 over their last 20
• 2-11 over their last 13
• They haven't won two in a row since winning five consecutive games from August 17-22
• Expound these numbers over 162 games and it's a 1962 Mets-like 40-122

It's an incredibly terrible run of baseball and there's little reason to believe improvement is coming in 2010. By the way, here's a look at how some of the former Pirates have performed since leaving Major League Baseball's version of Purgatory.

• Tom Gorzelanny-Cubs-3-1/5.04 ERA/11 games/5 starts/32 strikeouts in 30 innings
  
• John Grabow-Cubs-25 games/20 innings/2.21 ERA/13 strikeouts/11 walks/12 hits
  
• Adam Laroche-Braves-.350/12 homers/33 RBI in 45 games
  
• Nate Mclouth-Braves-.278/9 homers/32 RBI in 72 games
  
• Nyjer Morgan-'Nats-.351 24 stolen bases-finished season at .307 with 74 runs in 120 games
  
• Freddy Sanchez-Giants-.284/2 extra base hits in 25 games
  
• Ian Snell-Seattle-5-2/4.53 ERA-beat the Yankees in his last outing
• Jack Wilson-Seattle-.224 six extra base hits in 31 games

It's a mixed bag of success and mediocrity with Laroche, Mclouth and Morgan performing above their previous levels in Pittsburgh, especially Laroche. Sanchez and Wilson have been hurt for much of the time since being traded. Morgan is out for the year after getting off to a great start in Washington. Gorzelanny and Snell both spent time in the minors.

On The Steelers

A few thoughts about the Steelers' loss to Chicago.

• Sunday's loss at Chicago wasn't all that unexpected. It was Chicago's home opener; the Bears were under great pressure after a terrible game at Green Bay; and the Steelers played without Troy Polamalu. That said the win was there for them, if they just convert a field goal or two.
• Jeff Reed was due to miss. The guy has been automatic for much of his career and sooner or later he's not going to make the big kicks. That's just how it goes for kickers. It happens with the best of them. If Reed is one of the best in the game-and I believe he is-he'll rebound.
• The sack of Big Ben on third and eight from the Chicago 11 early in the fourth quarter was huge. It turned a short field goal in to a 38 yard. Ben was working out of the shotgun and has to get rid of the ball. Period.
• So Rasheed Mendenhall gains 39 yards on one carry and then he's shutdown? What's the deal with that? Why not go back to him? Willie Parker seems to have one foot out the door and the Steelers need to find out more about Mendenhall.
• Give the Bears' coaching staff credit for making adjustments. The Steelers dominated the first quarter and much of the first half. But Chicago made some changes and they worked. Steeler coaches are always credited for making great moves on the run; now it's time to recognize that the other guys can do that too and be successful.
• Why did the Steelers draft Frank "The Tank" Summers? He can't block; hasn't done anything on special teams; and they don't run the fullback. So tell me again why is he on the team?
• It would be nice if the pass rush showed up this season. Two sacks through two games isn't getting it done.

Let's Get it On!

It's a playoff hockey night in Pittsburgh. Pens face the hated Flyers in game one at the Igloo in their best-of-seven series. The two teams come in evenly matched. Consider the following:

• Both totaled 99 points
• The Pens won 45 games and the Flyers 44
• Both won 20 road games
  
• Both scored 264 goals
• The Flyers allowed 238 goals and the Pens 239

Throughout the season most of the Penguins' scoring came from Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby who combined for 68 games. However the Pens have 11 players who scored ten or more goals. Philadelphia spreads out its scoring among six 20-goal scorers and seven with at least ten.

Pens goaltender Marc Andre Fluery finished the year with 35 wins, a .912 save percentage, a 2.76 goals against average and four shutouts. Philadelphia's Martin Biron won 29 games, with a .915 save percentage, a 2.76 goals against average and two shutouts.

All the fun starts tonight at 7:00 p.m. with game two scheduled for Friday night.

Also tonight the Rangers play at Washington, Carolina's at New Jersey and in the West, St. Louis plays Vancouver.

Sir Duke in Command

The Pirates rebounded nicely from Sunday's loss at Cincinnati with a 7-0 home opening win over Houston. Zach Duke went the distance, the first complete game home opening shutout since the Candyman, John Candelaria did it in 1978. Duke allowed only four hits in moving to 2-0.

Freddy Sanchez doubled three times, and Adam LaRoche and Ryan Doumit both homered in the win. The Pirates are 4-3 with a day off tomorrow before resuming the series with the Astros Wednesday evening.

Buccos Showing No Mercy

A day after getting shutout in Cincinnati the Pirates' bats have come alive at PNC Park. Pittsburgh leads Houston 6-0 through seven innings in the 2009 home opener. Zach Duke is working on a three-hit shutout, Freddy Sanchez has three hits, and Adam LaRoche actually has two hits-one a homer-and two RBI.

Pens On Big Screens

The Penguins said today they'll again show the team's playoff games on a large TV screen outside Gate 3 at Mellon Arena. The screen-12-feet-by-16-feet, attracted large crowds last year. The schedule is as follows:

GAME 1: @Pittsburgh, Wed. 4/15, 7 p.m.
GAME 2: @Pittsburgh, Fri. 4/17, 7 p.m.
GAME 3: @Philadelphia, Sun. 4/19, 3 p.m.
GAME 4: @Philadelphia, Tue. 4/21, 7 p.m.
*GAME 5: @Pittsburgh, Thu. 4/23, 7 p.m.
*GAME 6: @Philadelphia, Sat. 4/25, 3 p.m.
*GAME 7: @Pittsburgh, Mon. 4/27, TBD
* if necessary; all times Eastern

Harrison Cashes In

The Steelers and linebacker James Harrison have agreed to a new six-year contract. The deal is worth $51.175 million. Harrison is one-time free agent, turned 2008 NFL defensive player of the year. Last year he set a team record for sacks with 16 and topped his year with a thrilling 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Arizona in the Super Bowl.