Taking "We Suck" to a whole nutha level

The Pittsburgh Pirates looked really solid for the first couple weeks. The pitching was decent and the young hitting was on fire. They took 2 of 3 from the Dodgers to start the season and didnt look horrible (not great either, mind you) in dropping two series to Zona and SF. Then they swept the Reds...and I was thinking that this team reeked of sleeper potential (you know, in the way that the 2003 Marlins were a sleeper).

Wake up call -- they have lost 7 in a row.

The combined score was 72-12.

That included a 20-0 loss; a 17-3 loss; a 10-3 loss; an 8-0 loss; and an 8-1 loss.

And just for fun, lets take a gander at the Pirates' joke of a pitching staff, shall we?

• Evan Meek (obviously not that meek): 0.69 ERA, 13 Ks in 13 IP.
• Javier Lopez: 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP
• Ross Ohlendorf: 3.60, 5 IP

Now watch your grip as they fall off the cliff:

• Paul Maholm (ace... hah): 1-2 record, 4.74 ERA, 14K, 8 BB
• Jack Taschner: 4.91 ERA with 12 Ks in 11 IP
• Zach Duke (#2 starter...comical!): 2-2 record, 6.11 ERA, 14 BB, 20 runs allowed
• DJ Carrasco: 6.43 ERA
• Brendan Donnelly: 7.27 ERA
• Brian Bass: 9.00 ERA
• Brian Burres: 9.31 ERA

OK, now that you are holding on for dear life, enter "holy shit" territory:

• Octavio Dotel (my closer....arrrgh): 12.27 ERA, .382 opponents' average
• Joel Hanrahan: 12.60 ERA in 5 really solid innings
• Daniel McCutchen: 0-2 as a starter, 13.50 ERA
• Carlie Morton: 4 starts, 4 losses, 16.20 ERA and a stellar .418 opponents' average
• Chris Jakubauskas: Took one off the noggin, so I'll cut him some slack for his 27.00 ERA in 0.2 IP.
• Hayden Penn: 2 innings, 8 runs allowed (wow) for a 30.86 ERA.

I sure hope Dotel can turn it around...most of his crappy stats came in non-save situations. Why do closers suck so bad in non-save situations?

So, in conclusion, I will say it again....NL Central hitters and pitchers -- BUY! BUY! BUY! Your players will have lots of chances to face off against the suckitude that is Pittsburgh Pirates pitching.