Black Saturday

With the game blocked out on a Saturday night and being miles away from PNC Park, mlb.com's Gametracker was the only way to keep track of the happenings. Despite my pleas, Jim Tracy decided to sit the red-hot Jose Castillo for rookie Don Kelly, who could be a Pittsburgh-style second coming of Rafael Belliard. He responded with a 1-3 night, getting his single with none on and two out in the second, but popped out with one down and the bases loaded in the third. Thankfully, Tom Gorzelanny bailed him out with his second single...ever. Was it a positive sign that Kelly was the only starter below the Mendoza Line? After the D-Bags tied the game Jose replaced Kelly but also went 0-2, including an out in the ninth.

Tonight was a tale of two bullpens. Despite the quick 7-1 lead, this game never felt too safe. Gorzelanny allowed 10 baserunners in laboring through 6, but he only allowed one run before Grabow, McLeary and Capps blew it. A heartbreaker. And with the Big Unit tomorrow. He's a very old Unit, so let us hope the Pirates can continue working the count and salvage a win. But there's no question this one hurts in the drive for 82 wins. They could be at 21-21 if the bullpen had not blown two late inning leads, but here they stand, four games under .500. The third post down at Honest Wagner says it best.