I hate the Nyjer Morgan/Sean Burnett for Lastings Milledge/Joel Hanrahan trade.  I’ve listened to Neal Huntington on the pregame show, and again on “Extra Innings,” and I very much respect him and the job that he’s doing.  That said, I really don’t see how this benefits the Pirates at all.  The Buccos gave up possibly their best clubhouse guy, as well as a very capable reliever.  And what was the return?  A guy with major maturity and makeup issues (who’s injured to boot, and who has quickly worn out his welcome with his previous two franchises), and a guy who was relieved of his closing duties in the worst bullpen in the history of baseball.

I know that Nyjer is older than Lastings, and that he’s pretty much at the peak of his career while Lastings is on the upswing, but I really think you can’t underestimate the importance of what type of guy a player is in the clubhouse.

I’m willing to give Milledge a chance, but all I know is several reports said that the Pirate clubhouse was much more positive and upbeat in the aftermath of Ian Snell’s demotion.  (Coincidence?  They did seem to suggest as much.)  So why would the Buccos want to essentially replace him with another potentially cancerous guy in the clubhouse?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t have traded Morgan and Burnett; I just question the return.  Rumor had it that over the weekend, the Pirates were seeking Milledge and Craig Stammen.  How did we go from seeking one of their highest upside starters to accepting a somewhat middling reliever?  It really seems like we settled, at least to me.

However, while I type this, Rocco is talking on “Extra Innings” about risk, and maybe that’s where my problem with the trade lies.  I avoid risk whenever possible, in nearly every facet of my life.  So I guess it just makes me really nervous to watch others who are more daring.  I hope the risk pays off, but what do you do if it doesn’t?  Not to be too much of a downer, but that kind of fear is paralyzing to me.

Thanks to Kev, perhaps the most loyal reader of the blog, for this correction to the “Royally defeated” entry.  Ian Snell did not, in fact, strike out the first 13 batters he saw.  What I meant is that the first 13 batters he retired were via the strikeout.

Apologies, dear reader!

I was somewhat shocked when one of my co-workers informed me today that Eric Hinske had been dealt to the Yankees.  Even though the trade came out of nowhere, it probably shouldn’t have surprised me to the degree that it did.  I mean, he was definitely getting squeezed out of a job here, thanks to the glut of outfield talent that the Pirates have, plus Andy LaRoche (and, in the not-too-distant future, Pedro Alvarez) over at third.  But still, it’s always a shock when somebody leaves and you don’t have a chance to say goodbye.

What I will remember most of Hinske is that he has the straightest teeth I have seen — not just on a baseball player, but pretty much ever.  I know that’s hardly a detailed statistical analysis (and in all honesty, when other female fans make silly comments like that based on player appearances, it drives me nuts), but that will be my lasting impression.  (Perhaps that, more than anything, indicates that it was Hinske’s time to go?)

I wish him well.  He seemed to be a nice guy; he’s a solid player and teammate, and he seems more at home in the AL East.  So as I said when Nate was traded, fair thee well, Eric.

Can we make the word Greinke a verb?  As in the Pirates got “Greinkified” yesterday?  Yes, the renowned ace of the Royals was as good as advertised, and he and Charlie Morton actually matched goose-eggs for the first few innings (allowing them to be completed in 30-40 minutes).  And yet then, when Morton’s egg cracked a bit, Greinke’s remained firmly intact.

But then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pirates came a-knockin’.  And Greinke, with his otherworldly abilities, was able to conspire with the heavens, impelling them to explode with a deluge that resulted in a rain delay, just as the Pirates were getting some momentum.

Seriously – I think Greinke and the universe were in cahoots to foil the Buccos’ chances.  It wouldn’t surprise me, because I find Greinke super-intimidating.  It’s not just that his stuff is absolutely filthy; it’s that he kind of has a frightening aura.  I think it’s partly because of all his social anxiety struggles, which, obviously, make him not the friendliest guy out there.  Even pictures of him kind of scare me.  So I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he was able to coerce the clouds to dump rain upon the suddenly streaking Pirates.

Because alas, after the rains had left, the Bucs could only scratch across one additional run (Andy LaRoche, who had tripled before the flood, came home on a Jason Jaramillo groundout).  But that was it.  The bullpen royally shut them down, and we were left with a 3-2 loss that probably could have been a win.  There wasn’t one particular play that cost us the game (although if Jaramillo had done a better job blocking the plate early on, Mark Teahen wouldn’t have scored what wound up being the deciding run).  It was just a matter of coming close, but not close enough.

And for that, I blame Greinke.

Encouraging sign of the game: Adam LaRoche must be sensing that the calendar page is about to turn to July, because he’s starting to streak.

Discouraging sign of the game: I’m still not quite sure what all the fuss is about with regard to Charlie Morton.  I’m willing to give him some time, of course, but so far I’ve seen a guy who can’t go much more than five innings, and who is only mediocre during those innings.  I’m hopeful that he’ll turn it around, but so far, I’m pretty lukewarm.

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a good way): The carousel in right field continues, with Hinske getting the start yesterday, Young the night before, and Moss the night before that.  I’m not gonna lie — it’s pretty awesome to have three legitimate options for that position.

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a not-so-good way): I guess I can’t get away from acknowledging Ian Snell here.  Even though he was pitching for Indianapolis and not the Pirates, we all know by now that he struck out 17 in 7 innings, including the first 13 in a row.  What else is there to say?  I’m just hoping he keeps this up, because a strong performance in AAA is only going to improve his trade value, and at this point, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the only thing he’s worth to the Pirates.

Jolly Rog status: Lowered, and still drying off after the Greinke-orchestrated downpour.

One of my favorite things that FSN (the local Pirates’ TV station) does is rebroadcast the Bucco games on Monday through Saturday nights.  They start at 11 and run for two hours, meaning the FSN crew pares things down to the run-scoring plays and other exciting moments.  I don’t usually catch Pirates Rewind during the week, but on weekends, I do, especially when I go to the games and therefore can’t see them on TV.  Silly?  Pathetic?  A waste of time?  Perhaps.  But I genuinely miss the announcers’ commentary and banter when I go to the game with others (my trusty Walkman accompanies me when I go by myself).

All of this to say that Bob Walk rewarded my loyalty last night, with what was perhaps my favorite announcerism of the year.  He and Greg Brown were talking about all the different teams that Royals’ starter Bruce Chen has played for (and, therefore, the number of different team suitcases he must have).  And then Bob shared with the viewing audience this delightful nugget, uttered in a genuinely curious, interested tone: “You know how people dream in all different colors?  When Bruce Chen dreams, I wonder what uniform he sees himself wearing.”

That’s right; I don’t bandy about with the word “perfect,” but tonight was pretty darn close.  The weather?  Check.  The atmosphere inside the park?  Check.  The end result?  Check.  The Jolly Rog?  Raised.

I’ll admit to being a little down early in the game, when the Royals’ Bruce Chen was looking pretty good through the first few innings (despite it being his first Major League appearance since 2007 — maddening!).  I called Kev at one point, and he showed more faith in the Buccos than I did.  “You still have six at-bats,” he said, and indeed, his faith was rewarded.  Later that same inning, in fact, Delwyn Young promptly deposited a Chen pitch into the Royals’ bullpen, which would have been nice enough on its own.  But when you add in that Freddy Sanchez and Adam LaRoche were on base at the time, the home run became downright exciting.  It gave the Pirates a lead that they would not relinquish.

And this was particularly encouraging, because Paul Maholm was a little shaky through the first few innings, and the doors could have easily fallen off, and the two runs he gave up could have easily become five or six, and all the momentum of the three-game winning streak could have been quashed, just like that.

But instead, Maholm bore down, and retired the Royals 1-2-3 in the fourth through seventh innings.  And then John Grabow came in and was good, and Jeff Karstens came in and was good (more on that to come), and there you have it.  Ballgame.

There was so much to be excited about in this game — Maholm’s pitching, the solid defense (Jack led the charge by turning three double plays in the first five innings), and the offense.  The Pirates kept adding on runs after Young’s blast, and it proved insurmountable.

All the way around, these are the kind of nights that I miss during the interminable days of November and December — these nights when the sunset is just perfect, the skyline turning blue, then sparking pink for a moment before darkness falls like a curtain; these nights when the crowd is into the game and the ballpark is rocking; these nights when the Pirates play well, and everything comes together, and the game is quick and the W is achieved.

So, yeah.  Tonight was pretty darn close to perfect.

Encouraging sign of the game: Jack is definitely streaking at the plate, and he continues to play solid defense to boot.  (Which reminds me, actually, that the true/false question in today’s “It’s Time to Play Bucco” was, “Jack once kicked a 51-yard field goal in high school.”  This proved true, which impelled Guy Whose Job I Want [aka Joe, the guy that hosts all the in-game entertainment] to quip, “and he hasn’t booted one since.”  So true!)  He continues to make both the routine plays and the more difficult ones, and he manages to make them all look easy.  He is pretty close to irreplaceable, so I hope the front office takes notice.

Discouraging sign of the game: Nyjer Morgan got picked off/caught stealing twice tonight.  As Rocco has said so many times, if you get caught more than 30% of the time, you’re hurting more than you’re helping.  Nyjer right now is getting caught about 34% of the time, so make your own conclusions there.

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a good way): The Pirates have now guaranteed themselves a winning Interleague record for the first time since 2001.  Their overall record since the inception of Interleague Play is still abyssmal, but you know what?  Interleague has been a huge Achilles heel for the Bucs in recent years, so I’m happy to see them turn this one around this season.  And if this losing streak has come to an end, might that mean another, more infamous one, is not that far behind?

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a not-so-good way): This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I was a little confused as to Jeff Karstens’ appearance in the ninth, in a 6-2 game.  Evan Meek and Jesse Chavez were out in the ‘pen, fresh.  Plus, if something should go awry tomorrow with Charlie Morton (can we call him Charlie Horse, given his frustrating hamstring?), we’ll need Karstens for long relief.  It just seemed like others could have come in in the ninth.  However, I suppose it doesn’t much matter, because the bottom line is:

Jolly Rog status: Raised, and feeling pretty darn optimistic at this point.

…and tonight, they did.  “They,” of course, being the national media (ESPN most specifically), who seem to take great pleasure in either blatantly ignoring the Pirates or mentioning them solely in derisive, snarky terms.

So what did my wondering eyes behold but a bevy of Pirates’ highlights (albeit in the waning moments of “Baseball Tonight”) — first, rather extended coverage of the game, with a focus on Virgil Vasquez (who picked up his first Big League win tonight — mad props!).  Then, Virgil reappeared, this time in the “That’s Nasty” segment.  Well done!  And then, Jack Wilson made an appearance, not just on the “Web Gems” segment, but at the very top of the list (naturally).  This was for a ridiculous play, the type that only Jack makes, in which the ball careened off Andy LaRoche, and Jack had to go deep in the hole to get it, then fire a strike to first.  The Pirates’ broadcasters said he was nearly in foul territory when he let go of the ball, and although I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, it was still a heck of a play.  (<cough cough> and the kind of play you won’t see Brian Bixler making <cough cough> so please, please, please, Neal Huntington, keep Jack! <cough cough>)  Even better, it was at least the second time this year that Jack has made a play on a ball that’s deflected off of Andy.

And speaking of a heck of a play, Virgil Vasquez had a heck of a game.  He only allowed four hits and two walks in six innings (a nice tidy WHIP of 1, for those of you scoring at home).  And, perhaps most impressive on a staff noticeably bereft of power pitchers, he struck out seven, including one on the “That’s Nasty” pitch (several others could have been in the running for inclusion in this segment as well) and three in his final inning of work.  Good stuff.

Perhaps most impressive, Vasquez got himself into a bit of a jam in the second inning, when he allowed two doubles.  The doors seemed to be teetering on their hinges just a bit.  But then, instead of allowing them to come clattering to the ground, Vasquez effectively nailed them back in, and got out of the inning.  He didn’t let a few bad pitches get in his head, and he didn’t lose his composure.  I won’t name names, but this was a refreshing change from, well, everyone’s pal, shall we say.

Is Virgil Vasquez going to win the Cy Young?  I wouldn’t go that far.  But is he going to keep the Buccos in the game and give them a chance to win when he takes the hill?  That answer, it appears, is yes — and when we’re being perfectly honest, what more do you really want out of a #6 starter?

Encouraging sign of the game: Virtually everything about Virgil Vasquez.  Something else I forgot to mention is the footage they showed of him during the TV broadcast.  This was hours before first pitch, and there he was stretching, throwing, and doing some weird leaping exercise (which was actually quite graceful).  This is a guy who is grateful for the opportunity to be in the Big Leagues, and is willing to put in the extra work.  He also thanked Joe Kerrigan in his postgame interview, and pointed to the effectiveness of Joe’s game plan.  Again, a refreshing change.

Discouraging sign of the game: After being the hottest hitter in the Majors over the last ten days, Brandon Moss took the collar tonight.  Another regression for this extraordinarily streaky hitter?  I sure hope not!

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a good way): The Pirates hit three home runs tonight.  I know, right?  That’s not a typo, either.  Well done, guys!  Particularly enjoyable was the Jack jack.

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a not-so-good way): Andrew McCutchen’s league-leading (for a rookie) hitting streak came to an end tonight, but his on-base streak remains intact, thanks to a walk and an HBP.  As far as I’m concerned, with his speed, the OBP is the most important stat — it doesn’t matter how he gets to first (or second, or third), just that he does.

Jolly Rog status: Raised, and happy that, like the Pirates for the next six days, he doesn’t have to go anywhere.  In fact, nothing would please him more than to perch atop his pole for the remainder of the homestand.  So here’s hoping that the Pirates, like ESPN, recognize.

First off, let me state for the record that I have nothing against Ty Taubenheim.  That said, let’s look at a scenario here.

This very weekend, the last one in June of last season, he was called up to make a spot start.  It was OK, not great, but the fact that it was his only Pirates’ appearance says something about what the organization apparently thinks of his long-term potential.

So now fast-forward with me to this weekend, the last weekend in June of this year, and look at what we have.  We have a starting rotation that is somewhat in flux, what with Ian Snell’s implosion and Charlie Morton’s nagging injury.  So we need someone to step up. 

And we, my friends, have options.  Real, actual, viable options.  We have Virgil Vasquez.  We have Tom Gorzelanny.  We have Jeff Karstens.  We have Daniel McCutchen.  Heck, we even have Brad Lincoln.  We have guys that either have Major League starting experience (in some cases, extensive experience), or who are legitimate prospects.  The days of Yoslan Herrera and Jimmy Barthmaier, my friends, are gone.

So say what you will about the new management team.  Gripe all you want about the Bay, the Nady, even the McLouth trades (and yes, we all know how I feel about that one).  But then look at our starting rotation, and their heirs apparent, and the depth, really, that’s being built up and down the organization and all around the diamond, and know, without a doubt, that progress is being made. 

Yeah, I’ll be a loser and split the word into three separate ones, because I need to emphasize just how incredible last night’s game was.  What more can you say, really, about an exhilarating walk-off win, and against the hated Cleveland squad to boot?  I can’t even pick a most exciting moment.  Was it the bases-loaded walk Andrew McCutchen drew in the seventh to tie the game?  The game-saving, bring-it-back-from-over-the-fence catch that Nyjer Morgan made in the top of the eighth?  The heads-up steal of third by Jack in the bottom of the ninth, which led to an easy score on McCutchen’s walk-off hit?

It was just fantastic.  One of the best games I’ve been to, not just this year, but ever.  The atmosphere was electric, almost palpable.  In key situations, you could just feel the whole ballpark hanging on every pitch, and then emotions would crest as the pitch would come in, and when it did, a great communal release would occur, whether in a grunt of disgust, a sigh of relief, or, in the case of the bottom of the ninth, a scream of catharsis and sheer joy.

And what a scene down on the field, too, of the Pirates mobbing McCutchen at first base.  All I could see from my vantage point in section 308 was lots of bouncing, chest-bumping, and dog-piling.  At one point, Freddy wound up flat on his back, and had to be helped up.  For just a few moments down there, it was like watching little kids living the dream.

And I got chills, too, just like I did last year during the Yankees’ series, because this is what it could be like.  This is what it will be like.  Do people think it’s a coincidence that the Pirates are 10-1 this season when playing in front of home crowds of 20,000 or more?  Of course, they’re not going to draw until a winner is on the field.  But once that happens…man, it’s going to be, well, fantastic. 

I was thrilled with the win, of course, but also with the fact that it was achieved in nine innings.  (Extra frames are always a concern with a work night game.)  Continuing, then, with what was quickly turning into a perfect night, the predicted thunderstorms held out until no more than ten minutes after the game ended.  Seriously.  The tarp was on the field by the time I left the park.  Walking back over the Clemente Bridge, the wind whipped and inflated my Pirate poncho, and I nearly Mary Poppins-ed myself back to the car.  It was a somewhat dramatic ending to a night at the ballpark that was simply, well, you know.

Encouraging sign of the game: Lost in all of the offensive excitement was the performance of Tree Trunk Arms, who matched Cliff Lee (he of the fancy-pants and supposedly intimidating Cy Young Award) virtually pitch for pitch.

Discouraging sign of the game: Johnny Grabs was awful.  I’m sorry, but it’s true.  He walked the bases loaded, and only escaped serious damage thanks to Nyjer Morgan’s defensive heroics.

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a good way): As I pointed out on “Extra Innings” last night, I think the turning point in the game came with Andy LaRoche’s at-bat to lead off the seventh.  He was able to work a walk (which allowed him to come around to score), but he also fouled off several pitches, thus driving up Cliff Lee’s pitch count and allowing the Pirates to get into an Indians’ bullpen that is, let’s face it, abyssmal.  So well done, Andy.

Things that make you go “hmm” (in a not-so-good way): What in the world was Jason Jaramillo doing in the bottom of the eighth?  The Indians had brought in a reliever whose ERA topped 10, and he had helped to walk the bases loaded.  So Jaramillo comes up with only one out, and proceeds to swing at the first pitch and ground into a double play.  You can groan if you want — I know I (and 30,000+ of my closest friends) did.

Jolly Rog status: Raised, and with authority, too.

Let’s forget for a moment, if we may, the last two games against the Indians, the first of which elicited nothing from me but gutteral groans (followed by a few, heart-stopping minutes), and the second of which I did not see a single pitch (Bible Study night, remember).  Let’s jump instead to the major news of the day, the demotion of Ian Snell to Indianapolis.

I caught most of the sound bytes from his press conference when I got into my car to drive home from work, and in listening to them, I learned the following four things:

1.) Major League players can choose to send themselves down to the Minors.

2.) That old adage they feed you throughout Little League is actually false; there apparently is an “I” in “team.”

3.) Nothing is ever Ian Snell’s fault.

4.) He is an even bigger jerk than first thought.

Allow me to elaborate on what led me to those four conclusions…

1.) Snell said repeatedly during the press conference that he “asked” to be sent down.  Right.  I’m sure that in the conversation had with Neal Huntington, it was Ian who said, “Gee, I’ve heard that Indianapolis is nice this time of year.  Can I go visit there, please?”

2.) Also repeatedly, Snell emphasized that spending time in the Minor Leagues would be “best for me.”  And then there would be a pause, a pause somewhat akin to his interminable strolls around the PNC Park pitcher’s mound when he didn’t get a call, and finally he would continue, “…and the team.”  Thanks for looking out for #1, Ian.

3.) Snell has gotten knocked more than once for pinning the blame everywhere else but himself.  Even in recent interviews (up through yesterday), he’s been quoted as saying that the media will say he never blames himself.  Gee, how did we come to that conclusion?  Could it have anything to do with some of the choice cuts that we heard today?  “There’s too much negative energy here in Pittsburgh.”  Really, Ian?  So the other 24 guys who have said since the start of Spring Training that this is one of the best clubhouse atmospheres they’ve ever been in, that kind of negativity was just bringing you down?  “It was confusing to have so many pitching coaches.  No one had to make more mechanical adjustments than me.”  Really?  What about Tom Gorzelanny, who was absolutely decimated by Jim Tracy’s staff in late 2007?  What about Zach Duke, who only now seems to be regaining the form that got us all so excited nearly four years ago?  What about Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens, who between the Yankees and the Pirates, the Minors and the Majors, have had at least as many pitching coaches as you?  And my favorite, in answer to the question, “What are you going to work on in AAA?”  “Nothing.”  Then why in the world did you “ask” to go down there?!?! 

4.) OK, so I’m trying to be understanding here.  I’m sure being demoted is one of (if not the) worst things that can happen to a pro ballplayer.  But was it really necessary to snap at the media, saying, at one point, “I’m not your pal”?  And was it then necessary to essentially shut down emotionally, and start answering questions with random mumblings that all amounted to “whatever; I don’t care”?  Being in the Major Leagues is a privilege, not a right, and if Snell doesn’t care, then being demoted is the best thing that could happen to him.  I’m sure Tom Gorzelanny, Virgil Vasquez, Daniel McCutchen, and Jeff Karstens would kill to be in a Major League starting rotation right now.  I know I would.  (And speaking of Jeff Karstens, how must he feel?  I’d be kind of mad if I got completely passed over for Ian’s spot, especially after his stellar relief work of late.  Of course, Vasquez is probably just going to sub for Charlie Morton and his bum hamstring, so maybe Jeff is looking at a re-insertion into the rotation after all.)

The guys on ESPN Radio were referring to Ian’s press conference as his “exit interview” from the Pirates, and I have to wonder if they’re right.  In some ways, it reminded me of the end of Ronny Paulino’s Bucco tenure, in which the player and the organization seemed to have mutually soured of one another.  And so I beg of you, Neal Huntington, find someone willing to trade for Ian Snell, and then pull the trigger.  Don’t wait around for a potentially better offer.  If the need arises, pay someone to take him.  An attitude like the one he has displayed — throughout his time in Pittsburgh, and especially upon his departure — has no place on a club that you are trying to compose of upstanding, in your words, ”quality” people.  An attitude like that is a cancer, a toxin that metastacizes and infects everything around it.  Eat the extra money on his contract (or, better yet, redistribute it to Jack!).  And in the midst of these demands, in all seriousness, let me not forget to congratulate you for sending Ian Snell to Indianapolis. 

Or at least agreeing with his idea.