Two days away

That can mean two things.
The most important is the signing deadline for drafted players to sign by.
The lesser is the two days away from the blog.
I have pictures from Harrisburg,I just need to add them to the article and this I hope to get done tomorrow.

The Pirates looked awful for six innings on the soaked grass at Shea Stadium on Monday.
Errors were costing runs and Zach Duke was allowing homers to players that had never hit them before (literally) and it was to the point that catching the baseball was a question.
However,when Pedro Martinez was removed from the game after six innings,the Pirates pummelled the Met bullpen (I thought only the Pirate pen was allowed to get smashed around) and rallied to a stunning 7-5 win.
The poor fundamentals in the field were painful to watch.
Andy LaRoche's "Roger Dorn" like move in the first inning allowed an extra runner to be on base when David Wright crushed Zach Duke's hanging curve for a long homer and Ryan Doumit dropped a perfect throw at the plate in the fourth that would have thrown a standing up Carlos Delgado out by 10 feet to hand the Mets two of their runs.
The perpetually out of position Luis Rivas added another error ,but fortunately his error was rendered harmless.
Simply atrocious.
The Pirates began a mild rally with a one run fifth inning with Doug Mientkiewicz smacking a single down the right field line to score Chris Gomez.
The Buccos really cut into the lead in the seventh with three runs off the Mets pen as pinch hitter Freddy Sanchez drilled a double that scored leadoff batter Gomez from first after he walked.
The Mets made a pitching change and John Russell made a curious move in having Nate McLouth move Sanchez to third with a bunt.
In my opinion,you are down 5-2,no outs,a runner on second and one of your two best hitters is up and you sacrifice?
To me,you don't hand the Mets an out with McLouth up,but that is my thought.
Sanchez trotted home on a Mientkiewicz single and Luis Rivas would make the score 5-4 on a Ryan Doumit sac fly.
The Pirates finished the New Yorkers off in the ninth as with one out,Aaron Heilman walked Luis Rivas and allowed Mientkiewicz to single.
Rivas then scored to tie the game on a Doumit single and after Andy LaRoche was plunked with a pitch-Heilman was gone.
Scott Schoenweis was able to get Mientkiewicz out at the plate on a Brandon Moss fielder choice,which sent Steve Pearce to the plate with two down.
Pearce came through with a two run single for the eventual 7-5 win.
Denny Bautista pitched the eighth to vulture the win (4-1) and John Grabow finished the game for his second save of the season.

Last night,the Pirates had a nice walk up crowd to see the newest Pirates for the first time and see if Jeff Karstens could keep his amazing start going against the suddenly punchless Reds.
Cincinaati still has Brandon Phillips and they had Edinson Volquez on the mound and that was more than enough for an easy 5-1 Reds win.
Phillips connected for a two run homer in the first inning and Javier Valentin added a solo bomb in the fourth for a lead and Cincinnati was never in real trouble thereafter.
Karstens didn't pitch that badly in allowing 4 runs on 7 hits in a 7 inning effort and fell to 2-1 with the loss.
Andy LaRoche doubled home Doug Mientkiewicz in the fourth for the only Pittsburgh run.
Series continues tonight at 7.

Pitching Matchup
Cincinnati:Josh Fogg (2-4 7.98 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Paul Maholm (7-7 3.76 ERA) 7:05

Bullpen Notes

The Pirates had second round selection Tanner Scheppers in town for a 30 pitch bullpen session to take a final look at his progression from labrum damage.
Scheppers left without talking to the press.
Neal Huntington said "Signs are definitely positive",but who really knows the Pirates true decision process at this point.

Adam LaRoche is expected to rejoin the team later today,but no word on what player is Indianapolis bound.

Browns GM Phil Savage keeps watching his top picks hit the sidelines.
After watching Beau Bell miss time with a knee injury,fellow fourth rounder pick Martin Rucker joined Bell on the sidelines with a knee injury that will require surgery.
Rucker will miss about six weeks.

And from the Oh,really dept,the Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski) is upset that the FBI is displaying his residence (actually storage shed,but why quibble) at Washington's Newseum.
Kind of tough to generate too much sympathy for Kaczynski from this point of view.

Will try to be back later with either Harrisburg or John Edwards..........

Photo Credits
Pearce:Seth Wenig-AP Photo
Dorn Jersey:Unknown
Volquez:Don Wright-AP Photo