Knit one,pearl two

That is a old line from an episode of the Flintstones and it works to catch us up on the Pirates games that we missed.
I saw the final two games of the Cardinals series,but missed last night's loss to the Reds.
Will be watching tonight's game and Wednesday's (On tape) as I plan on watching the Hagerstown Suns take the Pirates SAL affiliate in the West Virginia Power.
Wednesday is the likely only night that I will get the entire game in due to work issues,but I plan on staying for as much of the other games that I possibly can.
I'll try to combine some the thoughts for the last three games into one post and hopefully I can do
some special features over the next day or two.

Pirate Hooks

1) In the 2-0 win on Saturday night over the Cardinals,Jeff Karstens made an argument to stick with the team with six shutout innings and his work in the game was likely the difference between staying and going.
Karstens was moved to the bullpen to make room for the returning Ross Ohlendorf,which meant that Brian Burres had held onto the fifth starter role.

2) Brian Bass was designated for assignment to make roster room for Ohlendorf.
Bass must go through waivers in order to be returned to Indianapolis,which I would imagine will not be an issue.

3) Neal Huntington commented on Neil Walker not being considered for a callup due to issues with "intangibles".
Walker has been reported to have "reacted poorly when disciplined" and was benched last week for not running out a pop up.
Despite a hot start for the I-Tribe,Walker still doesn't seem to be an organizational favorite..

4) Karstens got the win on Saturday due to a really bad call at the plate when Ryan Ludwick was called out at the plate when replays showed that Jason Jaramillo missed the tag on Ludwick,who was coming down the line and Jaramillo's swipe tag of the throw (up the third base line) was really out of the umpire's sight line.
Had the play been called properly,Karstens would have gotten a no decision instead of a W.

5) Paul Maholm looked really bad in Sunday's loss as he lasted just three and a third and with a 50+ pitch third inning,there wasn't a good reason to keep a obviously dull Maholm in the game.

6) Ohlendorf was the loser in his return in allowed one run over a four inning stint.
The most concerning thing is the four walks and that is typical of the lack of command this season.

Back later with a planned special segment...