Finally,back to normal!

Finally,the long work gauntlet is over and things can start to return to normal!
I still need to catch up on missed rest,but the corner has been turned.

Time for a few thoughts on the Pirates three game series against the Astros,in which the Pirates won the final two games before tonight's series begins against visiting Milwaukee...

Pirate Hooks

1) Andrew McCutchen injured his shoulder late in yesterday's win as he made an excellent diving catch.
It appears to just be a shoulder strain that will only keep him out for a game or two....

2) Nice to see Eric Kratz play quickly since being called up and get his first big league out of the way.Kratz played the middle game of the series and not only had his first hit,but first RBI as well....

3) The Pirates put up a lot of runs in their wins,but I still cringe thinking about the stupid baseball that the Buccos played in the opening loss of the series.
Most focused on Andy LaRoche falling asleep and being picked off second that ended an inning that had two runners in scoring position,but the one that drove me nuts for Ronny Cedeno chasing a Astro back to first instead of throwing the ball and ruining a rundown situation.
I coached better situational baseball in little league.

4) Paul Maholm did exactly what a veteran pitcher needed to do in his complete game shutout on Sunday.Worked fast,got ahead in the count and controlled the strike zone.
Houston isn't a very good team,but the veteran lefty must have remembered the Ray Miller mantra before the game.

5) Pittsburgh sold Hayden Penn to the Chiba Lotte Marines from Indianapolis and the Bucs reportedly close to selling Indy reliever Vinnie Chulk to a Japanese team as well.
Wonder what our man in Japan Brandon Siefken,who once had a fantasy baseball crush on Chulk,thinks about his guys coming over to the Pacific?

6) Things were kinda of in blur over the past week,but I will attempt to make things up over the next few days.
I will be on a weekend baseball trip,but I am hoping to have time for two feature posts to automatically post on those days.

Back with the biggest news of the day soon!!!