Brain dead defense

The Pittsburgh Pirates made mental errors and allowed Allen Craig to look like Albert Pujols as the St.Louis Cardinals scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 7-2 win.
Paul Maholm lost his fifth game in a row and dropped to 6-14.
Jose Tabata's two run homer (4) provided all the runs for the Bucs.
Pittsburgh is off today before a weekend series against the Reds.

Pirate Hooks

1) Ronny Cedeno is brain dead.
With the score 4-2 and a runner on third,Clint Hurdle plays the infield in.
A grounder to Cedeno,who does not even look home and allows the run to score,making the play at first.
Why even play in,if you are not going home?

2) That was bad,but as that was,Brandon Wood topped it with this "gem".
Wood grabbed a grounder and attempted to beat the runner to third for a force play.
Wood would have done that,IF he would not have MISSED the bag!
Wood then attempted to get the runner at first,but threw the ball down the first base line allowing a runner to score.

3) Paul Maholm struggled in a three run first,that could have been worse,but settled down before being pinch hit for with a runner on in the fifth.
Maholm was visibly upset,but should not have been.
Pinch hitting was the proper decision.

4) Jose Tabata started in right,which is a big deal to him due to the Roberto Clemente factor.
I was more impressed with his homer to right,showing opposite field power.

5) If someone offers you anything for Paul Maholm,do you take it?
To me-yep.The Pirates should not pay nine million dollars (Club Option) for a average pitcher,if someone offers something interesting-Good Bye
Photo Credit-AP