How many leads can one team choke?

The Pittsburgh Pirates grabbed a 3-0 lead after their first at bat, boosted it to 5-0,blew that one,Nate McLouth's homer gave it back to them before finally handing the game to the Reds in the eighth inning with a brutal effort from Craig Hansen by a score of 8-6.
Was that sentence was a ramble?
You should have been watching this nightmare with me!
Then you would know what a ramble was!

Steve Pearce (you know,the guy that sits for Nyjer !@#$ing Morgan) gave the Buccos all three of their runs in the opening inning with a bases loaded two out single up the middle off former Pirate Josh Fogg.
The single came after Fogg had loaded the sacks with the first three batters and then retired Jason Michaels (It must be a getaway day game when you hit Jason Michaels 4th) and Andy LaRoche.
Then,you really think this is a Pirate day because in the second,Chris Gomez (?) homers for the first time all season and it happens with Raul Chavez on base(?!) for a 5-0 lead after two times at bat.
However,the Reds began to chip away with single runs off Tom Gorzelanny in the second,third and fourth,chasing Gorzo after a short day of three and two thirds.
Jason Davis allowed a 800 foot homer to Joey Votto in the 5th and Jesse Chavez allowed a run in the sixth.
Voila!
Lead evaporated.
Nate McLouth then grabbed the lead back for the Pirates in the eighth with his 24th homer of the season and its 6-5 Bucs!.
But John Russell calls for Craig Hansen and mayhem ensues.
Hansen faces four batters,walks two of them,allows a bunt single and the only batter he retires is on a sacrifice bunt.
And don't forget about a wild pitch that scores the tying run,all three base runners off Hansen eventually score and the Reds walk away with a win.
T.J. Beam finished up the inning and allowed the other two inherited runners to score,but Hansen takes the loss to drop to 0-3.

I have no idea in what John Russell was thinking in this situation.
I like Craig Hansen's potential,but he has struggled with his control ever since he was drafted.
That is the only reason that Boston moved him because his stuff (with control) screams dominant closer.
Why with a one run in a game that you have snatched back from losing a large lead,do you put your wildest pitcher in the game?
Please explain that to me.

I understand that these games mean nothing and we are hoping to get evaluations on players,but the point is to see if they can succeed,not putting them into situations that they aren't likely to.
My Lord.

The Pirates travel to San Francisco for a three game series against another team that is on their level in the Giants......

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Zach Duke (4-13 5.14 ERA) at San Francisco:Kevin Correia (3-7 5.35 ERA) 10:15

Bullpen Notes

The questionable defense of the Cleveland Browns took another shot to the jaw yesterday with the season ending knee injury to linebacker Antwun Peek.
This means (with the injury to 4th rounder Beau Bell) that 7th round pick Alex Hall will be the main linebacker in the pass rushing situations.
The Browns re-signed Shantee Orr to replace Peek on the roster.
I have grave concerns about this defense.

Chris Wells will indeed miss this Saturdays game against Ohio U.
Smart move,get him back to health for the USC game.
If Maurice Wells,Brandon Saine and Daniel Herron can't run the ball against the Bobcats,then the Buckeyes have more problems than OSU fans can imagine.

And with that we are finally caught up.
Anyone that want to sign up for NFL Pick em on Yahoo can feel free.
The ID number 33960 and the password is devils

We will try to have the Browns preview up tomorrow..........

Photo Credits
McLouth:Al Behrman-AP Photo
Peek:Getty Images