"That Won't Continue" A Hope For All Pirates Fans

            “That won’t continue.” A new motto for Pittburgh Pirates fans to live by.

            During last night’s game, FSN Pittsburgh commentators Tim Neverett and Greg Brown stressed this point over and over again.

            The problem for the Pirates is the numbers don’t lie. The Pirates have now lost their seventh straight game, an embarrassing 17-3 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers. A streak in which the Pirates have been outscored 72-12, including a 20-0 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers at home last week, the largest shutout victory since 1990, the fourth largest since 1900 and a franchise worst.

            The Pirates have allowed a league high 130 runs while scoring only 62 runs. Add it up; the numbers don’t equal a successful season.

            To add onto the pitching woes, the Pirates have a league high 7.15 ERA and opposing hitters are batting .304 against Pirates pitching, including a .345 average for left-handed hitters.

            Simply put, the Pirates do not have the pitching for a successful season thus far, leading to a 7-12 start.

            The absence of Ross Ohlendorf is clearly hurting the Pirates’ starters, who have combined for a 13.80 ERA before last nights 17-3 slaughtering.

            The starters who were supposed to carry this team through the season have proven to be far short of what expected. Zach Duke has had a dismal 6.11 ERA, including 14 runs in his past 2 starts, while Paul Maholm has posted a team high 4.74 ERA.

            Last season, the Pirates fell below the .500 mark at 11-12 to start the month of May, we can all only hope this years Buccos  "won’t continue."