Column: Pirates’ offense is Stink-o de Mayo

Seems the line-up is out of tune. We've only seen a few instances where everyone was on the same page. Can't buy a clutch hit. They're professionals and just need to labor through these tough times.

Man, what is it with teams from Pittsburgh and scoring in 2015? Does the city need to sacrifice a chicken or serve up Jobu some top shelf rum?

Since the slumps will be over, the proposed batting order from hereon is: Harrison, Walker, Cutch, Pedro, Marte, Polanco, Cervelli, Mercer, Cole. Start adding up the runs!

Nobody has mentioned the absence of ZOLTAN!

I got time to follow the thread on the game, I got ticked with the Groat-soccer thing, honestly it stopped me from following early. You told me in no uncertain tones, stick to the thread subject, I think I was actually told via an email to stop posting. I am so pleased this thng is working so well. I understand all the negative posts tonight, we lost. I enjoy reading and responding to many of the posts that have humor intwined in them and the one you feel you can respond.

I can see why the lunatic nation does not have any more active voices.

Groat calling you out so early in the thread about a nonbaseeball problem? Nothing was done. If it was me, or some others i know, we would already be blocked.

Beat em Bucs tomorrow/today. There are still many believers that visit here.

Re: Cutch. It's obviously the haircut.

Not going to panic yet. But if this keeps up for a couple more weeks and the team is significant double digits out of first place, then maybe the talk shifts to who is going to be sold in July. They do need to turn it around soon.

So can we post about anything on any thread/ Or different rules for different folks, with different punishment? Thank, just want to know the rules

Seriously now ... we started last year in a slump ... until ... THE ZOLTAN ... was brought back ... Again this year a slump ... Let's bring back the ZOLTAN!

With the Cardinals winning 8 in a row, and the Pirates losing 6 of 7, the rapid collapse effect of 2011-12 is repeating itself a few months earlier this time.

Raffi actually had two big league home runs, but today is the anniversary of his only Bucco dinger.

This lineup is going to hit, including Cutch. I really wish he'd just relax, I know he's trying to but it's gets harder and harder the longer this thing goes. He said in that interview that he's trying not to put pressure on himself but a minute later he mentioned that he probably wouldn't sleep much tonight. Very telling, as his normal even demeanor makes us all believe that he is relaxed but clearly he isn't.

They've all put too much pressure on themselves right off the bat, high expectations this year, and it's the first time most of them are dealing with that. Thank goodness the pitching staff has kept them respectable.

It was actually 61 runners stranded in the series at St. Louis … if you consider the collective Individual LOB as opposed to end-of-inning Team LOB – often the less telling number.

Love looking at this number. It usually stings pretty hard, though, like the missed opportunities themselves, in tough losses.

Time for Cole to be an ace and stop the bleeding tonight.

Good to see Mccutchen as a leader

Love the Belliard reference, LOL. Boy are they bad right now.

A Rafael Belliard reference. Great stuff. When I watch the bucs this year, most games the opposing teams starter has thrown 50-60 pitches through the 5th inning. Branson might not like walks, but if you allow the other teams starter to barely break a sweat, he isn't likely to make mistakes pitching.

Great info as always digging into the hitting demise root causes. Still not sure why they won't come all the way clean on Cutch but they must have their reasons. Classic title :-)

Maybe Cole can use both his bat and arm tonight to gain his 5th W.

Kinda thought what Branson said, contradicts Hurdle in the post game last night. To me, almost all of them are chasing the 1st pitch. Hurdle acknowledged they are seeing less FBs, and because of that, they're pulling the trigger early, hunting for a rare pitch in the zone...Now I noticed a lot of pitchers start them off down and away, out of the zone. I think that's where the Marte homerun came from. They all seem to be topping that pitch, or miss it completely, then get a steady diet of breaking balls.

I still think they will hit eventually. Albeit infrequently.But its not a patient group, regardless of what Branson says or wants.

As far as bullpen mythology goes, I really question everyone down there not named Tony Watson and Jared Hughes. Its not just the baserunners, its what they are allowing those baserunners to do that's worrisome. Once the bats come around, this will get more notice.

This is truly wonderful content. I say it to friends all the time, but any individual column (and accompanying video and little side tidbits) is worth the entire month's subscription price!

Just watch Cutch swing. It's not a timing thing. It's that he's all arms. There's nothing being engaged from his lower half, which is where everything comes from in a good swing. He's not getting anything from the lower half because of the left knee. If it's going to hurt every time you plant the leg, and hurt more every time you try to create the drive and torque from back leg to front leg for your usual swing, you're going to start to compensate. And for Cutch, that means disengaging the lower half and trying to get by with top-half swings. That doesn't work for my high schoolers. It won't work for an MLB All-Star. He needs a trip to the DL. And if not, he needs a week off or so. If it's going to be an issue all year, then he's gotta be willing to only play 130-140 games. It's not like the offense would miss him right now, anyway.

We are in a division with perhaps the most consistent team in baseball. These games count and the Cards do NOT go on many 8 game losing streaks. Bubble gum needs to express some urgency, now instead of the "it's early" approach. Not talking about going all in every night, but some recognition about where we are now and an understanding of who we need to catch would be heartening.