Cardinals 2 Pirates 1- AUGGGHHH!!!

ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!

First off, four losses for Mesa in about 10 days. We're 4-6 over our last 10, he's lost four of them. When he pitches we're supposed to win around 90% of the time, after all, he's the CLOSER. In his last five appearences we're 1-4. It's not time to look for a new closer, that time has already come and passed.

Second off, I keep saying it, but Rob Mackowiak is not an infielder. That's the second game I can think of recently that his defensive play cost us a game (May 10th, Giants 2 Pirates 1, Vizquel's double...). OK, so maybe he lets Jack get to the ball, bases loaded, we lose anyways. I still think Bobby Hill at third and Mack in center is a stronger lineup, defensively and offensively.

Third off, the rain has returned, the temperature has dropped, and the Pirates are hitting like it's April again. How do you hold the Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the team with the 2005 version of Murderer's Row (even without Rolen they're about as intimidating as it gets) to four hits and one run through 11 and lose? How do you hold them to 12 hits and 6 runs in two days and lose both games? Lack of clutch hitting, or any hitting at all for that matter. Tonight was pitiful. Last night was pitiful. We lost both games on bad defensive plays by our should be Gold Glove shortstop and the inability to hit. I want to pull my hair out right now. I feel like Charlie Brown after Lucie pulled the ball out from under him again. I can't even imagine what Kip Wells (and Dave Williams) must feel like. Kip, I'm never complaining about your nibbling and trying to win games on your own again.

GOOD GRIEF!!!

20 Games in 20 Days: 2-3 (three losses due to our sparkling defense)

EDIT: OK, 90% was a bad estimate for winning percentage with Mesa on the mound. Still, last year we were 55-15 (by my hand count of his game log last year, so give or take a couple) when he took the mound last year. That's a .787 winning percentage. This year it's 12 out of 16, or .750. Doesn't seem that much different, but considering his performance since May began (two blown saves, four losses, 7.88 ERA), I think we have more than enough cause for concern.