Ending 2006 with a liveblog

With no Steelers today and not much to do in the way of homework, I'm going to close out 2006 the way that it opened, with a liveblog. New updates will start at the top, so if you're late to the party you can start at the bottom.

3:50- It's over, Sully ran into some trouble after the error with a wild pitch and a walk, but he K'd Ray Olmedo to finish things off. Your 2006 Pirates finish up at 67-95 with two straight shutout wins to keep the Reds from finishing .500. Freddy Sanchez is your NL batting champ, finishing up at .344. I think he also ends as the National League leader in doubles, with 53. Dave Littlefield will need to spend at least $8 million next year to find a third baseman to replace him. Hopefully, I'm kidding.

3:39- One out in the ninth, we get a shot of Xavier Nady yawning in right field. He seems as bored as anyone else must be watching this game. Immediately after, Jack Wilson throws a grounder in the camera well. Tying run on second with one out.

3:35- Castillo singles, but Doumit and his fragile hammies are held up at third. Maldanado strikes out to end the inning. In other news, the 'Stros are down 3-1 with the Braves coming up in the bottom of the 8th. One last shot for them to make a run at the Cards, who are down 5-0 in the fifth against Milwaukee.

3:32- We get some two out lightning with three straight singles from Bay, Doumit, and Nady in the bottom of the 8th to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead. Sully is up in the pen. The Reds are probably wondering if they even have to bat, lest they accidentally score a run and tie things up.

3:21- Tracy is managing this thing like he's in a pennant race, using John Grabow and Matt Capps to get a 1-2-3 eighth. I suppose that's a good thing.

3:14- The Bucs threaten in the bottom of the 7th with 2-out hits by Castillo and pinch hitter Joe Randa, but Jose Bautista struck out to end the inning. Youman's done for the day and he puts up a nice line of 7 innings, four hits, no runs, 1 strikeout and 1 walk. I wouldn't put too much stock into this, though. The Reds haven't scored in 16 inning since being eliminated from the NL Central race yesterday afternoon.

3:03- Youman hits a rough patch for the first time in the top of the 7th, walking David Ross and giving up a single to Brendan Harris with 2 outs. Jack Wilson makes a nice sliding stop on a Dewayne Wise grounder to get him out of the jam.

2:55- Lanny just congratulated Jeff Manto for the "fine work he's done with these Pirates." Yep, it sure was tough to straighten them up into the worst offensive team in baseball since the All-Star break! Now Lanny and Steve are talking to Manto about Freddy instead of asking him why he's so bad at his job and whether he's invented any new statistics to measure offensive prowess lately.

2:53- Jack Wilson doubles, but Harris gets some revenge on Freddy by making a nice grab by his line drive. Doumit grounds out after an IBB to Bay. This game is boring.

2:45- Besides a Denorfia double, Youman continues his easy stroll through the Reds lineup. Scores of interest: Milwaukee 4 St. Louis 0 in the first and Atlanta 3 Houston 0 in the fifth. Looks like too little, too late for the Astros.

2:42- Lanny tells us that Girardi has removed Cabrera from the game in Florida. This thing is over unless the Bucs play like 18 innings and Freddy goes 2-for-9. If Tracy lets that happen, he may never be allowed back into the city ever again.

2:38- Nady singles, the Reds play some nifty defense on balls hit by Castillo and Maldanado (mostly because they are slooooooow), and Youman strikes out. This 2006 finale is quite a thrill-fest.

2:32- I agree with Paul Maholm. The best moment of the year has to be Freddy's walkoff homer against the ChiSox to end our mammoth losing streak, 18 inning game be damned.

2:30- Youman is still cruising against a Reds lineup that clearly doesn't want to be here today. Another 1-2-3 inning gives him 45 pitches through 5 innings.

2:24- In typical Pirate fashion, the Bucs waste runners on first and second with no outs after a Jason Bay strikeout and a Ryan Doumit line drive double play.

2:19- After a Jack Wilson walk, Freddy gets a lucky single on a ball that 2nd baseman Brendan Harris dives for, only to have it bounce off his glove. He's your 2006 batting champ, folks.

2:16- More quick work from Youman, taking 9 pitches to retire the Reds in order. Lanny talks to Zach Duke most of the inning, mostly about how hitters changed their approach against him and how that caused some struggles this year.

2:12- Apparently, Lanny has "cherished" memories of this year. I can think of 95 games those memories couldn't have come from.

2:10- A 1-2-3 third for Belisle, striking out Bautista looking to end the inning. He also managed to get Shane Youman out, something that strangely hasn't happened much this year. Through three innings only 59 pitches have been thrown. Needless to say, it's still 0-0.

2:05- Youman is still cruising. Even with a hit by Ray Olmedo, Youman is through three innings on 25 pitches. The Chargers are beating the Ravens 10-7, which is good news for the Steelers.

1:58- Lanny wishes for Jose Castillo to hit his 15th home run. He instead grounds into his millionth double play to end the second inning.

1:54- Ian Snell on his relationship with Jim Colborn, "We love each other." Not that there's anything wrong with it (I kid because I love, Ian, please don't kill me). Also, Adam Dunn singled and someone made an out, then the Bucs turned a 6-4-3 double play.

1:49- After two outs in the first, Freddy singles through the infield. Steve Blass says it's a 90% chance that Freddy is the batting champ now. The odds are probably better than that, but it ain't over 'till it's over. Bay grounds into a fielder's choice to end the inning, but the crowd cheers anyways, presumably for Freddy and for what looks like another 2 hour game.

1:40- Easy first inning for Youman, getting three grounders on 9 pitches. Steve Blass just told me that I should want to know more about Youman. I disagree.

1:30- Other NL Central news: the Cards are going with Reyes on three days rest instead of Carpenter today, electing to save him for the first game of the DS, or the make-up game on Monday if necessary. This is a mistake. You always play to win today. Also, not having a good start from Carp may cost me the finals in my head to head fantasy league. I hate you, Tony LaRussa.

1:25- Lineups: Bautista (CF), Wilson, Sanchez, Bay, Doumit, Nady, Castillo, Maldanado, Youman for the Bucs and Denorfia, Castro, Encarnacion, Dunn, the amazing David Ross, Harris, Olmedo, Wise, Belisle. Two thoughts: No Duffy for the season ender? Who the hell are half of these guys playing for the Reds? Also, Cabrera struck out in the first and drops to .339, four points behind Freddy's .343.