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    McLouth in doubt

    June 30th, 2008

    CINCINNATI — As I drove down here Sunday, I listed to the Rays-Pirates game on the trusty XM radio. When Nate McLouth was taken out of the game in the seventh inning, I wondered if the Pirates would have to deal with yet another disabling injury to a key player.
    The initial news was [...]

    Pitching and defense

    June 19th, 2008

    CHICAGO — Not a lot of defensive gems by the Pirates in the first two games of this series against the White Sox.
    Tuesday, left fielder Jason Michaels took a few steps in on Jermaine Dye’s liner. The ball went over Michaels’ head for a two-run double. Last night, second baseman Luis Rivas called [...]

    Snell’s struggles

    June 18th, 2008

    CHICAGO — I did not see Ian Snell’s most recent victory, when he gave up a run in six innings June 11 against Washington. I was off that day, and only heard bits of the game on my XM radio. So I’ll have to take the word of folks who were at PNC Park, and [...]

    Bring on Baltimore!

    June 15th, 2008

    BALTIMORE — Why did it take so long for the Pirates to play an interleague series here?
    Interleague play began in 1997, and the Orioles played a three-game set in Pittsburgh in 2005. But until this weekend, the Pirates had not been to Charm City for a “real” game — there was a one-game [...]

    Bucs and birds

    June 13th, 2008

    BALTIMORE — I lived in Maryland for nearly seven years after graduating college, so I can tell you for certain there are a lot of former Pittsburghers down here.
    There’s a pretty heavy black-and-gold presence here at tonight’s interleague game against the Orioles. It’s the first meaningful game the Pirates have played in Baltimore [...]

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    It was Chuck Tanner who said, “What you have to remember is that baseball isn’t a week or a month but a season -- and a season is a long time.”

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    Web Site: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/columnists/biertempfel/

    Bio: Rob Biertempfel is the Pirates beat writer. He can be reached at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or 412-320-7811. Professional background: Biertempfel is beginning his first season as the Pirates beat writer. He joined the Trib in 1994 and covered Division I college football – Penn State/Big Ten for 11 seasons and Pitt/Big East for one season. He has helped with the Trib’s coverage of the Pirates since ’94. Personal background: Biertempfel is a native of Shaler Township and a Penn State graduate. He’s been a baseball fan for as long as he can remember. Unfortunately, his two kids have never experienced a winning season with the Pirates and are rapidly becoming bigger hockey fans than baseball fans.

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