I happened to remember when I reported from Bradenton, this was almost three weeks ago from a really high-ranking source within the organization that the club's still looking to add to the starting rotation.

Fifth starter was the way it was described to me, and ideally a lefty was the way it was further

described to me. It sounded optional. I'm not so sure it is. Good morning to you. Good. Monday morning. From Denver, where I'm covering hockey, and it happens to be snowing like crazy. This morning. I'm Dan Kovachievich of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports. This is Daily Shot of Pirates presented by our friends at the North Shore Tavern back home,

home of stake on a stone. If you're into football and or hockey, I also offer daily

shots of Steelers and Penguins in the same place that you found this. Raise six, Pirates

won yesterday in Port Charlotte, Florida.

If you strip away a Connor Griffin ninth inning solo home run that traveled 403 feet and had an exit

velocity of 102.5 miles an hour, then there really wasn't a whole lot to like about this

one.

There were four total hits.

No others went for extra bases.

And on the mound, a couple of things to dislike.

Johann Ramirez, who I keep mentioning him, he actually needs to come through.

He needs to be a pivoting point in the middle of that pen between the back end guys

and the long relief types that

are actually starters and might be piggyback starters. Ramirez didn't get it done. One inning,

two runs, three hits. Now, the plus is he didn't walk anybody, and for that matter, he hardly ever missed

the zone. Sixteen pitches, 13 strikes, but there is such a thing as missing within the zone

and making the strikes a little bit too comfortable for the hitters and the starter. I don't mean

to turn this into a regular discussion on the merits of Jose Rikidi.

I didn't much care for the acquisition at the time.

I don't much care for it now, and really don't care if it even pans out.

...