It's almost as if the bullpen takes to the mound day after day after day, attempting to prove that it's not good enough.

Good morning to you.

Good.

Monday morning, I'm Dan Kovachovich of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports.

This is Daily Shot of Pirates brought to you by North Shore Tavern.

Comes your way bright and early every weekday.

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. Pirates eight, Cubs seven yesterday at PNC Park. I was over there covering it for D.K. Pittsburgh Sports,

and I came away with one impression above all others.

You'll want to sit down for this one.

They need bullpen help.

Like a lot of bullpen help.

But let me tell you first how I arrived at this climactic conclusion.

Saturday night, this and the 11-0-0 loss.

Paul Skeens struck out 11 guys through 5 in a third innings.

11.

Now, he had also given up three runs, and he had two base runners aboard in the 6th

when Don Kelly replaced him with Isaac Mattson, at which point the game

just ceases to exist. Mattson proceeds to give up four hits in a walk while recording one out,

has three runs charged to him, but also sticks an additional two runs onto Sien's ledger.

Ron Maranaccio, Ben Charrington's latest half-hearted attempt at finding middle relief

through mediocrity comes on. He gives up a couple more runs.

...