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The bullpen gave it up again, but Franquelis Osoria was not the only cause for the Pirates’ 4-3 loss to Florida on Friday night. No, the problems were too many to count as the team put forth an abysmal effort against a Marlins team that is in a seemingly more constant state of rebuilding than the Pirates are. The Pirates missed opportunities, made idiotic plays in the field and managed to make two major baserunning gaffes on their way to defeat.

Starting with the bullpen, however, as that seems to have been the team’s main Achilles heel through the first week of the season, the relief corps did a decent job until the ninth inning, particularly considering that starter Matt Morris only lasted five innings. Morris looked even worse than usual, reinforcing the belief that he is closer and closer to being finished as a major league pitcher and that it may actually be better for the Pirates if they just eat his contract instead of trying to wean some positive performance out of him because, at this point, it does not look like they are going to receive it. Phil Dumatrait, who bridged the gap between Morris and Osoria, actually looked pretty solid, forcing hitters to hit into outs and not making mistake pitches. He could be a decent addition to the bullpen, which isn’t saying much, considering that he and John Grabow are the only relievers who haven’t given up a run through four games.

The bullpen was not the embarassing segment of the team, however, as the baserunning and fielding, aka the fundamentals, did a terrific job of ruining the game. The baserunning was the worst part, as both Xavier Nady and Ryan Doumit were thrown out at second on plays where first base coach Lou Frazier emphatically sent them around the bag. Doumit’s was particularly awful, as the hit was a short line drive to right field that made no sense to try to move to second on. The move was just a dumb one that completely disobeyed fundamental baseball decision-making.

The other embarrassment of the night came in the bottom of the fourth inning, after Ryan Doumit hit a home run to put the Pirates up 4-3.  On a ground ball to 3B Jose Bautista, the third baseman overthrew first baseman Adam LaRoche, who proceeded to overthrow second base, where the Pirates managed to fail to get Josh Willingham out for the second time on one play.  Mike Jacobs trotted around from first on the play, tying the game up and setting it up so that the Pirates lost in the top of the ninth.  Making the throw to first and then not taking a wild throw to second is the type of thing that the Pirates need to do and, simultaneously, not do in order to be successful.  The routine should be routine and when they attempt the spectacular, there should be a very good reason for it.

The Pirates should not be surprised that they lost this game. They played sloppily enough that it seemed kind of predestined and it was not surprising when Jacobs’ home run went into the orange seats at Pro Player Field to end the game.  The magic number is now at 79.

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