The Hot Button

In this week’s rather lengthy installment of The Hot Button, we’ll tackle Pirate ownership, Jose Bautista's unexpected 2010 power surge, the direction of Pitt's basketball recruiting, your interest in the Pittsburgh Power Arena League team, and predictions for the big Pitt-Utah game next Thursday, September 2. I got carried away on a few of these topics, so bear with me through the extra wordage.

The phrase of the day is Vote or Die, and while death seems like a harsh penalty for not participating in the polls, you'll have to direct your displeasure at our weekly hostess, Ms. Hilton.

The Hot Button [93.7 The Fan]

Mondesi's House: The Director's Cut (more links, commentary, etc: twitter.com/mondesishouse
Email: mondesishouse@gmail.com

JOSE BAUTISTA A BLUE JAY

Earlier this afternoon, the Pirates consummated a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that sent 3B Jose Bautista north of the border for the always-intriguing Minor Leaguer To Be Named Later.

Rather than bore you with statistics, I'll limit my coverage to an email that our very own A.J. sent me a few hours after the deal that pretty much summarizes what it's like to be a baseball fan in Pittsburgh in August:

"So... let me explain the situation. I just got home from work a while ago and am relaxing on the couch as I type this on my laptop. I just watched the sports segment with Fedko on the Channel 11 News.

Lead off story... Steelers/Farrior contract, followed by Tomlin talking about Saturday, cutaway to Rich Walsh at Steelers HQ talking about the defense and Polamalu. Then a mention on Gene Upshaw passing with subsequent interview with Charlie Batch (Steelers NFLPA rep). Next... a season preview of Baldwin High School's football team complete with shots of practice and an interview with one of the greatest yinzer coaches in the WPIAL (he actually tagged a sentence with the term "and stuff n'at"... that's like a double n'at... awesome)

Then...as the sports segment is wrapping up... almost as an afterthought... Fedko throws in (almost speed reading to end the segment before they go to commercial).. and the Pirates trade Jose Bautista to Toronto for a player to be named later.

Gotta love Pittsburgh baseball come August... a somewhat significant personnel move is almost forgotten, tucked away in a newscast behind a mention of a dead Oakland Raider and pre season high school football. Awesome.

I truly forget what it feels like to even give the slightest of s**ts about baseball at this time of year. I bet it must be nice... but I can't recall."

Well said, A.J. But did you hear we signed Pedro Alvarez?

BREAK UP THE PIRATES!

A trip to Shea Stadium resulted in an exhilarating 13-1 thrashing of Oliver Perez and the Fets (as in the circa-late 80's "Muck the Fets") on Wednesday for YOUR Pittsburgh Pirates.

Perez surrendered two hits, five walks, and seven runs over an inning and 2/3, conjuring up painful memories of his days as a Bucco. Nate McLouth and Xavier Nady led the charge at the plate with three hits each and a combined five runs and six RBI. The sub-Mendoza Line Adam LaRoche and Jose Bautista were a combined 1-for-8, with three strikeouts and eight runners left on...and the Pirates still blew them out.

The Pirates got two-hit ball from the law firm of Gorzelanny, Van Benschoten, and Meek, to go along with eight Ks (and nine walks, but who's counting?) For one afternoon, all wheels were turning.

Of course, there had to be a negative, and here it is: Gorzo left the game after five innings because of tightness in his back, but said he doesn't expect to miss his next start.

The Buccos close April at 11-16, "good" for last place in the NL Central and 2 games behind Texas for the worst record in the majors. Their team batting average is 25th, their ERA 29th (next to last), and their fielding is 30th (last). But other than that, everything's great.

The Pirates open May with a much-anticipated grudge matchup against the 11-17 Washington Nationals on Thursday night at 7:05. The pitching matchup features Zach Duke (0-2) against Odalis Perez (0-3). I'm sure most of you will completely ignore the Penguins' potential clinch game in order to catch this one.