If this season once ripe with promise unravels on the Pirates, no doubt people will look back on this second week in June and the three games they lost to the Baltimore Orioles.

Tied for first Tuesday night; three games back 48 hours later.

Too bad general manager Neal Huntington slept through it all.

What else is there to believe about Huntington in view of the fact the Pirates' pathetic offense remained unchanged for this crucial series, although the designated hitter option screamed for improvement. But Huntington, allegedly ``working the phones,’’ made not a move.

He chose instead to maintain a 25-man roster than included Jordy Mercer, a minor-league utility infielder whose presence on the roster is so vital that on the worst offense in MLB he’s had one at bat since June 1. He chose instead to also go with Matt Hague, a first baseman who in over 200 at bats this season has one home run.

The memory that most will stick with me of this series was the first game, when the Pirates' lineup had a Casey McGehee, with one home, run batting fourth and Hague, with no home runs, batting fifth.

How could Huntington stand around and allow this to happen? Does anyone seriously believe that there are not two players available somewhere in professional baseball who are not better than Mercer and Hague?

To ram home the utter folly of Huntington’s stand-pat stance, Pirates castoff Steve Pearce, who was available as recently as 10 days ago, was a hero fpr the Orioles in their 12-7 win last night. He had a home run and five RBIs.

In 25 at bats with Baltimore, Pearce has one home run and eight RBIs. In 58 at bats with the Pirates, Hague has no homers and six RBIs.

Out in Oakland, Brandon Moss, another Pirates castoff who also was available as recently as 10 days ago, has five home runs in 26 at bats.

Management in Baltimore, where first place is up for grabs, and Oakland, where last place is trying to be avoided, did not just ``work the phones.’’ They made decisions. They improved their teams. They gave more than lip service to winning

Huntington’s failure to make a roster move defies explanation. It can’t be money. The salary paid to the likes of Pearce and Moss is chump change in MLB today.

Take a look at the International League batting statistics. There are players with 15, 16, 17 and 24 home runs. They are players with RBI totals in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Any one of them, and some of them have to be available, are better options than Hague and Mercer.

The Pirates play three games beginning tonight in Cleveland, which is coming off three straight losses to Cincinnati. The Pirates need to regroup, need to win two of the three.

If recent history is any indication, they’ll have to do with without help from their stand-pat general manager.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned and Neal slept while the Pirates crumbled.

Right after S.I. ran the Pirates are contenders article they drop 3 to the O's

Gotta take the blame on this one. I posted "Any Bucco defenders left."

It's my fault. I apologize.