Ouch!

Pirates fans have to wonder if they got a glimpse of the future or an unfortunately timed anomaly.

The day after Pittsburgh made lefthanded pitcher Daniel Moskos the fourth player taken in the amateur draft, Moskos hurled for the Clemson Tigers in the Starkville (Miss.) Super Regional tournament. He was chased by Mississippi State in the sixth inning after giving up nine hits and five earned runs, taking the loss in an 8-6 decision.

Sure, they used aluminum bats against Moskos. But they're college players. If they're lighting him up like that, imagine what major-leaguers will do, even with Louisville Sluggers. Of course, that's if No. 4 ever makes it that far through the system.

Certainly, the Pirates' scouting department, management and ownership might know something about this southpaw that's eluding us mere observers. But everyone who has any interest in the team - and the numbers continue to shrink rapidly - seems to be questioning the selection.

I hope we're wrong, if nothing else because I don't like to kick a young man when he's down. Then again, he's going to have plenty of money - although, we're guessing, not nearly as much as the No. 5 pick on which the Pirates passed.

That's the kind of operation they run, and the kind that doesn't deserve to collect your hard-earned money.

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Trivia question 37: What 19th-century star commissioned the first Louisville Slugger bat?