Who are those guys?

Let's take a look back at the 2008 season, specifically the performances of the Pirates pitchers.

As a whole, the team compiled a 5.10 earned-run average, which ranked last in the National League by almost a quarter of a run. And the second-worst team was the Colorado Rockies, where pitchers still are susceptible to getting crushed despite the baseballs being stored in humidors.

Between hits and walks, the Pirates allowed more than a baserunner and a half per inning. They walked 657 batters, the most in the league, and struck out 963, just six more than St. Louis, which ranked last in the category.

With a few exceptions - Paul Maholm, Matt Capps, John Grabow and Damaso Marte, before he was traded to the Yankees – Pittsburgh's hurlers were substandard by just about any measure.

Tom Gorzelanny posted a 6.66 ERA, which earned him a trip to Purgatory (also known as the minor leagues). Franquelis Osoria and Denny Bautista both posted ERAs over 6 while pitching in 35 or more games. Matt Morris earned an eight-figure salary while posting a 9.67 ERA in five starts before management had sense enough to cut bait.

And onetime top draft pick John Van Benschoten managed to win a game but topped out at 10.48, giving him an historically awful 9.20 ERA for his 90-inning Major League career.

OK, enough of 2008. How about Pirates pitching in '09?

If you've caught some baseball in between hockey playoffs and NFL draft talk, you may have noticed that Pittsburgh leads the majors with four shutouts already, including three in the past four games. Zach Duke blanked Houston while going the distance, only the fourth time he's done that in more than 100 career starts. Maholm so far has shown that his decent '08 season was no fluke, with a record so far of 2-0 with an 0.87 ERA. Even Ross Ross Ohlendorf has shown that last year's trade with the Yankees might pay some dividends, as his ERA is 3.00.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are leading the league in earned-run average while playing over .500.

Who are those guys?

Yeah, I know. It's early.

But Pittsburgh baseball is so starved for good news, we'll take it, even if we're still in April.

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Trivia #8: What was the first team to finish in last place despite leading the league in earned-run average? For the answer, scroll down and look to the right.