Finder: Russell set to have Pirates’ pitcher bat eighth

In a move designed to stimulate an offense that ranked at the major-league bottom in most key categories, Pirates manager John Russell posted a lineup for the second time in three days that he plans to use throughout the 2010 season.

His lineup features the pitcher batting No. 8, shortstop Ronny Cedeno behind him as a secondary “leadoff” hitter, Aki Iwamura No. 1 and Andrew McCutchen No. 2.

“I think we’re going to look at it and probably go with it,” Russell said this morning, after posting a lineup with starter Paul Maholm batting eighth and shortstop Bobby Crosby—a late replacement for a scratched Cedeno, who’s battling lower-back tightness, batting ninth.

And on days when the Pirates’ starting pitcher is a better hitter than Ronny Cedeno, the pitcher will hit ninth.

The Pirates had a 13-20 record in 2008 and a 2-4 mark last season when Russell batted his pitcher eighth.