All things being equal, I would have been a Pittsburgh Pirates fan

I've been a Red Sox fan has long as I could remember.

I remained loyal even when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York and Los Angeles.
My Red Sox fan credentials are solid. Don't believe me? Turn on HBO.

But I wonder what my fandom would have been if I didn't grow up in New England.
What team would I have picked if geography didn't play such a factor?

Simple. I would have been a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.
And anyone who reads this blog regularly would see why.

My theory that you truly start following a team when you are 7 or 8 years old have the Pirates playing a huge part of my baseball life.

The 1979 World Series was the first one I remember watching, and I can remember it like it was yesterday. The Orioles were terrific but the Pirates were just cool. Their players seemed to be more fun, their uniforms were bonkers and the players were dancing to disco in the dugout.

I've written a lot about the 1979 Pirates, including this post which is my personal favorite one.

Willie Stargell remains one of my favorite players ever. I banged the drum loudly for Bert Blyleven's Hall of Fame candidacy and for Dave Parker as well. And to this day, I get goose bumps when I hear Sister Sledge's We Are Family and can close my eyes and see Pops take McGregor deep.

Years later, I got emotionally attached to another Pirates team. I rooted for the 1990 and 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates to win their Division and in the NLCS. They lost a pair of heart breakers.

But it was the 1992 team that I really loved.

I was first and foremost a Red Sox fan in 1992, but that edition was a truly boring team.

Boggs and Burks were finishing out their time with the Sox. Veterans like Greenwell and Jack Clark were hurt and Tom Brunansky led the team with 15 homers. Clemens was still great but the team was a non contender. (Back then the Red Sox and Yankees were boring, losing non contenders. Go figure.)

I found myself following the Pirates, who were supposed to finish behind the Mets after Bobby Bonilla defected to Queens (along with new comer Bret Saberhagen.)

Instead the Pirates got off to a 12-2 start. The fought with the Cardinals, Mets and Expos until mid season they blew the competition away. An 11 game winning streak in late July and early August made a joke of the race. And there was a sense of urgency with the team.

They knew that Barry Bonds and Doug Drabek were going to be free agents and this would be their best shot to win a pennant. And if you saw me during the 1992 NLCS, you would have thought I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. And after the Francisco Cabrera hit stabbed Pittsburgh in the throat, I was crushed more than any baseball event since 1986.

On the blog, I've constantly got on the Pirates for their awful drafts, their lousy trades and I was so excited for them last summer when for a few months they looked like contenders.

But I also find myself being drawn to the Pirates of the past.

I have an obsession with 1925 World Series hero Red Oldham.

I wrote about the alternate history of a potentially integrated Pirates team in 1938.

I watched the MLB Network rebroadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

I am currently reading a book about the 1971 Pirates and have a Roberto Clemente book next on my shelf.

I have a Pirates fascination.
It is easier to root and follow a team now with MLB.com, XMRadio, etc. If I had all of that back in 1979, maybe I wouldn't be a Sox fan. Maybe I would have been a die hard Pirates fan.

Then again, if that were the case I would have missed out on 2004 and 2007 and I'd have had no winning season since that 1992 season.

Maybe it is best.

But let the record show, I am rooting for the Pirates. The NL Central is winnable. The 7 year old version of me is cheering you on.

And one final Pirates obsession... I LOVE this video about Dock Ellis and his no hitter.
Enjoy.

For 2012... ONE of these teams needs to play in October

Happy New Year my readers.
Going into 2012, obviously I want the Red Sox to win it all... but I doubt that they will. They have too many holes and I want them to treat 2012 as a year to take stock.

I'd love to see my National League team, the San Francisco Giants win. I think they have a solid shot to win the N.L. West, especially if Buster Posey comes back.

And of course I'd like to see the Yankees crash and burn.

Other than that, besides drama I would really like to see one of five teams make the playoffs this year:

The Orioles, the Nationals, the Pirates, the Blue Jays or the Royals.

Not one of those 5 teams played in the post season in the 2000s.
(The Royals and the Nationals/Expos franchise didn't see October baseball in the 1990s either!)

Teams shouldn't go two decades without a post season appearance and we have 8 years to remedy the situation. The Rangers and Reds didn't play in October for any season in the 2000s but quickly changed that in the 2010's. Hell, if the Rangers got one more strike, they'd take themselves off of the "Waiting for a Championship" board.

But let's pick it up. ONE of those teams has to have a shot. Don't tell me it is hopeless. Who predicted the Rays could have won a pennant in 2008 in a division with the mighty Red Sox and Yankees?

The Red Sox are in flux and the Yankees are old. The Orioles or Blue Jays could sneak in.

Who is the powerhouse in the A.L. Central? The Tigers? A young talented Kansas City team could surprise everyone.

The Phillies are a year older and as Ryan Howard showed us, potentially prone to injuries. And the Nationals have a talented rotation. Why not them?

Why can't the Pirates, who were contending in July, put it together for a whole year in a tightly packed NL Central?

If ALL of those scenarios come true, then it will be odd.
But ONE of them? How hard could it be for ONE to come true?

Let's go.
Your fans have been waiting long enough.

Sully Baseball Salutes... Johnny Ray

I was back in my parents place for Thanksgiving and gave me a chance to rummage through my old cards.

I came across this 1990 Topps Card of Angels infielder and outfielder Johnny Ray.
He is a relatively obscure player and that is a shame. With a little bit of luck, he'd be beloved by at least one fan base.

A native of Oklahoma, Ray went to University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 1979 draft. He never played in Houston as he was dealt to the Pirates in the fading months of the 1981 strike season for Phil Garner.

When he made his big league debut on September 2, 1981, Ray was on a club just 2 years removed from the "We Are Family" championship. 1979 champs Omar Moreno, Bill Madlock, Dave Parker, Mike Easler and Willie Stargell all played that day. So did Tim Foli, who Ray pinch hit for in the 7th. The Pirates lost that day to the eventual World Champion Dodgers.

Steve Sax played that day as well. Ray's path would cross with Sax again later.

Taking over for Garner full time in his rookie year of 1982, Ray flourished. He played all 162 games. He got 182 hits, good for 4th in the National League. At the time second base was not a power position. But he was a solid doubles hitter, collecting 30 over the year. He stole 16 bases and struck out only 34 times in 702 plate appearances.

The Sporting News chose him to be their Rookie of the Year. However nobody cares about THEIR pick.

The Baseball Writers of America bestowed the honor on Steve Sax.
Ray played in more games, got more hits, homers, RBI and had a higher slugging percentage than Sax. Rays' average was one point lower than Sax.

Yet Sax was the winner.

The Pirates had a winning season in 1982 and in 1983, when Ray won the Silver Slugger for second basemen. He led the National League in doubles in 1983 and 1984. And twice he hit over .300.

But by 1984, the Pirates winning ways were over. Pittsburgh had been above .500 fifteen out of nineteen seasons. But they wouldn't put a winning squad on the field until Ray was gone. (In fact since the end of the 1984 season, the Pirates would put a losing team on the field 24 out of the next 28 seasons.)

When Syd Thrift rebuilt the Pirates, he did so with some solid drafts and shrewd trades. Dealing All Star Tony Pena brought Andy Van Slyke and Mike LaVailliere to Pittsburgh. Rick Rhoden was sent packing to the Yankees bringing back eventual Cy Young winner Doug Drabek.

With Jose Lind ready to take over second base, Thrift tried to swing another franchise building move with the Angels. Johnny Ray was sent packing to Anaheim at the end of August 1987..

25 year old power hitting third baseman Billie Merrifeld came over to Pittsburgh in the deal. But injuries derailed his career and he never made it to the majors. Miguel Garcia also came over to the Pirates, but the reliever only appeared in 13 games over three different seasons and was not a factor.

Ray meanwhile arrived in Anaheim. The defending AL West champs were trying to make a run at another Division Title and Ray got his first and best shot to make the post season. The Angels played sub .500 ball the rest of the way and the Twins would go on to win it all.

In 1988, Ray's defensive short comings at second base led him to playing more and more games in the outfield. His bat was strong, batting .306 and finally making it to the All Star team. In the 1988 All Star Game in Cincinnati, Ray came up as a pinch hitter in the 4th against Bob Knepper and lined out to left fielder Vince Coleman.

Two years later he played his final game on September 30, 1990. The Angels were hopelessly out of it when they played the Royals at home.

With the game tied at 1 in the 8th and a runner on second with 2 outs, Ray pinch hit for Gary Disarcina. Ray struck out to Kevin Appier, who 12 years later would win a World Series title as a member if the Angels.

It was Ray's last at bat. He never did play in the post season. He played in Japan for a few years before returning home to Oklahoma.

It's players like Ray that make me reflect what makes a player beloved.
Had Ray played for the Astros of the early 1980s, the Angels of the early to mid 1980s or the Pirates of the 1990s, would he had become a beloved member of those teams?

So much with being considered to be a champion or a fan favorite has to do with elements beyond a player's control. Players like Mariano Duncan, Danny Jackson or Craig Counsell keep popping up on playoff teams. But are any one of them bigger winners than Ray?

Had Johnny Ray been given the chance to play in October, would HE have collected some big post season hits like Luis Sojo or Scott Spezio or Matt Stairs?

We'll never know. Ray was caught in that neutral zone between successful years in Pittsburgh and with the Angels, thus making his career a makeshift barometer of fan loyalty.

"I was a Pirate fan back when Johnny Ray was at second base" means you are no front runner.
The same can be said with Ray in California.

Of course Ray could have done a few things that would turn a doubles hitter into a home run hitter. He could have enhanced himself in the manner that a later generation would have tacked on a few years to a 33 year old second baseman.

Instead he did his job, getting hits and not striking out.

The glory of October and the love of being a "Fan Favorite" may have eluded Johnny Ray in his 9 plus big league seasons. But he was a hard working solid player who, with a slightly different hand dealt to him, might have been a beloved player who happened to share a name with the singer who sang the song Cry.

And that is worth a salute.

Can Pittsburgh not afford lights for their interviews?

Rod Barajas signed with Pittsburgh today. And it is a good deal for both sides. Barajas gets a starting job and the Pirates get a veteran with some pop and World Series experience.

But when he was interviewed on MLB.com about the signing, it was a smidge dark.
I am used to interviews being done in a studio with quality lighting.

Look at this image from the interview.
Don Corleone's office had better lighting.

Stick a light IN FRONT of his face!
Something to not have him look so sinister!

Pirates... I'm done with you

Seriously... you had no blogger more on your side than me. At least a blogger who is NOT a Pirates fan.



But on July 19, the Pirates were in first place by themselves and a full week above .500.



They just had to play mediocre baseball the rest of the way and they'd cruise to a winning season.



Since then?



They are 5-17.

That is .227 baseball.



If they played at that pace for the whole season, they would finish 36-126.

That would be the worst team in baseball history.



In other words since their apex, they've played baseball at a pace that would be historically bad.



So Pirates, when you start playing better than the 1962 Mets, give me a call.

Until then, I am through with you!

The low point for the Giants

If you are a Giants fan you better HOPE this is the low point.

On July 28th, the Defending World Champions took 2 of 3 from the Phillies IN Philadelphia. They opened up a 4 game lead on the Diamondbacks, who were a nice story but let's face it, didn't have the legs to contend deep in the season.

The Giants added Carlos Beltran and the West was all but clinched.

Since then? The Giants have lost 10 of 13 games including 2 to the Pirates who couldn't beat a Tee Ball team in the last few weeks.

The Diamondbacks haven't exactly been world beaters. They have gone 7-5, right around the same winning pace that I would have expected.

But here we sit... in Mid August... and the Diamondbacks are in first place and the Giants are out of the playoff picture.

Indeed if the Playoffs Started Today... the Phillies and Diamondbacks would match up and the Brewers would have home field over the Braves.

In the promos for the Showtime series about the Giants, there is a clip of Brian Wilson on the golf course saying "Mark it down. Repeat."

Ironically if the playoffs started now, that's what the Giants would be doing... playing golf.

And the Diamondbacks don't have to do this for the long haul. They have 45 games left. A team get get hot in a 45 game spurt. When a team is in first place all by themselves with 45 left, then guess what? They are a legit contender.

Now if you have no dog in the fight, you might think that rooting for the Diamondbacks is the right thing to do. A low budget club with lots of young talent is what people should want in the post season.

But, as I said in one of the Sully Baseball videos, the Giants have a unique opportunity to become one of the true marquee franchises in baseball. A fun, more relaxed alternative to the rough and not so friendly Red Sox and Yankees domination. And it would be a shame to see them be a one year wonder.

The Giants have the day off and the Diamondbacks are playing the minor league team that plays in Houston. So in all probability, the Giants will start Friday's game in Florida a full game back.

Let's see what you are made of. Defend that title.

Two inert objects collide

Both the Giants and the Pirates have been stumbling.

The Giants have lost their last three series, including a sweep by the Reds, and allowed the Diamondbacks to have realistic playoff hopes.



Meanwhile the Pirates have dropped 10 in a row and turned their surprising playoff run and reenergized fan base into a collective screaming of "When do Steelers preseason games start?"



So a pair of slugs collided at AT&T Park and somehow the Pirates of all teams came to play.



And with Jonathan Sanchez pitching Game 3 of the series, the Giants had BETTER win tomorrow!



The Pirates have circumvented Lincecum and Cain... meanwhile the Giants had better send a nice big fat fruit basket to the Astros and the Dodgers for keeping the Diamondbacks at bay.



Arizona is tied in the loss column with the Giants.

The Giants are three in the loss column behind the Brewers for the honor of avoiding the Phillies in the Division Series.



Hey World Champs... you are Giants, but right now sleeping Giants.

If you nap too long you might be playing golf while the pennant goes through Arizona.

Forget winning the Division... will the Pirates win another GAME?

Look, the Pirates winning the NL Central was always a bit of a long shot. Even on July 19th when they were in first place by themselves, the chances of them holding on to that lead were slim.

But even the most realistic Pirate fan would have had a hard time imagining this fiasco.

They've lost 10 of their past 11 games. Yeah that included some tight games, including the 19 inning fiasco. But they've only one once since then.

And win loss records don't reflect close games. Just wins and losses.

Since they went on this brutal stretch against the Cardinals, Braves and Phillies, the home series against the lowly Cubs and Padres were supposed to be a chance to catch their breath and pick up a few wins before heading to San Francisco.

Well they were swept by the Cubs and are in danger of being swept by the Padres.

Pirates... you NEED to get back on track. A lot of positives have been achieved this year. Fans have shown up. There was excitement for a bit and even some optimism.

But guess what? The Steelers are practicing now. You know, the team that made it to the SUPER BOWL last year. The team that won the Damn Super Bowl a few years ago and a few years before that!

You have Pittsburgh's attention but PNC Park could be empty in September unless you start putting some W's on the board.

The Bucs are 4 games under .500 now.
They have 50 games left.

In order to go 82-80, a winning season to get the whole "longest streak of losing seasons in North American History" crap off their backs, they need to go 28-22 the rest of the way.

Not asking for the moon.
It starts tomorrow.
It's the freaking Padres.

Win a game.

Pirates... Indians... get your game in gear

For a while I was weighing the pros and cons of a Pirates - Indians World Series... two football cities without a lot to root for in the world of baseball were in first place.

Two teams were ready to spit in the face of anyone who says that low revenue franchises can't compete.

On July 20th, the Indians were tied for first place with the Tigers. That same day the Pirates were 1/2 a game behind the Brewers but actually ahead of Milwaukee in the loss column.

Since then?

The Indians have lost 8 out of 11.
The Pirates have dropped 10 out of 13.

The Indians are at break even .500.
The Pirates wish they were there, lagging at one game under .500.

What in the name of Tris Speaker and Honus Wagner is going on here?
Both teams have made trades to improve themselves and they are losing... a lot.

OK, maybe my World Series fantasy was a bit rash. But please! You can't have a season like this and finish sub .500! NOTHING positive can come with a losing season.

Let's see some winning!
(Except for tonight. Lose tonight, Indians. The Red Sox need the win first.)

Ryan Ludwick and The Right Stuff

There's a great moment in The Right Stuff that I thought about when I heard the Pirates dealt for Ryan Ludwick today.

When Alan Shepard climbed into the capsule, getting ready to be the first American into space, he saw there was a hand written sign placed on the capsule. It read "No Handball Playing In This Area." Shepard saw it was placed there by John Glenn as a joke.

It was a lame joke and Shepard pointed that out to his rival. He thought Glenn was too squeaky clean not one of the boys.

Glenn for a moment is disappointed that his attempt at humor was rejected but then Shepard says "But I do appreciate it John. I surely do." And they share a bond at that moment that was real and warmer than anything they had up until that part of the movie.

And it was the moment where all the animosity between the two ended. They had a common goal that was greater than their many differences. At that moment they were only compatriots.

It's a great moment in a great movie.

So what the hell does that have to do with Ryan Ludwick being picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates?

OK, in my analogy, John Glenn is the Pirates organization and Alan Shepard represents the Pirates fans. And the lame handball joke? That's the trade for Ryan Ludwick.

Is it a difference maker?

No.

Will he lead the Pirates to the playoffs?

Probably not.

Will it be a forgotten move in a few weeks?

Probably.

But Pirate fans see the team TRYING to improve for the stretch run instead of shipping off the players that are any good.

That's Shepard saying to Glenn "I do appreciate it. I surely do."

For the first time in a long time, the Pirates are trying. They are giving a damn. And the team isn't just pocketing the revenue sharing.

It's a change in culture.

It's the right stuff.

Watch the clip below... at 17:20 of the clip is the scene I am talking about.

And rent The Right Stuff. What the hell is the matter with you?

This is a huge day for the Pirates

The culture in Pittsburgh baseball just had an enormous rumbling last night.
Derrek Lee was acquired by the Pirates. It cost the team a Single A first baseman named Aaron Baker.

Do you understand how significant this is?
Lee may or may not be a factor and that doesn't matter. For more than a decade and a half, the trading deadline in Pittsburgh meant graduation for the quality players on their roster.

If you were a good Pirate, they were going to trade your butt at the deadline.

Not this year. At least for one season, the Pirates are NOT a Quadruple A farm team to be picked apart by July 31st vulture contenders.

Clint Hurdle may have won the Manager of the Year award with this trade. Why?

Because for one season at least, the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates were BUYERS!!!

As soul crushing series go, that wasn't so bad for the Pirates

When a team loses a 19 inning game, it is heart breaking.

When they lose a game based on a horrible call that sparked a national controversy, then that can be agonizing.

When that team is fighting to stay near first place, it can be cruel.

And when that team is trying to change the culture of nearly two decades of sub .500 ball, there's a lot of reason to think that could be the turning point back to Loserville.

Now throw on the fact that the very next night after the 19 inning marathon, the lost ANOTHER extra inning game, then maybe you'd assume that Cinderella's carriage was turning back into a pumpkin.

But take a step back.

Don't focus on the two losses and see that they won the first game and tonight's game.

OK, show of hands, Pirates fans. How many of you would have taken a split of the 4 game series against the Braves IN Atlanta?

I am expecting a lot of hands up.

The Pirates whom everyone predicted would wither in the post All Star Game run against contenders are holding their own.

The only two losses against one of the truly elite teams could have easily gone the other way.

And with the Cardinals dropping their last two to the horrible Astros, the Pirates remain tied for second.

And the Pirates are tied in the loss column with the Brewers for the Division lead.

We are a few days away from it being August, and the Pirates are staying within range of the post season.

Tomorrow is their biggest test. They go to Philadelphia. They will play the VARSITY team of Pennsylvania baseball.

But so far, the Pirates have played half of the most important 20 Pirates games since 1992, and they split those 10 games.

Not bad for a fading team whose spirit should be crushed.

The Pirates and Braves can't go into extras AGAIN, can they?

Last night's goat Jerry Meals is the third base umpire tonight.
Oh PLEASE don't have the game decided on a play at third or an appeal play.

WIPE OFF YOUR GLASSES JERRY!

Hey Jerry Meals

You had better hope the Pirates don't lose the Division by one game.
Here's a tip:

When there is ANY borderline call today, have it go to the Pirates.

Granted, the call you blew wasn't borderline. It made Jim Loyce ruining Armando Galaragga's perfect game look like a reasonable call.

I don't blame Jerry Meals. He made a mistake after crouching behind home plate for 6 hours. We're all human.
But the mistake was a big one and easy to correct.
And if you don't think correcting that mistake is good for baseball, then you are literally insane.

But I've said that already.

Only blithering idiots are against instant replay

If you are offended by the title of this post, keep 2 things in mind:

1) You are only a blithering idiot on the subject of instant replay
2) But on the subject of instant replay I am 100% right and my opponents are 100% wrong.

A wonderful game was planight between Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
19 innings.
Both teams left their guts on the field.
Both teams played like champions.
And the Pirates, playing the most critical stretch of games that they have played since 1992, were wiggling out of jams left and right.

Is THAT what we are going to talk about?
No.

The topic will be home plate umpire Jerry Meals blew a call at home plate to end the game.
It happens.
It's 19 innings into the game. Mistakes happen.

But less than 1 minute after the call was blown, the replay clearly showed the tag was made and the runner was out.

The game went on for more than 6 hours. Are you telling me you can't spend 1 minute to make sure it isn't ended on a mistake?

Are you people who stupidly are against Instant Replay going to say this ending was good for baseball?

Where is the HUMAN element of Daniel McCutchen pitching his brains out but being charged with a loss because an umpire made a mistake?

Where is the HUMAN element of giving the Pirates the loss when they just made a terrific play to possibly end ANOTHER game ending rally?

You've got nothing, opponents of instant replay. NOTHING.
You sound insane.

I'm sure on many other topics you know your stuff.
Give up this argument.

Getting overworked is nothing new to Scott Proctor

The game in Atlanta is in its 19th inning and Scott Proctor is pitching in his 3rd.
And frankly there is no end in sight in this game.

I am sure this long outing make Proctor think "Oh please, you think I am overworked? Did you SEE how Joe Torre used me?"

I hope it goes 30.

THAT'S showing some fight, Pirates

When I saw the Pirates were losing AGAIN today, I was all ready to take them to the woodshed. I was going to trash them for letting themselves get swept at home and allowing the naysayers to be right.

Then lo and behold, a comeback and a 10th inning rally later (along with the Brewers loss to the Giants) and they finished the weekend still tied for first place.

It wasn't the best start to the 20 game stretch to define the season... but the more days they spend in first, the better.

Now will someone explain to me why they pitched to Chase d'Arnaud instead of walking him, forcing the Pirates to bring in a pinch hitter and setting up a potential inning ending double play?

I'm not saying I'm smarter than Tony LaRussa... but the logic of that escaped me.

Well, you are still tied for first place Pirates.
Go to Atlanta. And don't want video from the 1991 nor 1992 NLCS.

Um Pirates... a little urgency?

Well the biggest 20 games in 19 years for the Pirates couldn't have started off worse.

This time the whuppin' took place in the 5th instead of the first, but seriously... if the Pirates want to have a share of first place, it would behoove them to not lose series at home. It would be nice to see Kevin Correia last 5 innings.

Tomorrow afternoon, they will try to salvage a game and some dignity before heading to Atlanta.

Yup, Atlanta. If Pittsburgh is going to slay some demons, you sometimes need to go to the source of the torment.

The Red Sox had a beast to kill and they needed to go through the Bronx to do it.
Maybe they need to go to the place where Francisco Cabrera drove in Sid Bream to get back on track.

OK, it's not EXACTLY where the 1992 NLCS was played. (Fulton County Stadium is leveled and part of Turner Field's parking lot.)

But play with some urgency. Win tomorrow and first place is still in reach.

There's 18 games left of this stretch.
The best you can do is 18-2.

Don't lose focus, Pirates

The biggest 20 game stretch in nearly 20 years for the Pirates got off to a fuzzy start last night. As in 4 runs down before they could even come to bat.
As in 2 first inning home runs.

Yeah, they played them well the rest of the game, but that's a rough way to begin a potential make or break stretch of games.

Regroup.

Have Kevin Correia throw a solid game tomorrow and get back on your feet.
If you need to let up 2 first inning homers, have them be solo shots.
FOCUS!

The 20 biggest games for the Pirates in 19 years

During the All Star break it was standard to look at the Pirates and say "they are a nice story but they will fade in the second half."

Well as we wake up this Friday, the second to last weekend of July and with August just around the corner, the Pirates are still tied for first place.

They played the Astros and won the series.
They had a harder task with the Reds and won the series.
Now they host the Cardinals.

Cincinnati takes on the Braves while the Brewers head off to San Francisco.

All three series are competitive but the Pirates being at home and throwing Maholm, Correia and Morton means they have a good shot at winning this series.

If they can survive this weekend and stay at least tied for first, then things will REALLY get interesting.

They head to Atlanta and Philadelphia and play 2 of the three teams that I think have the best shot of winning the World Series and they'll do it on their turf.

The other of the three potential World Series teams are the Giants. They play them the second week of August.

It's a gauntlet and the next few weeks they won't have a day off until August 11th.
That's a 20 game stretch.

If they can hold their own and go 10-10 or better in that time frame, then this might indeed be a contender.

If not, well then go for the 83 wins and go for the winning season.
Pirates had the day off yesterday. The 20 game stretch to redeem 18 years of losing begins.... NOW!