The Pirates
July 20th 2011 03:43
Every where you look are stats that scream "the Pirates can't keep this up." There is some esoteric stats (baseball practically defines the esoteric stat) that predicts the Pirates pitching staff will regress. This expected fielding independent pitching stat is one of the higher in the NL, belaying the Pirates strong pitching thus far this season. I believe that the biggest reason for this troubling stat is that it rewards pitching staffs who earn many strikeouts and penalize those who pitch to contact. Obviously, a strike-out heavy pitching staff controls the game better, preventing base runners and avoiding bloop hits or other strange goings-on.
How about this. It's mid-July. There's nearly 100 games in the books. And the Pirates have done well - amazingly, tremendously so - to this point. You'd think, wouldn't you, that if the Pirates were going to fall apart they'd have done so by now. Right?
The next two weeks will tell the tale of the Pirates season. Although they've won 2 of the 3-game set from the Cincinnati Reds, they get the Cardinals for 3 at home followed by road trips to the Atlanta Braves then Philadelphia Phillies. If the Pirates earn even a .500 record through that huge hurdle then I don't care what stat you throw at this team. They'll have proved it. They will have earned it. I know they have another killer series in August. And they still can't beat the damned Milwaukee Brewers. I know all of this. I know their talent probably isn't playoff level. It's probably .500 level, to be honest.
But I don't care, not right now. There's hope. There's excitement. My god, I was in college the last time this team was good (1992) and the big names on that team were Bonds and Bonilla. Having July baseball mean something around here? It's like Christmas in July. There's this low-level excitement that seems to permeate everything. The Pirates are relevant, and they're getting the support that comes with that. This excitement is so unusual that it's infectious. I honestly believe it, as I'm seeing it on a daily basis.
I know that probably by mid-August the charm will have come off of this season, and those crazy, wild dreams of a pennant race will be dashed. But for a few days in July...the dreams were sparked, the hopes realized and the team adored.
(let me tell you a little secret, though. I can remember several times in the past few years the Pirates earning at or above .500 records after the All Star break. I'm just sayin')
It's been years since I've said this (and meant it): LET'S GO BUCS!
How about this. It's mid-July. There's nearly 100 games in the books. And the Pirates have done well - amazingly, tremendously so - to this point. You'd think, wouldn't you, that if the Pirates were going to fall apart they'd have done so by now. Right?
The next two weeks will tell the tale of the Pirates season. Although they've won 2 of the 3-game set from the Cincinnati Reds, they get the Cardinals for 3 at home followed by road trips to the Atlanta Braves then Philadelphia Phillies. If the Pirates earn even a .500 record through that huge hurdle then I don't care what stat you throw at this team. They'll have proved it. They will have earned it. I know they have another killer series in August. And they still can't beat the damned Milwaukee Brewers. I know all of this. I know their talent probably isn't playoff level. It's probably .500 level, to be honest.
But I don't care, not right now. There's hope. There's excitement. My god, I was in college the last time this team was good (1992) and the big names on that team were Bonds and Bonilla. Having July baseball mean something around here? It's like Christmas in July. There's this low-level excitement that seems to permeate everything. The Pirates are relevant, and they're getting the support that comes with that. This excitement is so unusual that it's infectious. I honestly believe it, as I'm seeing it on a daily basis.
I know that probably by mid-August the charm will have come off of this season, and those crazy, wild dreams of a pennant race will be dashed. But for a few days in July...the dreams were sparked, the hopes realized and the team adored.
(let me tell you a little secret, though. I can remember several times in the past few years the Pirates earning at or above .500 records after the All Star break. I'm just sayin')
It's been years since I've said this (and meant it): LET'S GO BUCS!
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