Bucs At the Break

On June 25, the Pirates sat at 36-40, had come off of a recent seven game losing streak, were continuing to parade a string of minor league pitchers out of the bullpen, and were about to embark upon a series of thirteen games against teams with better records than they had (Astros, Brewers, and Cubs).  The potential certainly existed for the Pirates to totally blow themselves out of any hopes of contending for post-season positions.  

And it certainly looked that way when they dropped that opening game of the stretch to former teammate Gerrit Cole and the Astros.  However, they bounced back with two blowout wins over the Astros, and finished up that thirteen game span leading up to the All Star Break with a record of 8-5.  They are still in fourth place in the NL Central, but they are only 2.5 games out of the wild card spot, and, more significantly, only 2.5 games out of first place in the division.  And they have won many of these games in simply amazingly exciting ways.  

I have to admit, I did not see them coming through this stretch as they have.  After the Break, they face another thirteen games against teams above them in the standings, Cubs, Phillies, and Cardinals.   If they can fashion another 8-5 record, or better, in those games, then you have to think that the Front Office will simply HAVE to make an effort to add a piece or two to put the team into a position to make a run for a playoff spot.

They have gotten to this point mainly with an unbelievably potent offense, led by the two guys you see above, Brian Reynolds and Josh Bell.  Reynolds, came to the team in the Andrew McCutchen trade two years ago and is a solid candidate for  Rookie of the Year honors.  In 67 games, he is hitting .342 with 7 HR, 33 RBI, and an OPS of .950.  Bell has been other worldly this season.  In 88 games, he is hitting .302 with 27 HR, 84 RBI (best in all of MLB), and a 1.024 OPS, and while it is totally unfair to make such a comparison, he is having  they type of season the likes of which I have not seen with the Pirates since Willie Stargell was in his prime.  I was in attendance at Friday's game and saw him hit a three run home run that was LOUD off of the bat, with an impossibly high arc to it, and that cleared the PNC Park right field stands with ease.  The only word for it was "majestic".  Even thought he Pirates ended up losing that game, it was worth everything to be there just to see that home run.

I am still concerned with the Pirates pitching.  Starting pitching, thought to be the strong point coming not the season, has been wracked by injuries and inconsistencies.  The bullpen, save for Felipe Vazquez, has been terrible, as pitchers like Geoff Hartleib, Montana DuRapau, and Doyvadas Neverauskas keep getting trotted out and getting pummeled.  Something has to be done to improve upon the pitching staff if the team is to contend.

In any event, this team has earned the right to be watched closely, and I, for one, am looking forward to see how these next thirteen games evolve.

#letsgobucs