Hello,
This is a Dodgers Daily so I'll mention the Dodgers briefly, however this blog is mostly about the Pirates.
LA beat Colorado 7-4 and have won the first 2 games in this three game series. The Dodgers have won 6 straight games and continue to cruise to the NL West title and the playoffs. They're now 83-53 and have a 99.9% chance of reaching the playoffs. Meanwhile they lead the second place Diamondbacks by 13.5 games, Arizona has almost been eliminated from the playoff chase.
I love that the Dodgers are playing so well right now. I go back and forth between thinking this team could be a team of destiny or could get eliminated in the NLDS. If the Dodgers go through this long 162 game season and lose in the NLDS then their great season will fill very hollow. (The MLB season is just too long.) I'm enjoying the Dodgers train ride as long as it's going to last.
From here on out this will be a Pirates blog. To answer your first question, how did a guy who lives in Utah start following the Pirates? A couple of years ago I read an article in Sports Illustrated about the at the time beleaguered Pirates. The Pirates were at a very low point, with very things giving them hope. I've always liked to cheer for the underdog and thought the Pirates could use another fan that would stick with them no matter what. After reading that article I started following the Pirates.
On Tuesday the Pirates defeated the Brewers 4-3, which was Pittsburgh's 81st win of the season. The Pirates are now 81-57 and have a 99.8% chance to win the NL Central. Tuesday's victory ensures that the Pirates won't have a losing season this season, which will be the first time that happens since 1992. In 1992 the Pirates finished 96-66, a record this Pirates team could possibly equal. The Pirates would only have to finish a very doable 15-9 to match that record.
Tuesday's victory had many encouraging signs for the Pirates. For one they had timely hitting, Travis Snider's homer in the 9th inning was the game winning run. The Pirates also had timely pitching. Mark Melancon, in place of Jason Grilli as Pirates closer, earned his 11th save of the season. Melancon also has an impressive 0.87 ERA. He's been a hell of a closer while Grilli recovers. Pirates MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen was 2 for 4 and he's hitting .320 this season. McCutchen added his 18th homer and has 75 RBIs. He also does quite well in center field, he's a complete player.
The Pirates also received contributions from their new players. I'm extremely excited about the recent additions of Justin Morneau and Marlon Byrd, I could see these two players being the final pieces of Pittsburgh's puzzle. Morneau was 3 for 3 on Tuesday. Although he's only hitting .262 this season, he's hitting .444 in three games since joining the Pirates. Byrd was 2 for 3, he also had his 30th double of the season. Byrd also had two more RBIs, giving him 78 RBIs this season.
Also the good news keeps coming, Jason Grilli has been activated. He's been out for a few weeks battling an injury. Before he was injured he had 30 saves and a very solid 2.34 ERA for the Pirates. It looks like he'll pitch in a couple of non-save situations before resuming his role as closer. Obviously that could change, I don't necessarily think the Pirates should rush him back. But I'm glad the Pirates have Melancon to back him up.
The last piece of good news for the Pirates is they lead the Cardinals by 2 games. Pittsburgh also leads 3rd place Cincinnati by 3.5 games. The Pirates have their great record in the best by far NL division. I've never seen so many good teams in one division. It's almost assured that 3 NL Central teams will reach the NL Playoffs. Besides the top three NL Central teams, Dodgers and Braves the rest of the NL is embarassingly weak.
I went to Wikipedia to look up some interesting things about the Pirates 1992 season. Here are 5 interesting things about the 1992 Pirates.
1) Let's get the most painful thing out of the way, that was the playoffs of Sid Bream. The Pirates led 2-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Doug Drabek pitched a masterful game for the Pirates. Drabek had pitched about 120 pitches before facing Bream. Drabek was getting tired and walked Sid Bream, who might have been the slowest running player in MLB that season. (No disrespect intended, just calling it like it is.) Later in the inning the Braves sent up Francisco Cabrera to pinch hit. He singled left to drive in David Justice and Bream. Bream was pumping his arms like crazy around third base as he hustled home. That was a damn gutsy call by the Braves third base coach Jimy Williams to send the slow footed Bream home, but it ultimately proved to be the right call. Bream was safe just ahead of Barry Bonds throw home.
I remember watching this play live and how electric Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was, this play has to be one of the most memorable plays in MLB history. Looking at the play several times now, was Bream really safe?
Here's Skip Caray call of that amazing 9th inning:
The Braves won the game and advanced to the World Series. They lost the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays in 6 games.
2) The 1992 Pirates team featured such players as Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke (who's son, Scott, is currently playing for the Dodgers), Tim Wakefield (in his rookie season), Doug Drabek and Kirk Gibson, who was only on the team briefly.
3) The Pirates manager was Jim Leyland, who currently is managing the offensively explosive Tigers.
4) At the time the Pirates played at Three Rivers Stadium, where the Pirates won the World Series in 1979. That was the "We Are Family" year and the last time the Pirates won the World Series. The Pirates now play in PNC Park.
5) In 1992 they were a member of the NL East, now they are in the NL Central.
Who knew that it would be 21 years before the Pirates had another at least .500 season? This is why I fully support the Pirates going all out to win the World Series this season.
Look how many things have changed since then, let's hope the Pirates on field experience will change as drastically. Tuesday's victory was a good start, but winning on Wednesday to clinch a winning season would be the next step. The Pirates send Francisco Liriano (15-6, 2.57 ERA) to the mound Wednesday so the Pirates can clinch a winning season.
Will the 2013 Pirates season end with similar scenes as this?:
themusicaddict
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