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Pirates 2018

steelermania said:
Whether or not they can fix the middle relief will determine if this is a 78-85 win team, or a 90+ win team that can compete for a playoff spot.
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They're at least attempting to address the bullpen. It may not be enough to make a difference, but we'll see.
 
Lost 4 of the past 5 games. Looks like this team is heading for a funk. Hope they can turn it around and forge a split this weekend.
 
The Buccos are coming back to Earth quickly. The red hot offense that had been carrying them has looked rather pedestrian of late. The pitching has been very up and down too. Give up 1 run in a game then give up 5 or 6 the next two nights.
 
Supersteeler said:
The Buccos are coming back to Earth quickly. The red hot offense that had been carrying them has looked rather pedestrian of late. The pitching has been very up and down too. Give up 1 run in a game then give up 5 or 6 the next two nights.
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The pitching has been getting better as the season progressed, but it's hard to win scoring two runs or less, which is what the Pirates have done in eight of their last ten games.

Every team has rough stretches, and they were not going to sustain the pace with which they started season 9-2.

Polanco really needs to get going again. He's the key, as there a few scenarios where the Pirates can compete for a post season berth without him producing at a high level.
 
Punxsutawney said:
The pitching has been getting better as the season progressed, but it's hard to win scoring two runs or less, which is what the Pirates have done in eight of their last ten games.

Every team has rough stretches, and they were not going to sustain the pace with which they started season 9-2.

Polanco really needs to get going again. He's the key, as there a few scenarios where the Pirates can compete for a post season berth without him producing at a high level.
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I was thinking more of the bullpen in regards to the pitching woes. The starters haven't been too bad. On offense, losing Harrison for an extended period didn't help matters either. But yeah I think Polanco is currently hitting around .197. He needs to find it again...soon.
 
Taillon just **** the bed for the second consecutive start.

The rails really do seem to be coming off this thing.
 
The Bucs have now won four straight. Here's an interesting tidbit. During the Bucs 20 year stretch of ineptitude, they had company. The Reds were under .500 9 straight years, the Orioles 14 straight years, and the Royals 19 of 20 years. All four of these teams finally got well within a few years of each other, all making multiple postseason appearances, with the Royals winning 2 pennants, and a World Series. Strangely enough, the Bucs are currently in first place, while the others are the three worst teams in baseball, with the Royals an awful 5-20, including an insane 1-12 record at home. I wonder if the championship a few years back will keep the fans coming, or will the Royals be playing in front of a bunch of empty seats. Shows you how lucky we are to follow a football team that hasn't gone into a season with no hope since 1988.
 
After a bad week, they seem to have righted the ship again. How about Nick Kingham making his MLB debut and throwing a no hitter into the 7th? Pretty sweet.
 
I heard that with the win yesterday...The Pirates set a new team record for wins in the month of April...
 
Supersteeler said:
After a bad week, they seem to have righted the ship again. How about Nick Kingham making his MLB debut and throwing a no hitter into the 7th? Pretty sweet.
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They showed a lot bouncing back after the disaster in Philly, and against the Cardinals no less. Strangely enough, their window may be opening again.
 
Cole continues to be lights out. Complete game 1 hitter with 16 K’s last night. I thought he just got easily rattled in Pittsburgh. Maybe he just didn’t want to be there.
 
Buster said:
Maybe he just didn’t want to be there.
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That's basically what he said in the press conference after the trade.

One wants to be professional, but it's not easy to be totally committed to an organization if one believes it is not completely committed to winning.

Jason Kendall and Brian Giles said similar things after leaving the Pirates.

The Pirates had a decent three year run, but they did it in about the cheapest, least risky way imaginable, and when the time came to expand payroll to take advantage of the window of opportunity, like the Royals did a few years ago and the Brewers are doing now, the Pirates did absolutely nothing.
 
Hurdle is going to have to get Bell out of the cleanup spot.

Expectations for the kid are/were high, but through a month and half of the season, he just is not getting it done.
 
Buster said:
Cole continues to be lights out. Complete game 1 hitter with 16 K’s last night. I thought he just got easily rattled in Pittsburgh. Maybe he just didn’t want to be there.
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There are also rumors of houston pitchers doctoring the ball. Pitchers are getting alot more rotation than with their previous clubs. No idea how true it is but i have seen a couple articles about it
 
jitter77 said:
There are also rumors of houston pitchers doctoring the ball. Pitchers are getting alot more rotation than with their previous clubs. No idea how true it is but i have seen a couple articles about it
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Or maybe...just maybe...Ray Searage isnt all that as a Pitching Coach?
 
Buster said:
Cole continues to be lights out. Complete game 1 hitter with 16 K’s last night. I thought he just got easily rattled in Pittsburgh. Maybe he just didn’t want to be there.
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Cole is pitching like the guy I think we all thought he could be. It does seem like he wanted to be out of Pittsburgh and the change of scenery has made a difference.
 
Every time I think the Buccos are starting into a tailspin, they run off 4 or 5 straight wins. One game out of 1st place currently.
 
Buster said:
Would be alot of fun if the NL Central stays this close all season.
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I'm hoping for one of those years, too. The Pirates aren't out of it yet, but the schedule gets more difficult. April was "easy". If they are still contending in July, it might be a >.500 season. :-)
 
It will come down to starting pitching in the division. We finally get to see Musgrove likely next week. I would like to see them flip Nova for an upgrade.
When Toronto is completely out of it, Nova for Happ would be an upgrade.
 
I am shocked at how well the pirates had played. Everytime it seems like they are ready to implode they bounce back. Hopefully they can at least make it interesting the rest of the year
 
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Bucs continue to find ways to win. What’s different about this year‘s team compared to the recent playoff teams is they are beating the teams that they are supposed to beat.
 
Reds take two out of three vs. the Pirates.

GO REDS
 
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