Thoughts At The Quarter Season Mark

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Tue May 16, 2023 1:12 am

The Pirates played an excellent April, and so far May has been very bad. Maybe I am a little more optimistic than some after that amazing April, but it appears the Pirates may have a top line pitcher in Keller. Let’s assume the Pirates avoid any future long losing streaks, and they stay a few games over .500. Around the end of June the Pirates recall Endy Rodriguez from AAA. A couple weeks after the All Star Break the Pirates select the contract of Henry Davis. Davis becomes the regular DH while Cutch becomes the regular right fielder. Rodriguez is catching some, but he is also spending some time at second base to keep his bat in the lineup. Around August 10th Cruz is activated from the IL and returns to play shortstop. For the final 6 weeks of the season the Pirates probably have the best starting players in the lineup they have had all season. In my opinion this could be a very interesting team for a push to the postseason.

2drfischer@gmail.c · Post by **2drfischer@gmail.c** » Tue May 16, 2023 1:42 am

If everything goes they way you state, and they’re within a handful of games of the last Wildcard spot, then they have a chance. Unpredictable things can happen. They showed in April how well they can play. They’ll need the same great starting pitching and the same timely hitting contributions from so many guys. They’ll also need help from their competition, needing them to lose more than the Pirates down the stretch. But it’s possible.

GreenWeenie · Post by **GreenWeenie** » Tue May 16, 2023 1:57 am

3834356E676E666B6C73695E0 wrote: The Pirates played an excellent April, and so far May has been very bad. Maybe I am a little more optimistic than some after that amazing April, but it appears the Pirates may have a top line pitcher in Keller. Let’s assume the Pirates avoid any future long losing streaks, and they stay a few games over .500. Around the end of June the Pirates recall Endy Rodriguez from AAA. A couple weeks after the All Star Break the Pirates select the contract of Henry Davis. Davis becomes the regular DH while Cutch becomes the regular right fielder. Rodriguez is catching some, but he is also spending some time at second base to keep his bat in the lineup. Around August 10th Cruz is activated from the IL and returns to play shortstop. For the final 6 weeks of the season the Pirates probably have the best starting players in the lineup they have had all season. In my opinion this could be a very interesting team for a push to the postseason.

Until August, teams just jockey for position, except for teams that have had such a poor start that they've essentially dropped out. August is when all the whips come out. The Pirates should get their boost. So will will other quality clubs. It's the best part of the season, until the playoffs, when some of them get to do it all over again. May the best men win.