OnlyBucs

Last week I posed the question how would the Brewers, Cardinals, or any other team battling for the post season, enjoy the prospects of a three game series having to face Williams, Taillon, and Archer (should he be in top form)?



With the today’s rainout, that basic situation could play out. The Bucs have a three game series with the Cards starting tomorrow. If the rotation gets pushed back, Williams, Musgrove, and Taillon are scheduled to pitch. I am really looking forward to this series. And it will be followed by a three game series (opportunity) with the Brewers. The Bucs will have a huge say in which teams make the post season.



Competitors love to compete. And only true competitors will be champions. This week could tell us an awful lot about the competitive eliteness of our pitching staff. And what about our rookies? Are they ready to jump in the fire? Hopefully, this month will resemble 1989, when a Pirate team took the month of September to forge itself for the three-year playoff run to come.



Disregarding TBMTIB, future post season opportunities will most assuredly be built on: 1) a top pitching staff, 2) emergence of some of the rookies to significant everyday players, and 3) the acquisition of a middle-of-the-order bat. Hopefully we will get a sneak-peek at some of the possibilities this coming week.

Unfortunately for the pitching staff, the offense needs to score some runs for the Pirates to win some games. With no Polanco, the offense lost its one player who had the ability to drill a home run now and then.



Big chance for Luplow to show that he belongs on the team in 2019. I am hoping that he gets regular playing time for the rest of the season. All in all, I have no overall complaints with how the Pirates are giving the younger players some playing time.