The Week Ahead

[CarolinaBucco]

Because the NL Central is so mediocre, so average, the Pirates continue to hang around and continue to be presented with opportunities to make a move. Can they take advantage of it this week?



The Pirates recently went through a brutal 3-6 stretch vs. Giants, Padres and Reds ... failing to make a move.



But they still find themselves just 4.5 back and with a favorable schedule this week ... 4 with the Tigers and 3 with the Blue Jays.



Meanwhile, this week:



Cubs: at SF, at Arizona

Brewers: at Minnesota, vs. Cincy

Cards: at KC, vs. ATL



Some tough opponents in there.



If the Pirates could put together a 5-2 kind of week, I think they will gain ground.



I just don't know if this team is capable of taking full advantage of a VERY winnable division. My gut says they are not. But the division is RIGHT THERE in front of them and man I hope the Pirates can prove me wrong.



Maybe yesterday's Sean-Rod return and walk-off will be the jolt of energy and momentum they need. But more than likely, it will come down to "can they pitch" and "can they get timely hits?"

[SammyKhalifa]

5775667B787D7A75566177777B140 wrote: But more than likely, it will come down to "can they pitch" and "can they get timely hits?"






Haha, yeah I agree. If weren't for the pitching and the hitting we'd be a pretty good team.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

Until they are over .500, I will not believe. It's nice to still "be in it", but they have a losing record. They are no threat with a losing record.

[Bobster21]

We should have a thread for "If the Pirates go X-X in the next stretch." We keep having to move the bar every time they fail to do it.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

193439282F3E29696A5B0 wrote: We should have a thread for "If the Pirates go X-X in the next stretch." We keep having to move the bar every time they fail to do it. 


We have so many of these threads. That west coast trip really hurt them (Col-SF-SD). That's why I will wait until they are over .500. No team can compete with a losing record.

[RichD]

We need a 10 game win streak . Then a couple losses followed by a 6 game win streak .Something like that .Its not impossible. Everyone needs to click at once that is the problem with this team .We never seem to get both sides of the ball in sync.

[IABucFan]

Remember when the Pirates had that great stretch in 2014 where they went like 17-6? The Dodgers are 44-7 in their last 51 games, I believe. That's insane. That's like a video game where you put all the All Stars on your team just for the heck of it. Nobody does that in baseball. And that's been without Kershaw for the last few weeks. I suppose anything can happen in the playoffs, but right now, I don't see any way the Dodgers don't win the World Series.

[BenM]

6E656D6164657E3B3D4A736B6265652469650A0 wrote: Until they are over .500, I will not believe.  It's nice to still "be in it", but they have a losing record.  They are no threat with a losing record.


I totally agree with this.



Wake me up when top .500 or they are in second place in the division.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

282023140227000F610 wrote: Remember when the Pirates had that great stretch in 2014 where they went like 17-6? The Dodgers are 44-7 in their last 51 games, I believe. That's insane. That's like a video game where you put all the All Stars on your team just for the heck of it. Nobody does that in baseball. And that's been without Kershaw for the last few weeks. I suppose anything can happen in the playoffs, but right now, I don't see any way the Dodgers don't win the World Series.


And the Dodgers are still behind the 2001 Mariners and the 1998 Yankees after 111 games. The Mariners lost in the playoffs and the Yankees did win the WS.

[Ecbucs]

don't want to speak too soon but Jaso's blast (and Williams pitching) may be getting Monday off to a good start.