OnlyBucs

2229212D2829327771063F272E2929682529460 wrote: Every playoff team has a chance. 



A Wiki look up just on the Wild Card:



The following wild-card teams have won the World Series: the Florida Marlins, in 1997 and 2003; the Anaheim Angels, in 2002; the Boston Red Sox, in 2004; the St. Louis Cardinals, in 2011; and the San Francisco Giants, in 2014. Thus, three consecutive titles, from 2002 to 2004, were won by a wild card.



A wild-card team appeared in the World Series each year from 2002 to 2007.



So far, the 2002 World Series and the 2014 World Series have been the only times when both teams were wild cards.



The Baltimore Orioles, in 1996, were the first wild-card team to win a Division Series.



The Marlins, in 1997, were the first wild-card team to reach the World Series and the first to win the World Series. By winning again in 2003, they became the first team to win the World Series twice as a wild card. The Marlins are also the only team to win the World Series without ever winning a division title.



The Red Sox have been a wild card seven times, while the New York Yankees' total is five. The Cardinals, the Houston Astros, the Colorado Rockies, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a wild card three times each.



The following teams have qualified as a wild card in consecutive years: the Red Sox (1998-1999, 2003-2005, 2008-2009), the Astros (2004-2005), the New York Mets (1999-2000), the Cardinals (2011-2012), and the Pirates (2013-2015).


Yes, but......



Things changed quite a bit when the 2nd WC team was added in 2012. Previously, the WC team was assured a playoff series. Now, half the WC teams are gone after 1 game and the winner of the WC game gets a series but can't line up its pitching because it had to use its best (if possible) for that WC game. And they are playing and possibly traveling for that game when the division winner they will meet is resting and setting up their pitching rotation. So the 2nd WC gives more teams a chance to play but less chance to advance, as 1 will be eliminated and the other will proceed to a series in which they are already disadvantaged.



Since 2012 when the second WC game was added, only 2 WC teams have appeared in a WS. That was 2014 when both SF and KC were WC teams. So obviously, it's possible. But I think we have to assess the probability of a WC team advancing differently since 2012 than we did thru 2011.

3A333B2A245E0 wrote: You add the .800 OPS outfielder now because he's as good as a healthy Polanco. Probably better   Polanco has had a poor season.  And far better than Jaso



You call up Diaz to fill for Cervelli now because hes better than Cervelli anyway or close to it.



The first move costs a PTBNL and a few million dollars.   If that's "mortgaging the future" there never was a future.



The 2nd move costs nothing.  The Cubs and cards and Brewers are trying. 






Yeah those are all reasonable.



What have the Cards done though?  We've made more moves than they have, picking up two relatively useful guys.



https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2017/7/31/ ... ne-results



Sound familiar?



The Cardinals are at a crossroads and they have the hazard lights on. Maybe there wasn’t a good deal to be made at this deadline, but after missing out on David Price and Jason Heyward, the Cardinals have a pattern of taking the safe route. This isn’t an attack on the Cardinals approach at this particular deadline. The same way the Cardinals have built a ton of credibility over the years by constantly winnings, it is slowly eroding as the Cardinals continue to pass on potential opportunities to make the team better in favor of waiting things out.



The Cardinals might finish with a winning record again this season. They’ve assembled that team and if things break right, they might even make the playoffs. They will certainly be in that same position in the offseason. What they haven’t been able to do is push themselves beyond that level. Whether it is due to failing to pull the trigger due to risk aversion, or that players and teams simply don’t like the Cardinals as much as the team believes they should, the Cardinals are an average team missing great players. The search continues.

012C21303726317172430 wrote: Every playoff team has a chance. 



A Wiki look up just on the Wild Card:



The following wild-card teams have won the World Series: the Florida Marlins, in 1997 and 2003; the Anaheim Angels, in 2002; the Boston Red Sox, in 2004; the St. Louis Cardinals, in 2011; and the San Francisco Giants, in 2014. Thus, three consecutive titles, from 2002 to 2004, were won by a wild card.



A wild-card team appeared in the World Series each year from 2002 to 2007.



So far, the 2002 World Series and the 2014 World Series have been the only times when both teams were wild cards.



The Baltimore Orioles, in 1996, were the first wild-card team to win a Division Series.



The Marlins, in 1997, were the first wild-card team to reach the World Series and the first to win the World Series. By winning again in 2003, they became the first team to win the World Series twice as a wild card. The Marlins are also the only team to win the World Series without ever winning a division title.



The Red Sox have been a wild card seven times, while the New York Yankees' total is five. The Cardinals, the Houston Astros, the Colorado Rockies, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a wild card three times each.



The following teams have qualified as a wild card in consecutive years: the Red Sox (1998-1999, 2003-2005, 2008-2009), the Astros (2004-2005), the New York Mets (1999-2000), the Cardinals (2011-2012), and the Pirates (2013-2015).


Yes, but......



Things changed quite a bit when the 2nd WC team was added in 2012. Previously, the WC team was assured a playoff series. Now, half the WC teams are gone after 1 game and the winner of the WC game gets a series but can't line up its pitching because it had to use its best (if possible) for that WC game. And they are playing and possibly traveling for that game when the division winner they will meet is resting and setting up their pitching rotation. So the 2nd WC gives more teams a chance to play but less chance to advance, as 1 will be eliminated and the other will proceed to a series in which they are already disadvantaged.



Since 2012 when the second WC game was added, only 2 WC teams have appeared in a WS. That was 2014 when both SF and KC were WC teams. So obviously, it's possible. But I think we have to assess the probability of a WC team advancing differently since 2012 than we did thru 2011.




Of course it is a disadvantage, but it is still a chance to win the World Series. I'd rather go to the Playoffs (any part of the Playoffs) than not go at all. 5 teams in the NL make it, 10 teams go home. I will always want to be one of those five teams.

272C24282D2C377274033A222B2C2C6D202C430 wrote: Every playoff team has a chance. 



A Wiki look up just on the Wild Card:



The following wild-card teams have won the World Series: the Florida Marlins, in 1997 and 2003; the Anaheim Angels, in 2002; the Boston Red Sox, in 2004; the St. Louis Cardinals, in 2011; and the San Francisco Giants, in 2014. Thus, three consecutive titles, from 2002 to 2004, were won by a wild card.



A wild-card team appeared in the World Series each year from 2002 to 2007.



So far, the 2002 World Series and the 2014 World Series have been the only times when both teams were wild cards.



The Baltimore Orioles, in 1996, were the first wild-card team to win a Division Series.



The Marlins, in 1997, were the first wild-card team to reach the World Series and the first to win the World Series. By winning again in 2003, they became the first team to win the World Series twice as a wild card. The Marlins are also the only team to win the World Series without ever winning a division title.



The Red Sox have been a wild card seven times, while the New York Yankees' total is five. The Cardinals, the Houston Astros, the Colorado Rockies, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a wild card three times each.



The following teams have qualified as a wild card in consecutive years: the Red Sox (1998-1999, 2003-2005, 2008-2009), the Astros (2004-2005), the New York Mets (1999-2000), the Cardinals (2011-2012), and the Pirates (2013-2015).


Yes, but......



Things changed quite a bit when the 2nd WC team was added in 2012. Previously, the WC team was assured a playoff series. Now, half the WC teams are gone after 1 game and the winner of the WC game gets a series but can't line up its pitching because it had to use its best (if possible) for that WC game. And they are playing and possibly traveling for that game when the division winner they will meet is resting and setting up their pitching rotation. So the 2nd WC gives more teams a chance to play but less chance to advance, as 1 will be eliminated and the other will proceed to a series in which they are already disadvantaged.



Since 2012 when the second WC game was added, only 2 WC teams have appeared in a WS. That was 2014 when both SF and KC were WC teams. So obviously, it's possible. But I think we have to assess the probability of a WC team advancing differently since 2012 than we did thru 2011.




Of course it is a disadvantage, but it is still a chance to win the World Series.  I'd rather go to the Playoffs (any part of the Playoffs) than not go at all.  5 teams in the NL make it, 10 teams go home.  I will always want to be one of those five teams.


It is great to be one of the five but it is even better to be one of the three division winners although a lot of Pirate fans can't remember the last division winning team.

I agree 100% with dmetz and I have been begging for this for a couple of months now.



PLEASE Pirates go out and get an average/above average MLB outfielder. It's not asking for much and I guarantee it can be done for, at most, 1 B-level or C-level prospect.



It defies logic why the Pirates have basically decided to play an ENTIRE SEASON WITH 2 OUTFIELDERS.

Even a below average outfielder would be an improvement.

4163706D6E6B6C63407761616D020 wrote: 1. I'm not a big fan of this latest trend of sitting Bell vs. left-handers. I think Bell is at the point now that he should start from either side of the plate.



2. It's unbelievable what Glasnow and Brault (and to a lesser extent, Kingham) are doing at AAA.



Brault since May 6: 10-2 with a 1.43 ERA.

Glasnow since being sent down: 8-0 with a 1.57 ERA.



3. I honestly don't understand why the Pirates haven't gone out and acquired an established major league outfielder. Just someone who can play solid defensively and hit maybe .250. This team NEEDS that desperately. I'm certain we could get one for a B-level or C-level prospect.



4. Really frustrated with Polanco. Is a case of recurring hamstring injuries the fault of the player or the training staff/medical team? I honestly don't know who is to blame.



5. Have a bad feeling about facing Happ today. Sure wish we had beaten the rookie yesterday. Kuhl needs to be great (again), and that's asking a lot vs. this lineup.



6. But it sure would be nice to get back to .500 and stay 3 games out heading into a huge week vs. Brewers & Cards.


1. Agree 100%

2. Doing that in AAA ball is one thing. Doing it in the majors is a totally different story. Glasnow did this last year in AAA and we know how 2017 turned out for him in the majors.

3. Agree. However, what do you expect? I'm still waiting for a good #4 for the rotation.

4. Sadly agree. Had big time hope for him. Starting to disappoint me.