OnlyBucs

Well, this trip out West, leading up to the deadline, is going to determine the Pirates path for the rest of the season.



If the Pirates stay hot and go 6-3 or better, I think it will force Neal's hand to do SOMETHING to make this team better and give it a chance to win a winnable division.



Get swept in Denver (which I am worried about) and go 3-6 or worse and that will probably signal a sale and the end of this team being relevant in 2017.



5-4 or 4-5 and I think a lot will depend on the how the Brewers and Cubs do over the next 10 days.



Here's how I see it:



Colorado: They are good and they are difficult to beat at home and they score a lot of runs. Honestly I just want the Pirates to figure out how to get 1 game in Denver. PLEASE DO NOT GET SWEPT.



San Fran: Yes, they're terrible, yes their season is over and yes they just swept the Pirates in Pittsburgh. So don't take anything for granted, but the Pirates need to find a way to get 2 of 3. Bumgarner will start one of the games, and I realize he's 0-3 but I also expect him to beat the Pirates.



San Diego: Pirates absolutely must get 2 of 3, at a minimum.



Bottom line: I will be pleased with 5-4, and 4-5 might be good enough if the Brewers and Flubs slip up a few times.



If the Pirates can return home 1 game over .500 and less than 5 games out of 1st place, and with a favorable schedule coming up, I think they will be in this thing for the long haul. But they have to survive this trip without losing all of the ground they just made up.

The Pirates are running into the Giants' big three named pitchers: Cain, Bumganer, Samardzija.



Maybe we can trade for Cueto while there?

I will be in San Diego next Friday and will take all the mojo I can muster with me for at least one win!



A vacation and SoCal stadium swing -- SD, LA and ANA.

The Pirates seem to be able to play to the level of their competition. My concern here would be that after playing so well they would revert to their pre-surge days and play horribly in SF and SanDiego (at least).

Cards are putting a beat down on the Cubs today. 11-3, Cards have scored nine runs in the 8th inning, have runners on first and third, no outs, first 11 batters have reached base. They might have to invoke a mercy rule on this one!

4362777E467F64776273160 wrote: I will be in San Diego next Friday and will take all the mojo I can muster with me for at least one win!



A vacation and SoCal stadium swing -- SD, LA and ANA.



We lose that Friday game, you are in deep doodoo on OBN. ;D ;D



Hope you can take your mojo and get us a win. In any case hope you have a great time at the SoCal stadiums and see some exciting baseball.

40484B7C6A4F6867090 wrote: Cards are putting a beat down on the Cubs today. 11-3, Cards have scored nine runs in the 8th inning, have runners on first and third, no outs, first 11 batters have reached base. They might have to invoke a mercy rule on this one!
This is at least the third time this season the Cubs have had the opposition score a huge amount of runs against them in one inning. The Bucs and Brewers each did it prior to the Break. I will probably jinx the Bucs but I am not sold on the Cubs winning the Central.

It's July 21st. Some moves should already be in the works. Sit on your hands and wait on a this road trip and the few possible moves a team like us would even make might be gone

good start for Bucs on offense, need Williams to settle down and pitch well.

Brewers and Cubs have lost. Bucs up 7-3 in 4th and need to keep scoring. Bell already 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs by 4th inning. Nice to have a legit cleanup hitter. Gotta win this. Polanco finally runs hard and pulls a hamstring.