[caption id="attachment_143" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Photo Courtesy of Joe Robbins - Getty Images"]
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Pittsburgh, the city of champions, of late (19 years) has been the city of poorly played baseball. You can blame it on management, the players, or lack of talent either way the Pirates have stunk. However, the Pirates have started to show signs of turning this trend around in a positive manner. This is the 2nd season in which the Pirates have held the 1st place position in the NL Central mid-season and have slipped majorly. Currently the Pirates sit a few games out of wild-card contention with only 17 games remaining and things not looking good. There is still a great chance the Pirates will at least end the season with a winning record, but is this enough to satisfy fans?
Even though there hasn't been a winning baseball team in Pittsburgh for almost 2 decades have the fans been spoiled by this years exceptional play? The Pirates were the team to beat in June and July as Andrew McCutchen put up staggering numbers leading baseball in almost every offensive category. Pedro Alvarez finally came around and showed what he's capable of power wise. AJ Burnett added much needed leadership to a young and inexperienced pitching staff. Burnett also flirted with multiple no hitters and seemed un-hittable through the 2 month span. The Pirates treated their fans to great performances mid-summer as they boasted the MLB's best home record and were tied with the Yankees in come from behind wins. This summer has given some meaning to the cliché "from worst to first," that is, until now.
The Pirates have found themselves in the same situation as last year when they slid completely out of contention and were swept by some of the worst teams in baseball. This year the Buccos haven't been able to win series since the all-star break and are playing under .500 baseball in the closing months. The Pirates pitching staff is in shambles as players are being shifted in and out of the rotation leaving the starting pitching jobs almost a mystery until game time. Injuries are starting to pile up, which fortunately until now haven't been a problem, errors are a regular part of the Pirates defense, and strikeouts are the norm. Throughout all of these atrocities the Pirates still have a chance to make the post-season with the leagues new 2 wild-card system. If it happens the city of Pittsburgh will catch Pirate fever all over again. If they don't make it but still end with a winning record what kind of feeling will that cast onto the fans?
This Pirates season has been like a roller coaster for the fans, as well as the players, I'm sure but how will it end? On a high, or a low? The schedule proves to be challenging as the Pirates close off the season with 3 against the Reds followed by 3 against the Braves both series at home. These will both be huge series as these are 2 teams competing for the wild-card spot along with the Pirates, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Brewers. With all the excitement of scoreboard watching and hopes of a playoff berth, fans may be disappointed with anything less. However, a winning season here in Pittsburgh should be a sign of promise and celebrated by all fans. No one spends 19 years at the bottom of the league then jumps to the top and wins the World Series. Clint Hurdle has done a good job of putting together a winning team as best he can with what Neil Huntington (GM) has given him. The Pirates much like the Pittsburgh Steelers are attempting to grow from within the organization with players like Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, and Starling Marte, bringing up young players in one organization for their career can be tedious but also well worth it. So if you're a Pirates fan, be patient and know the best is yet to come. Be thankful for all the good baseball you've been able to watch throughout this summer, and finally if the Pirates miss the playoffs but end up with a winning record, I don't care if you're on the couch watching the final game, you should stand up and applaud your Buccos, I know I will be.
Zach Helbling is a senior writer for chatsports.com who writes about Pittsburgh teams including Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. He works full time as a contractor in the Pittsburgh area and can be reached directly at zhelbling@chatsports.com or follow him on twitter @DJZachyzach.
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