Turning Point? Please?

Gotta show love for Rick Chandler today.

In Deadspin's MLB Closer, Rick asks:


Wouldn't it be ironic — in a fun, cosmic sort of way — if the turning point for the Pittsburgh Pirates' franchise came on Tuesday night? It was the first time since 1960 that the New York Yankees had played in Pittsburgh, when, as you surely recall, Bill Mazeroski won Game 7 of the World Series with one of the most dramatic walkoff homers in baseball history. The Pirates celebrated that day 48 years ago with another win on Tuesday; 12-5, featuring 19 hits and homers by Jose Bautista and Ryan Doumit.


In light of last night's drubbing of the Yanks, the question seems fit. Pat at WHYGAVS admits that the win feels like more than just a win...maybe not season-changing, but special enough. We've suffered through a stretch of losing baseball rarely seen in the MLB. One more year of this bullshit, and we tie the Phillies, yes, the 10,000+ loss Phillies, for the record of 16 consecutive losing seasons. So why couldn't last night be the turning point?

I'm a relatively young guy, but I've been blessed to see the Pens win multiple Stanley Cups and the Steelers get that one for the thumb. I'm not predicting a World Series win in the near future, but damn it I wanna see it happen. Now, we need much smaller goals at this point...win streaks, .500 baseball, consistent pitching...but the goal of every team should be to win it all.

We entered last night's game with the worst interleague record in history, and fittingly, were playing the team with the best interleague record in history. I'm not going to pretend the fans of the Buccos know anything about the MLB playoffs thanks to the string of sucktitude, but beating the Yanks the way we did last night felt awesome.

I've told you about the group of people who gather in NYC to watch the Pens games before. Myself and a good number of the same people do the same for Buccos games. Since I've moved to New York, I haven't been able to watch as much baseball as I would like, what with starting new jobs and all. But last night, one guy summed up what we were all feeling when he said, "If we win tonight, this is our World Series." There's no better way to say it. The Buccos won a playoff game (in our minds, at least). We showed that our offense is legit, if at least for one night. Why can't this be the 15-year-old spark needed?

To be honest, I really don't know where I'm going with this post. The Pirates played awesome, a bunch of us actually felt good watching a Pirates game, Rick asked a similar question to what we were all thinking in a Manhattan pub on a Tuesday night, and I really want nothing more than to see that little bit of success duplicated.

So come on, Buccos. End our suffering, please? Build off last nights win.




(Disclaimer: This post sucks and I know it. Direct hate mail to psampmail@gmail.com)

Can You Find The Error?

(Click for larger view)

Can you spot the error on this boxscore from mlb.com?

...

That's right. No Muresan on the visiting team.

I'll let you know what Billy Crystal does, seeing as how he's leading off the bottom of the first.

UPDATE: Crystal struck out on what should be his only AB of the game. Paul Maholm got lucky.

Ummmm...Who Is This Guy?

I understand that the Pirates are a laughingstock, but old losers are more of a laughingstock in my book.

And my book rules. You'd totally buy my book if I published it.

Billy Crystal tomorrow.

Sign Gheorghe Muresan

In light of the Yankees signing Billy Crystal to play against Pittsburgh on Thursday, I'm pleading the Pirates organization to make a splash themselves.

Sign Gheorghe Muresan.

I know the Pirates front office hasn't listened to the fans in, oh, 15+ years, but now is the time to hear our voice. In Muresan's case, we'd at least get a former athlete rather than his fellow My Giant headliner, better known as the guy who brought us Analyze That.

We only need him for like a one-day contract. I'm not saying to invest an entire season on Muresan's rock-solid knees. Just enough to intimidate the hell outta the Yanks.

If Crystal lights up the Buccos, I will give up my undying allegiance to the team.

Never Forget

Political feelings aside, this was one of the most expressive displays as to why sports can be such a healing aspect in our lives.

We will never forget what happened 6 years ago. My prayers and thoughts are with everyone who lost loved ones on that horrible day.

Bay's Awesome Catch Helps Buccos Win 2nd Straight Interleague Series

This. Is. No. Typo.

The Buccos beat the ChiSox 8-7 yesterday, behind an unbelievable catch by left fielder Jason Bay.

It all seemed like a classic Pirates failure. Slugger Jim Thome walks to the plate in the top of the 9th. 2 batters were on, and Thome represented the go-ahead run. Thome smacked a ball to deep left, and Bay gave chase. Feeling for the wall with his right hand, Bay lept and pulled a go-ahead homer back into play. The runner at 3rd tagged and scored, but Bay minimized the damage. Matt Capps finished the inning to close the series-clinching game.

My reaction. "Holy Sh...!"

With the win, the Buccos have now taken 2 of 3 from the Rangers and the ChiSox. Sure, both teams aren't in the upper echelon of the American League, but the Bucs will take any interleague win they can get.

Hopefully, these 2 series wins will provide some momentum, as the team now plays their final 2 interleague series against the hot Mariners and the Angels. Clearly, these 2 teams are much better than the last 2 opponents.

Although the team was swept by the Yankees last weekend, the Buccos have rallied to turn an early 0-3 interleague hole into a more-respectable 4-5 push. As I've said in the past, I'm just hoping the team can manage 1 win in both series against Seattle and Los Angeles (or Anaheim, or Anaheim of Los Angeles or whatever they're calling the Angels this year.) Milwaukee lost yesterday, thanks to a walk-off dinger by the Twins (take that, Prince Fielder and your inside-the-park-homer). The Buccos are only 8 games back of the Brew-Crew, so whatever momentum gained from yesterday could really boost the team's fortunes as they close out the '07 interleague schedule. Hopefully. This poll (above) on the Pirates' homepage shows, despite the annual awful play of the Buccos, that fans still aren't ready to throw in the towel just yet.

BREAKING NEWS: Bullington Leaves Game With Shoulder Discomfort

These are not words that Pittsburgh fans needed to hear.

The freshly swept Buccos needed no more bad news. Alex Rodriguez hit 2 homers today, finishing off a sweep of the Pirates at Yankee Stadium. Over in Indianapolis, one of the team's top prospects, Bryan Bullington, left today's game after pitching one inning.

Bullington's line was indicative that something was wrong. He allowed 2 walks, a double and a run on 24 pitches. Half of those were strikes.

After Bullington left with shoulder discomfort, the Indians managed 3 runs, but lost 4-3 to Charlotte. Bullington (9-3), after giving up the early run, recorded the loss.

PSaMP hopes that discomfort in the extent of the injury.

Nady Well Enough to DH

Xavier Nady's tight left hammy might be healed enough to let Bucco DH in the upcoming interleague showdown with the Yankees. Jim Tracy isn't even stopping there, and said Nady could even return to the field if he feels well enough, allowing Ryan Doumit to DH.

The Buccos could use Nady's bat, so the upcoming 15-game interleague stretch might be a blessing in disguise (I say this very timidly). The Buccos have never done well in interleague games.

They are 52-84 overall since the leagues began crisscrossing in 1997, and that includes 10 opposition sweeps in 46 series and a 19-46 mark in American League parks.

Nady won't have to rush back from his injury, and a DH role can help his hammy heal. I mean, Doumit's stats as a DH in the last 2 years of interleague play are terrible. 6-33, .182, no homers, 4 RBIs. Nady can DH, instead of possibly re-injuring his hammy in the field, and put a fresh Pirate bat into a foreign position.

But its up to the entire team to turn the horrible interleague record around. The Buccos always seem to be in the same position at this point every year. Somewhere between 5-10 games back of the NL Central leader, with no clear team willing to be the Central frontrunner. Interleague comes along, and the Buccos decide to stink it up...again.

The promises of April seem to turn into the realities of May. June and interleague bring the night terrors that eventually decimate the team. July through September is then soured by the roster expansion, and the experimental 9-man rosters that resemble D-II college teams.

Matt Capps' almost-certain suspension will not help a damn thing. His suspension (from the Prince Fielder incident, now 5 weeks old) will not be overturned, and the team will be without one of its best relievers for 4 games. Capps will pitch against the Yanks, but Salomon Torres will still have to (possibly) close 4 games against either the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners or Los Angeles Angels. Including New York, the Buccos are 9-23 against their upcoming AL opposition.

Gorzo (6-3 2.53 ERA) takes the mound against Andy Pettitte (3-4 2.96 ERA) tonight at Yankee Stadium.

Torres to Return as Closer

Most Pirates fans should be questioning their loyalty to the team after reading that headline. Torres is coming back as closer after what, 2 games? And in those two games, Salomon gave up a lead-changing 2-run shot to Andre Ethier. Why then, is Torres replacing Matt Capps in the closer role?

Don't get your panties in a bunch, Sally. Its a part-time deal. Remember when Capps was ejected for plunking Prince Fielder on the arm? He was subsequently suspended for 4 games. Capps has his suspension-appeal-hearing this weekend, and Torres will replace Capps during the appeal and suspension process. That means Torres, who has been shaky all season, will be called upon to pitch against the Yankees.

Now I know the Yankees of today aren't the Yankees of, say, 7-8 years ago. Paul O'Neill is nowhere to be found. But let us look at The Buccos interleague stats from last year. The Pirates sported a 3-12 record, with a .269 team batting average and a 5.47 ERA. Interleague usually spells doom for the Buccos, so I don't care if the team is playing the Devil Rays, Yankees or BoSox. The bottom line is, the Pirates hardly stand a chance against the American League, no matter the team being played.

At least Torres hasn't regained the entire closer role. I think Capps can do a good job as closer. I mean, he's been really the only Pirate player to show any life/excitement this season. Throwing at Fielder, Capps was asserting his ability to throw inside, no matter who is up at the plate. Not many other Buccos have shown that much life this season. Seriously, are teams intimidated by a roster that includes Jack Wilson, Don Kelly, Humberto Cota (who was just designated for assignment, finally) and Nate McLouth?

Hopefully the Pirates can hold their own against the struggling Yankees. If Pittsburgh can win 2 of 3, and basically tread water while Capps sits out (since I doubt the suspension will get overturned), then the team knows it has a viable option to close out games for the rest of the season.