Pirates... I'm done with you

Seriously... you had no blogger more on your side than me. At least a blogger who is NOT a Pirates fan.



But on July 19, the Pirates were in first place by themselves and a full week above .500.



They just had to play mediocre baseball the rest of the way and they'd cruise to a winning season.



Since then?



They are 5-17.

That is .227 baseball.



If they played at that pace for the whole season, they would finish 36-126.

That would be the worst team in baseball history.



In other words since their apex, they've played baseball at a pace that would be historically bad.



So Pirates, when you start playing better than the 1962 Mets, give me a call.

Until then, I am through with you!

The low point for the Giants

If you are a Giants fan you better HOPE this is the low point.

On July 28th, the Defending World Champions took 2 of 3 from the Phillies IN Philadelphia. They opened up a 4 game lead on the Diamondbacks, who were a nice story but let's face it, didn't have the legs to contend deep in the season.

The Giants added Carlos Beltran and the West was all but clinched.

Since then? The Giants have lost 10 of 13 games including 2 to the Pirates who couldn't beat a Tee Ball team in the last few weeks.

The Diamondbacks haven't exactly been world beaters. They have gone 7-5, right around the same winning pace that I would have expected.

But here we sit... in Mid August... and the Diamondbacks are in first place and the Giants are out of the playoff picture.

Indeed if the Playoffs Started Today... the Phillies and Diamondbacks would match up and the Brewers would have home field over the Braves.

In the promos for the Showtime series about the Giants, there is a clip of Brian Wilson on the golf course saying "Mark it down. Repeat."

Ironically if the playoffs started now, that's what the Giants would be doing... playing golf.

And the Diamondbacks don't have to do this for the long haul. They have 45 games left. A team get get hot in a 45 game spurt. When a team is in first place all by themselves with 45 left, then guess what? They are a legit contender.

Now if you have no dog in the fight, you might think that rooting for the Diamondbacks is the right thing to do. A low budget club with lots of young talent is what people should want in the post season.

But, as I said in one of the Sully Baseball videos, the Giants have a unique opportunity to become one of the true marquee franchises in baseball. A fun, more relaxed alternative to the rough and not so friendly Red Sox and Yankees domination. And it would be a shame to see them be a one year wonder.

The Giants have the day off and the Diamondbacks are playing the minor league team that plays in Houston. So in all probability, the Giants will start Friday's game in Florida a full game back.

Let's see what you are made of. Defend that title.

Two inert objects collide

Both the Giants and the Pirates have been stumbling.

The Giants have lost their last three series, including a sweep by the Reds, and allowed the Diamondbacks to have realistic playoff hopes.



Meanwhile the Pirates have dropped 10 in a row and turned their surprising playoff run and reenergized fan base into a collective screaming of "When do Steelers preseason games start?"



So a pair of slugs collided at AT&T Park and somehow the Pirates of all teams came to play.



And with Jonathan Sanchez pitching Game 3 of the series, the Giants had BETTER win tomorrow!



The Pirates have circumvented Lincecum and Cain... meanwhile the Giants had better send a nice big fat fruit basket to the Astros and the Dodgers for keeping the Diamondbacks at bay.



Arizona is tied in the loss column with the Giants.

The Giants are three in the loss column behind the Brewers for the honor of avoiding the Phillies in the Division Series.



Hey World Champs... you are Giants, but right now sleeping Giants.

If you nap too long you might be playing golf while the pennant goes through Arizona.

Forget winning the Division... will the Pirates win another GAME?

Look, the Pirates winning the NL Central was always a bit of a long shot. Even on July 19th when they were in first place by themselves, the chances of them holding on to that lead were slim.

But even the most realistic Pirate fan would have had a hard time imagining this fiasco.

They've lost 10 of their past 11 games. Yeah that included some tight games, including the 19 inning fiasco. But they've only one once since then.

And win loss records don't reflect close games. Just wins and losses.

Since they went on this brutal stretch against the Cardinals, Braves and Phillies, the home series against the lowly Cubs and Padres were supposed to be a chance to catch their breath and pick up a few wins before heading to San Francisco.

Well they were swept by the Cubs and are in danger of being swept by the Padres.

Pirates... you NEED to get back on track. A lot of positives have been achieved this year. Fans have shown up. There was excitement for a bit and even some optimism.

But guess what? The Steelers are practicing now. You know, the team that made it to the SUPER BOWL last year. The team that won the Damn Super Bowl a few years ago and a few years before that!

You have Pittsburgh's attention but PNC Park could be empty in September unless you start putting some W's on the board.

The Bucs are 4 games under .500 now.
They have 50 games left.

In order to go 82-80, a winning season to get the whole "longest streak of losing seasons in North American History" crap off their backs, they need to go 28-22 the rest of the way.

Not asking for the moon.
It starts tomorrow.
It's the freaking Padres.

Win a game.

Pirates... Indians... get your game in gear

For a while I was weighing the pros and cons of a Pirates - Indians World Series... two football cities without a lot to root for in the world of baseball were in first place.

Two teams were ready to spit in the face of anyone who says that low revenue franchises can't compete.

On July 20th, the Indians were tied for first place with the Tigers. That same day the Pirates were 1/2 a game behind the Brewers but actually ahead of Milwaukee in the loss column.

Since then?

The Indians have lost 8 out of 11.
The Pirates have dropped 10 out of 13.

The Indians are at break even .500.
The Pirates wish they were there, lagging at one game under .500.

What in the name of Tris Speaker and Honus Wagner is going on here?
Both teams have made trades to improve themselves and they are losing... a lot.

OK, maybe my World Series fantasy was a bit rash. But please! You can't have a season like this and finish sub .500! NOTHING positive can come with a losing season.

Let's see some winning!
(Except for tonight. Lose tonight, Indians. The Red Sox need the win first.)

Ryan Ludwick and The Right Stuff

There's a great moment in The Right Stuff that I thought about when I heard the Pirates dealt for Ryan Ludwick today.

When Alan Shepard climbed into the capsule, getting ready to be the first American into space, he saw there was a hand written sign placed on the capsule. It read "No Handball Playing In This Area." Shepard saw it was placed there by John Glenn as a joke.

It was a lame joke and Shepard pointed that out to his rival. He thought Glenn was too squeaky clean not one of the boys.

Glenn for a moment is disappointed that his attempt at humor was rejected but then Shepard says "But I do appreciate it John. I surely do." And they share a bond at that moment that was real and warmer than anything they had up until that part of the movie.

And it was the moment where all the animosity between the two ended. They had a common goal that was greater than their many differences. At that moment they were only compatriots.

It's a great moment in a great movie.

So what the hell does that have to do with Ryan Ludwick being picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates?

OK, in my analogy, John Glenn is the Pirates organization and Alan Shepard represents the Pirates fans. And the lame handball joke? That's the trade for Ryan Ludwick.

Is it a difference maker?

No.

Will he lead the Pirates to the playoffs?

Probably not.

Will it be a forgotten move in a few weeks?

Probably.

But Pirate fans see the team TRYING to improve for the stretch run instead of shipping off the players that are any good.

That's Shepard saying to Glenn "I do appreciate it. I surely do."

For the first time in a long time, the Pirates are trying. They are giving a damn. And the team isn't just pocketing the revenue sharing.

It's a change in culture.

It's the right stuff.

Watch the clip below... at 17:20 of the clip is the scene I am talking about.

And rent The Right Stuff. What the hell is the matter with you?

This is a huge day for the Pirates

The culture in Pittsburgh baseball just had an enormous rumbling last night.
Derrek Lee was acquired by the Pirates. It cost the team a Single A first baseman named Aaron Baker.

Do you understand how significant this is?
Lee may or may not be a factor and that doesn't matter. For more than a decade and a half, the trading deadline in Pittsburgh meant graduation for the quality players on their roster.

If you were a good Pirate, they were going to trade your butt at the deadline.

Not this year. At least for one season, the Pirates are NOT a Quadruple A farm team to be picked apart by July 31st vulture contenders.

Clint Hurdle may have won the Manager of the Year award with this trade. Why?

Because for one season at least, the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates were BUYERS!!!

As soul crushing series go, that wasn't so bad for the Pirates

When a team loses a 19 inning game, it is heart breaking.

When they lose a game based on a horrible call that sparked a national controversy, then that can be agonizing.

When that team is fighting to stay near first place, it can be cruel.

And when that team is trying to change the culture of nearly two decades of sub .500 ball, there's a lot of reason to think that could be the turning point back to Loserville.

Now throw on the fact that the very next night after the 19 inning marathon, the lost ANOTHER extra inning game, then maybe you'd assume that Cinderella's carriage was turning back into a pumpkin.

But take a step back.

Don't focus on the two losses and see that they won the first game and tonight's game.

OK, show of hands, Pirates fans. How many of you would have taken a split of the 4 game series against the Braves IN Atlanta?

I am expecting a lot of hands up.

The Pirates whom everyone predicted would wither in the post All Star Game run against contenders are holding their own.

The only two losses against one of the truly elite teams could have easily gone the other way.

And with the Cardinals dropping their last two to the horrible Astros, the Pirates remain tied for second.

And the Pirates are tied in the loss column with the Brewers for the Division lead.

We are a few days away from it being August, and the Pirates are staying within range of the post season.

Tomorrow is their biggest test. They go to Philadelphia. They will play the VARSITY team of Pennsylvania baseball.

But so far, the Pirates have played half of the most important 20 Pirates games since 1992, and they split those 10 games.

Not bad for a fading team whose spirit should be crushed.

The Pirates and Braves can't go into extras AGAIN, can they?

Last night's goat Jerry Meals is the third base umpire tonight.
Oh PLEASE don't have the game decided on a play at third or an appeal play.

WIPE OFF YOUR GLASSES JERRY!

Hey Jerry Meals

You had better hope the Pirates don't lose the Division by one game.
Here's a tip:

When there is ANY borderline call today, have it go to the Pirates.

Granted, the call you blew wasn't borderline. It made Jim Loyce ruining Armando Galaragga's perfect game look like a reasonable call.

I don't blame Jerry Meals. He made a mistake after crouching behind home plate for 6 hours. We're all human.
But the mistake was a big one and easy to correct.
And if you don't think correcting that mistake is good for baseball, then you are literally insane.

But I've said that already.

Only blithering idiots are against instant replay

If you are offended by the title of this post, keep 2 things in mind:

1) You are only a blithering idiot on the subject of instant replay
2) But on the subject of instant replay I am 100% right and my opponents are 100% wrong.

A wonderful game was planight between Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
19 innings.
Both teams left their guts on the field.
Both teams played like champions.
And the Pirates, playing the most critical stretch of games that they have played since 1992, were wiggling out of jams left and right.

Is THAT what we are going to talk about?
No.

The topic will be home plate umpire Jerry Meals blew a call at home plate to end the game.
It happens.
It's 19 innings into the game. Mistakes happen.

But less than 1 minute after the call was blown, the replay clearly showed the tag was made and the runner was out.

The game went on for more than 6 hours. Are you telling me you can't spend 1 minute to make sure it isn't ended on a mistake?

Are you people who stupidly are against Instant Replay going to say this ending was good for baseball?

Where is the HUMAN element of Daniel McCutchen pitching his brains out but being charged with a loss because an umpire made a mistake?

Where is the HUMAN element of giving the Pirates the loss when they just made a terrific play to possibly end ANOTHER game ending rally?

You've got nothing, opponents of instant replay. NOTHING.
You sound insane.

I'm sure on many other topics you know your stuff.
Give up this argument.

Getting overworked is nothing new to Scott Proctor

The game in Atlanta is in its 19th inning and Scott Proctor is pitching in his 3rd.
And frankly there is no end in sight in this game.

I am sure this long outing make Proctor think "Oh please, you think I am overworked? Did you SEE how Joe Torre used me?"

I hope it goes 30.

THAT'S showing some fight, Pirates

When I saw the Pirates were losing AGAIN today, I was all ready to take them to the woodshed. I was going to trash them for letting themselves get swept at home and allowing the naysayers to be right.

Then lo and behold, a comeback and a 10th inning rally later (along with the Brewers loss to the Giants) and they finished the weekend still tied for first place.

It wasn't the best start to the 20 game stretch to define the season... but the more days they spend in first, the better.

Now will someone explain to me why they pitched to Chase d'Arnaud instead of walking him, forcing the Pirates to bring in a pinch hitter and setting up a potential inning ending double play?

I'm not saying I'm smarter than Tony LaRussa... but the logic of that escaped me.

Well, you are still tied for first place Pirates.
Go to Atlanta. And don't want video from the 1991 nor 1992 NLCS.

Um Pirates... a little urgency?

Well the biggest 20 games in 19 years for the Pirates couldn't have started off worse.

This time the whuppin' took place in the 5th instead of the first, but seriously... if the Pirates want to have a share of first place, it would behoove them to not lose series at home. It would be nice to see Kevin Correia last 5 innings.

Tomorrow afternoon, they will try to salvage a game and some dignity before heading to Atlanta.

Yup, Atlanta. If Pittsburgh is going to slay some demons, you sometimes need to go to the source of the torment.

The Red Sox had a beast to kill and they needed to go through the Bronx to do it.
Maybe they need to go to the place where Francisco Cabrera drove in Sid Bream to get back on track.

OK, it's not EXACTLY where the 1992 NLCS was played. (Fulton County Stadium is leveled and part of Turner Field's parking lot.)

But play with some urgency. Win tomorrow and first place is still in reach.

There's 18 games left of this stretch.
The best you can do is 18-2.

Don't lose focus, Pirates

The biggest 20 game stretch in nearly 20 years for the Pirates got off to a fuzzy start last night. As in 4 runs down before they could even come to bat.
As in 2 first inning home runs.

Yeah, they played them well the rest of the game, but that's a rough way to begin a potential make or break stretch of games.

Regroup.

Have Kevin Correia throw a solid game tomorrow and get back on your feet.
If you need to let up 2 first inning homers, have them be solo shots.
FOCUS!

The 20 biggest games for the Pirates in 19 years

During the All Star break it was standard to look at the Pirates and say "they are a nice story but they will fade in the second half."

Well as we wake up this Friday, the second to last weekend of July and with August just around the corner, the Pirates are still tied for first place.

They played the Astros and won the series.
They had a harder task with the Reds and won the series.
Now they host the Cardinals.

Cincinnati takes on the Braves while the Brewers head off to San Francisco.

All three series are competitive but the Pirates being at home and throwing Maholm, Correia and Morton means they have a good shot at winning this series.

If they can survive this weekend and stay at least tied for first, then things will REALLY get interesting.

They head to Atlanta and Philadelphia and play 2 of the three teams that I think have the best shot of winning the World Series and they'll do it on their turf.

The other of the three potential World Series teams are the Giants. They play them the second week of August.

It's a gauntlet and the next few weeks they won't have a day off until August 11th.
That's a 20 game stretch.

If they can hold their own and go 10-10 or better in that time frame, then this might indeed be a contender.

If not, well then go for the 83 wins and go for the winning season.
Pirates had the day off yesterday. The 20 game stretch to redeem 18 years of losing begins.... NOW!

Some thoughts while doing jury duty

I am currently sitting in the jury waiting room of the Clara Shortridge Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.

My civic duty has called and I have to sit bored out of my skull waiting for my number to be called in a potential criminal case.

They've called for 2 different pools of jurors and so far your pal Sully has been left out of the fun. They have WiFi, but certain sites are banned. Like Facebook and YouTube. But NOT Blogger. So while I wait my chance to try and get out of a trial, I will keep you, my dear readers, up to date.


DODGERS... YOU ARE NOT CONTENDERS!

There is some serious denial in the people calling into the Dodger talk shows in Los Angeles. People are talking about making a deal or two to put them back into contention. REALLY? The pick up of Juan Rivera isn't helping matters.

Even without the extremely odd circumstances regarding this team, they are one of the truly crappy teams in baseball. They are a modest losing streak from the basement of the NL West. Only the Padres, Cubs, Astros, Royals and Orioles are worse than the Dodgers. And what kind of run can they go on against the Giants, Braves and Phillies. Remember those are the teams they are chasing. If they can't catch them, then why build for now?

They are 14 games behind the Giants.
That is TWO WEEKS of games behind the Giants. They only have 11 weeks left and they have to hope the Giants drop the equivalent of 2 weeks of games MORE than the Dodgers.

And they are closer to the Giants than they are to the Braves.

Even without the extreme circumstances of the current Dodger situation, this is a lost season. Add in the misery of payroll and the stench of the entire season, and the Dodgers should break this team up out of mercy. I'm serious. Deal Kemp. Deal Kuroda. Deal Ethier.

Keep Billingsley and Kershaw because they are the foundations of the pitching staff of the future. But trade everything else save for Vin Scully's microphone.

The only people showing up to Dodger games are the die hard fans. Out of MERCY kill this season and let them see the future of the team. Out of DECENCY have the next generation of Dodgers have their growing pains NOW.

The Dodgers will get new management and new hope soon. Give a glimpse of 2012 and beyond and bury 2011 as deeply as possible.


THE PIRATES ARE SHOPPING... HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

Personally I would love to see the Pirates make a run at Carlos Beltran. Seriously, have him pull a "2004 Astros" and play amazingly well for a few months, help the Pirates into the playoffs and pick up a few draft picks when he skedaddles.

It is more likely someone like Conor Jackson will be heading to the Pirates. But even THAT is a change in culture. Usually the end of July is the time for Pirate fans to say good bye to old friends. The fact that a reliever like Koji Uehara could be going TO Pittsburgh is enough to have Clint Hurdle the front runner for Manager of the Year.


BIG MARKET SMALL MARKET...

We will hear the familiar refrains about big market teams swallowing up all the players from small market teams this year... and I bet NOBODY will see the irony that the Pirates are shoppers and the Mets, Cubs and Dodgers are sellers.


HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM

I feel badly for Brad Mills and Ed Wade of the Astros. They truly suck. And the Astros farm system truly sucks. And they have to trade Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers. And they will also probably have to deal Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn.

But with new ownership coming in, they have about as much chance of keeping their jobs as I have replacing Heath Ledger in the next Batman movie.

Even if they make a trade getting all the best prospects in baseball including Bryce Harper, they will be shown the door. And if those trades pan out, whoever the next GM and manager are will reap the benefits and praise. "Man, the team is so much better since Mills and Wade left



All these thoughts are going through my head... as I wait... and wait... and wait for my number to be called.

The Pirates are in first place by themselves... read that sentence again

No ties.
No percentage points.
No "tied in the loss column."

The Pittsburgh Pirates are alone on top of the standings. And guess what? Day after tomorrow it is LATE JULY.

You know, the time when teams make deals to make themselves better for the stretch run?
Usually it is the time when other teams pick apart the dead carcass of the Pirates looking for spare parts.

This year?
They are in first place.

There must be a spare part or two they can acquire.
I'm not talking about Jose Reyes or Ubaldo Jimenez.

But a bat... a reliever...
Just to show their fans ONE YEAR they actually bring a big leaguer into Pittsburgh instead of shipping them out.

Come and savor it, Pirates fans.
Look at the standings.

I wish the US Womens Soccer team all the best but...

I am MUCH more into the Astros/Pirates game.
I want the Pirates to get back into first place.
I have more emotion invested in the Pirates.

And I'm a RED SOX fan.

Hope team USA wins.
I hope Hope Solo becomes the biggest star in the world.
I'll watch the highlights.

GO BUCS!

The First Place Pittsburgh Pirates

Yup.
It's after the All Star Game and the Pirates are in first place... tied with St. Louis yet with fewer losses.

They are contenders. If the playoffs started today, they'd be in a one game playoff with St. Louis. Actually with the Reds come from behind win and Jeff Karstens shutout of Houston, the National League Central has become wonderfully bunched together. 4 teams are within 3 games of first place.

But this is the latest the Pirates have had even a share of first since July 17, 1997. But even that deserves a little asterisk next to it. They were in first place because the 1997 NL Central was so lousy. They had a .500 record in mid July 1997 and still were tied for the top spot.

So this is the best Pirates team since 1992...
First step is first. Change the culture and have a winning season.
If they go 34-37 the rest of the way, they'll finish above .500.

But for right now, take a gander Pirates fans.
It's late in the season... It's 57% over.

And here's what the standings look like.
Savor it.