I won’t harp again here on the laundry list of things that have gone badly for the Bucs since 14 October, 1992. But it has certainly has been almost nothing but misery for the franchise since then. There have been brief glimmers of hope: 1997's ridiculous run. Late summer of 99’s swoon. The Opening of PNC Park. The 1st month of 2003. Mid-June of 2005.
This year, however, up through this past weekend it felt like the most legitimate reason to have faith in the local ballclub around these parts for a very long time. I came into this season in a state of absolute fatalistic dread. But then a weird thing started happening: they were winning ballgames.
For once the Bucs were getting some above average performances, a couple of timely breaks, and were making sound and smart decisions; from the front office, to the manager’s intuitive moves. Although I would have preferred they go for broke and acquire Hunter Pence for this year plus two additional seasons, I was very satisfied with the rental of Derek Lee and Ryan Ludwick. Exactly the infusion of veteran right handed power hitting potential this lineup needed. I was on board. They had me buying in. Hook, line, and sinker.
And then they went out and lost three straight to the worst team in their division. Absolutely disgusting. And depressing. If this is a sign that we are going to be blowing things up in the offseason, and going into spring training next year talking about breaking an onerous burden of 19 straight losing seasons, it will be a miserable state of affairs for everybody. Pro, Anti, or Indifferent, we all want to see that longest stretch of utter futility in all of professional sports end, right?
We have come to far to give up now. This HAS to be the year we finally start to turn things around. Who knows what next year will bring, but for one mother-shining moment, this city really needs a winning baseball team.
I’m not saying this because I’m giving up or jumping off the band wagon. I bitching about it because I’m still here. Pittsburgh Pirates: I JUST CAN’T QUIT YOU. I hope I look back at this as another over-reactionary moment and C-Hurd levels the guys off and gets them back into contention for at least .500, if not the division. Because I am sick as hell of all this losing.
This week has been hell. They were right there and now are reeling. They can still right this ship, but it needs to happen fast.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note I have to assume that Atlanta scout who claimed Charlie was nothing more than a 5th starter is out of baseball as he is clearly an idiot. Kind of like the idiot LA people who claim to watch out for James McDonald. Fools all.
Dog
Dog,
ReplyDeleteHave you looked at Morton's stats since May? He had regressed to 2010 form until last night. How can you decide after one good game which followed about 15 mediocre to bad ones that he isn't a 5th starter?
J-Mac has been up and down all season, nothing to get too excited about. How many times did he get pulled in the 5th inning or before this season?
Morton and McDonald both have the pure stuff to be top of the rotation type guys, but neither has really figured out how to put it all together into a complete package yet.
ReplyDeleteThat is what you get when you keep rolling young starting pitchers year after year. Some develop, some don't, and most likely their best years will be after the period of "organizational control" that this management so highly values.
Well Dog,
ReplyDeleteIf you want to say Morton is better than a #5 starter because of one good outing, then you would have to say that people in LA were right to say beware of McDonald after giving up 3 home runs & 4 runs in 4 innings so far today.
He doesn't look good today. He has left a couple of pitches up. You can't go on one start, even Zach Duke had good starts from time to time.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Morton, look at his overall numbers. He certainly has been inconsistent but overall he has been much better than a number 5 guy. Only a pot stirrer would say otherwise.
Dog
The ORIGINAL pot-stirrer calling other posters pot-stirrers. Funny stuff.
ReplyDeleteOh well, We are losing without Pence, and we saved the Cooperstown-bound prospects.
This train wreck may not ever end.
Dog,
ReplyDeleteHow am I a pot stirrer for for pointing out the truth? He had a horrible month of June and a below average July.
Do you think he would be anything but a 5th starter in the Braves rotation? I don't. Since the comment was by a Braves scout, it is accurate when talking about that team.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't meant for you.
He has the ability to be much more than that. Will he ever get there? Who knows?
Roger,
If yo paid attention yo would see I've been right all along about who the real troublemaker is. No Dale it's not you.
Dog