Let's go Bucs!!! (famous, capita, capital)

[Rocket88]

The Bucs did good job of closing the gap before the All Star Break. Remember though, the Cards still hold the lead and as you saw are tough to beat even with the injuries. The Bucs are going to have to play just as well in the second half to win the division. As an aside, it would behoove the national TV networks to quit worrying about the Yankees and the Red Sox and get the Pirates vs. Cards on as much as possible. These two teams have the best records in baseball and nearly every game that they play is a barn burner.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by that412

Because that late July 2013 series against the Cardinals, the 2013 Wild Card game, two wins in the 2013 NLDS, the Brewers series last September, etc. never happened.

The Pirates have won literally dozens of "big games" over the past two seasons.

Dozens? None of what you described has resulted in dozens of big games.

Buctober was short lived the last 2 years and was 4 innings last year after they choked for the division when the Brewers all but handed it to them.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Rocket88

The Bucs did good job of closing the gap before the All Star Break. Remember though, the Cards still hold the lead and as you saw are tough to beat even with the injuries. The Bucs are going to have to play just as well in the second half to win the division. As an aside, it would behoove the national TV networks to quit worrying about the Yankees and the Red Sox and get the Pirates vs. Cards on as much as possible. These two teams have the best records in baseball and nearly every game that they play is a barn burner.

The majority would rather see Yankees and Sox and $$$ talks.

It is a pleasure listening to ESPN over Brown, Walk and Wehner. I'd take that every game.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by Rocket88

The Bucs did good job of closing the gap before the All Star Break. Remember though, the Cards still hold the lead and as you saw are tough to beat even with the injuries. The Bucs are going to have to play just as well in the second half to win the division. As an aside, it would behoove the national TV networks to quit worrying about the Yankees and the Red Sox and get the Pirates vs. Cards on as much as possible. These two teams have the best records in baseball and nearly every game that they play is a barn burner.

Schedule going forward heavily favors the Cards (10+ more home games, many more games vs sub-.500 opponents). It would be unreasonable to expect better than the .700+ ball the Bucs have played over the past two months that they'd need to overtake the Cards, regardless who they add to the roster. So it would seem, short of a complete Cards collapse, that it's the WC game again, even if they get 96-98 wins.

However, what these two games did mean in that context is that Bucs know they can win if the starters keep them in the game (which was something Volquez and the pen failed to do last year).

[erieguy]

Cards will make significant move/s at the deadline. Bucs won't.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by erieguy

The majority would rather see Yankees and Sox and $$$ talks.

It is a pleasure listening to ESPN over Brown, Walk and Wehner. I'd take that every game.

The NY/Bos markets are larger. But that's about it.

As to listening to ESPN, if announcers not getting names right, not understanding a damned thing about players tendencies or histories and ignoring the game for lengthy periods of time to discuss esoteric/inane things amongst themselves is your cup of tea, you're welcome to it.

Even in light of Brown's often-annoying homerism and overexcitability, I found the ESPN coverage to be horrific and gimmicky. Fox did a significantly better job on Saturday.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by sskink

The NY/Bos markets are larger. But that's about it.

As to listening to ESPN, if announcers not getting names right, not understanding a damned thing about players tendencies or histories and ignoring the game for lengthy periods of time to discuss esoteric/inane things amongst themselves is your cup of tea, you're welcome to it.

Even in light of Brown's often-annoying homerism and overexcitability, I found the ESPN coverage to be horrific and gimmicky. Fox did a significantly better job on Saturday.

Bigger and more $$$. Hence the majority.

Nothing wrong with Fox either...but the Bucs homer/cheerleader announcers are ridiculous, and Brown is the worst. Just call the game.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Cards will make significant move/s at the deadline. Bucs won't.

We'll see. I do think Cards will address 1b. Maybe even with Ike Davis. Maybe they add to the pen with Clippard or similar to replace Walden. But I doubt they do much more than that given they'll be adding Garcia back to the rotation soon, along with Holliday and Jay. It's possible they add another starter if they feel Wacha and Martinez will fade when they close in on 200 IP. But let's remember the real reason they added Lackey was the minimum salary for 2015.

However, that doesn't change the fact that the 2nd half schedule is already stacked significantly to their advantage. That's not making an excuse. Even the best teams in history do worse on the road and vs .500+ competition, which is basically what the Bucs have ahead of them.

At the moment, I see Bucs going about 39-35 in 2nd half. More than enough to retain the 1st WC spot, even if the Cubs go out and load up with Price or whomever.

Gotta win in April and May too.

[that412]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Dozens? None of what you described has resulted in dozens of big games.

Buctober was short lived the last 2 years and was 4 innings last year after they choked for the division when the Brewers all but handed it to them.

How on earth is a series before the All-Star break "learning to win big games" but winning actual playoff games isn't?

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by that412

How on earth is a series before the All-Star break "learning to win big games" but winning actual playoff games isn't?

Once again, in your desperation to put down the Pirates, you've talked yourself into a corner and made yourself look like a fool. I do applaud your persistence, though.

They didn't choke and they came back. I'm certainly not the only one who thought these were big games. There's only been what 13 or 14 sellouts this year and these were 4 of them I believe...and they need the division. I see them losing another WC game.

Once again, I don't see where your description of dozens exists.