I get this reoccurring dream about once a year. It happens right around this time. Its weird and its nothing like I've ever seen before, at least in my lifetime. Its a Pirates game, but not like any I've been too. There is a full stadium, but Steve Miller Band and Fireworks are not the attraction. Its cold out, the calender reads October. Now I know this all sounds crazy, but it gets stranger yet. People are excited, waving towels and cheering. Its almost a parallel universe. But through all the strangeness, I like it. I want it, it feels real, and it feels right. Right as I begin to enjoy the moment, I wake up, and the dream goes away and reality sets in. The Pirates realistically have no chance to win the World Series, let alone playoffs, or even play a game with meaning past this month.
THE DREAM.
The dream is that some day the Pirates are going to dig themselves out of their grave. That somehow, they get lucky enough to make the right draft picks, have prospects that pan out, and that management is not forced into trading away stars. I like the core of Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, and Jose Tabata. How could you not? I mean they are all bona fide budding super stars. The dream is that this quartet can grow into something like say a Howard,Utley,Rollins,Victorino type thing. The dream also has our 3 highly rated pitching prospects actually make something of their career, and the stingy Pirate management actually pays to keep players, and pays to bring players in. The dream is that one day my reoccurring dream becomes reality. Playoff Baseball in PNC Park.
THE HOPE
Well this pertains to realistic people. We can not make the playoffs this year. We simply are not capable of that type of thing. The hope is that they take the right step. Hurdle seems like a guy that knows what he is doing. Not pushovers like Russell and Tracy, and not a Nut like McClendon. He is a savvy Baseball mind, that is calm and cool, but not afraid to get out there and argue with some passion. I think you probably could have insulted John Russell to his face, and he would have trouble getting excited about it. I see a #winning fire out of Hurdle. My hope is that he can be patient, and not press this team. He's been around winners and he knows this is not one. But hopefully, and most likely he hopes that the "Core Four" stays together and continues to takes strides forward. My hope is that Meek and Hanrahan continue their path towards being dominant relievers. And that some of these Altoona and Indy pitchers become legitimate starters in the MLB. And I don't want to forget about some of these guys on the current roster. McDonald can be a factor. But like I said, this is a realistic prediction. I hope they can win 75 games this year at least. Anything more would be gravy.
THE REALITY
Let's be honest with ourselves here. I can sugar coat all the crap they always feed us. But as Pirate fans, we know better. We've seen this same charade with different players. While we have a lot of young promising players(like always) We still have those same Has Beens and Never Was'. Lyle Overbay, Matt Diaz, Keven Correia.....Sean Casey, Jeromy Burnitz, Matt Morris. I mean its comical that they sign these guys and hope we can be happy. They've been doing the same thing for 18 seasons. Things can not always be this way, but Do you see them changing anytime soon?
No comments:
Post a Comment