All is Not Lost.

The Pirates are in a bit of a rut, to say the least.  Losing seven games in the middle of a pennant race is not ideal, but still 52 games are on the schedule and a large number of them are against division opponents.  The Pirates are either going to stand up and stop the bleeding and keep the pressure on, or get crushed by their much more powerful rivals.  Either way, they will be able to say they at least had a shot at it.  The team has energized a once baseball ghost town.  They have excited the die hard fans, but more importantly they brought out the Pirates fans in hiding.  Nobody should blame these fans for not showing their true colors over the years. Even for loyal fans, it must be tough sitting through Zach Duke starts, Lloyd McClendon outbursts, and Jason Bay striking out on a 0-2 pitch in the dirt.  A casual fan is staying clear of that. The Pirates have brought out the best in a once proud, "Baseball Town". People are watching games, attending games, and buying merchandise. The internet buzz and radio air time is at an all time high. Everybody has seemingly forgotten the Penguins lost in the first round, and training camp in Latrobe has not brought quite the same stir as it usually brings.   I think people genuinely bought into this team.  They are not doing anything spectacular on a larger scale, but finding themselves in first place in late July was maybe the most compelling sports story Pittsburgh has ever seen.  Eighteen years people, that is an entire lifespan for many young Bucco fans.  This is a big deal.

          This also shows that with a little bit more money spent, that the Pirates can grow and compete with the Penguins and Steelers for attention.  Maybe never reaching those heights, but certainly people won't be counting down the days between the Stanley Cup playoffs and the start of training camp quite as quickly.  I do not think the Pirates will go out and get a Prince Fielder type player, but certainly adding a key player in his prime rather is more possible than ever.  I doubt that we will see many more Lyle Overbay, Jeromy Burnitz and Matt Morris type signings.  But guys like Jeff Francouer, Jason Kubel, and Michael Cuddyer could be much better options than Garrett Jones, Steve Pearce and Matt Diaz.  These guys are out there. And they could really help the offense.  Cuddyer is having a great year(.301 BA, 18 HR, 61 RBI, and .494 Slugging).  Kubel is also a stable bat is batting .307 this season. Francouer is having a career year(.271 14 63 .457) is still young, and fits in athletically with the Pirates.  I think adding a bat like that, along with the emergence of Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker could be a great thing for Pittsburgh.  Either way, I think the ownership has seen some very promising things. Pittsburgh still cares about its baseball, and I do not see an outcry if they raise ticket prices.  People will pay for a winner, and the more seats sold, means the more revenue this team has, thus more spending money towards the on-field product.  Pittsburgh has been wise signing aggressively internationally and through over slotting draft picks.  Pittsburgh is adding top of the line college recruits and adding them to the system quickly.  Who knows how many future top three round picks they have received through this aggressive paying style?  It could really play out well in the end.

 The pitching in the lower end of the system is outstanding and a real force to be reckoned with.  Jameson Taillon, Gerrit Cole, and over slot pitcher Colton Cain will be featured in High A ball next year.  That is not even mentioning 16 year old Luis Heredia, and flame thrower Stetson Allie.  The Pirates have just under two weeks to possibly sign second round pick, Josh Bell.  He is believed to have Jason Heyward type skills, as a switch hitter.  If the Pirates manage to pull that one off, it may be the most memorable over signing of a prospect in history.  The upper level of the minor leagues is not rated as highly, but a large amount of younger guys liter the Pirates active roster. McCutchen and Walker have done their part this year, but Tabata and Alvarez have shown inconsistencies in their first "full" professional season.  Injuries have slowed them a bit, but still have not lived up their billing during their healthy stints. But it is still possible that these guys can have the same type of breakout years like the other two young stars.  It is yet to be seen if Alex Presley and Chase d'Arnaud can produce on a consistent basis at this level, but these are two other young guys that have shown spurts of  excitement.  Starling Marte may get a shot at some point next season as well, if not he may be in the mix for a trade in the off season to bring in a legitimate bat or arm.  His value is very high right now however the Pirates chose to use him.   The point being is that the Pirates have athletes and options at this point.  This is something that has not been seen in Pittsburgh for some time.  The Minor Leagues are stocked better than ever, and the Pirates have a core of young talents that are playing together at the same time.
       There is no doubt this team has overachieved, but they also did play well this season. There is a reason for hope next season. These young guys will only get better, these prospects will be a year closer to their debuts, and ownership might take the next step for the Major League squad.  These last few weeks will still be exciting, but the hope is shrinking every day.  Things look bleak through a seven game losing streak, but I don't feel this team is going to run away.  Hurdle is a great manager and is owed a great deal of the success.  He brought in a winning culture, and played aggressively. Has he cost the Pirate games? Yeah, that can easily be argued. But has he won them some games?  No doubt about it, he is the best manager this city has seen since Leyland.  He does not really have any more talent than Tracy,Russell, and McClendon had, but he get more out of them than those aforementioned ever did. A team with Walker, McCutchen, Hanrahan, and Hurdle is a good thing coming back.  There is a distinct possibility Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will not be in the National League Central next season.  The Pirates can and should make a move or two in the off season and give St. Louis and Milwaukee a run for it. They have been this year, with a significantly less talented team.  I would like nothing more to see Hurdle have an extra bat or two, and those two teams missing their franchise players. That would make for an ever more memorable summer in 2012.     The world better not end.