The Biggest Week of the Year.....I Mean Last Two Decades.

            I am in the "lost generation" of being a Pittsburgh Baseball fan. I am like many others that have been born in the late 1980's and early 90's. We have never, ever seen a good baseball team. We have never really tasted playoff baseball. October is Football season. The night Sid Bream literally and figuratively ended the Pirates success, I was 1 year, 11 months, and 10 days old. As much as I try to remember that infamous night in October of '92, I can't. I was too young to know what it was like. I was not able to taste what winning baseball was like. All I know is that it happened. All any of us know is that the Pirates were fun to watch in the early 90's. They had some marvelous teams in the 1970's, and they pulled off the greatest upset in baseball history in 1960. I know this all happened, and it is wonderful. But what does that do for me? I am just a mere member of the "lost generation." I hear stories of Roberto Clemente,Willie Stargell, and Barry Bonds, but I only know the visions of Derek Bell, Jeromy Burnitz, and Raul Mondesi.

           The reality of postseason baseball is still a dream to me. It can not and will not be a reality until that day comes. Nevertheless, the Pirates are in contention 101 games into the season.  Contention? Actually more like serious players. The Pirates are in the front of the Wild Card race, and sit only three games back in the division, despite the Reds seemingly never losing a game. This is the closest thing to meaningful baseball I have ever come across. This is getting fun to watch.  This is not the 2011 "cool we're not in last for a few months!!" feeling, no this is the "Holy Hell the Pirates might be able to pull this thing off" feeling. The week of July 30th-August 5th will be the biggest week of my, OUR baseball watching lives. These six games mean more to the Pirates than any six games have meant to them in 20 years. The Pirates season and staying power will be tested in these next seven days. The six games will say plenty about the 25 players and Clint Hurdle, but the next two days will say a lot about the management, and how far both parties have come.
         The Pirates are right there. Jerry Meals did not blow a call. Andrew McCutchen is not fading away. Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez, and Garrett Jones are hitting the baseball. Brad Lincoln,Jason Grilli, and Joel Hanrahan are saving the games. AJ Burnett is pitching like an ace. Wandy Rodriguez is here, not Ryan Ludwick. There are so many reasons to point out that this is 2012, not 2011 all over again. This team is better. This division is weaker. The Pirates can make a serious play moving forward. The deadline is Tuesday, and it will be the last chance for the Bucs to improve their inconsistent offense. They need a bat, and they need it badly. Neal Huntington's smart moves sometimes are overlooked, but he has made some good ones recently. He needs to try to pull off another one.

           The Pirates are coming off a rather poor week. The 4-3 record against the Cubs and Astros was not anything to write home about. They played poorly and were lucky to even win four games this week. They need to step it up this week. The three games with the Cubs in Wrigley Field are equally as important as the three with the Reds.  The Pirates can no longer play around with struggling teams. The Pirates can not play a dud and go into Cincinnati down 4-5 games. The team understands the giant collapse if 2011 can not happen again, but it is time to put the talk away and let the actions be known. They hold a lot of their fate in their own hands. It is time to prove this team can compete for a full season. The "lost generation" needs it. The rest of Pittsburgh needs it, and the team needs it.