Notes From a Road Trip

The Pirates are returning from a fairly successful road trip, their longest of the season, and I'm home from mine.   A few weeks ago I broke down the Pirates second half schedule into 4 distinct parts, and they performed better than I expected in the first part.  I missed some of the action against the Cubs and Reds, but here are some of my thoughts on the trending topics.

"The Big Payback" -- I'm fine with no "retribution" for the bean balls.  In my opinion, when you're behind, when you're losing, when you're in second place, when you're the little brother, you don't hit somebody back.  If you open the second or third games of the series by drilling their leadoff hitter, you risk getting McDonald or Burnett ejected -- or even suspended.  If anything, Josh Harrison could have charged the mound instead of yapping, but still, he and McCutchen both, the two guys who got beaned, both homered later in the series.  Here's the thing. You have 6 more games left against the Reds, so save it.  If you win a couple in a row; if you're leading by half a dozen runs late in a game one night; if you've got a relief pitcher you don't mind having suspended for a few days... Hit Joey Votto after he comes back.  Send his ass back to the DL!

"The Stopper" -- A.J. Burnett is fully established as the Ace and the Stopper -- a crucial component of a winning team.  He's ended 2 little losing streaks in the last week alone.  It's not just about being the Ace, the best pitcher on the staff.  You also need to be the Stopper, the guy who prevents a 2-game losing streak from becoming something much worse.  Burnett is 8-0 after a loss and 4-0 after two losses.  

"I'm (not) lovin' it" -- McDonald is still totally struggling. But he actually looked better against Cinci in his most recent start -- limited walks and not a ton of balls hit hard.

"Team Effort" -- No RBIs from Pedro Alvarez or Andrew McCutchen on the whole trip until the end of the last game -- and they still went 6 and 4.  That's a plus, not a minus.  

"Hardware" -- Andrew McCutchen won player of the month again in July, his second consecutive month, establishing himself as the leading MVP candidate in the National League.  He might be the best overall player in baseball.  Burnett is  making a possible Cy Young bid.  He's only had 2 bad starts all season, and continues to win big games in big moments.  We should probably start talking about a Clint Hurdle Manager-of-the-Year possibility as well.

"SeasonTicketsBaby" -- The first post in this weblog announced the arrival of a "new experience" at PNC Park.  How is that situation evolving?  The Pirates are 9-6 since my season tickets started.  They continue to play better than any team in the league since May 25th, and have the best home record in baseball.  They're almost a lock for a winning season, so the goal has been set higher.  They definitely look like a team that will stay competitive into September and maybe into the Fall.  I've sold 15% of my overall tickets, and recovered 33% of my overall price.

Run Differential
Games Over/Under .500
Playoff Pace (90 Wins)

"The Fort" -- Michael McKenry can actually hit.  Let's face it.  He has consistently hit, with power -- but as a back-up player -- all season.  At one point recently he did start 3 out of 4.  He seems to be splitting time now rather than backing up Rod Barajas.  Can he continue to post a .950 OPS and get maybe half or two thirds of the at-bats at catcher?  Why not?  He even hit fifth one night against the Reds. Just like all the other Pirates stats that starting tilting upward around May 25th, this isn't a phase, or a stretch, or a run, it's turned into something consistent.