Yeah Joe Valeri, on TBS

Check me out (barely) on TBS. Good find, Mike D.

Pirates Playoff Pictures from PNC Park NLDS vs. Cardinals

More Pirates playoff pictures...

We all kept rubbing this guy's Byrd jersey for good luck. Because ... Byrd is the word?

 Plenty of jolly rogers wave in the stands these days.

Huh-huh, 69 homeruns.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

THAT WAS INSANE. Have you ever, EVER, heard a hockey-goalie-taunting-style chant at a baseball game? CUUUUUEEEETOOO CUUUUUEEEEEETOOO. Insanity.

SEE YOU SUNDAY. 

Yeah Buddy

I just got to add 'Pirates Playoff Game at PNC Park' to my calendar. Sick.

Enjoying Final Games from Afar

Wednesday I flew to Seattle for a very good friend's wedding, so I get to enjoy the final Pirates games from the Pacific Time Zone. Saturday and Sunday, the final 2 games of the series (and season) that will determine home field advantage in the one-game Pirates-Reds Wild Card playoff, start at 1pm Eastern ... which means 10am Pacific! 

Two years ago I came out here to visit and got to watch a Steelers-Ravens game at 10am, my first time experiencing East Coast sports from the West Coast. I loved it. Instead of pacing all morning waiting for Garret Cole to take the mound, I can hop right out of bed and into baseball watching mode. No fucking around, just wake up and get right to it. Sunday morning promises to be a religious affair as this historic 2013 season comes to a climax, hopefully concluding with the promise of at least one more game at PNC Park! Ground Chuck, baby! The Cole Train! #LGB

Biggest Series at PNC Park, Again

The biggest series in PNC Park history occurs this weekend as the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds in a 3 game series, the final home games in this historic 2013 season. So, Pixburgh sports fans, step away from your 0-2 Stillers for a few weeks (and God help you if you watch preseason exhibition hockey, I mean, come on). Make sure to indulge in these final 9 (plus post season) Pirates games as the best sports story of the year continues to unfold. Not only do you get a free shirt Friday, fireworks and a concert Saturday, and a scarf on Sunday, but you can witness these 2 Central division opponents square off in an epic battle for playoff position, setting up next weekend's season ending series in Cincinnati. 

Pirates All the Rage

Media outlets all over the information superhighway have focused their spotlights on your Pittsburgh Pirates this week, as they enter September in first place, poised to make the playoffs after 20 losing seasons. Take a look at some of the articles:

• The Sporting News has a great photo gallery called "Pirates Lowlights: Two Decades of Frustration Come to an End"
• Yahoo Sports says "Determined Pirates Press on After Ending 'Streak'"
• Andrew Mccutchen lands on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Yikes.
• Let's hope he doesn't land on the disabled list now, CBS Sports warns. 
• Bleacher Report posted a nice blurb.
• This Sports Illustrated article chronicles 20 of the worst moments over the last two decades.
• USA Today ran a great Marlon Byrd article.
• ForTheWin called the Pirates yesterday's "big winner."
• ESPN's E:60 has aired an Andrew Mccutchen episode.

Dawn of a New Era

I want Pennant Races
NOT Pierogi Races!!

The future of Pirates baseball has officially arrived. Now, technically speaking, even though they reached 81 wins, they could end up 81-82 by finishing the season in a tie for the final Wild Card spot and then lose the 1 game playoff, thus perpetuating the all time world record of futility and general suckiness for another year. But that won't happen.

Well on their way to their first winning season since 1992, your Pixburgh Pirates find themselves not only sitting on 81 wins, but sitting atop the NL Central, 2 games ahead of the Red Birds and three and a half in front of the Red Legs.

Two years ago I bought a 10 game package in July/August, hoping to usher in the new era of Pirates baseball. Last year when they strode into the all-star break like a Clydesdale I bought a prorated full season ticket package for the remaining 40+ home games -- poised, I thought, to finally welcome winning to PNC Park for the first time ... ever. But, as you all know too well, they fell straight in the pooper.

But as the win totals climbed from 55 to 72 to 79 over those years, this franchise started to taste success. Now, they hadn't devoured it. They didn't even really bite into it. Even to say they tasted success takes a stretch of the imagination. Let's say they licked it. After licking success during 2012 (and subsequently vomiting all over themselves), they've finally come all the way around to getting a full taste this year. The Pirates, the Pittsburgh Pirates, have ended their 20 season losing streak and all but guaranteed at least a wild card playoff appearance, leading the division by 2 and the wild card by a stout 11 games.

By the end of the week I will have ponied up over $2,000 to secure my playoff seats for 10 potential home playoff games. Right now they still have 11 home games left in the regular season, and I probably plan to attend all of them. Why not, right? Yes, maybe even the 2 remaining SkyBlast and Fireworks games. The countdown to 81 has ended, and by the time the Bucs return for their final homestand of 2013, they will have officially secured their first winning season in over 20 years. Now begins the countdown to the playoffs. And perhaps -- gasp -- the countdown to November...

So Far, So Good

Even though the Pirates entered last September playing meaningful baseball games, within striking distance of a playoff spot, this year feels entirely different. For one thing, I've become reluctant to sell my tickets. I paid about double for the tickets this year as I did last year, but it hasn't bothered me a bit. Last year, as they collapsed and fell out of contention, I didn't care financially because I had already sold so many and made back two thirds of my initial cost. So I could skip games and not worry about it. I could just say fuck it when they played like garbage over the final 6 weeks.

My spot. Section 107, Row C, Seats 13 & 14

This year I don't really feel like selling any. I want to go to almost every game. Wednesday, it rained all day, and I easily could have skipped, but decided with a friend to go at the last minute. I wanted to see Marlon Byrd's first game. And what did he do? He hit a three run homerun! 

Thursday -- a beautiful night -- I took another friend and we had a great time. Friday, free shirt Friday, I went with a third friend, and we saw a shut out of the first place Cardinals. I have tomorrow's SkyBlast tickets to sell, and someone just texted me after the game to buy them. 120$ in the pocket. And Sunday I will probably go again.

I don't really have anything to say! I haven't posted in awhile because things have gone smoothly. Sure, the Pirates have only played about .500 since the beginning of July, but they still have a share of first place, a strong hold on a playoff spot, and a fantastic home winning percentage.

Free Shirt Friday!

I have great season ticket neighbors to the left of me on the aisle seats. I have the third and fourth seats in from the aisle, in Row C, Section 107 -- near first base. And an older couple, Steve and Sarah, has the full season ticket package for the two seats to the left. So we instantly became pals. They showed me the secret tunnel exit that leads out to the RF entrance, so I don't have to walk back up the crowded stairs to the concourse after the game. Phenomenal. 

Since young adulthood I've aspired to become a season ticket holder (baby) for a winning baseball team. I've done my part so far. The rest remains up to the Bucs. Also, since childhood, I've always wanted to have a place that I could walk into and order "my usual." Back then I always imagined a diner, but these days a bar seems apropos. I go to this place around the corner from my apartment called Lot 17, and I've become friendly with one of the bartenders, Pat. So the other day, I walked over and wanted to sit outside on the patio. I could see Pat through the window, so I just gave him a wave and sat down, hoping he would bring a beer out for me. A moment after sitting down, I hear him call, You want a Magic Hat and a menu, Joe? I have truly become an adult.

Reconsider Your Options

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
The Clash

The Pirates have already sold more tickets this year than they did all of last year. Glad I got mine. Yesterday's 12:35 afternoon game against the last place Florida Marlins saw the second highest 12:35 attendance in PNC Park history. Glad I went. I almost skipped it. I had a meeting at 11:30, which included lunch and ended up lasting until 2 o'clock. I had emailed my second ticket to Andy and he went separately. I checked the game online -- 5th inning, Marlins lead 2-0. Just as I saw this, they scored again, making it 4-0.

Remember, we're talking about the Pittsburgh Pirates, losers of 20 consecutive baseball seasons, the most by any North American professional sports team, ever. 

So... game half over, Pirates trailing by 4, I would have to jump on the bus and get downtown ... might as well just skip this one, right? With season tickets, baby, you can exchange unused tickets for future games -- even after the fact. So I have nothing to lose by skipping this one.

But this is the new PNC experience. As I keep saying, it's become about the pennant race not the pierogie race. Your 2013 Buccos are a different breed. So I started thinking ... what if they come back? It's a reasonable idea. The Pirates bullpen should hold the opponent at 4. If they can get Fernandez out of the game, scoring a few more runs doesn't seem like a monumental task. Maybe I would have something to lose if I skipped this game. Would I regret not having gone if they come back and tie and win in walk-off fashion?

I had to reconsider my options. I texted Andy. OMW get me beer if last call.

By the time I arrived in the 7th, the Pirates had halved the lead, 4-2. Fernandez got the hook, and here comes Chad Qualls out of the bullpen! Yes! Qualls faced 6 Pirate hitters this series, over 2 days, and all 6 of them reached base! The rest of the game unfolded just as I had imagined it could, with a Bucco victory. Not that I predicted it would. But that it could. That's the difference. That's the new experience at PNC Park. 

If you want access to playoff tickets, I suggest you get season tickets, baby.

Smart Food

In conjunction with the Pirates food and beverage / gate policy I've decided to bring my own snacks tonight. Usually I don't buy a lot of food at the park. I love getting the crab fries, but they cost 10 bucks, and you can't get a "small." I love Primanti's, but I'd rather save that for a night out drinking in the South Side rather than outside at the park on a steamy August evening. And for something like a hot dog or burger, it just pains me to pay ballpark prices for mediocre (at best) food. A lot of times I grab a slice of pizza on the way home, after crossing the Clemente bridge into downtown. (Two fifty for a big slice! Great deal, but I have to wait till after the game)

After suffering through a free hot dog last week, I figured why not just grill my own Hebrew National all beef frank before the game tonight? So I had a grilled hot dog with steamed veggies (broccoli and carrots from my garden), and I brought peanuts, cajun sesame sticks, and red grapes with me. 

A Different Environment

Let's Go Bucs, at Rifrafters Campground

Tonight I found a streaming broadcast of the Pirates Cardinals game while I stay holed up in a quaint little cabin in the New River Gorge, West Virginia. Rifrafters campsite has wifi (sweet), which has come in handy while it rained all day (yuck). So I've got a St. Louis broadcast of the game, and I always love hearing the other team's announcers' perspective on the Pirates. The play by play guy just pointed out that the crowd has hung on every pitch tonight, and he commented that it was a different environment -- a new experience if you will -- at PNC Park. They also commented that the three biggest surprises they've seen have been the bullpen, the team's energy, and that "it's a pretty complete ball club."

The Times They Are A-Changing

I think I just spent 7 hours at PNC Park. And most of the time I sat there watching every pitch. And get this. So did everyone else at the stadium! Mindblowing. Have things officially changed? Sure, you can't say you've done much if a series in July represents the biggest series in your ballpark's history -- but still, you can only get there one season, one series, one game at a time. And what a pair of games. What a series so far, with the Bucs taking the first 3 (of 5 total) against the previously first place St. Louis Cardinals on a beautiful, historic, and epic July night in the 4-1-tizzle. 

How about this? During the second game when they played Pirate trivia (or whatever the hell stupid game) with a fan -- you know, the game where you win a hat or wind breaker and then have to choose whether to keep it or take the Mystery Box? In my experience at PNC Park this moment -- this fan trivia game -- is the most exciting point of the night. The box, we have to know what's in that box! Tonight, though, I heard not a ripple, not a rumble, not a remote interest in the mystery box. Nobody gave a damn that the dude got an old school Duck Hunt / Super Mario Brothers classic Nintendo game (phenomenal mystery box prize by the way). People actually waited for the end of the innings to get up and pee or  go stuff their face. No one loitered in the aisles. People got yelled at if they did!

Pirates fans came to see the game. They came to see a pennant race not a pierogi race. Remarkable. You can feel the difference. You can hear it. I met my season ticket neighbors to the left, a nice older couple named Steve and Something I Forget. I can't go the rest of this week and weekend, but I sold my tickets to friends. Steve and his wife said they'll make sure everyone behaves. I even took pictures tonight. Oh, and let's not overlook the fact that I caught a launched hot dog. Pictures to follow.

What a phenomenal crowd. You could feel a buzz at the ballpark (without even drinking). Tremendous seats, too, by the way. Row C rules. 

Did you know that they do actually shoot real hot dogs out of those launchers? Take a look at this rubbery wiener (that I did not eat). It also came with a voucher coupon for a dog if you didn't want to eat that one. I did redeem the coupon and enjoy a red hot with relish, onions, and Heinz ketchup.

All Aboard the Pirate Ship?

As you may know, last year (2012) I bought season tickets for the second half after the Pirates showed they could compete. This blog -- Season Tickets, Baby -- documents a new, changing experience at PNC, a shift in perspective. It hopes to follow a fan base refocusing -- from fireworks and free t-shirts to pennant races and trade acquisitions; from dippin' dots to developing prospects.

I felt satisfied with my purchase last year. I got about a month and a half of good, meaningful games, and I sold enough tickets to make back most of my original cost. But the late season collapse (twice) -- coupled with increased ticket prices this year (seriously?) -- left me convinced I shouldn't re-up my package. My thinking leveled out over the off season, feeling good about Russell Martin, a full year of Wandy, etc, but still didn't think it wise to purchase a package at the beginning of the new year. Why not wait again like last year and see if they demonstrate the ability to compete at a high level consistently?

Now ticket prices have settled down a little bit. No, I'll never get outfield box seats for 12$ a ticket again -- tremendous deal last year -- but it came down from 24$ to 21$. Last year I bought the remaining 45 games -- every home game left -- but right now the full season prorated package only gives you 30 games. I don't know why they don't give the full package, but I actually like it better this way, given the price increase. In other words, I can pay closer to the same overall price, and just get two thirds as many games -- rather than getting the same number of games at a significantly higher cost.

Approaching the midway point this year it sure looks like the Buccos will stay in it. (All of the "Are the Pirates for real this year?" talk started in May, and the team has only improved since.) Of course, it looked that way last year, didn't it? But you can see the obvious differences in this year's team: Russell Martin and Starling Marte; a legitimately powerful Pedro; lock-down, playoff caliber bullpen; an incredibly deep starting rotation; and Andrew McCutchen hasn't fully heated up yet.

The Pirates, on June 28, 2013, reached first place in the NL Central, passing the Cardinals for the best record in all of Major League Baseball, nearing the halfway point in the season. That certainly bodes well. Ruhl well, as we say in the 'Burgh.

Let me consider a few reasons not to buy, though. One, if Tricia starts grad school in the Fall she probably won't attend games with me in September :-(. Two, the Pirates pitching can not sustain this level of run prevention. Three, it's the freakin' Pirates. Three solid reasons, to be sure, but not enough to make the risk outweigh the reward at this point...Let's buy! I think. What do you think?

Cole's Debut Absolutely Tremendous

I've never seen PNC Park so electric for a whole game. I've seen moments like that, but people were hanging on every pitch from Cole tonight. Tremendous. Absolutely awesome. That is exactly what I'm talking about when I'm talking about a new experience at PNC Park. Phenomenal. And he pitches to contact, that's the best part, rather than trying to blow everyone away. Who else throws 98 and pitches to contact?!? Fantastic.

Chicago Thinks Things Have Changed at PNC Park

I wanted to get season tickets last year to witness a change at PNC Park. I want to see the transition from losing to winning baseball. I want to see the ballpark here in Pittsburgh evolve from a place to watch pierogi races to a place to watch pennant races. I want to see this question get answered: is there a new experience at PNC Park?

Well, some of the people at the Chicago Sun-Times seem to think that this change has already taken place. They site examples like signing Andrew McCutchen to a long term deal and signing Jason Grilli this offseason rather than letting him go to a team like the Cubs that offered a little more money. Interesting article...

Discount Pirate Tickets

The Pirates currently have a great discount ticket promotion running! Called 'How Many K's' they took a dollar off of ticket prices for every strike out Pirates pitchers threw over the course of three games last week. They racked up 23 K's, so they took 23$ off the ticket price for lower outfield box seats. So the lower outfield box seats cost 9$ and the second tier just 5$. I bought a pair for Tuesday and a pair for Thursday -- just the kind of price I look to pay when it comes to the Pirates! 

Reconsidering Season Tickets Again Next Year

Down the stretch last season I swore off investing in the season tickets again next year -- because the final third of the season was just so miserable. So many of the games I went to were awful, just miserable baseball games, stacking up losses, giving up tons of runs, diminishing crowds. But. Then I remembered my bottom line. I originally spent 937$ for 2 tickets to about 40 games, lower level, near first base. Very good seats at 12$ a ticket -- 50% off the regular price for those seats. Then I sold a third of my games -- just a third -- and made back $627. So, for selling a third of my tickets, I made back two thirds of my cost. I ended up spending about 300 bucks for 25 games worth of tickets. It brought my total cost down to 6 dollars a ticket -- for what normally costs 24$ + fees.

So I'm facing the same decision as I was last year.. If they are hovering at or above .500 for most of the season, with a chance of contending going into August/September, I do want to be there. The question is this, though. Will I still have an easy time selling my tickets if they don't perform as well in the first half of the season? Should I wait again until June or July to see how things play out? I'd love to replicate the same experience -- invest about $1000, sell a bunch of games, and make back a big chunk of my money. The point being this. If you were going to buy these tickets at face value, and go to 5 games, just 5, for 2 tickets it would cost you $250 (or more with fees). I only ended up spending $300 for about 25 games. So why not? 

The only reason not to is if I'm worried that I won't be able to sell the tickets as easily this year. But here's the thing. The fireworks and other special event games are always sold out, and I will always be able to sell them. Labor Day and July 4th games will be easy to sell no matter what.

I guess the other reason not to buy before the season starts is if there is a strong possibility that they will suck. If they're in 4th place all year, I don't want to go to any games. Maybe one. But that's my whole thing. I absolutely want to go to as many games as possible if they are contending -- but if they suck again, I have zero interest at all. Absolutely none.

The smart thing to do of course would be to wait until halfway again like last year. But if I buy early I can get a better choice of seats. And I can start selling them earlier than last year. Plus I'll have opening day tickets as well. And I'll just get to enjoy all the benefits of being a season ticket holder all year, which is nice -- if, IF, I'm going to go -- IF they don't suck! Jeez I am going in circles again just like last year! You can see why this is a tough call -- it's the freaking Pirates.

EDIT: I now just realized they have raised prices significantly. I guess that means I would have to ask for more when selling them, but there is not the same 50% deal for the Outfield Box seats that I got last year. Last year they were 24 at regular price. They cost 12 for the full season plan -- the only ticket level that was offered at 50% off. This year they are 28 regular price for normal games and even more, 33 bucks, for premium games (which are every Saturday). With the discount they are 22 and 26. That sucks!!! Last year, this tickets cost 24 for FULL PRICE. This year, the premium Saturday games cost 26 WITH the discount. In other words they cost more this year after the season ticket price discount than they did last year at REGULAR cost. That's insane. I mean, if they spend more on players and development, that's fine, I'm ok with that, so we'll see. We'll see.

So, on one hand that makes me want to buy them less. But on the other hand, given that the price has gone UP, it kind of makes MORE sense to buy season tickets -- so I don't end up paying regular price for a dozen games and spending way too much.  Aye yay yay. 

Pirates Strengthen Roster with Wandy and Starling

Things are going so well for the Pirates they were able to move a guy who has won a career best 6 straight starts to the bullpen.

Starling Marte homers
on the first pitch of his major league career

So well, in fact, that top hitting prospect Starling Marte, promoted to the Big Leagues Thursday, hit a homerun on the first pitch he saw as a Pirate.  The first pitch!  You'd think a 23 year old whose never played in the major leagues before, leading off the game no less -- the very first batter of the game -- you'd think he might take a pitch.  Get a feel for things.  Relax for a moment.  Maybe take a deep breath.  Work the count a little.  But if there's one thing Pirates lead off hitters don't do, it's show patience.  Marte took a whack at the first pitch and sent it sailing over the left field wall.  Magical.  You can watch the homerun here.

Speaking of magic, the day before Marte was promoted, General Manager Neal Huntington waved his magic wand and acquired one of the best left handed pitchers in the National League, Wandy Rodriguez, from the Houston Astros.  No, I didn't say Ryan Ludwick.  I said Wandy Rodriguez, a guy who has totaled 10 wins above replacement in the last 2 and a half seasons.  The Pirates already have a right handed, 35 year old starting pitcher making over 10 million dollars, most of which is being paid by a larger revenue club.  Now they have a left handed, 35 year old starting pitcher making over 10 million dollars and being paid mostly by his former team.  

Yes, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who, by the way, have now hit more homeruns this year than all of last year, the Pixburgh Pirates, redheaded step-brother of the Penguins and Steelers, the Pirates currently employ two starting pitchers who make over 10 million dollars.  Earlier this year they signed their best player to a contract that runs through 2018.  They've spent more money on the draft than any other team since 2007.  Should we have seen this on field turnaround coming?  Well, no.  It's not like they have been dumping money into the team for years.  Yes, they did add rather than subtract last year at the deadline, but still, other than the draft spending, this is all new.  This will take some getting used to.  I need to say it again. The Pirates added a good, expensive player at the trade deadline.  And this:  The Pirates top hitting prospect came up and made an immediate impact on the big league club.

And let's not overlook the timing of both of these events.  All season fans and pundits have wondered when Marte, a youngster from the Dominican Republic, would be called up from the minors.  Now, with the acquisition of Rodriguez, also a native of the Dominican, the timing is perfect -- and perhaps not coincidental.  "I'm happy to have another Dominican in the clubhouse," Marte said. "He's a veteran guy and I hope to be able to pick his brain. He can lead me in the right direction." -- reports Tom Singer for MLB.com

So not only are they 14 games over .500, have the third best record in the National League and a 77% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN.  It's not just that they have the leading NL MVP candidate and the best pitching staff in the division.  They're doing it all the right way.  They've acquired and developed talent -- McCutchen, Alvarez, Walker, McDonald.  They've added some of the right veterans -- Burnett, Barajas, Hanrahan, and now Wandy Rodriguez.  They have more players on the way or chips to trade -- Taillon, Cole, Marte, Heredia.  

I made it to 4 games on the last homestand and easily sold the other 2 games.  All is well in Season Ticket Land and I'm looking forward to more home games starting August 6th, a long homestand against the western division...

Season Tickets for the rest of 2012!

Outfield Box, Section 107, Row R, on the aisle

My heart skipped 19 beats -- one for each year of losing -- as I gave my credit card number to Kevin, my Pirates rep dahn at PNC Park. ...Four Four Three Oh... Was I really ready to buy the second half full ticket plan? ...Seven Nine Three Three... 38 Pirate games? ...Six Six Eight One... This was my chance to hang up. Get ready for Steelers training camp. Maybe watch golf. ...Expiration date? ...Three digit security code?

It was done.

Congratulations, Joe...

Oh my God.

We're excited to have you on board for the second half...

Fucking A. Bob Nutting now has my entertainment dollar. A whole lot of my entertainment dollars. I was ready.

I bought in with a 10-game package last year during July, the one successful month of Pirates baseball. It was fun. It was crowded. It was loud. It was Joel Hanrahan saving meaningful games. It was... Major League Baseball. And it mattered (for a month). Ephemeral, yes. And August and September were extremely enervating. Nevertheless, Pirate fans had a taste, and it tasted good.

When you're a kid, your goal is to play in the major leagues. When you're an adult, your goal is to watch the major leagues. But I moved to Pittsburgh in 1996 and there hasn't been real major league baseball here since the Great Barry Bonds roamed left field. I'm not sure if I would call it a plan, or a goal, but I've always wanted to be a season ticket holder for a winning baseball team. But when? Wait until the Pirates start winning and then get on board the next season? No, that would risk missing a magical first winning season. What if it was a 95 win playoff team that came out of nowhere? So maybe try to anticipate a winning season and get on the bandwagon at the beginning? But that wouldn't make sense with the Pirates. You'd risk buying a full season plan for another 65 win season, year after year (after decade).

Phenomenal View of the infield at an outfield price!

For the first half of the 2012 major league baseball season the decision to buy Pirates season tickets weighed heavily on my mind. I'm way (waaaay) over going to PNC Park just to eat footlongs and Boooo as loud as possible. That's only fun when the tickets are free and you only go twice a year. And if you don't care about seeing competitive professional sports.

But I do, and last year, for those 2 weeks in July, that's what I saw. Competitive, professional, sports. So I was ready. I had my entertainment dollars lined up to hand over to Bob Nutting. But was he ready? Are the Pirates ready?

That's the question this blog hopes to answer over the next 3 months. Is there a Brand New Bucco Experience at PNC Park? I'm the next generation of season ticket holders, so I'm about to find out...