Originally posted by John OsmarAh, so it's swagger vs. enthusiasm...
Your Reds have swagger, while my Pirates have enthusiasm. Swagger usually grinds down enthusiasm in a baseball season. But I do think it will still be a 3-team race in September if the Pirate closer stops walking batters.
Except that baseball usually comes down to who has the better pitching and better hitting.
1 edit
Originally posted by John OsmarThe Pirates have certainly played well and have some excellent young players; Andrew McCutchen is developing into one of the best all around players in baseball. But they are still the Pirates and I'll believe they'll be in a September pennant race when I see it. In 2011, they were tied for first place in the NL Central as late as July 25th and then went 19-43 over the rest of the season and finished 24 games out. They've had similar collapses in the second half over the last 20 years. I won't be shocked if this team breaks the 20 year below .500 drought, but I don't think they'll be in the race in September.
Your Reds have swagger, while my Pirates have enthusiasm. Swagger usually grinds down enthusiasm in a baseball season. But I do think it will still be a 3-team race in September if the Pirate closer stops walking batters.
The second half starts with a bang; on a night when Joey Votto couldn't hit and Brandon Phillips couldn't field, the Reds rally to beat the archrival Cardinals with the Cuban Missile striking out the side in the 9th tossing 101 MPH gas and a few nasty sliders. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, journeyman Cody Ransom unloads a 400 foot bomb for a grand slam in the 8th to break a tie and give the Brew Crew a win over the Pirates. The eventual World Series champs are now tied for first with the Pirates and 2 1/2 in front of the Cards. They're on the Fox Game of the Week at 4 PM today.
Originally posted by sh76Na, I think alot has to do with just staying healthy. Both the Reds and Pirates have been lucky in this department. Small market teams must do this to try and be competitive.
Ah, so it's swagger vs. enthusiasm...
Except that baseball usually comes down to who has the better pitching and better hitting.
