The race to the top

[blackmax]

I now think we have a serious chance.

[Woobie]

It's in the bag. Baltimore isn't this bad.

[81omar]

   Im still not going to start celebrating just yet,the Orioles have 24 games left vs the Rays,Yankees or Red Sox while we have zero games left vs a team that good. They have a 9 game stretch Aug 31-Sept 8 thats 3 three game series vs each of those teams. If we have the lead on them at the end of play on Sept 8th I'll start claiming victory. In that same stretch we have 6 vs Cubs and Nationals so thats going to be a critical 9 day period....so don't start celebrating yet,the Orioles could Jim Joyce our season right there.

[SpacePirate]

   Im still not going to start celebrating just yet,the Orioles have 24 games left vs the Rays,Yankees or Red Sox while we have zero games left vs a team that good. They have a 9 game stretch Aug 31-Sept 8 thats 3 three game series vs each of those teams. If we have the lead on them at the end of play on Sept 8th I'll start claiming victory. In that same stretch we have 6 vs Cubs and Nationals so thats going to be a critical 9 day period....so don't start celebrating yet,the Orioles could Jim Joyce our season right there.

True, Ocho Uno Omar, but I'm starting to really believe it is a two-team race for Rendon.  While I would much rather have Rendon, Purke and/or Gerrit Cole aren't bad consolation prizes.  At least this isn't a Strasburg and nobody else situation -- there are potentially several gamechangers in the top 5 next year.  Keep playing Church, NH!

[Wiffleball Hero]

   Im still not going to start celebrating just yet,the Orioles have 24 games left vs the Rays,Yankees or Red Sox while we have zero games left vs a team that good. They have a 9 game stretch Aug 31-Sept 8 thats 3 three game series vs each of those teams. If we have the lead on them at the end of play on Sept 8th I'll start claiming victory. In that same stretch we have 6 vs Cubs and Nationals so thats going to be a critical 9 day period....so don't start celebrating yet,the Orioles could Jim Joyce our season right there.

Impeccable logic, until you consider that to the Pirates, every opponent is like the Rays, Yankees or Red Sox.  Balt. is on the verge of sweeping Texas; the same team who swept Los Piratas.  The only teams that look beatable are Philadelphia and Chicago--and that's a grand total of three games.

Anybody who is optimistic about the Pirates right now is either taking some sort of strong medication or is named Pollyanna.

[TarentumTwin]

As already noted, if Baltimore holds on (3-1 lead in top of 8th), we'll only be one game back in the Rendon sweepstakes.

This team's only strength, the bullpen, has blown two leads, and lost two games, consecutively heading into the A-S break.  That the offense is so putrid puts a strain on the pitchers.  They've got to be perfect and throw shutouts to have a reasonable chance to win.

This team is a #1 SP, C (Doumit is faltering and his eventual replacement has a broken face), SS, power bat at 1B or RF, and a manager away from being decent. 

Unless Nutting, Coonelly, Neal & Co. decide to open their pocketbooks and sign Brandon Webb, Victor Martinez, Christian Guzman, Adam Dunn/Carl Crawford/Jayson Werth, etc., then we might as well hope for #1 overall picks and hope to hit on them repeatedly.

[GoBucs21]

   Im still not going to start celebrating just yet,the Orioles have 24 games left vs the Rays,Yankees or Red Sox while we have zero games left vs a team that good. They have a 9 game stretch Aug 31-Sept 8 thats 3 three game series vs each of those teams. If we have the lead on them at the end of play on Sept 8th I'll start claiming victory. In that same stretch we have 6 vs Cubs and Nationals so thats going to be a critical 9 day period....so don't start celebrating yet,the Orioles could Jim Joyce our season right there.

I won't celebrate until the guy is drafted and signed.  The last time we had a chance to get an impact hitter in the draft, when we drafted just ahead of the O's, we ended up taking a lefty set up reliever.

[The Great Goemon]

   Im still not going to start celebrating just yet,the Orioles have 24 games left vs the Rays,Yankees or Red Sox while we have zero games left vs a team that good. They have a 9 game stretch Aug 31-Sept 8 thats 3 three game series vs each of those teams. If we have the lead on them at the end of play on Sept 8th I'll start claiming victory. In that same stretch we have 6 vs Cubs and Nationals so thats going to be a critical 9 day period....so don't start celebrating yet,the Orioles could Jim Joyce our season right there.

I won't celebrate until the guy is drafted and signed.  The last time we had a chance to get an impact hitter in the draft, when we drafted just ahead of the O's, we ended up taking a lefty set up reliever.

Pretty sure we won't be taking a reliever this time.

[Tintin]

We're playing .500 at home.  We've got a ton of home games coming up.  I see a huge surge coming for us.

[markson33]

I agree with Tintin.  We're playing at home a lot to start the second half.  Tabata, Pedro, Lincoln & Walker will only improve.  Our rotation almost can not be worse than they were in the first half.

I think we will be better in the second half of the season.  At the same time, Baltimore has to play that AL East.

I don't think we will be in that #1 position for the draft.

[WTM]

I agree with Tintin.  We're playing at home a lot to start the second half.  Tabata, Pedro, Lincoln & Walker will only improve.  Our rotation almost can not be worse than they were in the first half.

I think we will be better in the second half of the season.  At the same time, Baltimore has to play that AL East.

I don't think we will be in that #1 position for the draft.

We have John Russell.

And Ryan Church.

[Xiga]

I also think things will be better in the second half. Cutch, Jones, and Doumit all have been slumping for a while, and this is coming at the same time in which they're breaking in Alvarez, Tabata, and Walker. For a while the starting pitching also was on a terrible run, although it's been better the last couple weeks. In my eyes, it's a given that McCutchen, Jones, and Doumit will get hot again. Alvarez is already getting hot. I expect Tabata to start getting hits. Walker's actually been pretty decent but I think he could do a little better too. The point is, I expect the offense to really pick up in the coming weeks. The starting pitching is far from good, but with Ohlendorf, Maholm, and Lincoln, I think each of those guys will give them a chance to win more often than not. The bullpen, this weekend notwithstanding, has been reliable. Not only will the Pirates not finish last, I bet they'll also catch another handful of teams in the standings.

[GoBucs21]

I agree with Tintin.  We're playing at home a lot to start the second half.  Tabata, Pedro, Lincoln & Walker will only improve.  Our rotation almost can not be worse than they were in the first half.

I think we will be better in the second half of the season.  At the same time, Baltimore has to play that AL East.

I don't think we will be in that #1 position for the draft.

We have John Russell.

And Ryan Church.

Knowing that they may be are best bet to get the first pick, sucks the life out of getting the first pick.

[thegreatchris]

I agree with Tintin.  We're playing at home a lot to start the second half.  Tabata, Pedro, Lincoln & Walker will only improve.  Our rotation almost can not be worse than they were in the first half.

I think we will be better in the second half of the season.  At the same time, Baltimore has to play that AL East.

I don't think we will be in that #1 position for the draft.

We have John Russell.

And Ryan Church.

Knowing that they may be are best bet to get the first pick, sucks the life out of getting the first pick.

And you thought going for the #1 pick was going to be fun? There's nothing sexy about losing 100 games.

[SteadyFreddy_12]

I also think things will be better in the second half. Cutch, Jones, and Doumit all have been slumping for a while, and this is coming at the same time in which they're breaking in Alvarez, Tabata, and Walker. For a while the starting pitching also was on a terrible run, although it's been better the last couple weeks. In my eyes, it's a given that McCutchen, Jones, and Doumit will get hot again. Alvarez is already getting hot. I expect Tabata to start getting hits. Walker's actually been pretty decent but I think he could do a little better too. The point is, I expect the offense to really pick up in the coming weeks. The starting pitching is far from good, but with Ohlendorf, Maholm, and Lincoln, I think each of those guys will give them a chance to win more often than not. The bullpen, this weekend notwithstanding, has been reliable. Not only will the Pirates not finish last, I bet they'll also catch another handful of teams in the standings.

I agree with this as well that once this young  lineup settles more in they will start to gel more and the wins will come. The bottom line is whether people want the Pirates to lose because of Rendon or not this continuing losing just cannot keep going on here guys. This team has got to show progress and some sign of life that they are making progress and hopefully that they are ready to take another step next year when they all have a full year under their belt. You do not want to keep subjecting this young core group of players to losing baseball it has got to be better and it's got to improve sooner rather then later...