.500

Please let me begin by saying that I consider myself one of the biggest Pirates fans in Pittsburgh.  Quite often I find myself telling my fellow Pittsburghers that the Pirates are my favorite team in Pittsburgh (aside from the Duquesne Dukes but that’s another story for another day).  With that said I am so sick of hearing about how excited the city is that the Pirates are chasing .500, in May, 34 games into a 162 game season. 

As I said, I love the Pirates and more specifically I love this Pirates team.  There is plenty of reason for optimism with the young talent both at the major league level and in the minors.  Local boy Neil Walker appears to be a legitimate major leaguer.  Jose Tabata has cooled off after a torrid start but he was at one point the top ranked prospect of the New York Yankees.  Last years first round pick and 5.25 million dollar teenager Jameson Taillon has made 3 solid starts and has shown why he was taken # 2 overall.  And new manager Clint Hurdle certainly seems to have started to change the culture in the locker room.

However, with 128 games remaining in the season we shouldn’t start planning the World Series parade (or even the parade that I’m sure will be thrown when the Bucs do finish above .500).  Attendance at PNC Park is up and sports talk radio is buzzing with yinzer wanting to talk Pittsburgh Pirates baseball which is odd for any time of year but especially odd that baseball talk was more prevalent than the recent NFL draft.  But as the long season progresses and the pitching staff starts pitching more consistent with their skill and the young players start to tire, the losses will start piling up.  May 8^th and .500 will be a distant memory.  PNC Park will be empty, aside from Skyblast and Neil Walker bobblehead night.  All the “Pirates fans” will call the radio shows and want to talk about all things Steelers. 

One of these years will be the year these Buccos turn it around. 

It’s not this year. 

Do you agree or disagree?  Let’s hear your take.