LETS GO BUCS !

[jeemie]

Reports say late July-early August now.

[MJG75]

Raise it! Bae with the 3 run walk off homer!
Let's go Bucs!

[jeemie]

I know this is a Pirates thread, but I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention my utter amazement at the Tampa Bay Rays, who are 12-0 and have won their games by an average of 5.4 runs!

Now that is some early season dominance!

[MJG75]

I'm a little late but Raise it!! Bae with 2 amazing grabs to keep the Cards off the scoreboard!!

[jeemie]

What a performance by Oviedo!

Now can we score some runs, please? Give this kid the win!

To think, if JT Brubaker hadn't gone on the IL, we wouldn't have seen Oviedo in the rotation.

[jeemie]

Cutch with the first leadoff two run home run in Pirates' history (trying to decide if starting extras with a man on base is a rule I like or not).

I'm not gonna let this team suck me in because at the end of the day they still have too many holes.

But there are a number of potentially really good players on the team, and more coming from the minors. And since they are going to add Dylan Crews to that mix in the draft...

...starting pitching is still the Achilles heel, however. Keller and Oviedo have been pleasant surprises, but that rotation is awful in general.

[MJG75]

Cutch comes through for us in the 10th!

This is a fun team to watch right now. True about the rotation but man this is fun for a change. A lot of good young players with more soon on the way.

[jeemie]

Would be more fun if we saw more of Marcano, much much less of Suwinski and absolutely none of Mathias.

[MJG75]

Would be more fun if we saw more of Marcano, much much less of Suwinski and absolutely none of Mathias.

We may get our wish as Marcano was just brought up to take Choi's place, who went on 10 day IL. Suwinski needs to work stuff out and Mathias is garbage, like VanMeter last season.

Contreras also looked pretty good yesterday. Our SP might not be as bad as thought but we'll have to see if they can get some consistency, other than Keller who looks like a solid #2 in a good rotation but is our best and most consistent starter so far in this young season.

[jeemie]

Crowe…you blow.

Lol!

[MJG75]

I think Suwinski may have figured things out. Getting good pitching, fielding, and hitting right now. Raise it, baby! A sweep would be nice especially after we failed to win the winnable series vs. the Cards. Let's go, Bucs!

[MJG75]

Raise it with the broom! Man, just love watching this team play. Let's bring it home! The Lumber Co. returns! Oviedo with another gem. Let's see if Contreras can come out and show some stuff tomorrow night. Let's go Bucs!

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Will they win more in April than they did in all of 2020? (19)

[jeemie]

Best start since 2002?

Wow.

(Of course, in 2002, they finished 72-89).

[MJG75]

Best start since 2002?

Wow.

(Of course, in 2002, they finished 72-89).

Yes, but it also means their start is better than their last 3 playoff teams (13-15). But I get you. We can talk when 2-3 months in, it's their best start since 92. But hell, I'm thoroughly enjoying this ride! 2 Homer's early, solid starting pitching and back end pitching, and a highlight reel DP to help preserve the victory. After the past 7 years, I'll take it! Let's go Bucs!

[jeemie]

And they win again.

14-7 now.

[MJG75]

And they win again.

14-7 now.

Hell yeah! Keller with another gem (no-no until the 5th), Joe is on fire, both at the plate and flashing the leather in RF! We had 'em allll the way! And...best start since 1992. Let's go Bucs!

[MJG75]

Hill with another gutsy performance and the pen with more shutdown innings. That pen is nasty, gentlemen. Let's get the brooms out this afternoon! Let's go Bucs!

[MJG75]

Raise it, baby, for the sweep!!! Renegade with the shutdown, but VelaQ pitched a 7 inning gem, with Holderman nailing down the 8th! Jack Suwinski with the 2 out double to score Santana, who hustled big time on the play, for the insurance run bottom 8th!! We had 'em alllll the way! 7 straight! Brooms out!
Let's go, Bucs!

[jeemie]

Pirates record is second only to Tampa right now.

Better bookmark this.

Big test now with Los Angeles up next.

[Pabst]

Big test now with Los Angeles up next.

Series with LA, Washington, Tampa, and Toronto upcoming.

With the obvious exception of the Nats, those are three very good teams.

Keep it up, young Bucs.

[jeemie]

https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/play ... OcEkVlnhUQ

This article captures my opinion right now.

I do not in any ways believe the Pirates are actual contenders for the World Series. Still too many question marks about the pitching IMO.

But…for a change, an entertaining summer is very much in prospect, and contending for the last wild card is not out of the question.

The bottom still might fall out…these series with the Dodgers, Rays and Blue Jays will go a long way in letting us know this.

If they aren’t even in these games? Then yes, a reversion to the 90-100 loss Pirates could be in order.

If they stay competitive…even if they don’t win many of them…then they will stick around and be pesky.

My opinion.

[jeemie]

And a nice look at the Pirates' massive offensive improvement thus far this year.

https://www.mlb.com/news/most-improved- ... icle-share

Probably this isn't sustainable but who knows?

[Dan Smith--BYU]

They actually gave Reynolds a big extension:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/362 ... -extension

[jeemie]

They actually gave Reynolds a big extension:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/362 ... -extension

If he hits somewhere back to his average (neither his torrid start nor his mini-slump now are where he usually is) , that is a steal of a contract.

Especially since there's only six teams he can block a trade to, and he doesn't have an opt-out.

[Ice]

Well, we appear competitive, at least.

[jeemie]

Bad time for Holderman to implode.

Inauspicious start to a tough stretch...

[SteelPro]

https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/play ... OcEkVlnhUQ

This article captures my opinion right now.

I do not in any ways believe the Pirates are actual contenders for the World Series. Still too many question marks about the pitching IMO.

But…for a change, an entertaining summer is very much in prospect, and contending for the last wild card is not out of the question.

The bottom still might fall out…these series with the Dodgers, Rays and Blue Jays will go a long way in letting us know this.

If they aren’t even in these games? Then yes, a reversion to the 90-100 loss Pirates could be in order.

If they stay competitive…even if they don’t win many of them…then they will stick around and be pesky.

My opinion.

Honestly.. I expected them to be much improved this year. Not playoff bound, but potentially a .500 team.

[MJG75]

Raise it! We had the big bad Dodgers alllll the way!! Let's go Bucs! Take the series tomorrow!

[MJG75]

Well, we appear competitive, at least.

First place. We are very competitive. Let's go!