Posted on 09/24/2013 11:46:16 AM PDT by smoothsailing
CHICAGO -- Twenty-one years ago, Mike LaValliere didn't get his man. Monday night, Russell Martin got his -- and as a direct result, the Pirates riffed on Andrew McCutchen's vow, "I'm playing for October."
The Bucs will be playing in October. They confirmed their reservation with a 2-1 win over the Cubs on Starling Marte's ninth-inning homer, coupled with Washington's loss in St. Louis. When, where and against whom yet to be determined -- with the hunt for a division title still alive.
But go crazy, Pittsburgh. Your Pirates have brought postseason baseball back to its early '90s home, to where the Allegheny and the Monongahela merge to form the Ohio.
"This has been a great run," McCutchen said between sprays of the "Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee" bubbly, "and it's great that we get to continue."
"At the beginning of the year, the only people who believed in the Pittsburgh Pirates were the Pittsburgh Pirates," said Neil Walker, the hometown hero. "We got ourselves an opportunity now, and that's all we can ask for."....
(Excerpt) Read more at mlb.mlb.com ...
Wish the Rangers kept him instead of that cokehead we're stuck with.
The way it’s looking, the Pirates may have more wins in October than the Steelers.
Having been born in the midwest, the Cards and Cubs were my rootin' teams.
But having been in PA for a long time, and after the McGwire/Sosa era, the venality of it all made me pretty much a non-fan.
But started following the Pirates a few years ago - when they still *sucked* - precisely because I'd heard they were trying to keep the absurd salary situation under control AND build from within their farm system.
It was like a big breath of fresh air then, win or lose, and has proven a real treat this year, regardless the outcome of playoffs, etc !
ps : Gotta give a big thumbs to Root Sports for their excellent tv coverage .. they don’t talk ya to death .. and Steve Glass is the best of the bunch for ‘color’ coverage, with Walk and Tekulve doing yeoman’s work as well !
It has been a cruel month for the Rangers.
I like the way the Pirates play, they have fun and they really want to win.
We’ve been to 4 home games this year, and many more since the new ballpark opened in 2001. Each time we go it’s like a brand new adventure. The magic never wears off!
Blass, Walk, Tekulve, all Pirates pitchers! Those guys know Pittsburgh and they know the Pirates! They are my favorites of all the announcers.
I threw mostly sidearm back in the Bronze Age, so always thought Teke was pretty kewl !
What happens, though, is that when the young players reach arbitration or free agency, it's tough to replace them.
What's amazing about the Cardinals is that there's been almost a complete turnover from the 2006 team (except for Wainwright and Yadi).
The winning years have helped bring steady attendance of 3M each year, which allows the club to take on some big contracts, but if they didn't have all those young arms and Matt Carpenter, it would be tough to keep winning. The stream of talent from the minors is crucial.
I hope the Pirates keep doing what they're doing. It's great to have a Central rival that plays solid baseball, has great fans, and respects the game. And to echo what others have said about Hurdle, he's a pretty darn good manager.
I think you'll like the link below, it rounds out your thoughtful post about the Pirates and how they've been getting themselves on the right track.
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