*Pulls up last week's article*
*Control + C*
*Starts writing this week's article*
*Control + V*
What do you do after completing a four game sweep over the Brewers in Milwaukee for the first time in franchise history? Well, you obviously drop the ball three straight games in Chicago to the Cubs. Then you get the home stand off on a sour note by laying a goose egg in the opener to Milwaukee, wasting an outstanding Jameson Taillon start (6 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 1 ER). It's like the Pirates have recently had carbon copies of every or every other week in the past month or so. They get on a roll for a series or two and sit on the brink of entering the playoff picture, but they then have a series or two like the one they had in Chicago where they just couldn't manage to eek out even one win. Granted, they played some pretty solid baseball those three games. They got solid starts from Steven Brault, who filled in for the injured Gerrit Cole, Chad Kuhl, and Ryan Vogelsong, but the Cubs' stellar pitching staff proved too difficult for the Bucs' bats.
The Pirates' fan base did get some answers however. They learned that Cole's recent struggles may be attributed to the elbow discomfort that he reported to the coaching staff after his last start that also landed him on the Disabled List yet again this year. This is a great example of a situation in which Clint Hurdle and his men can a page out of Mike Tomlin and the Steelers' playbook because their 'next man up' mentality is extremely fitting and applicable with the Pirates' rotation now. If this ball club has any hope of making the playoffs, they will need help from the roster expansion this month and any minor leaguer that can step up and shove for a start or two.
This week has given me optimism for the future of this team because we are starting to see what this team will be able to do when most of its pieces are working fluidly together. Josh Bell's patience at the plate has been nothing short of remarkable for such a young player. He has proven that he can take a clutch walk when a base hit might do more damage, understanding that he doesn't need to be the hero in late inning plate appearances. His defensive abilities still need some work, but I am confident he will be a defensive upgrade from Pedro Alvarez, the worst defensive first baseman in the league in 2015. Somehow, the Pirates managed to win 98 games despite that crutch. Either way, I still like the Pirates' chances to be a playoff team this year and in years to come. They have lots of young talent that is just waiting to break through and figured out just how good they are.
