Regarding the Buccos...

[bjf1984]

13 out of 16.......nice!

I really liked this roster coming out of spring training...thought it was significantly better than the last two years.

One thing to keep in mind (and knock on wood):
It was expected that the AAA club in Indianapolis would be able to provide the major league club with INCREDIBLE starting pitching depth.
The expectations were that the starting 5 in Indy would all be quality starting prospects.....Kingham, Cumpton, Sadler, Sampson, and (beginning in June) Taillon.
Kingham and Cumpton are both done for the season with TJ. Taillon is still down in Florida (I believe) working his way back from TJ). Fortunately, both Sadler and Sampson are pitching real well for Indy. But, If injuries hit (along with Locke continuing to be an enigma) the summer depth for the rotation isn't nearly as deep as it woulda/coulda/shoulda been.

All that said......I do think this club can - despite the horrible first month - still catch the Cardinals. I just don't see that Cardinal roster as the 100+ win team they have been playing like the first 2 months.

Sure would be nice to win the division and avoid that WC crapshoot.

 

[fairgambit]

13 out of 16.......nice!
All that said......I do think this club can - despite the horrible first month - still catch the Cardinals. I just don't see that Cardinal roster as the 100+ win team they have been playing like the first 2 months.
Sure would be nice to win the division and avoid that WC crapshoot.

I agree with you. The Cards will come back to the pack and this team is playing like the team many expected them to be going into the season. I think the Pirates win the Division and are good enough to make it to the World Series.

 

[NewYC]

I agree about them catching the cards. They are incredibly resilient, but without Wainwright I just don't see them holding off the bucs this year, especially if the pirates can get anything at all from their 5th starter.

 

[PSU-Knocker]

I agree with you. The Cards will come back to the pack and this team is playing like the team many expected them to be going into the season. I think the Pirates win the Division and are good enough to make it to the World Series.

Just like you predicted all season.

 

[Stargellfan]

13 out of 16.......nice!

I really liked this roster coming out of spring training...thought it was significantly better than the last two years.

One thing to keep in mind (and knock on wood):
It was expected that the AAA club in Indianapolis would be able to provide the major league club with INCREDIBLE starting pitching depth.
The expectations were that the starting 5 in Indy would all be quality starting prospects.....Kingham, Cumpton, Sadler, Sampson, and (beginning in June) Taillon.
Kingham and Cumpton are both done for the season with TJ. Taillon is still down in Florida (I believe) working his way back from TJ). Fortunately, both Sadler and Sampson are pitching real well for Indy. But, If injuries hit (along with Locke continuing to be an enigma) the summer depth for the rotation isn't nearly as deep as it woulda/coulda/shoulda been.

All that said......I do think this club can - despite the horrible first month - still catch the Cardinals. I just don't see that Cardinal roster as the 100+ win team they have been playing like the first 2 months.

Sure would be nice to win the division and avoid that WC crapshoot.

This home stand coming up is really important. They are playing the Brewers, Phillies, and White Sox. This is a good chance to make up some ground on the Cardinals. The Buccos cannot afford a let down this week.

 

[SteveMasters]

This home stand coming up is really important. They are playing the Brewers, Phillies, and White Sox. This is a good chance to make up some ground on the Cardinals. The Buccos cannot afford a let down this week.

The Pirates are playing great baseball right now. I think they have a reasonable chance of catching the Cardinals, but it won't be easy. A 6-2 homestand would be nice, but what is important is for the Pirates to be consistent the rest of the season and for the Cardinals to come back to earth. It is a long season.