Pitiful Pirates

Buccos Need to Pull it Together

As most of us know, the Pirates have not had a winning season since 1992. They have set the record for most consecutive losing seasons by a North American professional sports team. They have made poor draft decisions, refused to spend any money, fired multiple managers, and have looked downright atrocious on several occasions.

However, this season looked different. They were in first place at the All-Star break, have a legitimate MVP candidate, were buyers at the trade deadline, and were setting themselves up nicely for a playoff spot.

Then they decided to play like a completely different team. The pitching staff cannot get anyone out anymore and the offense abruptly got cold. The Pirates went from beating the top teams in the National League to losing series against the two worst teams in the division, the Astros and Cubs. Most importantly, they have lost their swag and no longer display the desire to win.

My solution: bench Barmes, Barajas and Gaby Sanchez. They are awful. Start McKenry everyday. Somehow, whether it is starting or coming off the bench, play Josh Harrison everyday (he hustles more than anyone in baseball). Also, Clint Hurdle, the team's manager, needs to get in everyone's face and light a fire under them. If a player does not respond, he knows where the bench is. This season has been too much fun to see them blow it the last two months of the season and not make the playoffs. And if they do not even finish above .500 this year, it will one of the worst collapses in Pirates history.