The annual trip

I haven’t been to PNC Park since August 7 of last year. That was the night that Pedro Alvarez hit his dramatic walkoff homer against the Rockies to cap an unlikely 10-inning win. Even in the euphoria surrounding that unlikely win, the Pirates were headed towards an ugly, ugly finish to the 2010 season and everyone in the park that night knew it. Eleven months later, I’m heading back for what will probably be my only trip to PNC in 2011. These Pirates are two games above .500 and could, with a win today, be within a half game of first place in the NL Central.

I’ve never been to a game at PNC Park that truly meant something. I’ve been to games with electric atmospheres, like the Pedro game last year or the Rob Mackowiak double-header or any of a number of home openers, but it’s not quite the same thing. Lots of teams play meaningful baseball in July and it’s fair to argue that by extension the games are, on the whole, not all that meaningful, but this is something new for the Pirates and Pirate fans. 

Paul Maholm pitches for the Bucs today against Brett Myers. If the Pirates are serious about staying in contention, the Astros are a team that they simply have to beat. First pitch today is at 1:35. I’m heading straight on the road back to North Carolina after the game and I won’t be home until late, but once I get back to NC I’ll be back on a more regular posting schedule.