In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
Last night’s National League Wild Card game between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks was a fantastic, offense-filled affair. It was a great game, but it might have also served as a sobering reminder for Pittsburgh Pirates fans.
As I sat here and watched the D-Backs and Rockies trade timely hits and home runs, I was reminded just how far away Pittsburgh may in fact be from the level of baseball displayed by these two lineups.
Here at PBD, we are fond of saying that the 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates team had more talent than they displayed for much of the year, whether that be due to circumstances beyond their control or not.
But after watching the Diamondbacks and Rockies lineups, how could one possibly think that?
The Diamondbacks came into the game with perennial MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt in tow, he of the 143 wRC+. He serves as a fantastic centerpiece for any offense, but when you surround him with the likes of J.D. Martinez, Jake Lamb and A.J. Pollock, well, that’s awfully impressive.
Let’s not sell the Colorado Rockies short either, who may have not one but two MVP candidates in their midst.
It's a shame that Blackmon and Arenado are going to split MVP votes, they both are very deserving.
— Jason Rollison (@jrollisonpgh) October 5, 2017
2017 National League batting title winner Charlie Blackmon and the somehow still underrated Nolan Arenado combined for 12.1 fWAR this year. D.J. LeMahieu is a steady presence towards the top of the order, and though the hype may have died around him, Trevor Story has settled in to serving as a consistent power threat. Mark Reynolds was quiet last night, but turned in a very productive season during this, the tail end of his career
These two teams have a staggering amount of talent, and watching the clubs go back and forth in a slugfest last night was a grim reminder that the Pittsburgh Pirates may be further away from contention than we thought.
Especially now that these two clubs may be sticking around as contenders in their own right.
Baseball Talk on the Web
- The 10-day disabled list was used 21 percent more than the 15-day DL this season.
- Mike Oz takes a look at the most hateable team in the MLB playoffs.
- Toronto declined a mutual option on Jose Bautista, making him a free agent.
Subscribe To Pirates Breakdown Radio
Our podcast feed has been reborn as Pirates Breakdown Radio. On one singular feed, you will find a variety of shows, interviews, quick hits and much more. All designed to keep Pittsburgh Pirates fans informed and entertained no matter where they are.
We are on all the major podcast platforms, including iTunes and Google Play. So whether or not you have an Android or an iPhone/iPad, click on the corresponding button below to get subscribed!
Download Our Mobile Apps
The introduction of our new FREE Mobile Apps gets fans closer to their favorite Pittsburgh Pirates coverage than ever before. Click here to learn about some of the features of our new app – or, if you just can’t wait, click the corresponding app store for your device and grab your copy now.
Thanks for checking us out here at Pirates Breakdown. Please make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook for the best Pirates coverage all year long!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
