On one hand, I know that September games between eliminated teams are all but glorified spring training contests. On the other hand, I’d still rather see the Pirates hit the ball hard and rack up some wins than see them not do it, even if the results don’t mean much. About a week ago, I would’ve thought that use of the term “high note” in conjunction with any part of the Pirates’ 2010 season would’ve been inappropriate, but the Pirates did in fact manage to close down PNC Park on such a note. Seven wins in their final nine games, including series wins over the Cardinals and Astros. Life breathed into the bats of Pedro Alvarez and Andrew McCutchen. Good starts from all different kinds of pitchers. That’s the kind of stuff that’s always great to see.
Of course we still have to deal with the mystery of the Pirates and PNC Park. They’ve now won 40, 40, and 39 games at PNC in three years in which they won 55-60 (my estimate), 62, and 67 games total. Sure, PNC provides some shelter for lefties like Zach Duke and Paul Maholm and sure the big left-center gap lets Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata run all day and sure Pedro Alvarez can stand at home plate and bomb away at the Clemente Wall, but the difference that the Pirates showed at home and on the road this year was just ludicrous. John Russell (or whoever) and Neal Huntington (or whoever) should probably put some thought this winter on if this enormous split is something they can do something about.
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