With the Pirates taking two of three from the Red Sox and still on a four-of-five roll even with Sunday’s loss, there’s been a lot of focus on things like the Bucs’ schedule after this Toronto series, the Brewers’ schedule leading into the break, and things like the trade deadline. It’s incredible and it feels good that it’s almost July and we can actually have these conversations unironically about the Pirates, but it’s also true that the Wall works both ways.
There’s a lot that can happen to any baseball team in a week, especially an overachieving one that’s teetering on the edge of contention and .500. I wonder if the specter of the big week at PNC against Baltimore and Boston had anything to do with the disaster in Cleveland ten days ago, and now I’m wondering if the chance to rack up some wins against the Nats and Astros won’t have this team gazing a bit past what should be a tough series in Toronto.
For the fans, though, I think the easiest way to be disappointed by a team that shouldn’t be disappointing anyone is to start looking ahead. Enjoy this game for what it is; worry about the Nationals on Friday and the Astros on Monday and if we’re still talking .500 and contention in 10 days, so much the better.
Tonight’s interleague lineup features Alex Presley in left and leading off, Lyle Overbay and Garrett Jones in their customary positions, and Matt Diaz at DH. I’d be a bit more worried about Jones and Overbay and the lack of, say, Brandon Wood at DH against the lefty Jo-Jo Reyes tonight, except that Reyes has a bit of a reverse platoon split. Kevin Correia will attempt to continue his road warrior act in another country for the Buccos.
First pitch tonight is at 7:07. I assume it’s because Canada is in a time zone that is offset from us by two minutes, but I haven’t looked that up.
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