In our Daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
Two Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to claw their way back into the thick of the National League playoff picture, but treading water in the way that the club is at the current moment is not conducive to that goal.
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Take last night’s game as an example. The Pirates wasted a quality start from Ivan Nova by scratching across just four hits against Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray. Ray has some plus-qualities to his game, but the offensive ineptitude on display was disconcerting.
The loss also speaks to the crowded National League playoff field, with the Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies taking huge strides towards remaining in the postseason picture.
There have been little victories here and there – Andrew McCutchen is starting to heat up; Jameson Taillon is working his way back; Adam Frazier and Josh Harrison form a potent duo at the top of the lineup.
But, none of that matters if the team cannot make headway, especially in winnable games. Things don’t get any easier as the calendar flips to June. The season’s third month sees almost all of the team’s games against quality teams, with road trips against the Mets, Orioles, Brewers and Cardinals. A mid-month homestand is full of tough games versus the Cubs and Rockies.
The Pittsburgh Pirates simply cannot let winnable games such as last night’s slip through their grasp. At the very least, they need to mount more of a challenge than four hits against a mid-level starting pitcher.
Until the team can do that on a consistent basis, they will be doing nothing but treading water, which gives the appearance of progress without it actually being present.
Baseball Talk On the Web
- John Perrotto has a nice little tidbit on McCutchen’s body language after the walk-off.
- Our own Alex Stumpf wraps up his Fangraphs residency with a look at one of the most tired adages in hitting.
- In a blow to baseball and fantasy teams everywhere (your author included), Mike Trout is headed to the DL.
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