Pittsburgh Pirates Run for 81 is real.

I know what you were thinking, "First, Mike and Ike of chewy fruit filled candy fame break up, and now there has not been a Show Speak update on the Pittsburgh Pirates Run for 81 since the end of May."  


The Pirates season turned around in Phoenix (Photo: Craig Turley)


Devastating.  I understand. 

It can be as confusing as why I follow Pirates GM @BadDealNeal and make silly comments such as "I will wear a Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot costume for Halloween if the Pirates do not win 81 games this year."

This is getting really exciting, as the Pirates are currently 39-35 after an 11-7 beat down of the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this evening.  The Bucs are almost half way home in helping me avoid the dreadful shopping experience for a Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot costume.  (And, yes, I have looked around for this hard to find item.  Currently, there is nothing available in my size on the parrot costume black M-arrrrrrgh-ket.)

Of course, I am not getting too optimistic about a franchise that has not had a winning season since Sid Bream pogo sticked his way home from second base beating a throw from Barry Bonds to complete a Pirate collapse in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series. 

(Side Note:  Washington Nationals Phenom Bryce Harper was born two days after Bream hopped home to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1992 NLCS.  There are MLB players that were officially born after the last season the Pirates had a winning record.  I'm sorry.)

This Pirate team could be different.  While Pittsburgh continue to struggle scoring runs consistently, they have a pitching staff that is fourth best in the National League in ERA (behind WA, LA, SF).  Throw in a 23-13 home record (season) and a 14-10 winning record in June - and we are cooking with gas.   

"So you're saying they have a chance...."

Yes.

Unlike Mike and Ike.

Until Next Time,

Craig Turley
@That_Dude_CT