"Bucco Bombers" and Marte Seal Win for Burnett and Pirates

I don't know if Starling Marte knows who Mario Lemieux is, and gauging the fact that he doesn't speak English well enough yet that he still needs a translator, I'm going to say the #66 is just another number in his mind.  You might be wondering what a rookie MLB player has to do with a NHL legend?  Its easy.  Last night, Starling Marte did something almost as amazing as Mario Lemieux did as a rookie.  Let me refresh your memory.  In Mario's first game as a NHL player, his first shift, his first shot, was his first goal.  Pretty remarkable to think that the very first time he touched the puck in the NHL it equated in a goal, but that was Mario...simply amazing.  Marte did something that no Pirate player has done since 1960.  His first at bat in the big leagues, his first pitch, his first HR.  I don't get to watch too many games anymore, but I listen to as many as I can on my XM Radio.  I had to take care of one of my children before the first pitch, and when I returned it was 1-0 with Neil Walker up.  I did the math, and couldn't believe it!  I didn't know it was his first pitch until later in the evening when seeing a "cut in" on the MLB Network.   Marte certainly stole the show going 2-4 with a HR (even though he also got credited with a base running mistake that lead to a 3rd out at home later in the game). 

Lets not talk just about Starling Marte like the rest of Pirates fans are today.  Instead, lets talk about the fact that I am coining the phrase "Bucco Bombers" and labeling this team with that title.  They don't hit particularly well, but when they do it goes a long way.  Marte leads off with a HR, later in the 1st Garrett Jones hits a 2 run HR, and in the 2nd Clint Barmes his a 2 run HR.  Before you know it the Astros are heading into the 3rd inning down 5-0, and that 5 spot would hold up for a 5-3 win over the Astros.  The season is only about 100 games old, and the Pirates have already hit more HRs this season than they did all last season.  The win is the 2nd straight win for the Pirates and this is exactly how they should beat a team like the Astros.  Jump out to a lead, and milk that thing away.  Burnett pitched another great game until giving up 2 solo HRs that lead to him being taken out, but he gets the win moving his record to 12-3.  His ERA is 3.53 and he is slowly becoming the ace/stud of the Pirates lineup.  The more McDonald struggles, it seems the rest of the pitching staff picks him up.  That will have to continue tonight when Jeff Karstens takes the mound in an attempt to move the winning streak to 3 games. 

With Marte in the lineup, it seems that they have more power, more aggressiveness at the plate, and more options.  I like Alex Presley, but I can see him being trade fodder here in the next days as the trade deadline looms.  Presley is a solid OF, has the speed of a lead off player, but has struggled at the plate in recent months.  This problem was due to happen considering the fact that the Buccos seem to have alot of depth at OF not only at the MLB level, but also in AAA.  Should the Pirates still be searching for a bat?  YES!  Just because Starling Marte had a good game yesterday doesn't mean you don't need a more consistent power hitter in your lineup.  I look for the Pirates to still be buyers at the trade deadline (hopefully without giving up too much) but more importantly I look for the Pirates to KEEP WINNING.  Lets go Bucs!