Pirates Drop 1st Series in the last 7...Sign of Things to Come?

Yesterday the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their 2nd game out of 3 game set against the Brewers by the score of 4-1.  It was the only series they have lost in the last 7 they've played.  Andrew McCutchen stayed hot as he went 3-4 with a HR (the 4th game in a row he has hit a HR) boosting his Batting Ave to .371.  "Cutch" is a good .020 above the next NL batter in terms of batting average.  I've gotten some emails and texts from friends and family wondering if this is the beginning of the end for the Pirates.  The only thing I tend to say is calm down...they didn't get swept, and its only one series.  They are still 10 games over .500 and they head into a 3 game set with the Rockies at the very friendly confines of Coors Field in Colorado.  After yesterday's game when the only run the Pirates scored was "Cutch's" home run, there were several things that they need to do a better job of if they don't want to slip below the 10 game over .500 mark. 

#1 - Put the bat on the ball.  They went through this early this season, and it seems they caught the same strike out bug again.  They struck out another 10+ times yesterday.  When you are playing a team that essentially gave you the previous game with fielding and throwing errors, you need to force them to make plays and not go down looking or swinging at bad pitches. 

#2 - Learn to play small ball.  The bats are not going to stay hot for ever (as much as I would like them to), so you need to learn how to sacrifice runners over and manufacture runs.  My frustration level was extremely high when pitcher AJ Burnett failed to lay down a sacrifice bunt on 3 consecutive pitches leaving a runner stranded on 2nd.  The next batter flies out to LF which would have been a sac-fly and would have given the Pirates a 2-0 lead.  Poor execution...and that is just one example.

#3 - Make the smart play.  Pedro Alvarez is the #1 culprit of this rule.  Instead of going for the bare-handed play on a swinging bunt down the 3rd base line, plant your feet...use your glove, and put a good throw to 1st.  If he beats it out, that's okay, at least he isn't advancing to 3rd on your error.  Even if you "eat" the throw and keep him at first, a double play is still in order. 

This may sound like I am a little nervous with the team, and I can't say that the thought hasn't crossed my mind.  I just know how hot the team was prior to the All-Star Break, and how that break can really disrupt the rhythm a team has developed.  Lets hope they can go to Coors Field and "open a can" on the Rockies and get back to their winning ways.  Karstens will have to be on his 'A' game to keep the ball in the park...lets hope the Jolly Roger gets raised tonight.