CLINCHED - Playoffs...Here Come the Pirates

The Fist Pump...It Says It All

So maybe this article is a day late, but the Pittsburgh Pirates clinching a wildcard playoff birth is something that still takes a while to sink in.  No longer is the talk regarding the Pirates relegated to just a "few good months", or another "collapse", but now its about a team that has righted the ship and is now going to be playing baseball in the postseason.  Plain and simple, the Pirates have finally done it, and has anyone else noticed how the team has played since breaking the streak?  They look more relaxed.  Sure, I realize that the Pirates have had some heartbreaking defeats in that time, but the Pirates just seem alot looser (is that even a word?) and there is no position that you can notice that more than in the starting pitching.  Take away another Jeff Locke DUD, and you have 4 starters that are as hot as they come.  Francisco Liriano, AJ Burnett, Charlie Morton, and Gerrit Cole have all put together quality starts, and for once its been several in a row.  This staff is primed and ready for a playoff SERIES, but will they get that opportunity?

It looks increasingly less likely that the Pirates, or the Reds, will catch up to the Cardinals in the division race.  Let me stop there and just admit that anything is possible, but it would take alot of the Buccos to reclaim 1st place when they are down 2 with only 4 games left.  Lets just assume that the Pirates and Reds finish where they are currently.  The Pirates on top, and hosting that one game Wild Card "play in" game.  Not only would the fans of Pittsburgh be treated with a postseason game, but of all the opponents it would be the much maligned Cincinnati Reds.  If you haven't heard the sound bytes of Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips essentially discrediting the Pirates wild card birth and saying that "no one" should celebrate a wild card birth because it doesn't guarantee anything...you can check them out or read them online.  However, you don't think this fuels a fire that has already been ignited by these two teams going at each other's heads (literally) all season?  Well, to respond to the Reds accounts of what the Pirates should and shouldn't do in terms of celebrating...let me just say that the Pirates clinching a playoff birth does guarantee something.  What is that you ask?  How about a SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS.  Something so huge cannot be just swept under the rug as if it doesn't matter.  The Pirates and their fans have waited 20 years for this, and the day has finally arrived.

I spoke of a "relaxed" team earlier, and the Pirates look as smooth as silk right now.  It looks like the weight on their shoulders has finally been lifted, and now they can just play.  Thats a scary prospect for NL playoff opponents, and that includes the Reds.  The Reds have become to the Pirates what the Ravens are to the Steelers.  At least to me, they are the most detested team that the Pirates encounter.  The recent Reds outburst is just one of many reasons why the rivalry is only heating up.  I won't even get into the amount of times that Reds pitchers have hit Andrew McCutchen or Dusty Baker has made comments that only fan a fire that has been burning for years.  The Reds are the bullies and its time for the Pirates to stand up for themselves.  All that starts with a visit to Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Friday, and don't think for a second the Pirates want to win every possible game, not only in hopes to still win the division, but more importantly...to send a message.