For the Pirates, This is Foreign Territory

Clint Hurdle Has some Tough Decisions to Make...

With the Pittsburgh Pirates losing yesterday to the Chicago Cubs 4-2, it essentially eliminates them from winning the NL Central division race.  Sure, mathematically they COULD still win the Central, but lets be honest...it isn't likely.  Already, Pirates fans are clamoring about pitching rotations, matchups, and potential starters for the upcoming postseason that has long since avoided this team for over 20 years.  One thing for all Pirates fans to remember...this is all foreign territory.

Luckily for the fans, the manager and several players for the Pirates are NOT in foreign territory in the postseason.  Clint Hurdle has managed a team to the World Series, AJ Burnett, Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Francisco Liriano, and others all have postseason experience on their resumes.  The experience that these players have will be invaluable for this young upstart team when they start actual postseason play.  When the lights shine the brightest, you need to know that the players you put on the field will be cool, calm, and collected.  That reason alone is why I would avoid throwing Gerrit Cole out there for a wild card game, or even a crucial game that could decide home field advantage.  When your entire season boils down to ONE GAME, you have to trust the pitcher you put on the mound, and right now (even as great as he is throwing) Gerrit Cole would find himself at number 3 behind Liriano and Burnett, if I were to rank the starters headed into the postseason.  Say what you want about his fastball, his last few starts, and about his overall demeanor...it means nothing in the postseason.  Liriano and Burnett provide the experience needed to win the games that count the most.

With all that said, it will be interesting to see what Clint Hurdle does in terms of the rotation with today being an off day for the Battlin' Buccos.  Liriano was given the loss yesterday, so the rotation set up will be AJ Burnett against the Reds Homer Bailey Friday, and after that Clint Hurdle has said it is a "wait and see" approach.  The Pirates are playing for that Wild Card game to be played at PNC Park, and they need to take 2 of 3 from the Reds to have that opportunity.  If the Pirates drop that game on Friday, I think it is a safe bet that you see Hurdle alter his plans to keep certain pitchers fresh for that Wild Card game.  After all, when one game decides your postseason fate, you will have all arms in the bull pen ready to rock n' roll if need be.  In my humble opinion, the pitcher that should start that Wild Card game will depend on where the game is played, but that is just one of the many factors that will come into play when the decision is made who will pitch and when.  I, for one, am glad that I don't have to make that decision...it certainly is a difficult choice to make.  Then again, thats why Clint Hurdle makes the "big bucks".