Pirates Fans...All is Not Lost

Michael Wacha Proved To Be Too Much For the Pirates

Today when the sun rose for Pittsburgh Pirates fans, it wasn't as bright as it was yesterday.  Okay, maybe its because there were clouds in the sky, but for the most part "Buc Nation" is a rather depressed group this morning.  After watching their Battlin' Buccos nearly get no hit on their home turf, and they watched a golden opportunity to send the St. Louis Cardinals packing walk right back to Busch Stadium for a Game 5, winner take all matchup.

The Pirates bats have a tendency to do this.  They go through peaks and valleys, feasts and famines, all or nothing...you get the picture.  Well, yesterday was a clear example of a famine for the Pirates hitters.  No one cracked Wacha's code until Pedro Alvarez produced the only hit of the game, and it was a huge solo HR to right center field that cut the Pirates deficit in half.  The beauty of yesterday's game (regardless of who you root for) was that it was a wonderful baseball game.  Sure, the Pirates didn't win, but if you love watching good pitching, getting out of jams, and down right dominating pitching...this was the game for you.  Unfortunately, and it seems like this happens alot to "Ground Chuck", Charlie Morton's quality outing was spoiled with one pitch, one swing of the bat, and one missed spot.  Thats the playoffs, but more importantly thats the beauty of baseball.  Morton missed his spot, and Matt Holiday sent a 2 run HR over the fence to give the Cardinals a lead that would never vanish.

I'm not even going to dwell on this game long for one main reason...this thing isn't over.  I picture the scene from Animal House where John Belushi talks about "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO, and it ain't over now..."  Manager Clint Hurdle had a tough decision to make, but I think it was the right decision in who starts Game 5 for the Pirates.  Passing over AJ Burnett for rookie Gerrit Cole seems illogical on paper, but it makes all the sense in the world.  We all saw what AJ did last time he was in Busch Stadium.  He flat out doesn't pitch well in that stadium.  We all saw what Gerrit Cole did in Busch Stadium, and he flat out pitches better on the road than he does at PNC Park (don't believe me, look it up).  Gerrit Cole has something that AJ Burnett doesn't, and thats upside.  Burnett is a seasoned veteran, but Cole has the ability to transcend the game and dominate.  On top of that, Cole has been one of the best pitcher in the NL for the last month and a half where as Burnett has faded as the year progresses.

Hurdle made the tough decision, but in my opinion, it was the right decision.  Gerrit Cole will give the Pirates the best chance to succeed in game 5, but whether the bats are able to catch up to the Cardinals pitching is a different story all together...only time will tell.  Remember Bucco fans...this thing ain't over yet!