When the Pirates lost to Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Everyone eventually loses to Verlander, and, despite the loss, the 4-2 home-stand was a nice way to finish off interleague play.
But now the Pirates are on a three-game losing streak after kicking off their seven game road-swing by losing the first two games of a four game series in Philadelphia, and now I'm starting to feel a bit of urgency.
Not that a three-game slide is the end of the world, and I certainly had modest expectations of the team's march through Philly and then St. Louis this weekend, but I just think it's time they nip this losing streak in the bud before things get a bit out of hand.
We all remember what happened last season when things started to unravel in Philadelphia. They kept unraveling to the tune of a 10-game losing streak. The Pirates never recovered and went 19-43 down the stretch.
Obviously, a team is going to struggle from time-to-time during the course of a 162 game season, and it's certainly no shame to look vulnerable against the likes of the Phillies and defending champion Cardinals. But the mark of a good team is being able to keep the losing streaks modest, and a 3-4 road-trip might not set the world on fire, but it sure beats the heck out of 1-6 or 0-7.
Tonight, the Pirates have James McDonald on the mound. Hopefully, he can be the stopper he's been all year and help the Pirates get back on the winning track.
There are times during a season when a team, especially a young team, needs to just find a way to keep its head above water.
A win tonight will be a nice flotation device for these young Buccos.
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