Pirates should be applauded for their late-season surge to the playoffs

In politics, the media gives each side (usually republicans and democrats) equal time during such things as election campaigns.

The same thing doesn't always hold true in sports, where the awesome moments are often glossed over or just expected, while the bad moments are scrutinized, analyzed and really never forgotten.

Such is the case when it comes to the Pittsburgh Pirates and their back-to-back melt-downs at the tail-end of the 2011 and 2012 seasons that not only prevented them from making the postseason, but assured them their 19th and 20th consecutive losing campaigns.

Around mid-August of this just concluded 2014 regular season, the Pirates were in the throes of a seven-game losing streak that would ultimately leave them only two games over .500 on August 20.

Perhaps understandably, there was a palpable fear among fans that their Buccos would make it three collapses in four years and begin maybe a new string of losing seasons after having such a magical 2013.

But the Pirates righted their ship (pun intended) and stayed afloat long enough to actually go on a hot streak, a streak that included a stretch of 17 victories in 21 games that ultimately led to them clinching the top wild card in the National League, and a home date against San Francisco Wednesday night at PNC Park.

After the Pirates collapse in 2012 that was even more disappointing than the previous year, owner Bob Nutting did a complete evaluation of his franchise from top to bottom to try and figure out why this was becoming a trend.

Will he do a similar audit of his organization this year to try and determine why it was able to keep things together despite so many injuries--including stints on the disabled list for Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano--as well as the season-long problems for slugger Pedro Alvarez?

If Nutting doesn't do that, he should at least offer pats on the back to gm Neal Huntington and manager Clint Hurdle because they deserve much credit for keeping things together and getting his Buccos back to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Pirates defeat Mets, 4-2, for third win in a row after week-long slump

When the Pirates were in the throes of their biggest slump of the season last week--six losses in eight games--I said that it was normal for any baseball team (even a good one) to struggle a time or two or three throughout the course of a 162 game campaign. The 1990 Pirates, division winners, lost eight out of 10 at one point. The 1991 Pirates, division winners, lost eight in a row and 13 of 15 at one point that summer. The 1992 Pirates, division winners, dropped 11 of 12.

Stuff happens. 

At the height of the team's struggles following a second consecutive 2-1 loss to Oakland last Tuesday, Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle basically told reporters that anyone would be crazy to think a baseball team isn't going to face a bit of adversity during the course of a season. I don't know about you, but I could listen to Hurdle talk all day long. He brings a calming presence and a matter of fact attitude to Pittsburgh's clubhouse that I haven't seen since the days of Jim Leyland. 

Even after the Pirates dropped their fourth game in a row to fall to 53-36, they still had one of the top three records in the major leagues, and despite falling a game and a half behind St. Louis in the National League Central division, they still had a very healthy seven and a half game lead in the wild card standings. 

Today, Pittsburgh has caught the slightly scuffling Cardinals in the division and has an even healthier nine and a half game lead in the wild card standings. The Pirates are also tied with St. Louis for the second most wins in baseball, along with the highest winning percentage. 

As far as I'm concerned, the Pirates can leap-frog with St. Louis all summer long, but I'm keeping a closer eye on the wild card race because I think, this late in the season, if they fail to make the postseason at all, that would be a tragedy. 

I realize getting to 82 wins would be paramount, but right at this very moment, in order for Pittsburgh to finish with its first winning record in 21 seasons, it would have to go 26-44 down the stretch. I'm sure there would be a celebration and some t-shirts printed up for the occasion, but an 82-80 final record would seem like an even bigger collapse and a bigger disappointment than the last two seasons combined. 

No, the Pirates have even bigger fish to fry. They're too good; they're too talented; and they're not going anywhere. 

Please disperse, no collapse to see here. Please, people, disperse.