It seemed that the Pirates blew off the anger of 2 weeks of poor results tonight against the Mets, destroying them 9-0. The team that had been one of the worst offenses of the past 3 weeks roared to life and battered Robert Stock for 8 runs. It was quite cathartic, and one can only pray this win was the wakeup call the team needed to propel themselves back into the wild card chase. Watch Dinardo and Tyler break the game down in detail here:
#Ronnyball Is Trying to Save the Season
God bless Pirates fans; we have been through so much since 1994 and yet find joy in this franchise. As hope in the team was waning, a select group of Pirates Twitter banded together and rallied behind the promotion of Ronny Simon. A wave of Ronny Simon profile pictures took the platform by storm, and everyone was hyped for the series against the Mets. Despite being beaten soundly last night, Simon tallied 2 of the Pirates runs. Today, he helped get the Pirates offensive party started and collected yet another 2 hits. His 2 run double in the 1st inning completely broke the game open and left the Mets hopeless. I am dubbing him Ronny Bonds for the remainder of the season, and what a story it would be if this was the turning point of a legitimate playoff chase. Some people (like myself) gave up the gimmick after last night, but many remained strong in their convictions and look like kings tonight. These Pirate Patriots are helping salvage the season, and I for one think that is beautiful.
Bubba Chandler is Going to Be a Good Pitcher for a Long Time
Bubba Chandler was elite tonight, going 6 strong innings of shut out baseball. He only surrendered 4 base runners all game and struck out 5. It was clear early on that the Mets had no answers for what was throwing, and it was another glimpse into the ace level stuff Bubba commands. He generated 11 whiffs and struck out 5, with a devastating 4 pitch arsenal that kept the Mets guessing. Bubba was fun for 2 reasons: the first being his development throughout the season. At the beginning of the year his walks were out of control, yet he has already done a masterful job of managing those command issues. He threw 58 strikes on 85 pitches, only walked one batter, and looks like a completely different pitcher than he did in April. I also love how he has able to use his entire arsenal of pitches and use them effectively. Unlike a Jared Jones, Bubba isn’t afraid to mix his 100 mph fastball with devastating breaking balls. Bubba didn’t hit the scene as hard as Jones or Skenes, but he will be good enough to take the ball in playoff series in future years for the team.
Time to Prove the City Wrong
Pittsburgh has essentially given up on this team after their recent cold streak. Their playoff odds on fan graphs have cratered, and many have turned their gazes towards Steelers training camp. It is improbable that this team rallies together and storms back for a wild card appearance, but it is possible. Tonight you see glimpses of the combination of small ball and power this team can display. It shows the elite pitching and the revamped bullpen from the trade deadline that can keep you in any game on any given night. I have been extremely down on this team and for good reason, but I can’t quit on them. Now is the time to use this massive victory to break free from the offensive slump chains and take the National League by storm. Make this city believe again.
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