BleacherCoaches.com

Let's make the case. The Pirates are 28-30 heading into tonight's game with the Padres. After that, 36 games remaining before the All Star break.

In those 36 games, only 6 of those games will be against teams that currently have an above .500 record. Few big series with the Cardinals and Reds also.

The Pirates had the second highest batting average in the month of May, and the addition of Polanco is coming in a few short weeks, and the huge concerns everyone was having with the offense are not hurting the team right now. The bullpen has been good since April, and Tony Watson is arguably the best middle reliever in the NL. Gerrit Cole looks like an Ace, and he's been the stopper this franchise has long been looking for. They just took 3/4 from LA, looking to sweep SD and come away with a 7-3 road trip, after a 4-2 home stand.



Don't look now, but the Bucs are waking up.

I'll say the Bucs are 49-46 at the break, and within striking distance in the Wild Card, if not right not in the middle of it.

Eh i think the pirates will be lucky to break .500 by the all star break. I think their record will look more like 43-52. They are getting a little hot now but their pitching has been lack luster and their bats can't get going.

Bats can't get going? They were just the second best hitting team last month. If they can get there starting pitching back together, they'll be a couple games above .500 at the break.

Yeah the bat's have been going, the Pirates have been real good on offense for over a month now. McCutchen and Walker have been outstanding, Harrison has provided a spark, Davis has been a nice addition, and Pedro and Mercer are both sitting in the .230 range after being in the .190 range during April.


OH, and by the way....

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2014/06 ... dline.html

Get your tickets and get your popcorn ready. It's Polanco time.

Or maybe not

http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6229 ... z33Qnky4Z5


Hard to tell which story is correct since both use unnamed sources.

FWIW, national writer Ken Rosenthal says he's coming Friday.

I could be right on the money, but I hope I am not. I started this topic a month ago. I said 49-46, and that would constitute a 2-5 week. I hope they go 5-2 and make it 52-43.

Don't lose sight of the fact that the past 20 games have been against weaker teams. Lets see them go .500 against the Cards, Reds, etc.

I factored that in when I made my June 4 prediction of 49-46, I think everyone knew this week would be tough and it's not off to a great start.

I guess I win? 49-46. Only 3.5 out of first. Well within striking distance.