Pirates Postseason Champagne on Ice

Old school science goggles + Andrew McCutchen = Pirates postseason is close

The Pittsburgh Pirates postseason champagne is officially on ice.  Oh, to see those old school science goggles tonight one more time….It’s hard imagining that after the start to the season when the Buccos started the season so slowly.  It was on this day a year ago, that the Pirates postseason hopes came to fruition with a 2-1 dramatic win over the Cubs.  The Pirates postseason tickets rest firmly on their starters who since the ball club was swept out of St. Louis, have gone 12-1.  The numbers are more impressive when you notice that the ERA over those 119 innings is 1.91.  The entire staff has allowed just over two runs per nine innings this month–that’s the best in baseball.

The Pirates postseason tickets are nearly validated thanks to a strong finish to the 2014 season.  The Bucs are 14-3 in their last seventeen games and have won ten of their past twelve games.  The offense has scored 120 runs in their past thirty games.

The magic number is two which of course means, a Pirates win and a Brewers loss, the Pirates postseason ticket will be punched.  Gerrit Cole will be on the mound in Atlanta–a perfect candidate to do the job-as the right hander is 7-1 with a 2.98 ERA in nine September starts the past two years.  Only Adam Wainwright has won more (nine) this month since 2013.

Andrew McCutchen has seen numerous pitches up and in this season.

Andrew McCutchen has been one of the leaders in the final month of the season hitting his 127th career bomb last night to give the Bucs a 1-0 win setting up tonight’s after party celebration.  McCutchen has more extra base hits, home runs and total bases than any other center fielder in the National League.

Andrew McCutchen looks good in old school science goggles.  The Pirates postseason is close.  Let’s trust we see those goggles tonight–all the plastic taped up in the visitors clubhouse in Atlanta.  Damn, I wanna see those goggles tonight.

And then all the champagne will all be mopped up as the Pirates postseason plans start focusing on avenging this image from last October.

Oct 9, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) reacts after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in game five of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports