Pittsburgh Pirates Wake-Up Call – the final series

Welcome to the Pittsburgh Pirates Wake-Up Call, a daily feature here at RumBunter.com. Every morning at 9 AM, one of us will give you our random thoughts on the goings-on around the Pirates’€™ organization, and we’ll throw out a few links to some good Pirates-related items your way from around the web as well.

Work left to do

As we look ahead to the final series of the year for the Pirates, we know that the team still has work left to do. The Pirates’ magic number remains at two to clinch home field for the Wild Card game, as the Cubs won again yesterday. I don’t see the Pirates losing home field, seeing as they’re playing the Reds and Francisco Liriano and J.A. Happ are two of the pitchers pitching in the series. But stranger things have happened, and it’s important for the Pirates to not slack in this last series. A playoff game at Wrigley Field would be a crazy atmosphere, and who knows how a PNC Park crowd could affect Jake Arrieta. It certainly affected Johnny Cueto.

Which team should the Pirates fear the most in the National League?

When I think about the Pirates’ chances to get to the World Series, the only obstacle I’m afraid of is Jake Arrieta. Unfortunately, he is a huge obstacle. But if the Pirates can get past him in the Wild Card game, I think they can beat any team in baseball in a series. But if any team poses the biggest threat to the Pirates in the NL, who would it be?

My first inclination is to say the Mets because of their crazy good pitching staff. But the Pirates are 6-0 against them this season, including a beatdown of Matt Harvey. Plus, I wonder how their young pitching staff will respond in the playoffs.

Most teams would be afraid of facing Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw in a series, but the Pirates shouldn’t be one of those teams. They’ve beaten Kershaw twice this season and plated a couple runs against Greinke recently as well. Plus, Kershaw has not does well in the postseason, to the tune of a 5.12 career ERA.

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Honestly, I guess I would have to fear the Cardinals the most, if only for the fact that the season series between the two teams was so close this year (the Cardinals won the series 10-9 this year). But I don’t fear the Cardinals’ pitchers, and the Pirates beat themselves in the last series. I think if the Pirates can get past the Cubs, there’s no reason they can’t reach the World Series.

Around the net

It looks like Deadspin is advocating rooting for the Pirates in the playoffs. Or one writer is at least. I say the national audience should get behind the Pirates too. Check out why he thinks so here.

And Bill West of the Tribune-Review wrote a good piece last night about how the Pirates no longer need Andrew McCutchen to carry this team. I can’t argue with that. He’s certainly still a vital component of the offense. But others have stepped up immensely this season, which is great to see, and will be huge come playoff time.

Let’s hope the Pirates take care of business and lock down home field in the Wild Card game. That could be a big advantage, especially facing Arrieta.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates series review vs St. Louis Cardinals