The Pittsburgh Pirates Pedro Alvarez had a miserable June, but came alive in July.  He entered the month with a .160 average.  He was striking out at an amazing rate with 22 K’s in his 46 at-bats.  He had two doubles.  He was slugging .196.  Chants of “K-dro” were heard throughout PNC Park.

Alvarez didn’t quite make a big splash rookie debut like some of his peers in the Pittsburgh sports scene.  Alvarez did carry a modest three game hitting streak into July.  He worked hard and made it eight games.  Two walks broke up the hit streak, but extended the reached base streak to ten.  Alvarez was getting comfortable.

The middle of July was big fun for Pirates fans.  Pedro tore up the Brewers, Astros, and Brewers pitching once again.   He had five bombs, three doubles and thirty-three total bases. 

But the end of July has fans looking closely again at Pedro.  He has 25 strikeouts in 86 at-bats this month.  He has walked eleven times.   There is no question he is improving.   But will it be enough to keep the interest of Pittsburgh fans as the six-time Super Bowl Champs roll into training camp?

There is no doubt that Pirates fans will be watching closely how Alvarez reacts to Cardinals pitching while they have one eye on Latrobe and the return of the hungover Steelers.  How cool would it be for Pedro and the Pirates to make some noise? 

Regardless of how the Pirates fare on the field, the Cardinals provide a pivotal test for Alvarez.  The rookie struggled when he faced some tough pitching against the Padres.  He was 2-for-11, striking out once. Then in nine at-bats against the Rockies, he had one hit with four strikeouts in his first eight at-bats. 

The questions are popping up again.  Is Alvarez fading?   Is he worried about his below average glove at the hot corner?  Certainly his glove leaves Pirates fans dreaming about what the hell Perry Hill is doing these days, but Pedro is not going to fade. 

He can prove the believers right and give some hope to many of the Pittsburghers sitting in traffic on Route 30 with a solid performance against a good Cardinals pitching staff.  The football team starts taking coverage from the Pirates beginning today.  If Alvarez can keep the Pirates relevant in the media, it could be a testament for the excitement around the young Pittsburgh Pirates.  This weekend needs to be a statement for Pedro Alvarez against a Cardinals rotation that can make young hitters look foolish. 

Tonight the Pirates will face Chris Carpenter.   Alvarez should make some noise.  Carpenter has allowed fifteen homers, which is most on the Cards staff.  So which way will it go?   The veteran Carpenter or Superman Alvarez?

I think Alvarez opens some eyes against the Cards.   God I hope so, because staring at the Steelers and Byron Leftwich on Saturday might be even scarier than the last place Pirates.

Go Bucs.

Most everyone who has put on a baseball uniform knows it feels special.  Really special.  There is nothing like it. It’s unforgettable.  

It’s almost as fun as realizing that you have been given a free pass to destroy those brand new white pants with the irritating elastic.  It’s every Moms nightmare.  I vividly remember turning white pants into San Diego Padres khaki by the second game.  Sorry Moms, it’s just what ballplayers do and another reason why kids love baseball. Filth is fun.

Growing up we always thought of being a big leaguer in those black and gold unis.  How great would that feel?  The joy of putting on a professional uniform is something I can’t say I could ever describe.  I really can’t.   It must be a gratifying feeling for professional players.

Aaron Baker still hit his 16th bomb even though his pants had a tear the size of a DVD on the left leg and a patch on the right.

It’s exactly that feeling that pissed us off  when we saw what the West Virginia Power players were wearing when they battled the Hagerstown Sun.  I felt embarassed being a fan.  I couldn’t imagine being one of the Power players.

Jeff Banister was rocking some sweet Pirates threads.  The players well…. just embarassing.  Someone must have been checking out this website and thought they had a good idea. 

Elevys Gonzalez has an ass cheek waiting to pop.

It’s obvious the Pirates are trying to build through the draft, they want to develop a young core of talent and use a somewhat military style to grow the players as men.  Well, someone is letting the Power players down. 

Perhaps the people in charge of  the various endeavors haven’t served this great country.    Or if they did, maybe they were Marines.  Just kidding, well sort of, but something we are not kidding about is this:  the uniform is something that should immediately instill the highest level of pride in the person wearing it. 

We are firm believers in the fact that a uniform should be as close to perfect as possible.  The condition doesn’t have to be flawless at all times, often times serviceable is fine.  But fine doesn’t cut it for most of us military types.  There are many reasons why that is the case, but I will spare you the details. 

Pirates Minor League Field Coordinator Jeff Banister visits the mound.

We don’t care who owns the Power.  We don’t care that it is the minor leagues–especially in the case of the Pittsburgh Pirates–where they give “each player a personalized development plan that is carried with him through each stop on the way to the Major Leagues.”  We don’t care about affiliations or any of those other details that you might be tempted to write in the comments.  Save your fingers.  The Pirates are connected to The Power.  So if the Power can’t fix it, someone in the Pirates organization should.  Quickly.

We believe if you want the best talent, playing at their highest level, you better make them look good.  Because there weren’t many Power players looking good.  Maybe they would play better if they felt damn good when they put on their uniforms.    Someone at the Pirates organization must feel differently.