Pittsburgh Pirates Wake Up Call: Walk Off Heroes

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.

We can be heroes.  If just for one day.

First, if you don’t know the song that I’m referencing please click here to rectify your obvious mistake.

Second, the Pittsburgh Pirates again won in dramatic fashion yesterday, with Josh Harrison blowing the lid off of PNC Park after a slow swell of a comeback against the Milwaukee Brewers.  Here for your continued euphoria is the game winning hit:

The clutch hit capped off a great series for Harrison, who went 2-for-6 on the day  to push his batting line in the series to .474 (9-for-19). One could say it was much-needed, as Harrison was hitting a light .179 since his return from injury with exactly zero extra base hits. Harrison was the beneficiary of some extra playing time to be had with Starling Marte being nicked up. Kudos to Clint Hurdle for sticking with Harrison in an attempt to get his bat to play. A focused and confident Harrison could mean a great deal down the stretch run.

2.5 games. 2.5 games!

The Pirates find themselves 2.5 games out of the NL Central crown. With a game in hand and facing the Cards three more times, the Pirates theoretically control their own destiny. Of course, it likely won’t shake out that way, but that glimmer of hope is starting to resemble a flood light. I have to think that this is the swoon we have been waiting for all year from the redbirds. However, their cavalry is approaching. Matt Holliday is coming back soon, and players like Matt Adams and Randal Grichuk continue to get strong every day as they work themselves back into shape.

If the Bucs can keep pace with the Cardinals through the upcoming Cubs and Dodgers series’ – or heck, even gain a game – you have to like their chances with a very winnable four-game series in Colorado to follow.

Pirates talk on the web

We mentioned this yesterday but it bears repeating here – Jeff Branson deserves a ton more credit than he is getting, says Dejan Kovacevic.

Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Post-Gazette has some great stuff on why being “incomplete” is not such a bad thing for Pirates starting pitchers.

Our friends over at Bucs Dugout were all over Neal Huntington’s weekly press conference from yesterday. Good nuggets here, mainly with the starting rotation and front office staffers.

Something a bit different. Did you know that the Tribune Review has a page dedicated to its galleries for each game? Some very cool photos are to be had.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will enjoy an off-day today before starting a crucial four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Rum Bunter Radio will be recording an episode tonight, and we want to hear from you. Feel free to ask us any questions at all by using the hashtag #askrumbunter on Twitter!  We will read and answer the best questions live on the air.

Speaking of twitter, it would be killer if you would follow me there and hear all my rumblings, grumblings, and rants.  Fun for all!

Enjoy the off-day, Pirates fans!

Next: What a difference a year makes for these Pirates