Your first place Pittsburgh Pirates

[Dragonbait]

If they finish 1 game behind us... we better have clinched earlier then the last day. ( I dont want that heart attack like with the Mets '08 )

[pitchleague]

Well, that one horrible call will be soon forgotten.

From the Pirate's standpoint, yes.

 

The Braves could still win the wild card by only 1 game which would make that horrible call somewhat significant. (yeah, I know even if it was called an out they still had a pretty good chance of winning with a runner still on first and third but with 2 out and even if they didn't score, there was potential in the 20th innings or more.)

[reillymcshane]

Don't know if this was posted anywhere else, but the title is so prophetic (and hilarious). It was from a bit ago, but I just saw it. From the Onion:

Pirates Acquire Lee, Ludwick To Bolster 2nd-Half Collapse

PITTSBURGH—In order to deepen some holes in their lineup and increase

their chances of a second-half collapse, the Pittsburgh Pirates

acquired first baseman Derrek Lee and outfielder Ryan Ludwick Sunday.

“They’re both experienced losers who we’re hoping will come in here and

help us surge right to the bottom of the NL Central,” Pirates general

manager Neal Huntington said in a statement, adding that after six

consecutive losses, the team is now poised to make a last-place run.

“Not only do we think they’ll take our offense and defense to a whole

new level of horrible, but overall, I think this will prove to Pirate

fans that this team is committed to losing for years to come.”

Huntington reportedly urged young players not to rely on their new

stars, emphasizing that a successful nosedive would require everyone to

play like (edited).

http://www.onionsportsnet...lster-2ndhalf-col,21073/

[StearnsFTW]

Don't know if this was posted anywhere else, but the title is so prophetic (and hilarious). It was from a bit ago, but I just saw it. From the Onion:

Pirates Acquire Lee, Ludwick To Bolster 2nd-Half Collapse

PITTSBURGH—In order to deepen some holes in their lineup and increase

their chances of a second-half collapse, the Pittsburgh Pirates

acquired first baseman Derrek Lee and outfielder Ryan Ludwick Sunday.

“They’re both experienced losers who we’re hoping will come in here and

help us surge right to the bottom of the NL Central,” Pirates general

manager Neal Huntington said in a statement, adding that after six

consecutive losses, the team is now poised to make a last-place run.

“Not only do we think they’ll take our offense and defense to a whole

new level of horrible, but overall, I think this will prove to Pirate

fans that this team is committed to losing for years to come.”

Huntington reportedly urged young players not to rely on their new

stars, emphasizing that a successful nosedive would require everyone to

play like (edited).

http://www.onionsportsnet...lster-2ndhalf-col,21073/

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif

 

Prophetic indeed.

[RockCoCougars]

Funny onion article. Like I said a few weeks ago, these guys reminded me of the '95 or '97 Brewers. I was amazed at the time that acquiring studs like Paul Wagner and Julio Franco didn't put them over the top. Back in '97, I thought Harnisch sealed the deal (no kidding).

[SeriesFinale]

Well, they've won (or will) two of three against the similarly-flailing-but-still-first-place Giants in SF, so even if it's difficult for them to get back into the race at this point, I'd hate to see them heat up again before this weekend's series and then seven more down the stretch (including the last three). I'm not so sure they will but regardless.

[fondybrewfan]

I am happy they won a couple at SF; that just gives the Brewers that much more breathing room in potential playoff seeding. They missed both Cain and Lincecum in SF too; I am not to worried.

[TooLiveBrew]

Pirates Acquire Lee, Ludwick To Bolster 2nd-Half Collapse

 

What I actually like about this is that they went for guys that didn't cost much in the way of prospects. Sure, they 'made additions', but it seems like even the Pirates knew their time isn't quite here yet. If I had to bet, I'd guess they at least asked about Ubaldo Jimenez... at least, that's the kind of move I assume they were interested in.