What can Brown do for you? For the Pirates, they can certainly do a lot; the Buccos finished off their horrendous six game road trip, mailing in the final game.
To describe the play of the franchise over the past three games doesn’t even reach the disparaging label of “going through the motions.” Houston fans raved about how they wish they could play the Pirates every game, as the Pirates finished their final series with the Astros by finishing a dismal 0-9 in Houston.
To say that the Buccos aren’t talented enough to win is crediting them too much; Houston’s only weapons come in the form of Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee, who completely destroyed the Pirates in every series at Minute Maid Park.
The only correct way to dub the petty-excuse-for-a-professional-ball-club is exactly what it seems – a team without heart; a team that is simply playing the season to it’s close.
In the Houston series, Pirate starters Ross Ohlendorf, Paul Maholm, and Jeff Karstens each went relatively deep in the game, and supported a Pirates’ lead. However, with a bullpen that is nearly all claimed off waivers and has an ERA of around 10.00, one to two runs just won’t win ball games.
Pedro Alvarez added significantly to his stardom by striking out a total of seven consecutive times between three games, and was basically rendered hitless. His defense was a disgrace to the game, as he seemed to be afraid to get dirty or hurt. Simple ground balls scampered past an outstretched arm countless times. What should have been outs to end innings turned into seeing-eye ground balls to start a rally.
And it doesn’t end there. The management has been non-existent since the All-Star break. There is nobody instructing, nobody trying to fire the team up, and nobody taking charge and being a leader. Chuck Noll may have been a master at the stoic mentality, but John Russell is just the eye witness to a complete collapse of what could be a halfway decent franchise.
To think back to the greats, to the glory years, and even to some of the past years of crippled attempts at a .500 season, this season dishonors every past team this franchise has ever seen. To not have any pride, to not use the God given talent that was blessed upon them is a disgrace to the game.
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