Pirates fans roll call?

• visionquest

  Am I alone? Probably. But, post your thoughts on the Buccos chances of making it to that magic win total of 82.
  
  PS: Take into account the fact that the Pirates finished 7-21 this spring, wrapping up what was probably the worst spring training by a team that we've seen in a long time. And, you can save the "it's spring training, so it doesn't mean anything" speeches. Thanks.
  
  Go Buccos!
• jordo212000

  

  I'm not a Pirates fan (I like the Reds) but I have to say that I like what Pittsburgh has been doing. They seem to be headed in the right direction. I wouldn't be all that surprised if they cause some trouble for NL central teams this summer.
• sleeper

  

  I'm thinking of jumping on the bandwagon.
• Heretic

  

  I be here.
  
  My (optimistic) view on this season is that they'll be horrible to start the year (the way they finished last year and their exhibition season kinda state that...), but gradually get better as time goes on and the players (many of whom are either young prospect-types or elderly vets) get better chemistry. This will be particularly key in the infield, as the team downgraded defensively at 1B, 2B and SS...which means a lot, considering team defense was amazingly good for how bad the team was last year.
  
  Most of the team's top talent is currently in the minors and the team's annual July blow-up won't be much this year (Doumit, maybe Duke and/or Maholm and probably giving a team a two-month rental of Dotel), so the final months of this season will be the most important as far as setting things up for 2011, which is when I think they'll make a huge leap towards respectibility.
• rock_knutne

  I'm sitting at my desk and my office is a ghost town down here in the South Side. I should have joined the opening day frenzy with everyone else but I refuse to give the Nuttings any of money right now.
  
  As for the Pirates this year, I'll take a wait and see approach. 82 games.........unlikely. I would just be happy if they don't trade away any talent like they do every year.
• killer_ewok

  

  rock_knutne wrote: I'm sitting at my desk and my office is a ghost town down here in the South Side. I should have joined the opening day frenzy with everyone else but I refuse to give the Nuttings any of money right now.
  
  As for the Pirates this year, I'll take a wait and see approach. 82 games.........unlikely. I would just be happy if they don't trade away any talent like they do every year.

  I hear ya'. They're my National League team. I'd love to see them make it to at least .500 this year but it's hard to fathom after the last couple decades.
• End of Line

  

  I'll never stop supporting them. I don't support that Nutting though.
• big_red_drummer

  

  I'm a fan. I'll probably go to a game or two when they come out to Phoenix next weekend.
• Heretic

  

  Duke in a 2-0 hole after the top of the first. Kemp with a two-run single with two out...after Duke retired Manny.
• Heretic

  

  The Dodgers are bringing out Padilla, who walked Iwamura to open things for the Pirates. From his Yahoo mugshot, I can tell you that Padilla is an ugly, ugly man.
• Heretic

  

  Garrett Muthafukin Jones with a bomb to tie the game at 2-2! If he shows that last year wasn't some bizarre fluke, that would be really nice as far as giving the Pirates line-up something resembling legit pop.
• Heretic

  

  Low-Rates did great in the bottom of the second. Loaded up the bases with no one out...and got nothing. Some things never change...
• Heretic

  

  Garret Muthafukin Jones with a second bomb to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead!
• GoPens

  

  Big Bucco fan. Was in Pittsburgh this morning and traffic was a mess...and I was happy to wait in it...opening day, sold out stadium, hopes high, beautiful day...it doesn't get better than this.
• Heretic

  

  Duke has only given up two runs through five innings...despite giving up seven hits, three of which were doubles. I guess that's good karma to make up for the whole "get nothing with bases loaded and nobody out" thing in the second inning.
• lhslep134

  

  Ah Garret Jones was a great 17th round fantasy steal.
• gorocks99

  

  Break up the Bucs.
• Heretic

  

  Pinch-hitter Ryan Church blows things open in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run double to make it 7-2 Pirates.
  
  Duke only went five innings, so it looks like the team's new-look bullpen (I think Evan Meek might be the only current reliever who was with the team last year) will be called on to finish off the game.
  
  While typing that Ronnie Cedeno drove in Church with a single, so it's now 8-2.
• End of Line

  

  Looking good so far.
• Heretic

  

  The bullpen wants to make sure no one leaves before the final out. It's gone from 8-2 to 8-5 pretty damn quickly.
• visionquest

  Oh gracious is our bullpen awful!!! Just awful!!!
• Heretic

  

  Donnelly got two straight strikeouts to escape the eighth inning. Three outs away from a 1-0 start!
• End of Line

  

  The bullpen sounds like they suck.
• Heretic

  

  Three-run blast for Doumit to make it 11-5. That extra breathing room is nice, with the way the bullpen hasn't been making it easy. Probably means they'll be using Lopez or Penn in the ninth instead of Dotel.
• Heretic

  

  The_Crosby_Show wrote: The bullpen sounds like they suck.

  D.J. Carrasco was the only one that REALLY sucked so far today, but none of them have made anything easy. But then, neither did Duke. The Dodgers have been racking up hits the entire game, but only have been able to turn them into runs in the first inning off Duke and the seventh off Carrasco.