Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Worst Loss Of The Year For The Pirates?

93.7 The Fan's Chris Mueller (@937LateShift) just tweeted "Worst loss of the year for the Pirates? I'm willing to say it. ".

I am inclined to agree with him.  Here is why.

This team has been in a funk overall since Jerry Meals botched the call to end that 19 inning affair in Atlanta.  What is it with awful losses in Atlanta putting this team into losing streaks anyways?  Back in 1992 it was the Sid Bream game, and now in 2011, history repeats itself.

Tonight was yet another chance to get back to winning baseball against a Cubs team with nothing left to play for.  You had seven freaking shutout innings from Charlie Morton who has been awful for the past few starts.  Surely this was the night to end it all.  I mean, the offense has been producing a bit more, surely they could eke out a few runs right?

WRONG!

Instead, the Pirates start off their half of the 9th inning with Derrek Lee getting hit by a pitch.  Waste an out to move him over and then Pedro Alvarez and pinch hitter Ryan Doumit both strike out to end the game. 

This loss also puts the Pirates under .500 again, and while I am trying to remain positive, you really do have to wonder if they have lost their mental edge because of that blown call.  That's inexcusable mind you, but partially understandable with such a young team.

Hopefully Clint Hurdle gets the men gathered up and lights a fire under their ass.  It's probably too late at this point, but one never knows.  Hurdle took a Rockies team in virtually the same position and rattled off 21 wins out of 22 games and took his team to the World Series.  Stranger things have happened.

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