Playoff baseball starts now

     The Buccos dropped a tough one tonight, 5-4 to the visiting Dodgers. A team that is only 1 1/2 games behind the Bucs for the last NL Wild Card spot. We have 3 games left against LA with the most favorable game already taken place. It doesn't get easier after this series with the Buccos traveling to St. Louis to take on the Cardinals who are 2 games behind the Bucs for another crucial 3 game series.

     Tonight's game was a tough one to swallow. Yes, they fought back to within one but the outcome could have been different had the bullpen succeeded. Juan Cruz came in for the seventh and loaded the bases on two walks and a HBP. Tony Watson would come in to get the final two outs but allowed an inherited run to cross which would be the difference in the game. I think it's about that time when Bryan Morris should be making an appearance in the bigs. The six man rotation is pressing the pen. Jeff Locke is up solely for long relief, therefore taking two spots away in the pen. If the Pirates want to keep this roster and keep competing, the pen will have to be close to perfect in order for them succeed.

     With that being said, The Buccos are still 64-51. They are still only 5 games behind the Reds with six games remaining against them. The schedule gets easier after the Cardinals series while the Reds does as well but the reds face the Phillies seven times. Yes, the Phillies have been bad this year but they seem to be turning it around and it could help us in the race. There are still 47 games left, crazier things have happened so try and stay away from the edge of the cliff.

#YouGottaBelieve