43
Pirates savoring another playoff run
Photo
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Edinson Volquez warms up before the first inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Pittsburgh. Volquez will get the start when the Pirates face the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card game Wednesday.
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Clint Hurdle greeted each member of the Pittsburgh Pirates as they walked off the field in Cincinnati on Sunday, telling them he “liked the fight” even after their chances of winning the NL Central evaporated in a loss to the Reds.
It was Hurdle’s way of saying thanks to mish mashed roster of stars and role players who have produced another unlikely postseason run.
“That’s who we are,” Hurdle said. “We’re all in this together. We’re all one-minded. We’re ready to go.”
A punch- line for a generation, it’s back to Buctober once again.
The Pirates host San Francisco on Wednesday night in the NL wild card game. A year ago, Pittsburgh capped a remarkable turnaround season by winning 94 games and beating Cincinnati in the same round before falling to St. Louis in five taut games in the division series.
The victory over the Reds was a watershed moment for a franchise that spent two decades in baseball purgatory while setting a North American professional sports record by reeling of 20 straight losing seasons. Andrew McCutchen won the MVP. Hurdle was named NL manager of the year and the Pirates captivated the city for the first time in a generation.
Their run this time around might have been even more impressive. Pittsburgh watched A.J. Burnett sign elsewhere in free agency and nibbled at the open market, the marquee signing — if it can be called that — the decision to take a $5 million flier on reclamation project Edinson Volquez, a former All-Star who washed out in San Diego and Los Angeles in 2013.
The right-hander repaid the Pirates by starting going 13-7 with a 3.09 ERA in a team-high 32 starts. He was even better down the stretch, going 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA since Aug. 1. His renaissance is symbolic of a team that kept finding ways to win despite a restructured lineup that hardly looks like the group Hurdle sent out on opening day six months ago.
Josh Harrison evolved from 25th man to an All-Star who replaced erratic slugger Pedro Alvarez at third base. Rookie rightfielder Gregory Polanco provided a jolt after his call-up in June only to head back to the bench after Travis Snider rediscovered the power stroke that had seemingly disappeared.
Starting pitchers Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton made multiple trips to the disabled list. Slumping closer Jason Grilli was shipped to the Los Angeles Angels, replaced by the stoic Mark Melancon. Vance Worley began the spring in Triple-A only to thrive in the heat of a pennant race, shutting out Milwaukee for eight crisp innings on Sept. 21 to virtually assure Pittsburgh of a second straight playoff berth.
The team that started 12-20 finished 88-74, catching the fading Brewers and taking St. Louis all the way to game 162 before ceding the division title.
It wasn’t as emotional as 2013. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been any less special, though last fall’s success gave them valuable experience they relied on after slogging through April and May.
“When we have somebody go down, we have someone to take their place who’s been there,” McCutchen said. “In years past we didn’t have that. We had guys that could take their place but they were young guys, first-year guys who haven’t been here. It’s the same nucleus of guys. These guys all know what to expect. They all know what to do and that’s why we’ve been doing what we’re doing this year.”