Very rarely can you look at a series or two towards the end of May and label it critical to a team’s success for the season.
But that is exactly the case for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Bucs began a critical 10-game road trip in New York on Memorial Day that very well could determine whether or not Clint Hurdle’s team will be contenders in 2014.
Even though the Pirates have been a bit disappointing so far this season, they really can’t complain about their situation as they entered their series opener in New York on Monday. While the Bucs sit at only 23-27 and sit six games out of first place in the National League Central, they also are only 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for second place in the division.
That’s of importance because it not only puts the Pirates in the thick of the wild card race, but ultimately I believe it is the Cardinals and not the Milwaukee Brewers, who the Bucs will be chasing by seasons end.
However to stay in the thick of things and not get buried and left for dead, even in the month of May, this team has to show that they can win on the road.
While the Pirates are 16-13 playing at PNC Park, they won only their seventh road game of the season on Monday. Their 7-14 mark away from home is tied for the worst mark in all of baseball.
Only two teams in baseball (Atlanta and San Diego) have scored less runs on the road than the 70 the Bucs have scored in 21 games, which is a trend that cannot continue. Throw in the fact that the Pirates 4.40 ERA on the road is almost a full run higher than the 3.50 mark they boast at PNC Park and there are reasons to be concerned.
But as the Pirates face a critical trip that finishes in Los Angeles and San Diego, two places they traditionally play poorly, Hurdle’s team is playing its best baseball of the season.
Now they have to show that they can win on the road.
If I’m a Pirates fan and they come back from this 10-day trip with a 5-5 or 6-4 mark, I’m thrilled. Anything better is just a bonus. However anything worse and the Pirates could find themselves buried by the time they come home.
The bottom line is that the Pirates have to show that they can win on the road.
They are off to a good start on this crucial road trip.
Ultimately the next nine days will tell a lot about this team going forward.
