Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pittsburgh Pirates are World Series contenders and it's unacceptable
The Guardian ^ | Monday 13 July 2015 | DJ Gallo

Posted on 07/13/2015 6:44:30 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Well, now you’ve done it, Pirates. You’ve ruined everything.

Not so long ago, your fans were completely happy with a simple .500 season. After a American professional sports record 20 consecutive losing seasons from 1993 through 2012 – with epic collapses ending the 2011 and 2012 campaigns – simply breaking through with a winning record in 2013 was reason for celebration. The wildcard victory and spot in the divisional round that came with it were icing on the quite palatable cake of mathematical non-failure. Another wildcard spot last year, which lasted a few innings before being mowed down by Madison Bumgarner and the Giants, was more of the same: evidence that the demons of the ‘90s and ‘00s were exorcised and that the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club had achieved semi-relevance. Huzzah!

You could have stopped there. You could have been a small market team that had a nice little run of competitiveness before falling back to baseball’s wasteland while seeing its best players poached by big-name teams. Everyone would have said: “Hey, remember those three years back in the early 20-teens when the Pirates were competitive? Those were some pretty good times.”

But you’ve ruined it, Pirates. You’ve messed everything up. You’ve become … a legitimate World Series favorite. Uh-oh.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 07/13/2015 6:44:30 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Much as I love my hometown team, they aren’t World Series contenders. They have a pattern of starting out strong, then fizzling out, usually after the All Star break. Just wish they could keep playing as they did this past weekend against the Cardinals.


2 posted on 07/13/2015 6:51:28 PM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

3 posted on 07/13/2015 6:57:46 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP - that's what I like about Texas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Just wondering...

Why are Redskins considered bad while Pirates are OK?


4 posted on 07/13/2015 7:06:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy

“They have a pattern of starting out strong, then fizzling out, usually after the All Star break”

Actually they’ve mostly had strong second half finishes over the past few seasons.


5 posted on 07/13/2015 7:08:05 PM PDT by ScottfromNJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

What type of pirates are the Pirates?


6 posted on 07/13/2015 7:08:27 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Q. What is the difference between a Philadelphia Phillies Hot Dog and a Pittsburgh Pirates Hot Dog?

A. You will still be able to get a Pittsburgh Pirates Hot Dog in October.


7 posted on 07/13/2015 7:14:05 PM PDT by Mr. Wright
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy; MinorityRepublican

Andrew McCutchen walkoff homerun - Saturday Night July 11, 2015

 photo o4mnb_zpsohp7ivia.gif

Gregory Polanco walkoff single - Sunday Night July 12, 2015

 photo o5cjv_zpseefl3pg7.gif
8 posted on 07/13/2015 7:15:37 PM PDT by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Why are Redskins considered bad while Pirates are OK?

That's a good question! Here's the thing. Pirates did some really bad things in the past. But most folks today associate pirates with tough, in-your-face rebels, men to be admired for their independent streak.

You know, like most folks today associate the Confederate flag with tough, in-your-face rebels. And that's why both the "Pirate" name and the Confederate flag are acceptable in our politically-correct society.

Oh, wait...

9 posted on 07/13/2015 7:27:36 PM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Raise the Jolly Roger!


10 posted on 07/13/2015 7:46:27 PM PDT by toothfairy86
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

think butt pirates......./s

yes this is a very circuitous one


11 posted on 07/13/2015 7:54:11 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

Very cool gifs. The Pirates are awesome and catching up to St. Louis will be tough.


12 posted on 07/13/2015 9:08:13 PM PDT by Falconspeed ("Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

September 19th draws closer and closer!


13 posted on 07/13/2015 9:49:48 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

The Guardian has an article about American baseball? Anyway - it’s not an even-numbered year so the Giants aren’t likely to show up in the post-season, therefore the Pirates probably have as good a chance as anyone from the NL.


14 posted on 07/14/2015 12:19:14 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Wright

Did you have Pirate crow for 2008?


15 posted on 07/14/2015 3:14:03 AM PDT by Dr. Ursus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Pirates fan bump for later


16 posted on 07/14/2015 3:22:22 AM PDT by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I’m sure that Cub fans everywhere are consumed with sympathy for Pittsburgh’s history of defeat.


17 posted on 07/14/2015 4:15:14 AM PDT by Eric Pode of Croydon (Life's a bitch. Don't elect one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

RE: But most folks today associate pirates with tough, in-your-face rebels, men to be admired for their independent streak.

Several decades ago, Pirates in Southeast Asia were raping Vietnamese refugees in the South China sea.

And let’s not forget the Somalian pirates who kidnap people for ransom and yes, sell captives to slavery.


18 posted on 07/14/2015 4:53:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Just watch out, the Phillies are going to stage an epic comeback any day now.


19 posted on 07/14/2015 4:57:49 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Falcon 105)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
And let us long remember the dastardly Cap'n Crunch who enticed innocent urchins into eating sugary cereal  photo imageedit_1_2883317664_zpsacpk3crb.gif and rotisserated his own parrot!
20 posted on 07/14/2015 6:32:42 AM PDT by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson