VICTORY!!!

Houston, YOU have a problem. The Pittsburgh Pirates have just completed their SECOND sweep up the Houston Astros this season, and we are only twenty games deep.  The Bucs improved their record to 10-10 with their 5-3 victory over the Houston Astros Thursday afternoon and currently sit only 2.5 games out of first in the NL Central.

I know its still very early (142 games left to go), but the Bucco faithful are riding high after beating the 'Stros for the sixth consecutive time this season. More importantly these young bucs (get it) have proved that they can compete with the elite teams in this division. Critics are always saying how "weak" and "lousy" the NL Central is, I agree, its not the best of the best, BUT...what two teams have represented the NL in the past two World Series. Anwser: Houston Astros (2005) and the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals (2006), both of which are members of the so-called "crappy" NL Central division.

Back to the Bucs. Today's VICTORY (Entourage fan's know why I use all caps) was significant on many levels. In fact there were ten reason's why it was so significant. For your convenience, I will list them below. (What a great guy)

10.  Sometimes, when a player is called up from the Minor Leagues, he understandably cools off. Not Mr. Ryan Doumit. Doumit jumped right into the starting Lineup to go 2 for 4 with two ribbies.

9. Xavier Nady was asked to "man up", and that he did. Nady came to pinch hit with a bum hammy, and leaned into a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in a run. This proves the ever important cliche that there is no "I" in team (or Nady for that matter)

8. Manager Jim Tracy proved to Bucs fans that if Salomon Torres struggles he will not hesitate to pull the "closer" out immediately. McClendon was a big fan of sticking with his "closer", even if he walked the bases loaded eventually giving up the go-ahead run. {See: Jose Mesa (04-05), Mike Williams(01-04)}

7. Chris Duffy continues to get on base as he walked twice and scored twice. I felt that besides the bullpen, Duffy getting on base was the most important factor for a winning season. Keep an eye on Duff.

6. Jonah Bayliss found the strike zone. Bayliss got the bucs out of two jams, most importantly when he relieved Armas in the 6th.  Tracy admitted after the game that he didn't know what to expect from Bayliss this season, and now he knows. Bayliss, gives the pen another solid right handed arm that can pitch more than one inning.

5. Adam LaRoche can hit in the 6-hole. Granted he only got one hit, he still doubled his hit total at PNC Park.

4. Manager Jim Tracy is not married to his lineup. Tracy has been quoted as saying he wants to stick with his opening day lineup. If LaRoche and Paulino, and Sanchez for that matter (0-3 today) continue to struggle, Tracy will be forced to make changes. And it is good to see that he actually will switch them up and not let a computer decide the lineup.

3. Tony Armas Jr. is effective. Armas got out of jam in the first allowing only run and pitched effectively through the next five innings of work. Its good to see that a guy we throw out whenever we feel like it, can get the job done. Armas entered the game with a very impressive 18.60 era, it took a small dip today to 11.57. Hey, we will take it.

2. Jason Bay is clutch. The knock on Bay over the past couple of years is that he doesn't come up big when the opportunity presents itself. Bay's two-run single in the sixth gave the Bucs the lead and they never looked back. I have always been a huge defendant of Bay, and I hope that this is the year that he will solidify himself as the Bucs one true Major League "STAR".

1. A complete game. Not the kind that Maholm threw two nights ago, but the kind where everything clicks on the baseball diamond. For the first time the season we saw the Pirates put together a complete team effort to get the W. Starting Pitching, Defense, clutch hitting, opposite field hitting, base running, and most importantly...strong bullpen work.

The Bucs continue their home-stand as they welcome in the Reds over the weekend and the Cubbies (who we will see for the first time this season) on Tuesday through Thursday. Big crowds are expected as it will be another Fireworks night Friday and "Freddy Sanchez Batting Title Bobble Head" on Saturday. See ya at the ballpark!