The 2013 Pirates have what it takes

It's May 30th and the Pittsburgh Pirates (33-20) have the second best record in baseball. The Pirates are off to their best start in 20 years after surviving a brutal April schedule and then winning 18 games so far in May. Pirates fans or cautiously optimistic, and rightfully so, after watching consecutive late season collapses. However, this year feels incredibly different than the last two seasons. There are several players / factors that make this team for real.

Starting Pitching - The starting pitching staff is the best rotation the Pirates have had in a very long time. AJ Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez are savvy veterans that will keep the Pirates in the game nearly every time they take the hill. Francisco Liriano is proving to be healthy and looks unhittable at times. Newcomers Jeff Locke and Jeanmar Gomez have added stability to the back end of the rotation. The starting rotation's 3.53 ERA is the 6th best in the major leagues.

Bullpen - The Bucco bullpen is the best in the business. They lead the MLB in wins (13), saves (24), and batting average (.212) and are 2 strikeouts shy of the major league lead. The bullpen, dubbed the #SharkTank, has been absolutely incredible and I don't see any weaknesses at this point. Unfortunately, their 185.1 innings pitched leads the National League and they have a 20 inning lead on 2nd place San Francisco. The starting pitching has to go deeper into games, but the bullpen has been potent and will continue to aid in the success of the team.

Russell Martin - Russell Martin brought something very special to this club when he arrived this spring. Martin's swagger, tenacity, confidence, and leadership has helped shape the identity of the team. He's among the best defensive catchers in the league and he's willing to do anything to help the team win. He calls a great game, frames pitches well, and solved the "swipe as many bags as you can" epidemic we've become accustomed to. Whether Martin is climbing the dugout fence trying to catch a foul ball or coming through with a big hit at the plate, he brings leadership the club has lacked in prior years. In my opinion, Russell Martin is one of the key contributors to the Pirates success thus far.

Andrew McCutchen - The Pirates have been successful so far this season without Andrew McCutchen playing like Andrew McCutchen. Don't get me wrong, Cutch hasn't been terrible, but he's nowhere close to playing the way he did for most of last season. Lately, McCutchen has been centering the ball well and he appears to be on the cusp of becoming a terror again at the plate. Look out NL Central when McCutchen puts it all together.

Pedro Alvarez - Despite hitting only .200 so far, Alvarez is on track to hit 35+ home runs and 100+ RBI. The Pirates offense has been punchless at times and Alvarez hasn't had one of his famous prolonged hot streaks. His production is still necessary for the offense to have success and he's quietly been doing just that. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up hitting over 40 homers this year. Alvarez's increased production will help the club continue to win.

Jason Grilli - It's hard to believe Jason Grilli is having the best season of his career at the age of 36. He leads the majors in saves (22) and has converted every opportunity. In 24.2 innings pitched, Grilli has 38 strikeouts, an opposing batting average of .141, and a 1.09 ERA. Successful teams often have a great closer and the Pirates have the best in baseball.

We Are Family - This Bucco team has been building a family atmosphere for the last 3 or 4 years. They have fun together and they appear to play for each other. Veterans like Brandon Inge and AJ Burnett not only provide leadership, but they help provide a loose atmosphere and a sense of directions for the younger core. Most championship caliber teams in any sport have the "It Factor" in the clubhouse and this team seems to have "It".

I'm not ready to say this club has what it takes to make a World Series run, but I never imagined they'd have the second best record in baseball at the end of May either. The Pirates play all 9 innings and have reminded opposing teams of that numerous times this season. One thing is for certain though - I don't see a second half collapse on deck this year. This team is just different.