Stay Strong Bucco Fans; They'll Be Back

Did you hear that sound? It's the familiar sound of the fair-weather Pirate fans abandoning ship. For many, the current 4 game skid is like watching Old School for the third time and knowing exactly what is going to happen before it happens. In this case though, it's not Will Ferrell streaking; it's the Pirates lackluster offense failing to muster together a few runs to support great pitching efforts.

However, my words of wisdom to the Pirates faithful: Stay strong, they'll be back.

This team was good enough to be the best team in the majors through the first half of the season. Compiling a franchise best 51 wins before July is not an accident. They say pitching wins championships, so it's not surprising that the Pirates pitching staff was the best in baseball during that stretch as well.

If one thing is for sure, this pitching staff appears to have what it takes to maintain the superhuman stats they posted in the first half. A little more help by the Pirates offense and they are still the best in baseball.

Now, the reality of the situation is the Pirates need a few current players to play better and they need to consider upgrading a few positions before the deadline. Hopefully a player or two can be added to strengthen the offense just enough to put together an extra run or two per game.

Regardless, hang in there. Every MLB team hits a rough patch, or multiple rough patches, throughout the course of a grueling 162 game season. The best team in baseball didn't suddenly become the worst. This is just a bump in the road right now, not a collapse. (I told myself that over and over until I believed it enough to write this...)

So, hang in there Bucco fans...They'll be streaking like Will Ferrell again before you know it