Dunlap: 10 Reasons Why Pirates' Season A Success No Matter Wednesday's Outcome
The Cubs and Jake Arrieta are storming into town.
The Pirates are pushing into games beyond those requisite 162 for the third time in as many seasons. At 98-64, with the second-best record in the bigs, this team has achieved much as a Wild Card matchup looms at PNC Park.
Certainly, there's much more to be gained by a win against the Cubs and advancement into the playoffs proper, but let's not be naïve about all this; let's not miss the obvious right in front of our faces.
No matter Wednesday's outcome, this season has been a success.
You can have your opinion, but that's mine.
No matter what happens in that one-off, nine-inning traipse through the orders for the second and third-best teams in the National League Central (and baseball), what the Pirates did in accumulating almost-100 wins this season can't be viewed as anything but an overwhelming achievement.
You got that? This 2015 season has been one hell of a ride, one grand triumph, no matter what happens Wednesday.
No matter what happens Wednesday, we have seen Gerrit Cole answer all those questions from Spring Training where it was asked if he could take command of a pitching staff and grow into --- at this young --- a true ace.
He has.
And he has excited the heck out of us for the future.
No matter what happens Wednesday, we got to tag along on that last, majestic farewell ride of tough-on-the-outside but sentimental-on-the-inside A.J. Burnett. He wowed us through the first half of a season that he swears is his last, stumbled a bit through injury but then made it known --- to whomever would listen --- that this place will always be so darn special to him. And he will always be so special to us.
No matter what happens Wednesday, we got to see the latest reclamation project of Ray Searage in J.A. Happ, as he was picked off the scrap heap and molded not just into a serviceable part, but a guy who pitched like an ace when the games grew in importance.
No matter what happens Wednesday, no one will ever take away a 2015 where Francisco Cervelli came in under heavy scrutiny because of who he wasn't --- Russell Martin --- and proved that who he was turned out to be more than good enough. All he did was handle a pitching staff masterfully (with capable backup Chris Stewart pitching in) and hit .295 as his stick did more talking than we ever thought it would.
No matter what happens Wednesday, we roared through the summer of Jung Ho. A span of time when a South Korean we still don't know a whole lot about captivated us with his baseball skill, grew closer to his teammates and whacked that baseball around all the while still --- and perhaps most impressive --- growing accustomed to our culture and its ways. An unlikely acquisition from halfway around the globe became one of the most unlikely fan favorites in the long history of Pittsburgh sports --- and we were there to consume it each and every step.
No matter what happens Wednesday, that outfield continued to dazzle right before us with three men --- McCutchen, Marte and Polanco --- who are built like statues and all carry themselves in a way that commands our reverence, did things that made us rewind our DVR or turn to our pal in the seat next to us and ask, "Did that really just happen?"
No matter what happens Wednesday, we witnessed three guys who came through this organization together --- Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez and Jordy Mercer --- play their guts out for the franchise that drafted them and put all future business to the backburner. For them, more than maybe any guys on this roster, this summer of 2015 has been, and needed to be, about trying to win a title while under contract with that team boasting that gold 'P' on their hats. And, like Pittsburghers do, through Walker's slump, Alvarez's defensive lapses and Mercer's injury, we stuck with them and supported them, knowing they were doing all they could do to try to mold a winner.
No matter what happens Wednesday, that gabillion-watt smile and plays-with-the-passion-of-a-kid style of Josh Harrison will never be forgotten. Whether you went to the ballpark in the opening series of 2015 or were there last week, you saw a man who understands he gets paid handsomely, but all he does is play a game. In 2015, armed with a new, huge contract, Harrison never wavered from playing with an infectious flair; and no matter the outcome of the Wild Card game, that must be a lasting memory of him.
No matter what happens Wednesday, we all got to see Francisco Liriano amaze at times with his left arm, and suddenly find a way with his bat. Frankie was, frankly, having a lot of fun out there.
No matter what happens Wednesday, this Pirates team answered any late-game questions anyone had as the back end tandem of Mark Melancon and Tony Watson allowed you to effectively call it a victory for the Bucs if they were leading after seven innings. That felt good this season; and it feels good pushing forward into next year.
No matter what happens Wednesday, you came out to the park and watched on television, satisfactorily completing manager Clint Hurdle's vision he had when he came roaring into town. Oh yes, this city has been re-bonded with its baseball club as 2,498,596 fans in the PNC Park stands and skyrocketing television ratings can effectively attest to.
And about Hurdle, no matter what happens Wednesday, this guy has been an overwhelming success this season. His team won 98 games as they scratched and scraped with the Cardinals and Cubs the whole way through.
Some can go ahead and use Wednesday --- and perhaps beyond --- as the ultimate measure as to if these 2015 Pirates can be deemed a success.
For me, however, no matter what happens Wednesday, to achieve 98 wins in a season in which this organization looks to still be building and pointing up toward bigger things, I can't help but call it a success. Even if it were to all end right here.
Colin Dunlap is a featured columnist at CBSPittsburgh.com. He can also be heard weekdays from 5:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sports Radio 93-7 "The Fan." You can e-mail him atcolin.dunlap@cbsradio.com. Check out his bio here.
