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Cardinals Or Pirates? Take Your Pick | Upper Deck Report is a ...
On July 19, 2011, the NL Central was the tightest division in baseball, and the race was between four teams separated by a total of four games. Most surprising, of course, was the early-season performance by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the owners of the 18-straight losing season streak, the longest in North American sports history. Prior to Opening Day 2011, the Pirates were predicted to extend the streak to 19 seasons, so the fact that almost four months into the season they were atop the division made the Pirates the #top story of Major League Baseball’s <a href="http://www.nfljerseys-supply.com/ "><strong>jerseys cheap</strong></a> first half. The St. Louis Cardinals, who had failed to win the division in 2010 due to the scorching offense of the Cincinnati Reds, were looking to reclaim the divisional crown, but early injuries had some people doubting the possibility that Albert Pujols & Co. could make it back to the playoffs. Still, on July 19, the Pirates led the division by a half of a game over the Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Cincinnati Reds sat four games behind. Since then, we all know what has happened. The Pirates have gone 15-33, including a 10-game losing streak, and now sit 11 games under the .500 mark. St. Louis, on the other hand, hasn’t self-destructed like the Buccos, but they’ve only been able to improve their record by a handful of games and have trailed by as many as 14 games behind the division-leading Brewers. So now, with both teams having 19 games remaining on their 2011 schedule, Pittsburgh is 11 games under .500 and the Cardinals are eight games out of the division lead. Which is more likely to happen by the end of the season: The Pirates finish with a .500 or better record, or the Cardinals win the NL Central division? Let’s start with the Buccos. Of the 19 games remaining for Pittsburgh, nine will be played at PNC Park. Not that this should matter all that much, as the Pirates’ record at home is nearly identical to their performance on the road. In order to finish .500, the Pirates would need to close out the season on a 15-4 run. Now, they have won four out of their last six games, but that was against the Cubs and Astros. Their upcoming schedule is a bit tougher. They have a three-game set against the Cardinals at PNC Park next week, trailing the season series to the Red Birds 6-7, and they have a tough road trip against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. Combined, the Pirates have an 11-15 record against the N.L. West. They wrap up the season against a Milwaukee Brewers. Pittsburgh will travel to Miller Park sporting a 2-10 record against the Brewers this season. As for the Cardinals, they kick off a series tonight against the Atlanta Braves, fresh off of a series victory over the Brewers earlier this week. The main issue <a href="http://www.nfljerseys-supply.com/"><strong>NHL jerseys supply</strong></a> here is that St. Louis doesn’t control its own destiny. Not only do they need to get on a roll fast, but they need a collapse by the Brew-Crew. Of the 19 games remaining for the Cards, nine are against NL Central teams below them in the division, including three-game sets against the Cubs and Astros to conclude the season. The most difficult series, by far, will be next weekend, as they travel to Philadelphia for a four-game wrap-around set against the Phillies. The Brewers began a four-game series of their own last night against the Phillies, losing 7-2. They have what could be a dangerous road trip coming up as they travel to Cincinnati and Chicago for three-game sets, before coming home for a six-game homestand against the Marlins and Pirates to end the season. So will the Pirates finish the 2011 season on a 15-4 run and finish with a .500 record, or will the Cardinals erase the Brewers eight-game division lead and sneak into the playoffs? Anyone? Beuller? Sorry Pirates’ fans, but this one is going against your beloved Buccos. After all, when the Pirates were in first place earlier in the year and were playing their hottest baseball of the last decade, their record only made it as high as seven games over .500 (51-44). How would they possibly be able to win 11 of their next 15 to close out the season, which includes six games against division winners on the road in the Brewers and Diamondbacks? St. Louis fans shouldn’t be too excited, though. It would take a monumental collapse by the Brewers for them to cough up their division lead this late in the season. If for no other reason, their <a href="http://www.nfljerseys-supply.com/"><strong>NFL jerseys</strong></a> schedule this month is fairly light, and they’ve utterly dominated the majority of the opposing teams on the schedule over the next couple weeks. In fact, the Cardinals do have a relatively strong chance to make a run over the next few weeks. They certainly have the offense to do it, but there just isn’t enough time to make up that much ground on the Brew-Crew. I like the Cardinals’ chances much more than the Pirates’…but let’s be honest, neither one is happening this year. The Bucs have made some strides in the right direction in 2011 and should be able to build on the young core talent they’ve developed through the minor league system. As for the Cardinals, it should be an interesting offseason as they have a few question marks as to who will be returning for 2012, which does include the future of Albert Pujols.
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