May Day
Ever have one of those days where you want to be outside, but you know you can't be, because you were burned after four hours in the sun yesterday?
Lots of things to write about:
- The Cavs didn't play very well Saturday, and now they need to win tomorrow to maintain their advantage over the Nets. What bothered me yesterday was the Cavs seemed to have New Jersey in trouble several times, only to turn the ball over and fall behind again.
Bottom line, Cleveland needs to play better than how it did yesterday. It can't afford another 18-point effort from LeBron James. The good news is LeBron usually follows a poor performance with a strong one. We'll see.
- Forget AAA. Fausto Carmona will be in the All-Star Game.
- I'm watching the Pirates-Braves game on TBS, and the announcers were talking about the Pirates' never-ending rebuilding process.
Few teams in the last 30 years were as talented as Pittsburgh was in the early 1990s. The Pirates had Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke, and some outstanding pitching. Doug Drabek, Bob Walk and Tim Wakefield made for a very solid staff.
The Pirates won three consecutive National League East titles. In 1990, they were heavily favored against the Reds. Cincinnati beat them in six games, mostly in the late innings. If Eric Davis doesn't back up Billy Hatcher, and if Glenn Braggs doesn't rob Carmelo Martinez, who knows what happens?
In 1991, the Pirates had a 3-1 series lead against the Braves. In 1992, they were one out away from the pennant. Neither time did they get it.
What followed was remarkable. Not only did the Pirates suffer a mass exodus after the '92 season, but years of hopelessness followed.
Why was I so skeptical about the Indians rebuilding process when it started?
I remember the Pirates.
And it's still going. I've heard the Pirates have talent, but I've heard and seen that before. Players mature in Pittsburgh, then go somewhere else to win and get paid.
And the fans know it.
In 2005, my friend and I went to PNC Park. It might be the best of all the new ballparks (by new, I mean Camden Yards on). That night, we saw Zach Duke throw a gem against the Rockies. The kids sitting behind us were disappointed, because they thought a good outing would only speed up Duke's exit to a bigger market.
You figure at some point, the Pirates have to get lucky and having a winning season, their first since 1992.
But it may not be this year. The Brewers are running away with the NL Central, and the Pirates are just hanging in.
And time marches on.