Neal Huntington expects better play from the Pittsburgh Pirates in new season - MLB Update
Five months into that fretful game against the Atlanta Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Julio Lugo has yet to put it out of the mind. The game that was watched with bated breath eventually turned into the Atlanta Braves’ favour. Having outstretched
for no less than 19 innings, the game came to an end when an erroneous call made by plate umpire Meals came, resulting in the favour of the Atlanta Braves.
While that was an eyebrow-elevating decision, culminating with outrage and the arguments that ensued, the result proved to be devastating for the Pittsburgh Pirates. That one loss, it is important to recall, virtually took them out of the season, resulting
in their inability to qualify for the playoffs.
Catcher Michael McKenry said, “Yeah, it was a devastating, grueling game. But I always say that in 162 games, it's hard to look back at one. I can't say how many games we lost by one run. If you take those one-run games back instead of thinking about just
that one, then it makes a big difference.”
Soon after that, there was a host of problems that plagued the team, rendering it literally ineffective to go against the opponents with as much intensity as it was previously going. From the injuries to the weakening bullpen, the Pirates began to experience
the worse.
That one-run loss, while morale-lowering in nature, is something that the Pirates would not really like to repeat again. It is something which at least the general manager Neal Huntington vows when he talks about the future strategy of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Huntington said, “Our expectation is to play better baseball for six months next year. We talk continually about the process.”
It is only a matter of time before the 2012 season kicks off. While each side has to play 162 games, it is safe to say that the Pirates will indeed come forward with an altogether different outlook to prevail over the rivals. It would be interesting to see
how they attain their goals with the commencement of new season.
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