Series Previes: A Pirate's Life for Them, Not for Me

I'd cheer for the Pirates if they still used this logo.

I've been thinking about this upcoming series with the Buccos a lot. Seeing how bad the Astros have been this season makes me think, holy crap, imagine having gone through this every single baseball season since I was born. If you're a 19-year-0ld Pittsburgh Pirates fan, that's what you've gotten. Sheesh. I can't imagine being this bad every year. I've found that, with a few exceptions (Yankees, college sports) sports are a cyclical phenomena. Your team blows, and then it doesn't anymore. It goes to the World Series, gets swept, and then blows again. Eventually, your stars retire, your farm system sucks, you trade your new stars, re-stock your farm system, and on and on. Things change eventually. But man, change has been slow in coming for these poor Pirates and their fans. And just when you thought a Cinderella story was on the horizon, they fall flat on their face after the All-Star break and it's back to Steelers preseason games in August. Poor Pittsburgh. Anyway...

Houston Astros (44-90) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (62-71), August 29-31, Minute Maid Park

Game 1:
7:05 pm, Wandy Rodriguez (9-9, 3.41) vs. Ross Ohlendorf (0-1, 7.24)

Game 2:
7:05 pm, Henry Sosa (1-2, 5.09) vs. Charlie Morton (9-7, 3.63)

Game 3:
J.A. Happ (4-15, 6.03) vs. James McDonald (8-6, 4.22)

Well well, if this isn't the clash of the titans. Ohlendorf comes off a lengthy stay on the DL due to a shoulder injury. Wandy will likely be able to calm down a little bit on the bump, as he won't have to wonder if he's going to be dealt in the middle of the game to the opposing team. The surprise stay in the Houston rotation, Sosa, goes against what was laughably thought to be an NL Cy Young contender earlier in the year in Morton. In the finale, The Happless Wonder takes on the feast or famine McDonald, who's been all feast against the Astros this season. I think it's safe to say this series won't be a ratings success.

PREDICTION: I really see this as a coin toss, but I'll just pretend to be a happy baseball fan and say the Astros win two out of three, taking the first to games in the contest. Rodriguez and Sosa pitch well, while Happ gets shelled. What's new?