Here's how it would happen: May 2008

Quick debriefing: I'm honestly kind of bored by the way I kicked off my last season preview, what with the mostly already answered questions and the like. I'll still hit the big questions before the season starts, but I really feel like doing something different. I honestly think the Pirates have no chance to contend or even finish .500 this year, but the truth is that there must be some sequence of events, no matter how improbable, that can take place that would bring home an NL Central pennant for the Bucs in 2008. It's probably just because I've watched too much LOST lately, but I'm going to write a series of flash-forwards dealing with the one alternate dimension in a million in which the Pirates win the NL Central in 2008. Someone hit the gas on the infinite improbability drive ...

Remember, the Buccos finished April 13-14, 4 games behind the division leading Cubs.

May 1st- The Bucs end their six game slide by winning their first game in the Nationals' new park, 8-7. Jason Bay hits a grand slam in the top of the ninth to dig the Pirates out of a three run hole.
WHYGAVS: I'm not even sure I remember how to write a recap for a win. One of the absolute best feelings writing a blog like this is having faith in a player, only to see that faith rewarded and I think we can all agree that was one hell of a clutch home run by Jason Bay. I doubt this season is going to have a turning point for the Pirates, but if it were to have one, this win tonight would be it. Mired in a six game losing streak and facing a three run deficit, their best player stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of the year. It's nice to see, even if the Pirates never see .500 again this year.


May 7th- Tom Gorzelanny shuts out the Giants with a brilliant 3-hitter. The Bucs ding Barry Zito for 9 runs in four innings, running their record to 17-15.
WHYGAVS: It may not be the same as playing the Giants with Barroids around, but it sure is nice to know that someone in baseball is worse off than we are. A lot worse off, actually.

May 12th- The Pirates sweep the Braves on another strong effort by Gorzo, pulling out a 2-1 win and going to 21-15, just a game behind the Cubs.
WHYGAVS: Umm, is it just me or is this team actually playing good baseball? A home sweep over the Braves is a huge, huge accomplishment. Did anyone actually think the Bucs would be
6 games north of .500 at any point this year, much less mid-May?

May 18th- The Cubs beat the Pirates 10-5 to win the series at Wrigley after the Pirates opened things up with a 5-4 win on the previous Friday. The Bucs go 2-4 on their road trip to St. Louis and Chicago.
WHYGAVS: If today's loss tells us anything, it's that the Pirates just aren't on the same level as the Cubs right now. They strong-armed us with an awesome offense lead today by Aramis, D-Lee, and Fukudome's 6 hits. This Pirate team may end up being better than we expected, but we just can't keep up with that kind of firepower.

May 22nd- The Pirates' slide continues as a 6-4 loss to the Brewers brings their third straight series loss and drops the Bucs to 24-22 and into third place in the division behind the Cubs and Brewers.
WHYGAVS: Don't you wish we had a guy like Prince Fielder? He hit his 18th bomb today and certainly looks to be on pace for his second straight 50 homer year at the age of 24. Damn, that's only a year older than me. Why can't the Pirates have a power hitter like him, ever?

May 25th- Adam LaRoche and Ryan Doumit both hit homers (their 13th and 8th, respectively) to lead the Pirates to a 5-1 win over the Cubs which is spearheaded by Matt Morris's 7 strong innings and gives the Pirates a series win over the Cubbies, pulling them to within 3 games of first.
WHYGAVS: It's hard to argue with everything that's happened on the Pirates to this point in the year. LaRoche and Bay have both avoided awful starts and have been legitimate 3-4 hitters right now. The pitching staff has been mostly downright good and even Matt Morris has been solid. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I feel like this 26-23 start might actually be sustainable. My hopes aren't incredibly high, but it's not as far out of the question as I thought it would be when this season started.

May 31st- The Bucs close May with a 15-2 win over the Cardinals, lead by Jason Bay's 16th and 17th homers, closing out his annual May hotstreak with a .332/.411/.606 line and 8 homers on the month. During the game, Albert Pujols blows his elbow out trying to turn a 3-6-3 double play and is lost for the year. The Pirates move to 30-24 and to within a game of the Cubs.
WHYGAVS: If you're keeping track at home, you can officially cross the Cardinals off the list as contenders in the NL Central this year. They were hanging around .500, but they're never going to be able to keep up with the contenders without Pujols. Oddly enough, "the contenders" now includes the Pirates. I'm as baffled by all of this as you guys are, I promise.