With the strikeout of Pedro Alvarez with two outs in the ninth inning, ‘Buctober’ ended in an instant.
The so-called “team of destiny” could not fulfill what they had planned. Their magic seemed to evaporate into thin air over the span of games 3 and 4.
It was a promising start to the series, taking home field advantage from St. Louis by splitting the first two games. They forced the Cardinals to fight off elimination in PNC Park after winning game 3.
However, games 4 and 5 were dominated by the pitching of St. Louis. In those games, the Pirates only managed two runs.
Why did the bats of Pittsburgh disappear?
Well, contrary to popular belief, they didn’t really disappear. Pitching combined with timely strikeouts or double plays led to their season ending.
Albeit, that is no excuse for blowing a 2-1 series lead.
Second basemen Neil Walker and left fielder Starling Marte combined for a total of ONE hit in the NLDS, a combined 1-38. And that only hit was a meaningless solo home run by Marte in the game 2 blowout win.
Those two players were first and second in the batting order for every game of the series. That’s not a very good job of setting the table for the heart of the lineup.
But let’s face it. The St. Louis Cardinals were a slightly better team in the end. They were proven in the playoffs, and it showed when it mattered most.
However, the one thing that keeps hanging over fans’ heads is the number 21.
What does that number mean to the Pittsburgh Pirates?
It is what would have been the number of years in a row the Pirates had a losing season. It is the number of Pittsburgh Pirate hall-of-famer Roberto Clemente. It is the height of the “Clemente Wall” in right field.
To some fans this year, there was a big superstition that was most likely coincidence. But there was a creepy feeling of reality to it.
With this season being the 21st season since the Pirates last winning season, a common belief was that the spirit of Roberto would do everything to get them over the hump.
And while the Pirates’ 94-68 regular season record officially ended the losing streak, the magic had to run out some time…
Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, that hourglass seemed to run out after Game 3, one win away from the NLCS.
A silver lining lies within the loss, however. This season should be the beginning of a good run of seasons to come, not just a fluke.
With the young nucleus intact, and pretty much the same team coming back for next year, there is no reason why the Pirates can not repeat this success; or take it further, for that matter.
Maybe next year they will save the magic of Clemente just for “Buctober: Part II.”
