Trending
The biggest move the Pirates made at the trade deadline was going all in on playing the young guys.
They ditched veterans Rich Hill, Carlos Santana, Ji-Hwan Bae and Austin Hedges. As a result, it's been nothing but the "Young Bucs'' ever since.
It's been Endy Rodriguez behind the plate, Henry Davis in right field, Liover Peguero up the middle and Jared Triolo as well.
For as much excitement there's been just as much frustration. They're fun and play the game with a flair unbeknownst to Pittsburgh in quite a while. They're frustrating too as they're young and raw and will make mistakes.
The series against the Atlanta Braves is the perfect microcosm of the Young Bucs. There was plenty of success as they handed All-Star pitcher Spencer Strider his fourth loss of the season and worst outing of the season as he lasted only 2 2/3 innings while yielding six runs and walking three.
Strider allowed five hits to the Pirates, four of them to the aforementioned Rodriguez, Peguero Davis and Triolo. On the night, the quartet finished 6-for-14 with three runs and four RBIs.
They aren't without their shortfalls, though, as Davis misplayed a ball in right field for his fourth error of the season and led to two runs scoring.
The game giveth and taketh away.
The Young Bucs are young, clearly, all four were on the same team in Altoona last year. They weren't together much in Indianapolis, but now, they're in Pittsburgh where the future is very much now.
There will be more frustrations, sure. The two losses in the Braves series were by a total of three runs and that's against a team that boasts the best record in Major League baseball, one of which was a blown save by All-Star closer David Bednar, but the Pirates proved they can compete with and beat the team at the top.
The series against the Braves also showed the best move the Pirates could make at the deadline was letting the kids play.
And they can.
What's to come is very uncertain, but for now enjoy the Young Bucs and buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride.
Jarrod Prugar covers the Altoona Curve for the Mirror.