It was bound to happen, wasn’t it? And wouldn’t ya know it, this is the second straight year for it to happen.
For the universe to troll all of you suffering Pittsburgh Pirates fans.
Go right ahead, universe. Rub it it in.
Tonight, Gerrit Cole will start for the Yankees against Tyler Glasnow of the Rays in Game 5 of their American League Division Series.
The two former Pirates — and Altoona Curve — pitchers will be on the hook for their teams’ fate this season in a do-or-die decisive game.
Why can’t Pirates fans have nice things?
Why can’t both Cole and Glasnow be in a Buccos rotation that makes the playoffs, giving the team an actual, legitimate shot to get to the World Series?
Is it because the universe hates the Pirates. And hates Pirates fans?
No.
Well, maybe.
Heck, I don’t know.
In Cole’s situation, it all came down to money.
In Glasnow’s situation, it came down to gross negligence that borders on incompetence.
We don’t have to go through all the history here.
In short, Cole was going to command a boatload of money, so the Pirates traded him away to the Houston Astros so that they could at least get something for him.
With Glasnow, the Pirates gave up on him way too early, and the best minor league pitcher of all time has found his way with the Rays after getting dealt away in a monumentally stupid trade.
Last year, Cole and Glasnow met in Game 5 of the ALDS between the Astros and Rays. Cole was terrific, giving up one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in eight innings. Glasnow wasn’t up for that major challenge and got shelled early for four runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Cole and the Astros won, sending Glasnow and the Rays home.
We’ll see what happens in the rematch tonight.
Regardless, no matter who wins tonight, it will serve merely as another huge loss for Pirates fans.
