Pirates pitching future looks very bright

[Calzone Lord]

8 wins in a row.

20 games over .500

First team to 50 wins.

The current streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons (the longest in the history of any of the four major sports) is obviously toast.

Now five straight home sell-outs. The crowds look pretty rowdy as well.

The big home crowds and success will be especially key for Jeff Locke. He was not getting some calls on pitches that brushed the corner earlier in the year. He's got a lot of walks for someone who is tremendously accurate, because he tries to be too fine and almost never gives in.

Everyone is expecting Locke to hit a wall and regress... I don't see it. He's a different pitcher than he's ever been since adding a turn to his delivery. Quite a few of his walks wouldn't have been walks if K-Zone graphics were used to call balls and strikes instead of live umpires. With a rowdy sell-out home crowd and the kind of stats he's posted this season, he's going to start to get more respect from the home plate ump. If the 50/50 calls turn his way in the second half of the season, he will prove the real deal, at least.