First Half Pirates, Vals and Fever

 It's just past the All-Star break in both Major League Baseball and the WNBA.  For me what's most notable in baseball is that at the halfway point the Pittsburgh Pirates are actually in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.  That's very unusual, the Pirates being a small market team with a small budget, and in recent years a penchant for trading away its best assets, and rarely competitive.  But that's not in itself been what's fascinating about the first half of this season.

It's that these few months have seen one potential star after another rise from the well-regarded Pirates farm system.  Pitcher Paul Skenes was the first phenom a couple of years ago.  From rookie sensation to the best in the league in two years.  Skenes had a rough first half this year, his off the charts velocity waning, though he's always had other pitches and the ability to use them.  But the Pirates have brought up other talented young pitchers.  And then there are the two other instant phenoms. 

In April, the Pirates brought up 19 year old shortstop Konner Griffin.  He is fast, quick and hits for average and with power.  He got a hit and drove in a run in his first game, scored from second on a ground ball single, turned a smooth double play and showed range on the field.  A few days later he hit his first big league homerun, on his 20th birthday.  The Pirates promptly did something totally out of character in recent decades: they signed him to a long term contract.  

Old timers like me were reminded of Pirates great Bill Mazeroski, who also came up to the Pirates at age 19.  He became an immediate star, and played for the Pirates for 15 seasons, most of them as one of the greatest second basemen in history.  He is forever famous for his home run leading off the bottom of the ninth in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, which won the series over the mighty Yankees and sent Pittsburgh (and those of us in nearby towns) into ecstasy.  Mazeroski (who lived in my town of Greensburg and was a member of my childhood Catholic parish) died just before the 2026 season began.  But as another connection, it was Bill Mazeroski's son who scouted and discovered Konner Griffin and brought him to the Pirates infield.

One element that ensured Mazeroski's long term success was his sturdyness.  He was seldom injured and often played nearly every game of at least his first 13 years.  Unfortunately Konner Griffin has suffered two significant injuries already, and is not expected back on the field until September.

But Pirates fans have since had several new players to be thrilled by, the latest and maybe greatest being Esmerlyn Valdez, a power hitting right fielder nicknamed the Magician.  He set a Major League record by hitting 14 home runs in his first 38 games, with 31 RBIs.  Nobody in baseball hit better than he did in that run.  

Valdez joins a lineup that hits an unusual number of home runs for a Pirates team, with Brandon Lowe leading with 23.  Ryan O'Hearn has 17, with 69 RBIs.  Bryan Reynolds is another RBI hitter with 61.  And for the first month or so it looked like mercurial outfielder Oneil Cruz was becoming a more consistent star, until his injury.  He's expected back in August.

Injuries have held the Bucs back a bit, and basically so far they've been a streaky team that usually ends up winning about as many games as they lose.  But on their best days they can be brilliant and are great fun to watch.

In the WNBA, the two teams I follow are both pretty exciting to watch as well.  The Golden State Valkyries continue to astound the league with their winning ways, now as a second year expansion team.  They ended a 9 game winning streak just before the break.  Known for defense, they've added firepower with Gabby Williams.  When Kaitlyn Chen heads for the basket it's a treat to watch her blazing speed.

The Indiana Fever seemed mired in some kind of disorganized funk, not living up to their offensive potential for much of the first half, but really catching fire just before the break, and since.  They've had several 100+ point games in that stretch.  Caitlyn Clark in particular has been showing out, with Kelsey Mitchell again becoming a consistent high scorer and when healthy, Aliyah Boston can still be dominating.  Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull have to be two of the best reserves and role players in the league. While the team is often controversial they are always worth watching.