I haven't been to PNC Park as a fan in 3 years. When I was a kid, I would go all summer long. After a while, the allure of baseball wasn't enough. I grew older and more cynical.
Josh Bell is making me feel like a kid again.
On Wednesday night the Pirates were getting blown out. I kept the TV on mute and read a book. When Bell got up to the plate I would put the book down and unmute the television. He's reason alone to watch this team right now.
He got me to buy tickets to Saturday's game against the Dodgers. He's hitting .339 with 60 hits. 33 of those hits are of the extra-base variety. 16 of them are home runs. Two of those home runs have wound up in the Allegheny river.
I am too young to really remember Bonds in a Pirates uniform. I do remember Brian Giles. This surpasses anything that he was able to do. Andrew McCutchen was a great all-around player. Josh Bell has been even better than what Cutch put together in his MVP season.
It may not last. I don't care. I'll be there on Saturday night. See you at the game.