Pittsburgh vs. New York Yankees, 14 June 2005

Kip Wells (5-4, 3.39) vs. Mike Mussina (6-4, 4.33). The Pirates do indeed head to Yankee Stadium with a record better than that of the Yankees, by a half a game. The Yankees have relied way too heavily on faded veterans (Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, Kevin Brown, and so on) and role players of questionable usefulness (Ruben Sierra, Tony Womack, John Flaherty and a host of others), but it's obviously still hard not to be impressed with their talent.

The Pirates play nine of their next twelve games against the Yanks, the Red Sox and Cardinals; these twelve games could really turn the buzz in Pittsburgh into a roar, or they could kill it completely.