The Pittsburgh Pirates already have done something this season that they haven't done in the past 15: Win a game they should have won but almost lost.

The Buccos blew a five-run ninth-inning lead in the season opener against Atlanta, causing the crowd at Turner Field to timewarp 15 years into the past to do that tomahawk chop thing.

I was looking for Jane Fonda in the stands. I was looking for Mark Lemke and Tom Glavine in the dugout, too. Oh, wait — Glavine

was there.But a funny thing happened on the way to becoming the same old Pirates. They overcame MattCapps' best fire marshal Bill impersonation, held their composure and, gasp, emerged victorious.Sure, there wasn't a lot to be happy about. The bullpen was shaky. Somewhere in Japan, Ryan Vogelsong is saying, "I could have done that."Heck, as we were watching it, we were saying, "I could have done that." I routinely hit 50 mph on the pitching machine at the Big Butler Fair each summer, but at least I throw strikes.Take note of that, Capps and Damaso Marte.And Jason Bay is jonesing so much to get out of town, he's apparently going to let one fly ball per game land behind him in left field.Still, the Pirates found a way to stay in the race on March 31.Perhaps they actually "(We) Will" this year.Bashing the Bucs is the third most popular sport in Pittsburgh these days behind football and hockey. Well, OK, the fourth favorite sport behind football, hockey and the next-Steeler-to-be-arrested office pool (my money is on Jeff Reed. He's creepy).It's like the anti-bandwagon. Instead of jumping on the wagon in support of a team, people in these parts storm the wagon to bash the Pirates.It's hard to argue that they don't deserve it. As the losing seasons mount, so does the frustration of the fans.But, who knows? This year might be different.It's already shaping up to be a crazy year in baseball. Any year in which Prince Fielder can be praised for losing weight even though his uniform could clothe all the homeless in Washington D.C. qualifies as a wacky one.It just might be wacky enough for the Pirates to win.Of course, people have been saying that for the past 15 years.If this keeps up, the streak will be old enough to drive. Pirates fans can only hope the streak doesn't live long enough to drink, get married, have children and file for social security.But streaks are meant to be broken. This team already has shown it has the nerve to wantonly blow a five-run lead and win.That takes a lot of gumption.Besides, Xavier Nady is on pace to hit 162 home runs. Take that Barry Bonds!The only thing that could derail this juggernaut is the management. Let's hope they don't get the itch to trade for Barry Zito and his 22 mph fastball at the trade deadline — and assume all of his mega-salary.It's April 3 and the Pirates are still in the race. That's a start.Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.