Hurry! Hurry!

Space on the Pittsburgh Pirates bandwagon is limited.

It’s been a long time since Western Pennsylvania was all abuzz about baseball.

Consider an entire generation has been born, eaten paste in kindergarten, learned their ABCs, had their first dance and first kiss and discovered the inventions of Facebook and Twitter since the Pirates last had fans all in a tizzy with a winning campaign.

Consider 11 different presidents have sat in the oval office since the last time the Bucs were the first team in the Major Leagues to 50 wins.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was in office in 1960 when that last happened.

Countries have risen and fallen. Miami’s multi-purpose stadium has had seven different names since the Pirates last had a winning season, including Land Shark Stadium.

Consider Pittsburgh sports fans have seen the Steelers go to four Super Bowls, winning two, and the Penguins win three Stanley Cups since the last time the Pirates were world champions.

Even the Pittsburgh Passion have won a title.

Now it seems most of that is about to come to an end. The Pirates are the “it” teams this season in the MLB.

Baseball analysts are making goo-goo eyes at them as if they are the prettiest girl at the ball. EPSN has the Buccos atop their power rankings and some have even suggested they are the most complete team in all the land.

The crazy thing is they may be correct.

The record doesn’t lie, not after 81 games. That’s a half-season’s worth of baseball to analyze and digest. And after the first unofficial half of the season, the Bucs are the king of the hill.

Last year the Pirates were 45-36 after 81 games. This year, they were 51-30. A six-game improvement doesn’t seem like much, but six games would have been the difference between a losing record and a winning mark and a shot at the second National League Wild Card spot last season.

Of course, all of this good will toward the Pirates will be for naught should the ship spring 47 leaks as it did last season in the final 81 games.

I get the feeling the fan base, while giddy with excitement about the Bucs being the best in baseball, are kind of covering their eyes and peeking through their crossed fingers, waiting for another catastrophe to strike.

I get the feeling they are just quietly preparing themselves for a 20-game losing streak, injuries to the entire pitching staff, Jason Grilli to realize he’s Jason Grilli and not Mariano Rivera in his prime.

They are waiting for the baseball gods to kick them in the rosin bags.

To that I say just enjoy the ride.

Playoff baseball? In Pittsburgh? Bet your bandwagon on it.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.