He's 40 feet tall and he's all yellow. No, it's not a member from Cold Play, but a rubber duck floating just outside PNC Park as the N.L. Wild Card Game gets ready to begin. Why is it there?
According to MLB's Cut4, the duck is meant to relieve tension. Creator Florentijn Hofman, who hails from the Netherlands says that tha duck's presence can help relieve the most stressful of situations. It has been working its way down the Ohio River since it was released on September 27. Four days later, it's making a chameo just outside the park hosting the N.L. Wild Card.
Tension? Who needs to have their tension relieved?
Uhh, fans and maybe the Pirates themselves. Some of these guys have years in the league others are fairly new to the game, especially October baseball. If you ask me, it's an intended target for third-base slugger, Pedro Alvarez, who finished the season thid in baseball with 36 jacks. He might have 186 strikeouts, but Alvarez can hit it a ton when he makes contact.
In case you're wondering, Alvarez's longest home run in 2013 came months ago in May when he smacked a tape measure shot that went 456 feet at PNC Park.
The Pirates prepare to face a Cincinnati Reds team that has beaten the best of the best in the postseason, coming close to an NLCS appearance last year. The Reds have experience up and down their lineup. However, there is always a first time and the Pirates are looking to make 2013 a year to truly remember rather than making it a year where the Pirates were briefly in the postseason.
Click here for picture of the 40-foot rubber duck hanging out in the Allegheny River.
