Despite Record, Pirates Season Encouraging to Date

Before the season began I predicted a Pirates’ record of 74-88. Through 45 games, the Buccos sit at 19-26, a 68 win pace. I said that I thought 74 wins was an optimistic prediction as this team has a major void in talent, and that has shown true through the first 45 games. However, even the most pessimistic of fans has to believe the beginning of this baseball season has been an encouraging one for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For starters, this is not the same team that limped down the stretch the previous two years, finishing with 95 and 99 losses, respectively. These Pirates are competing night in and night out. Yes they have a major lack of power. Yes they do not have a bona fide number one starter (probably not even a number two for that matter). And yes the series against the Brewers was historically bad. But the Pirates are playing fundamentally sound baseball (for the most part, Andy LaRoche base-running blunders not included), hustling at all times, and competing to the best of their ability. That is a credit to John Russell and his staff. You can question some of Russell’s managerial tactics, such as the non-traditional positioning of fielders, but you cannot question the fact that these guys are playing hard for him right now.

That is not the reason for optimism, however. That is what should be expected of professionals, but is not always what you get as evidenced by the August and Septembers put together by the previous two editions of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The reason for optimism is the play of the guys who might actually be in a Pirates uniform the next time the club is in contention. Aki Iwamura has been atrocious in the leadoff spot and almost as bad in the field. He has probably led to 3 or 4 of the Pirates losses single-handily, but that does not matter because the guy will not be here in 2-3 years when this team might have a chance to compete.

Instead, Pirate fans can take solace in the fact that Andrew McCutchen looks like he could become a super-duper star. Garrett Jones is not going to be the masher he was last year, but looks more than capable of being a solid contributor and power bat. Ryan Doumit has looked like Ryan Doumit. Andy LaRoche has played a solid third base and shows some skills that will hopefully allow him to make the transition to second base where his bat would play much better. Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Ross Ohlendorf have all pitched well enough to form a solid middle of the rotation. The key will be to put one or two studs at the top of that rotation. Neal Huntington has proven that his strategy of putting a bullpen together year-by-year is the way to go and has shown the ability to identify the right guys for this role.

The only negatives toward the future is the total absence of power from Lastings Milledge (0 HRs in 144 ABs) and the complete ineptitude of Charlie Morton (1-8, 8.71 ERA). Each of these guys was acquired in a low-risk, high-reward trade, however, and their developments are not essential to the future of this club. Yes, if one or both could figure things out it would be nice and potentially speed up the rebuilding project, but neither needs to be counted on for the turn-around to be successful.

No, that success is being built where the most reason for optimism has transpired, in the Pirates’ minor league system. Jose Tabata and Neil Walker are tearing the cover off the ball in AAA. Pedro Alvarez is showing good patience and a great power stroke. Brad Lincoln looks like he could claim one of those spots at the top of the rotation. Even Bryan Morris, the much maligned pitching prospect acquired in the Jason Bay trade, pitched brilliantly in high-A ball and was recently promoted to Double-A where he again looked strong in his first start for Altoona. There is reason for hope up and down the minor league affiliates and that is a credit to Neal Huntington and the rest of the Pirates scouting staff.

The baseball season is still young and much is yet to be ultimately decided. But as the Pirates inevitably fall further and further from contention, Bucco fans may finally have some hope for the future as all signs point to encouraging for this young crop of Pirates and future Pirates.