Andrew McCutchen Is The Future

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

 Andrew McCutchen is the future for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After 17(17!) consecutive losing seasons,  Pirates fans now have a reason for some hope(may it last)! McCutchen is a 5-tool player. Well, OK he won't ever hit 30 hrs in a year, but neither did Rod Carew, or Tony Gwynn. And neither one of those guys were 5-tool guys. Neither Gwynn or Carew were fast(Gwynn was fast when the Padres were brown and yellow). And Gwynn had a weak throwing arm. Andrew is a humble kid, too. He doesn't think that high of himself (a la Barry Roidboy Bonds).

 Andrew started out in Fort Meade, Florida where speed is bred like my friend breeds Shi Tzus. He played football and ran track in high school. He batted .474 with 40 RBI, 40 Sb, and he only struck out 5 times. He signed with the University of Florida, but the Pirates drafted him and he went for the right decision.

 McCutchen is similar to Rickey Henderson. If he adds a more patient eye, he will be as good as Rickey. But for Rickey and Andrew, being good isn't hitting home runs like Albert Pujols(Though McCutchen did blast 3 Hrs against the Nats on August 1). Being good for Rickey and Andrew is leading off the 7th inning, trailing 1-0, and pitchers & managers just shudder at how many ways the two can beat you. While Andrew is still morphing into that kind of player, he certainly will, and Cutch deserves rookie of the year.

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