The Pittsburgh Pirates have exceeded many people's expectations thus far into the season. Aside from a few that still remain optimistic after 15-straight years of losing, this season has been a big surprise for many.
Recent events bring up questions on whether this team will continue to exceed those expectations or will they fall back into the depths of last place?
With the recent injuries to both the disappointing Ian Snell and the surprising Phil Dumatrait, two starters in the five-man rotation have gone down in the past two days.
This could spell disaster for the Bucs as they desperately hold on in inter-league play. With games coming up against the surging Yankees and the exciting Rays, things look bleak for the Pirates.
They are a meager 36-40 and 12 games back within the NL Central. If you want that spelled out it essentially spells, “No Playoffs”.
People laugh at the fact that the fans or organization may be thinking that but, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility the way they were playing well and with the hopes of that young pitching staff.
Though with the worst ERA in MLB and two starters going down in two days, this spells disaster for the Pirates who will have to turn to the unproven pitchers that will be brought up to try and salvage a mediocre season.
John Van Benschoten and Ty Taubenheim are on top of the list to fill in for Snell and replace Dumatrait, which does not bode well for the Pirates.
Van Benschoten has made a few major league appearances in his career, all of which has been nothing but a miserable experience for him and fans alike.
He has shown that he can get hitters out with his above average fastball in the minors but, against major league hitters is a different story. Even though Snell is not going on the DL and has had a bad season, most would rather have Snell out there.
Dumatrait is eligible to come off the DL as soon as he can, which should be when they travel to Milwaukee. Hopefully the rest will restore Dumatrait as endurance issues has always been a concern.
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The Pirates seemed doomed heading into the interleague stretch with or without their pitching in order.
The best series to take advantage of this interleague play was against Baltimore and Chicago.
They in essence squandered three games away in Baltimore by giving up three leads. One was the starter and the other two were the closer. Losing two out of three against Baltimore was not what the team was looking for.
Going into the series against the White Sox they were hopefully going to turn things around against a team that was struggling to hit the ball. The Sox have lost five in a row heading into the set with the Pirates but fixed that quickly against a vulnerable pitching staff.
The Pirates were left watching run-after-run be scored against the pitching staff as they got swept.
Things took a small turn by winning two of three against Toronto but, things again look bleak as they look to finish interleague play. They await the Yankees and the Rays who are looking to creep up and stay ahead in that division.
I don’t see either team looking past the Pirates as this week looks to be one of the worst so far this season for the Bucs.
Barring a steal from both series the Bucs will be well under .500 and out of contention for any playoff spot. The question then is, what should the ownership do about the remaining players with contracts coming up and salaries to be handled.
There are many questions to be answered and thought about in this next month.
There are a slew of players with contracts up, a few including some big names: Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte, John Grabow and Jason Michaels.
There are more that are up at the end of this year so there are many decisions to be made. Should they unload soon or wait till later in the season?
I think they should ride this team out and see if they can reach that, what seems to be, unreachable .500 mark or even above with the club they have now.
If they can get that burden off their chest it would be huge. After this season I think is when the unloading should begin for a few reasons.
For one it will send the wrong message to the team. It will kind of send the message of surrendering and this group, unlike the past, doesn’t seem to be that way and could demoralize that club.
Secondly, unloading them now or during the season means you have to deal with teams that are in contention. Teams that are not in contention aren’t looking for a player to help them out right away. They are also thinking future.
So I believe that they should wait until the end of this season when everyone’s hopes are restored and other organizations are looking to improve and contend for a championship and move some of those players for young prospects.
The harsh reality is that this team is not going to contend for any title. That is the ultimate goal and rightfully so.
The best chance to compete is to continue with the young talent you have now and continuing to bring in younger, less expensive talent into Pittsburgh and then compete.
There are ways to do so and right ways to do it just take a look at the Rays.
Until this year I believe Pittsburgh has a bigger fan base and will bring in more if they start to win like the Rays which will make Pittsburgh more successful in the future.
The Pirates are in a bit of a situation that is going to make it hard for fans, players, and the front office.
Getting through this tough week or month is going to be key and hopefully the organization will do the right things to help this team compete.
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2 months ago
I think that picture of Snell pretty much tells it all! Nice article!
from 2 months ago
It's such a sad but true comment. Haha, Thanks man! I look forward to reading one of yours as well.
2 months ago
I've followed the Pirates closely, considering I can see most of their games, and I have friends who like the team.
I think this team can get to .500 and break that ugly streak they have going. They need to stand pat for the most part.
I'd trade the X-Man for sure though. He would net some good talent, and he is a Boras client so there is no re-signing him. I'd try to re-up with Bay though.
They easily have one of the best offensive outfields this year. Trading Nady would be okay considering they have young Andrew McCutchen down in the minors.
Also, since Steve Pearce is down there.. I think it's time to cut ties with Adam LaRoche anyway you can. Time to move on there, he's heated up as of late, but I don't think that is going anywhere.
I love that pitching staff though. Up until the injuries they had a nice quiet 1-5. If only Gorzo and Snell weren't struggling the way they were they'd win more games. Phil Dumatrait was solid for a 5 guy and what can you say about the job Paul Maholm and Zach Duke have done?
All in all though. You are right. This team needs to prove to the fans that they want to contend. I wouldn't start shipping off talent. But they really should consider dealing Nady if they deal anyone. It makes sense from a lot of aspects.
Man, talking about the Pirates. What's going on.. haha
from 2 months ago
Haha, I love talking Pirates. It's not often i get too. You and I are basically spot on. I still have so much confidence in this young pitching staff. I have seen the way they CAN pitch, they need to be smarter and get their velocity back up.
Nady and maybe even Bay are going. Bay is going to probably want a big contract. When Vernon Wells singed his big contract Bay had similar stats. I can see him going if they wants that. I'm sure they can get some from him if he plays well the rest of the season.
Couldn't agree with you more on Maholm and Duke. Duke is pitching how he did when he arrived. Giving up hits but, getting men out when he needs to and is throwing that curve ball for a strike more consistently. He isn't going to blow anyone away.
I hope Dumatrait can get healthy he showed signs of that high pick Boston used on him with the Bucs. Using the inside half with heat and then going away the the offspeed.
There are prospects to replace Nady with McCuthen and i would like to see Peace play first. LaRoche is eating up the lineup as well as the salary. Get some mid level prospects or even low level and try and turn them around for all i care. He is a burden that needs to be dealt with. Also, I have been saying that McLouth is starting to slide. He is coming back down to earth and i hear the marlins are interesting? It's hear say but, they may some a decent prospects worth looking at.
2 months ago
Good stuff Anthony, although I've got a little more hope left in this team than you do. I'm worried about the low number of quality draft signings so far, though. Nice to see some people commenting and talking about the bucs for once!
from 2 months ago
It seems like everytime i seem to doubt them. They prove me wrong. I liked game 1 and am looking forward to tomorrows game.
from 2 months ago
first time you could say that about the Pirates in a while, right? I can think of 5-10 times this year when previous teams (from any time in the past five years) would have folded.
2 months ago
My shrink is making a lot of money off of me thanks to the Bucco's...way to go assholes.
I can't get the names out of my head, starting with Sid Bream and going all the way to Derek Bell and Pat Meares. Oh god it's just a broken record...
...PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!
My head hurts now, I must go lie down.
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