Since Kevin Young left after 2002, Randall Simon, Daryle Ward, Sean Casey, Craig Wilson, and Adam LaRoche have all seen significant time at first base. Rookie Steven Pearce will most likely be the sixth by next season.
It would take forever to count the number of pitchers to start for the Pirates in the 2000s. They have more turnover than a local Starbucks.
What Can the Future Bring?
I could say, “Now is the time for the Pirates to show what they are made of.” But the truth is, that time should have come 15 years ago, and every year since. What the ownership in Pittsburgh is doing makes very little sense.
Last week, the Pirates made their annual deadline deal, sending Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees for four players.
I actually don’t mind this deal, as Nady was having a career year and you get Jose Tabata, a Baseball America top 100, in return. For the Pirates, a team without much of a farm system, any prospect helps.
On the downside though, this is how they go every season, losing more than they win. The Pirates are eight games under .500, so it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that they could have finished with a winning record.
But sending off one of your best hitters and best relievers for a player who probably won’t see the majors before 2011 doesn’t send a message to the fans that the time for winning is now.
So when will that time be?
If they finish off the deadline by trading Jason Bay to a contender, that time won’t be coming anytime soon.
If they hold onto Bay, they could start a trend not yet seen in Pittsburgh. Currently, the outfield includes Bay and Nate McClouth, one of the best young outfielders in the game. By next season it will include Baseball America’s 14th best prospect heading into the year, Andrew McCutchen.
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