Pittsburgh Pirates: Is Pitching the Palliative for Their Problems?

Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates gave up 884 runs, second only to the Texas Rangers. Not even the defending World Series Champs, the Boston Red Sox, scored more runs than that (although the Rangers were the one team that did). This compares to the 700-runs allowed trajectory that the Pirates are now on.

The opposite thing is striking when you look at the top two National League Central contenders. They both have above average rotations, as do Los Angeles and San Francisco in the National League West. And that is something that the Pirates still decidedly lack.

Is it any surprise that "pitching" has been the theme of the Pirates' recent trades?

Damasco Marte and Xavier Nady for two (weak) pitchers and eventual replacements for themselves. Jason Bay for two (questionable) pitchers and immediate replacements for himself and Jose Bautista. Nate McLouth for two pitchers and a replacement. Eric Hinske (a rare signing) for a minor league pitcher and outfielder.

Nyjer Morgan for a replacement and a chance to swap relievers (based on sabermetrics). Adam LaRoche for a minor league pitcher and shortstop. Jack Wilson and Ian Snell for a Wilson replacement, a LaRoche replacement (both downtrades), and three pitching prospects.

Freddy Sanchez, for a prime pitching prospect. Gorzelanny and Grabow for younger, cheaper, replacements, plus a potential Sanchez replacement.

I count 16 new pitchers in the mix.

A guess as to why pitching is such a priority is that only Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, and Charlie Morton are league average pitchers or better. And, "sabermetrically," they have won only one extra game (over league average) between them. Of course, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, and Virgil Vasquez are worse than league average.

At their best, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny were each one game over league average, but that has not been the case recently. If the Pirates could rehabilitate Gorzelanny and Snell (to 2007 levels), they might get back each pitcher's one-game premium.

But per the wont of the new management, they have elected to start over with a new bunch of pitchers that could represent either more or fewer wins. That's why they've elected to "down trade" infielders like Wilson, Sanchez, and LaRoche (and appear to be fortunate that a stunning new crop of outfielders is about as good as the ones they traded away).

Tomorrow, Kevin Hart, formerly of Chicago, will be pressed into service against the Diamondbacks' Max Scherzer. He, Atlanta's former Jeff Locke, and San Francisco's former Tim Alderson appear to represent the best shots for the Pirates at "good pitching." Statistically, one of the three minor leaguers acquired for Snell should be serviceable as well, although that number could easily be two or zero.

Pirates management has basically said that they can afford to weaken their offense if they get enough good new pitchers. Let's hope they're right.