Pirates Midseason Report
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Crimson's Ghost
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Pirates Midseason Report
The Pirates wrapped up a series victory today over the Cleveland Indians by a score of 5-3. The win improved the Pirates to 47-34 at the exact midway point of the season. The Pirates have the second best record in the National League, and the third best overall in baseball. Despite the gaudy record, the Bucs find themselves six game back of the first place Cardinals in the NL Central. A big four game set looms with the Cardinals this weekend, and the Pirates have an excellent chance to get the deficit down before the All Star break.
Here is a look at how I think the Pirates season is shaping up thus far, and a quick look into the second half that begins tonight against the Padres.
Team MVP - Andrew McCutchen
It is not a coincidence that the Pirates started slow while McCutchen nursed himself back to full health in the early part of the season, and when Cutch started to get rolling so did the team as a whole. McCutchen has that type of control on a team, and he is the catalyst that can carry this team by himself when he needs to do so.
The soon to be five time all star ranks first on the team in batting average (.297), RBI (51), On-Base Percentage (.391), Slugging (.493), Hits (85), and doubles (22). McCutchen has also knocked in 10 home runs which is third on the team, and scored 43 runs which ranks second. Cutch is one of the most versatile offensive players in the game today, and his abilities can mask and carry the Pirates offensive woes at times.
McCutchen has finished in the top three in MVP voting the past three years, while taking home the hardware in 2013. If his numbers remain impressive and the Pirates keep pace with St. Louis, it is a given he will be in the running once again.
Team Cy Young - Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole notched his 12th win on the season yesterday, as he was the first pitcher in baseball to acheive that mark. It may be a little sooner than expected, but the former first overall pick has already assumed the role as an ace on one of the better teams in the league. Cole ranks fifth in the NL in ERA with a 2.28 mark and he is sixth in strikeouts with 113.
He has proven to be a durable starter, and he possess freakish ability. The young righty hit 100 on the gun in the 8th inning on his 100th pitch, not the type of stuff you see everyday.
Cole is special, but he has never thrown 200 innings in his young career, but he is certainly heading in that direction. He has the strength and competitive fire to overcome minor injuries and fatigue. Cole has an excellent chance to win 20 games if he stays the course.
Biggest Surprise - AJ Burnett
AJ Burnett is coming off an 8-18 season that saw him post a 4.59 ERA. It looked like the end of the line for the decorated pitcher, and to boot, the Pirates resigned him. It seemed to be a very questionable move. So how did he respond? He is supporting a 2.05 ERA, the lowest of his career by over a whole run. He has a 7-3 record and 90 strikeouts, and finds himself among the league leaders in nearly every category.
Could anyone have anticipated this? I doubt it. Burnett has the chance of possibly his best year of his career at the age of 38. Burnett is a fan favorite for a variety of reasons, and him having this kind of season in the town that has appreciated him the most of any stop in his career has to feel very gratifying. Can he keep this pace up all season long? History says he may dip a little bit, but I think there is reason to believe he will be a force for the remainder of the year.
Biggest Disappointment - Gregory Polanco
The 23 year old phenom has not come into his own just yet. Does that mean he will never get there? Absolutely not. Polanco is still a physical presence with incredible athletic ability. He has the potential to be that "five tool" superstar, but in his first major league season he just is not there yet.
It's not totally fair to call this a complete disappointment, because it was hard to anticipate Polanco really breaking out this season. Polanco can hang and compete at this level somewhat, but he still has some things to work on to become the superstar player many scouts thought he would be. Polanco leads the team in stolen bases with 17, but the .231 average is getting hard to trot out there every day in the second half.
Fans have begin to speculate a demotion to AAA, but Neal Huntington started recently that it is not being discussed internally. At the very least, the Pirates are likely going to explore outfield options before the trade deadline.
Most Important Season - Starling Marte
This category is a different one, but what I mean by it is simple: "Without so and so's season, the Pirates are not where they are without him." Last year, Josh Harrison played that role. The Bucs suddenly depended on Harrison a lot last year, and I think Starling Marte is taking that role on this season. I still call McCutchen the MVP of this team, but the Pirates really need someone to be the #2 option, and Marte is doing just that.
Marte is not quite having the season McCutchen is, but a lot of his numbers are right there behind the MVP. Marte has a team best 13 homers and runs scored with 44. He is second to McCutchen with average (.281), runs batted in (48), and is one stolen base behind Polanco with 16.
Simply put, the Pirates aren't here without Marte protecting McCutchen in the lineup and vice versa. Marte is a player that can affect the game on the bases, in the field, and in the batter's box.
2nd Half Breakout Candidate - Neil Walker
Neil Walker has had an up and down season, but as the calendar flipped into July this week, he started to heat up in a big way. Walker is coming off a 23 home run season in 2014, so I expect to see those number start to climb in the second half.
Walker is a consistent guy, but can be injury prone. The big thing with the Pittsburgh Kid is he is playing for a contract, so with the added incentive, we may see Walker post some big numbers in the second half.
Top Minor League Position Player - Josh Bell
Josh Bell is being tabbed as the first basemen of the future, and he is not disappointing with that label at all. Bell is likely spending the entire year in AA Altoona, but is not far off from being an everyday player in Pittsburgh.
At 22 years of age, Bell is actually regarded as one of the best first basemen in the minor leagues, and he is doing it big in 2015 with a .311 batting average, .381 on base percentage, while posting 46 Runs Batted in, and collecting 92 hits. The only red flag is the three home runs, but he has the time to work on that. The second half of the next season is a realistic possibility for his MLB debut.
Top Minor League Pitcher - Tyler Glasnow
Jameson Taillon can't seem to catch a break, and Nick Kingham has also been bitten by the injury bug. So that's what is happening in AAA, but in AA even Tyler Glasnow has been slowed by some injuries. Unlike the other top pitching prospects, Glasnow has managed to get himself back on the mound this season.
Tyler Glasnow has not had a great season, but still holds a 2.91 ERA through 10 minor league starts. He has also struck out 50 batters in 43 innings. He was reported to be hitting 97 with his fastball just the other night, so that is an excellent sign. The top prospect in the organization will assuredly spend this entire year in Altoona, but getting to Pittsburgh at some point next season is very possible.
Biggest Need at the Deadline - First Base, Right Field, Extra Reliever, fifth starter.
The Pirates can upgrade themselves in a number of ways....
-Pedro Alvarez has been one of the team's better power threats, but his defense at first base has been less than ideal. He can be upgraded, but like the rest of his career the Pirates can take the good with the bad. Alvarez is what he is in the batter's box, but we all know he can knock in runs and hit the ball over the fence if he is in the groove.
-As I mentioned before, Polanco's .231 average is tough to trot out there everyday. Jose Tabata and Gorkys Hernandez aren't upgrades, and sticking Josh Harrison in right isn't the best fit sometimes. They need to add some sort of option in right.
-The Pirates have two very good ones with Tony Watson and Mark Melancon, but everyone else is mostly inconsistent. In a perfect world, the Pirates should be able to add another arm to sure things up in the pen.
-Jeff Locke can obviously pitch a 2 hit shutout like he did Saturday or he can surrender six runs the next time out on the mound. Adding a more sure thing would be nice. Vance Worley is nice to have for depth, but more intriguing names like Nick Kingham, Jameson Taillon, Brandon Cumpton, and Casey Sadler are all hurt so the depth behind Locke and Worley isn't the best.
Breakdown of the Final 81 Games
Cardinals - 13
Brewers - 10
Reds - 10
Cubs - 9
Rockies - 7
Dodgers - 6
Nationals - 4
Marlins - 4
Giants - 4
Padres - 3
Royals - 3
Mets - 3
DBacks - 3
Twins - 2
Here is a look at how I think the Pirates season is shaping up thus far, and a quick look into the second half that begins tonight against the Padres.
Team MVP - Andrew McCutchen
It is not a coincidence that the Pirates started slow while McCutchen nursed himself back to full health in the early part of the season, and when Cutch started to get rolling so did the team as a whole. McCutchen has that type of control on a team, and he is the catalyst that can carry this team by himself when he needs to do so.
The soon to be five time all star ranks first on the team in batting average (.297), RBI (51), On-Base Percentage (.391), Slugging (.493), Hits (85), and doubles (22). McCutchen has also knocked in 10 home runs which is third on the team, and scored 43 runs which ranks second. Cutch is one of the most versatile offensive players in the game today, and his abilities can mask and carry the Pirates offensive woes at times.
McCutchen has finished in the top three in MVP voting the past three years, while taking home the hardware in 2013. If his numbers remain impressive and the Pirates keep pace with St. Louis, it is a given he will be in the running once again.
Team Cy Young - Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole notched his 12th win on the season yesterday, as he was the first pitcher in baseball to acheive that mark. It may be a little sooner than expected, but the former first overall pick has already assumed the role as an ace on one of the better teams in the league. Cole ranks fifth in the NL in ERA with a 2.28 mark and he is sixth in strikeouts with 113.
He has proven to be a durable starter, and he possess freakish ability. The young righty hit 100 on the gun in the 8th inning on his 100th pitch, not the type of stuff you see everyday.
Cole is special, but he has never thrown 200 innings in his young career, but he is certainly heading in that direction. He has the strength and competitive fire to overcome minor injuries and fatigue. Cole has an excellent chance to win 20 games if he stays the course.
Biggest Surprise - AJ Burnett
AJ Burnett is coming off an 8-18 season that saw him post a 4.59 ERA. It looked like the end of the line for the decorated pitcher, and to boot, the Pirates resigned him. It seemed to be a very questionable move. So how did he respond? He is supporting a 2.05 ERA, the lowest of his career by over a whole run. He has a 7-3 record and 90 strikeouts, and finds himself among the league leaders in nearly every category.
Could anyone have anticipated this? I doubt it. Burnett has the chance of possibly his best year of his career at the age of 38. Burnett is a fan favorite for a variety of reasons, and him having this kind of season in the town that has appreciated him the most of any stop in his career has to feel very gratifying. Can he keep this pace up all season long? History says he may dip a little bit, but I think there is reason to believe he will be a force for the remainder of the year.
Biggest Disappointment - Gregory Polanco
The 23 year old phenom has not come into his own just yet. Does that mean he will never get there? Absolutely not. Polanco is still a physical presence with incredible athletic ability. He has the potential to be that "five tool" superstar, but in his first major league season he just is not there yet.
It's not totally fair to call this a complete disappointment, because it was hard to anticipate Polanco really breaking out this season. Polanco can hang and compete at this level somewhat, but he still has some things to work on to become the superstar player many scouts thought he would be. Polanco leads the team in stolen bases with 17, but the .231 average is getting hard to trot out there every day in the second half.
Fans have begin to speculate a demotion to AAA, but Neal Huntington started recently that it is not being discussed internally. At the very least, the Pirates are likely going to explore outfield options before the trade deadline.
Most Important Season - Starling Marte
This category is a different one, but what I mean by it is simple: "Without so and so's season, the Pirates are not where they are without him." Last year, Josh Harrison played that role. The Bucs suddenly depended on Harrison a lot last year, and I think Starling Marte is taking that role on this season. I still call McCutchen the MVP of this team, but the Pirates really need someone to be the #2 option, and Marte is doing just that.
Marte is not quite having the season McCutchen is, but a lot of his numbers are right there behind the MVP. Marte has a team best 13 homers and runs scored with 44. He is second to McCutchen with average (.281), runs batted in (48), and is one stolen base behind Polanco with 16.
Simply put, the Pirates aren't here without Marte protecting McCutchen in the lineup and vice versa. Marte is a player that can affect the game on the bases, in the field, and in the batter's box.
2nd Half Breakout Candidate - Neil Walker
Neil Walker has had an up and down season, but as the calendar flipped into July this week, he started to heat up in a big way. Walker is coming off a 23 home run season in 2014, so I expect to see those number start to climb in the second half.
Walker is a consistent guy, but can be injury prone. The big thing with the Pittsburgh Kid is he is playing for a contract, so with the added incentive, we may see Walker post some big numbers in the second half.
Top Minor League Position Player - Josh Bell
Josh Bell is being tabbed as the first basemen of the future, and he is not disappointing with that label at all. Bell is likely spending the entire year in AA Altoona, but is not far off from being an everyday player in Pittsburgh.
At 22 years of age, Bell is actually regarded as one of the best first basemen in the minor leagues, and he is doing it big in 2015 with a .311 batting average, .381 on base percentage, while posting 46 Runs Batted in, and collecting 92 hits. The only red flag is the three home runs, but he has the time to work on that. The second half of the next season is a realistic possibility for his MLB debut.
Top Minor League Pitcher - Tyler Glasnow
Jameson Taillon can't seem to catch a break, and Nick Kingham has also been bitten by the injury bug. So that's what is happening in AAA, but in AA even Tyler Glasnow has been slowed by some injuries. Unlike the other top pitching prospects, Glasnow has managed to get himself back on the mound this season.
Tyler Glasnow has not had a great season, but still holds a 2.91 ERA through 10 minor league starts. He has also struck out 50 batters in 43 innings. He was reported to be hitting 97 with his fastball just the other night, so that is an excellent sign. The top prospect in the organization will assuredly spend this entire year in Altoona, but getting to Pittsburgh at some point next season is very possible.
Biggest Need at the Deadline - First Base, Right Field, Extra Reliever, fifth starter.
The Pirates can upgrade themselves in a number of ways....
-Pedro Alvarez has been one of the team's better power threats, but his defense at first base has been less than ideal. He can be upgraded, but like the rest of his career the Pirates can take the good with the bad. Alvarez is what he is in the batter's box, but we all know he can knock in runs and hit the ball over the fence if he is in the groove.
-As I mentioned before, Polanco's .231 average is tough to trot out there everyday. Jose Tabata and Gorkys Hernandez aren't upgrades, and sticking Josh Harrison in right isn't the best fit sometimes. They need to add some sort of option in right.
-The Pirates have two very good ones with Tony Watson and Mark Melancon, but everyone else is mostly inconsistent. In a perfect world, the Pirates should be able to add another arm to sure things up in the pen.
-Jeff Locke can obviously pitch a 2 hit shutout like he did Saturday or he can surrender six runs the next time out on the mound. Adding a more sure thing would be nice. Vance Worley is nice to have for depth, but more intriguing names like Nick Kingham, Jameson Taillon, Brandon Cumpton, and Casey Sadler are all hurt so the depth behind Locke and Worley isn't the best.
Breakdown of the Final 81 Games
Cardinals - 13
Brewers - 10
Reds - 10
Cubs - 9
Rockies - 7
Dodgers - 6
Nationals - 4
Marlins - 4
Giants - 4
Padres - 3
Royals - 3
Mets - 3
DBacks - 3
Twins - 2
Re: Pirates Midseason Report
Great work CG! Inter divisional play will obviously be the key to where this team finishes in 2015. I hope they get it started right this weekend!
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