2012 MLB Season Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates

If you’re a Pirates fan, it’s been hard rooting for them since Barry Bonds left back in 1992 since the organization hasn’t seen a winning season in Pittsburgh since then. John Russel had been at the helm for three years, and the Pirates’ win total decreased each year (67, 62, and 57); after experiencing their first 100-loss season since 2001 and worst record since their streak of futility began, the front office decided to part ways with Russell and bring in former Rockies manager, Clint Hurdle.

With Hurdle steering the ship ( no pun intended), the Pirates were able to accomplish a lot in 2011, including:

•  Beating the Blue Jays in Toronto on June 28^th, marking their first road inter-league victory in two years.
• They entered the All-Star break above .500, the first time that’s happened since 1992, and also sent three players to the mid-summer classic, which hasn’t happened since 1990.
• They were in first place on July 18^th, which was the latest in the season they have been in first since 1997
• On July 25^th, their game against the Braves was televised on ESPN, the first time that’s happened since September of 2004.

For the first time in what seemed like ages, the Pirates were buyers around the MLB Trading Deadline, acquiring Derek Lee from Baltimore to try and keep themselves over .500 for the first time in nearly 20 years. However, it wasn’t meant to be for the young Bucs, fading during the dog days of August with an 8-22 record during the month and finishing the year 72-90. This was an encouraging season for Pittsburgh and its fans because they hadn’t posted this many wins since 2004, and Hurdle is trying to get his team over .500 for the year before the streak hits two decades.

2012 Projected Line-up, Starting Rotation, and Bullpen

Line-up:

1. RF Jose Tabata

2. LF Alex Presley

3. CF Andrew McCutchen

4. 1B Garrett Jones

5. 2B Neil Walker

6. 3B Pedro Alvarez

7. SS Clint Barmes

8.  C Rod Barajas

Rotation:

1. RHP James McDonald

2. RHP Charlie Morton

3. LHP Erik Bedard

4. RHP Kevin Correia

5. RHP Jeff Karstens

Bullpen:

CL RHP Joel Hanrahan

SU RHP Evan Meek

RP RHP Chris Resop

RP RHP Jason Grilli

RP RHP Chris Leroux

RP LHP Tony Watson

RP RHP Daniel McCutchen

2012 Season Outlook

What derailed the Pirates chances of having a winning record in 2011? It was pitching, and that’s what the front office went out to acquire this offseason in order to make this club better. Obviously, the biggest move that was made (outside of the Andrew McCutchen signing) was the trade for A.J. Burnett. He’s getting a fresh start in a smaller market, and will act as a veteran presence for a young team without much playoff experience. Unfortunately, the bunting incident won’t allow Burnett to take the hill for the Bucs until a few

months from now.

The biggest obstacle for this team to overcome in 2012 is to stay consistent throughout the entire season. If it wasn’t for their bad August last year, their consecutive losing-seasons streak very well could have been over. The starting pitching is going to have to step up and take the lead for the entire staff. The team ERA wasn’t horrible last year at 4.04 (11^th in NL), but their 1.41 WHIP was second-worst in the league, which needs to be addressed in 2012. There are a lot of question marks in their starting rotation; Erik Bedard hasn’t played a full season since 2007, Kevin Correia made the All-Star team with 11 first-half wins, but only won one game after the break, and who knows how A.J. is going to perform.

Even though Pittsburgh has some good core players on the offensive side and added some more fire power with Casey McGehee off the bench, pitching will ultimately be the demise for the Pirates this year. Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols aren’t in their division anymore, but the Brewers and Cardinals are still ahead of them, and the Reds will be making some noise this year as well. If they can play well in the division, they have a shot to break their streak. I think they’ll make another step forward, but a very small one, ending up somewhere between 75-80 wins.

2012 Prospects to watch

What the Pirates lack in pitching up on the Major League roster, they make up for in their farm system, with Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole both toping their top 20 prospects list. Taillon is a big right-hander (6’6”, 225 lbs), and the organization is looking for the second

overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft to move up a level and progress at a much faster rate than he did in 2011. In his first professional season, he started 23 games and kept his ERA under 4.00 at 3.98, while logging over 90 innings. Pittsburgh is going to let go of the reins a bit after holding him to a tight innings limit. With four pitches in his arsenal (fastball, curve, slider, and changeup), he has a lot to offer and depending on his performance this year, could potentially see some MLB action as a September call-up.

Even though Gerrit Cole didn’t play professional ball last summer, the top overall pick in the 2011 draft is poised to make a quick tour through the Pirates minor league system on his way to Pittsburgh. According to scouts, Cole’s biggest problem is overthrowing when he gets into trouble, but staying within his pitches when he gets into jams is what he will learn while he works through the farm system. He got a taste in the Arizona Fall League and did well, and because of his above average fastball, changeup, and slider, people within the organization feel that he will be with the Pirates in near future, as long as he can control himself in pressure situations.

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