Pitching-Right now, the Pirates starting rotation is RH AJ Burnett (tomorrow's opening day starter), LH Wandy Rodriguez, RH James McDonald, LH Jonathan Sanchez, LH Jeff Locke. We'll have AJ and Wandy to start the season this year. That should help pick up the rotation and give us some extra victories. The Pirates need JMac to find his first-half stuff of last season, not the woeful second-half. Sanchez and Locke didn't really lock down their spots, they got them due to lack of competition. If the rotation can hold down the fort until reinforcements arrive, Karstens, Liriano, Morten and Cole, they could keep things interesting in the NL Central. People are wondering how much relief the bullpen can provide. Jason Grilli looks like his has the stuff mentally and pitching-wise to be the closer. Will their be many save opportunities for him? Who will hold down the save until they get to Grilled Cheese? The Pirates are hoping guys like Tony Watson, Jared Wilson and Justin Hughes can help shut the door.
1B-Garrett Jones/Gaby Sanchez. It always confounded me how a frugal team such as the Pirates could possibly pay 2 players to play 1 position. But, here they do it again. Jones has proven he can be 1 of 5 players that can hit over 20 homers for this team. He also started to hit lefties when finally given the opportunity. In a perfect world, Sanchez would finally see the light and take over fulltime at first while Jones would become the everday RF. I said, "in a perfect world".
2B-Neil Walker is another player that can knock out at least 20, provided his back problems are behind him (pun intended). Would love to see Walker earn the respect from ownership that he deserves and get a long-term deal. If healthy, watch out!
SS-Clint Barmes is the de facto shortstop. In this case, "de facto" is Latin "who else ya got?" He did start to turn it around in the second half last year. Let's hope that trend continues because, really, "who else ya got?".
3B-Pedro Alvarez can be penciled in for at least 20 homers, too. Hopefully, at some point, they can start writing his name in ink in the cleanup spot.
LF-Starling Marte will be the leadoff hitter as they really have no one else to lead off, see a trend developing? Hopefully, he can step up to the plate and deliver like he did in winter ball and spring training. It's time to see why he was so highly touted.
CF-Andrew McCutchen will be 2013 NL MVP. 'Nuff said.
RF-Another platoon. This time it's Travis Snider and Jose Tabata. I'd like to see one of them take charge and take over the right field spot on a regular basis.
C-Russell Martin was the big free agent-pick up of the offseason. Another guy that can hit 20 or more homers. And he has the potential to thow out base stealers. Love his backup, Michael McKenry, too.
The bench is a huge question mark. Brandon Inge is starting the season on the DL and hasn't really shown anything the past few years. Because Inge is hurt, Josh Harrison made the team. Please don't put him in the outfield this year, EVER. They traded for light-highting IF John McDonald. The front office's arguement was that he could spell Pedro in the late innings for defense. What are they going to do if they need a big hit in the late innings? I don't see anyone coming off of the bench that can do that.
I read today that manager Clint Hurdle was quoted as saying they can win 95 games. I think he's looking at the season through black-n-gold colored glasses. I think they can break the streak but not with 95 wins. I think 87-75 is feasible. It's only 9 more wins than last season. The trick is not to faulter like the last 2 years. Follow the formula of 2 out of 3 all season long, and a winning record can be yours. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!
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