1)Outfield-This looks like the strongest unit for our Pirates. Anchored by All-Star CF Andrew McCutchen, his 2 corners look poised to elevate themselves to Cutch-like status. LF Starling Marte won his 1st Gold Glove last season and it could be just the beginning. He also got off to a hot start that saw him launch 19 cannonballs. However, the Marte Partay tailed off in the 2nd half. He needs to put it all together at the plate, including laying off balls of of the strike zone, as he continues to be one of the best left fielders in the game. It's time for RF Gregory Polanco to reach his much-heralded potential. El Coffee has exhibits signs of his prowess both on the field and at the plate. He didn't get off to a very good start but finished 2015 on an upswing. If both Marte and Polanco can put it all together in 2016 and Cutch remains one of the games best players, the Outfield of Dreams could become a reality.
2)Infield-The right side of the infield got a complete makeover this offseason. The Bucs are trading offense for defense as they moved Josh Harrison from 3B to 2B to replace the departed Neil Walker. And John Jaso and/or Mike Morse or Jason Rogers or David Freese will platoon at 1B. Jordy Mercer returns at SS while Freese mans the hot corner until Jung Ho Kang returns to the lineup. Left-handed-hitting Jaso expects to see the majority of the starts at 1st. Originally a catcher, Jaso is another 1st base project for the Pirates. Harrison welcomes the move to 2nd and reunites with Mercer to form a double play combo that first played together in the minors. If Freese can return to to the form he showed in his St Louie days, Kang won't need to hurry back from his knee injury. The Bucs will also need C Francisco Cervelli to prove that his 1st season in Black-N-Gold was no fluke. Cervelli should be well-motivated. This is his final year of arbitration before he hits the open market.
3)Rotation-RH Gerrit Cole and LH Francisco Liriano lead the way. After that? Breakout the duct tape and pray for alot of rain. LH Jon Niese, the return on the Walker trade from the Mets, has not looked impressive in his 1st spring training with the Bucs. Neither has free agent signee RH Ryan Vogelsong and LH Jeff Locke with his re-worked delivery. Who has looked impressive? RH Juan Nicasio. As Mrs. Black-N-Gold types this, Pirates GM Neal Huntington announced that Locke is a lock for the rotation. It's assumed that Niese will be the #3 starter behind Cole and Liriano. Either Nicasio or Vogelsong starts the season in the bullpen. Both Cole and Liriano fanned over 200 batters. They also were the workhorses of the rotation last season, as Cole pitched 208 innings and Liriano 186.2, respectively. The Pirates have to hope that Cole can improve upon his 19-win All-Star season of a year ago. They also have to hold their breath and hope that Liriano doesn't break down. Help is on the way in RHs Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow. But when they'll get here is anyone's guess.
4)Bullpen-Right off the bat, the Bucs bullpen will be under duress. Reliable RH Jared Hughes is expected to start the season on the DL with a lat strain. The only pitchers to see more action than Hughes last season were LH Tony Watson and RH Mark Melancon. Those 2 have been automatic for the past 2 years. How long can that continue? RH Arquimedes Caminero has had a rough spring. And the Pirates are still searching for a 2nd left-hander for this bullpen. Hopefully, they'll find the necessary components to get to the back-end guys.
5)This season, the Pirates are eschewing power for on base percentage. They've used Jaso in the leadoff spot versus right-handers and Mercer atop the order against lefties. Neither is a speed-burner but both have good OBP splits. The Bucs have also toyed with putting their best hitter, Cutch, in the #2 spot in the order. They're hoping a return to small ball will return them to the postseason for a 4th straight season. The Bucs are expected to run more and use situational hitting to help with run production.
In an offseason that saw their division rivals, the Chicago Cubs, win the hearts of many pundits, the Pirates appear to be just an afterthought. Really, there are only about a half dozen teams in the NL that aren't expected to contend. It's important for the Pirates to get out of the get quickly and starting stacking wins. Slow starts have doomed this team in the past. They'll need to keep their wits about them on the basepaths and in the field. It's time to return to fundamentals. Don't run yourselves out of innings and don't give your opponents any opportunities. It's also important to remember that in order to win the division, you must beat your division rivals at home and on the road. You have to beat the good teams and beat up the bad teams.
In all honesty, the Pirates haven't looked all that great this spring. And championships aren't won in the winter or in spring training. However, Mrs. Black-N-Gold thinks there are too many question marks and not enough answers for our Buccos She sees this team winning 73-78 games. The problem is, she's worried that the next losing season will set the Pittsburgh Baseball Club on course for another 21 straight losing seasons. She prays to the baseball gods not to let that happen. Here's hoping the Pirates somehow, someway prove Mrs. Black-N-Gold wrong. Pirates over Jeff Banister's Rangers in the World Series. Stamp it. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!
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