THE BULLPEN

     Root Sports Pittsburgh has started their Pirates Playback for the offseason. It's a chance to relive some of the great moments of last season and get you warmed up for the coming season. As Mrs. Black-N-Gold watched 2B Neil Walker's Opening-Day walkoff homer clear the deck at PNC Park, she got to thinking about what lies ahead for our Buccos in 2015. Thus, as the Piratest begin a quest for their 6th World Series trophy, Mrs. Black-N-Gold will bring you 6 players to watch this year. We'll make our first player the Pirates new first baseman, Pedro Alvarez.

     Petey has a long way to go to get back to where he once belonged. He'll have to do it by way of first base as he threw away his chances to be the Pirates everday third baseman last season, committing 25 errors at the hot corner. The majority of those errors were throwing related as Pedro forget how to throw the ball across the diamond. In the process, he also forgot how to hit home runs, knocking just 18 of them last year to go with 56 RBIs.

     That's a far cry from his All-Star season of 2013. Pedro tied for the league lead with 36 home runs and recorded his first 100 RBI season. Those are stats worthy of the 2nd overall pick of the 2008 draft. Pedro's teammate, CF Andrew McCutchen has expressed an interest in the Pirates finally settling on an everyday first baseman instead of the platoon system employed in years past. If Pedro is to be that man, he'll have to work to improve his performance against lefthanders, especially. Last season Petey had just 2 homers and 12 RBIs versus lefties with a batting line of .175/.241/.263 and an OPS of .504.

     There his been talk that Petey and his agent, Scott Boras, are against the move to first. They feel Pedro can pull bigger money on the third base bag.  For Pedro to succeed and find treasure on the open market when he hits free agency in 2017, he'll need to fully embrace the position switch, relax and get outside of his head. He should be going full steam ahead with gusto when he hits Bradenton for spring training, instead of chugging along like a busto. Get out there early, taking extra grounders at first. Take as many at bats as you can, especially against southpaws, even if it means going to the minor league camp for extra BP.

     If Pedro succeeds in re-inventing himself, it could be a win, win, win for everyone, Pedro, Boras and the Buccos. He may get an early ticket out of Pittsburgh if he increases his trade value, in the process, gaining an opportunity for a big payday. Meanwhile, he can help the Pirates get over the Wild Card hump and win the NL Central this season on the way to a championship. Don't be bullheaded, El Toro. Take first base by the horns. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!