Pittsburgh Pirates 2008 Preview

Their president is new. Their GM is new. Their manager is new. Their coaching staff is new. However, the Pirates still have that big old elephant in their clubhouse — 15 consecutive losing seasons, one season short of the major league record for futility established by the woeful Philadelphia Phillies from 1933-48. Despite all the newness, the 2008 Pirates probably will match their cross-commonwealth brethren’s unwanted record.

Rotation 
The rotation will still be largely inexperienced, although Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke (for the most part) each notched another year of major league service time in 2007. Veteran Matt Morris, picked up at the trading deadline, will be counted on not only to reverse his 3–6 (6.70 ERA) post-All-Star break record but also to help nurture the other four starters — none of whom will be older than 26 on Opening Day. Should one or more of the starters falter, there isn’t much help. Snell will start on Opening Day followed by Gorzelanny. As for how Morris, Duke and Maholm will lineup is fluid.

Statistician
166	RBIs for Freddy Sanchez over the past two seasons with the help of only 17 home runs.
.394	Opponents’ batting average against Zach Duke last season.
.133	What Adam LaRoche batted in April.
.348	What Adam LaRoche batted in August.
14	Number of consecutive home openers in which the Pirates have scored three runs or fewer (longest such streak in major league history).
1-0	Record after season opener, Bucs’ first venture over .500 since May 29, 2004 (23–22).

Bullpen 
Let’s start with the good news. No question the Pirates have developed a solid closer in Matt Capps, 24, whose toughness and propensity for throwing strikes earned him the closer’s job June 1 after Salomon Torres struggled. Capps converted 18-of-20 save opportunities the rest of the way and held right-handed batters to a .181 average. Damaso Marte and John Grabow are fine situational lefthanders. However, the Pirates have so little depth that they considered making relievers out of starters Sean Burnett, John Van Benschoten and/or Bryan Bullington. Competition for jobs has been open during spring training. Don’t bet against righthander Evan Meek, a Rule 5 pickup from Tampa Bay, or veteran Byung-Hyun Kim to emerge as primary setup men.

Middle Infield 
No problems here. Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez helped the Pirates lead the majors with 190 double plays. Sanchez, in his first full season at second base, led the league by participating in 121 double plays; Wilson was second in the league to Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki (114) among shortstops with 112. The Pirates let defensive whiz Cesar Izturis go during the winter, then signed Chris Gomez and Josh Wilson as backup middle infielders. That indicates the Pirates think shortstop Brian Bixler, their second-round draft pick in 2004, could use at least another couple of months with Class AAA Indianapolis in 2008.

Corners 
When the Pirates acquired Adam LaRoche from Atlanta last winter, some hailed the first baseman as the rock of the lineup — much like Albert Pujols with St. Louis. But the Pirates didn’t get Pujols. Instead, they got — for the final four-plus months of the season — LaRoche. And that was fine. LaRoche provided a steady, productive bat. The Pirates still need a Pujols in their lineup, but they’ll be happy to have LaRoche in it for years to come. Jose Bautista showed glimpses of being a good defensive third baseman and has some pop. The question is: Is he the third baseman of the future or just the third baseman until Neil Walker, the Pirates’ top pick in 2004, arrives for good in 2009?

Outfield 
The Pirates listened to trade offers for Jason Bay all winter, but other teams were skeptical of the left fielder’s deep offensive falloff in 2007. Bay will remain the Pirate left fielder for at least half of 2008. Center field could be manned by fleet Nyjer Morgan, who played brilliantly during his September call-up, or Nate McLouth, who should get a long look as a regular in spring training. And Chris Duffy, who showed such promise at times over the previous three seasons, is still in the center field mix, but may have run out of opportunities to prove himself as a regular. Xavier Nady is the regular in right field. But what do the Pirates do with Steve Pearce and Ryan Doumit? Pearce last season hit well at four levels, including in the big leagues in September. And the Pirates like Doumit’s offensive potential so much that they’re still trying to find a position for him. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen, the team’s top draft pick in 2005, is rapidly progressing through the farm system.

Catching 
Ronny Paulino perhaps too quickly became the Pirates’ catcher of the future when he hit .310 as a rookie in 2006. Last season, Paulino struggled offensively during the first two months, and his defense got even worse. He still ranks as the regular catcher, but the Pirates, with almost no catching depth in their farm system, spent much of the winter trying to sign a veteran to push Paulino or become the regular at some point in 2008.

Bench 
The Pirate bench at the beginning of last season was incredibly non-productive. Tweaks during the season netted the Pirates Josh Phelps, Matt Kata and Izturis, but they’re all gone. McLouth became a contributing bench player in the second half of the season, but the Pirates are back to having to rebuild their bench. Doumit, a switch-hitter who can be a third catcher as well as play first base and right field, could be a valuable asset, but he still has to show he can stay healthy for a full season. Pearce, a first baseman by trade who began learning right field late last season, could find a bench spot, although it’s more likely he’ll begin 2008 at Indianapolis. And, of course, backup infielders Gomez and possibly Josh Wilson will be in the dugout, too.

Statline GDPs Induced per DP Situation, 2007 Minimum 50 situations
1.	Zack Duke	.232
2.	Chien-Ming Wang	.227
3.	Lenny DiNardo	.216
4.	Brian Moehler	.212
5.	Kyle Kendrick	.210

Management 
Chairman of the board Bob Nutting, president Frank Coonelly and general manager Neal Huntington all have stressed how important it will be for the Pirates to change “a culture of losing” that has permeated the clubhouse — and perhaps corners of the front office — over the past several years. New manager John Russell and his coaching staff will be on the front line in that endeavor. If Russell and his staff can make changes in the clubhouse culture, it will be a first step in getting the Pirates headed toward winning. However, with a payroll likely to be no higher than the north end of $40 million, that first step probably will be the only step the Pirates make in 2008.

Final Analysis 
The Pirates seem as if they’re always starting over or embarking on some new rebuilding plan, and this year is no exception. Management scrapped the two-year “We Will …” slogan because it never really caught on with the fans and because, well, more often than not “They Didn’t …” And they won’t this season, either. They’re trying to develop a younger major league roster and re-stock their farm system while also trying to convince their fans they can at least reach .500 this season. They won’t be able to handle all that multi-tasking successfully this year. They’ll probably be able to take care of the getting younger/re-stocking piece. That other thing? “They Will” have to wait a bit on that.

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Difference Maker

The guy who could make a significant difference in 2008 is the same guy who made a significant impact as a rookie in 2005. Zach Duke, 8–2 with a 1.81 ERA in 14 starts as a rookie, is just 13–23 since. He’ll be one of new pitching coach Jeff Andrews’ primary pupils in the spring. “He can pitch,” says Andrews, who coached Duke in the minors. “I think he’s going to come out of it. Mechanics isn’t a real fun issue to talk about, but we need him to become consistent. The big goal is to get it worked out in spring training, so he will be able to go full throttle into the season.”

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Beyond the Box Score

Tough losses The St. Louis Cardinals swept three games from the Pirates April 9-11 by scores of 3–0, 3–2 and 3–2. It was only the third time the Pirates had been swept in a series of at least three games despite not allowing more than three runs in any game. Cincinnati did it against them in May 1914, while Philadelphia did it in July 1888.

Veteran rookie Japanese reliever Masumi Kuwata made his major league debut with the Pirates June 10 at the age of 39 years and 70 days. He became the second-oldest Pirate to make his big league debut with the team. Diomedes Olivo debuted Sept. 5, 1960 at the age of 41 years, 227 days.

Overtime opener The Pirates’ 10-inning win at Houston on Opening Day was their first extra-inning game on Opening Day since 1979. Jason Bay’s 10th-inning home run that night was the Pirates’ first extra-inning home run on Opening Day since Willie Stargell homered off Atlanta’s Tony Cloninger in the 13th inning April 12, 1966.

AL woes The Pirates, 5–10 in interleague play last season, have had only one winning season against the American League (8–7 in 2001). Overall, they’re 57–94 in interleague play, including 20–54 on the road.

Two in one Matt Capps earned a save in both games of a doubleheader against Cincinnati Aug. 28. He was the first Pirate to get a save in both games of a doubleheader since Kent Tekulve July 22, 1979, against Atlanta. Tekulve pitched three innings for his first-game save that day.

Three to 20 Jason Bay (21), Adam LaRoche (21) and Xavier Nady (20) each reached the 20-home run plateau in 2007. It was the first season in which three Pirates each hit as many as 20 home runs since 2000 (Brian Giles, 35; John Vander Wal, 24; Kevin Young, 20).

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