Through the first three weeks of Grapefruit League play, no Pittsburgh
Pirates player has seized the opportunity that exists at both shortstop and in
the starting rotation
Throughout the offseason it was no secret what the two needs
were the biggest for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team entered the offseason in
need of a shortstop and a fifth starting pitcher. Unfortunately, general
manager Neal Huntington failed to properly address these two positions.
At shortstop, Huntington acquired Erik Gonzalez from the Cleveland
Indians in a five-player trade in November.
When it comes to the final spot in the rotation, the team inked Jordan Lyles to a one-year contract at
the Winter Meetings. They also added Rookie Davis on a minor league deal
late last month.
When Gonzalez was acquired it was assumed he would be a
bench player for the Pirates. However, Huntington and Clint Hurdle have spent all offseason
praising Gonzalez. It now appears that he is the front runner to start at
shortstop on Opening Day.
Gonzalez being the front runner at shortstop comes despite
the light hitting 27-year-old being just 6-for-20 this spring with one home
run, one walk, and seven strikeouts. These struggles continue the career norm
for Gonzalez of being a plus defender but a well below average hitter.
A big reason Gonzalez is still the front runner at shortstop
is due to the struggles of Kevin Newman this spring. The former
top prospect looked lost during his MLB action last season, and has followed it
up with a 4-for-19 start to his spring. Newman continues to struggle
defensively at shortstop, too.
Failing to add a legitimate MLB shortstop this offseason was
a major mistake by Huntington. As the team’s internal options for shortstop
continue to struggle this spring the lack of confidence that fans have in the
shortstop position will only continue to grow. Hopefully, Gonzalez and/or Newman
will eventually grab the bull by the horns at shortstop.
As the battle for the team’s fifth starter’s job rages on,
the results, much like the shortstop battle, have been less than encouraging.
Lyles, Davis, Nick Kingham, and Steven Brault are competing for the
final spot in the starting rotation. None of these pitchers have a good track
record as a starting pitcher at the MLB level and their struggles have
continued this spring.
These four pitchers have combined to allow 21 runs on 24
hits, five home runs, and 15 walks in 28 innings pitched. That, folks, is not
good. With the way these four have pitched, it would lead you to believe that
none of them want the final spot in the Pirate rotation.
While it is too late at shortstop, the Pirates can still
address their rotation question marks. Lefties Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Keuchel both remain on the free
agent market and both would be major upgrades at the back of their starting
rotation. The team can easily afford both as well due to their lack of activity
earlier in the offseason.
Watching Gonzalez and Keuchel pitch elsewhere this season
while the final spot in the Pirate rotation struggles will be frustrating.
Things will be made even worse if/when the rotation experiences injuries and
the team’s depth is tested.
Spring Training results are meaningless. That said, watching
each player competing for a team’s starting shortstop job and final rotation
spot struggle throughout the spring is not a good sign. Especially when there
was a lack of confidence in each of these players entering the spring. Right
now, the Pirates decision to not address shortstop and the final rotation spot
better this offseason is looking more and more foolish by the day. Especially
for a team that has the bullpen and rotation top four of a contender.
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