Welcome

Welcome to Total Pittsburgh Sports. I give my opinions on, analyze, and discuss all things related to the Penguins, Pirates, and Steelers. Hope you enjoy, and comment your thoughts!

To see my live in-game comments/thoughts for most Penguins, Pirates, and Steelers games, follow me on twitter @charliewolf23

Monday, July 28, 2014

Pirates In The Playoff Chase: 2014 Edition

The Pirates, surprisingly find themselves in a very similar position as they did at this point last season. They sit three games back of the first place Milwaukee Brewers, and just 1.5 games back of the second Wild Card spot.  With over two months of baseball left, they have as good a chance as any to climb into a second consecutive postseason berth.  This comes as a surprise because the team got off to its worst start in eight years (18-26 to start the season).  Their current position is thanks to a dominant run that saw them pick up more wins since May 1st than any other team in baseball.

Unlike last season, the Pirates' offense has been their strength.  Andrew McCutchen is the anchor of there lineup, and he is on a collision course with a second consecutive NL MVP award.  Starling Marte has shown potential, and seemed to be a good fit in the two spot, sandwiched between McCutchen and rookie Gregory Polanco.  Polanco started his MLB career on June 20th, and impressed immediately.  He cooled off in mid-July though, but it looks to just be growing pains.  Neil Walker is having a career year, hitting .290 with 50 RBI and 15 homers.  Russell Martin's OBP is through the roof, which is totally different from last year.  Jordy Mercer is getting in on the act, as well.  The bench has been a surprising strength, too, with Travis Snider emerging as a pinch hitting hero.

And then there's Josh Harrison.  J-hay could well be the surprise player of the year in all of baseball.  He simply entertains. He's been hitting around .300 all year, hitting extra-base hits with regularity.  He is known for his hustle in the field, and his ability to play left/right field, second base, shortstop, or third (in fact, he even pitched once last year).  In July in a game against the Rockies, J-hay was caught between 2nd and 3rd, but he escaped the rundown by hitting the deck and avoiding tags three times.  He did it again this week against the rockies (in Denver, this time).  McCutchen is the team's MVP, and Harrison is the team's spark plug.

The starting rotation has been a bit of a mess this year. Passable, but a bit of a mess.  Francisco Liriano simply has not been in 2013 form.  The slider that made Joey Votto look like a child lost in a mall during the Wild Card game last year has been less elusive and with lower velocity.  He is walking too many batters as well.  He's been showing encouraging signs lately, though, so perhaps he'll be a help down the stretch. Gerrit Cole showed off his dominant stuff early in the year, but (save for one or two starts) couldn't roll it all together to dominate a game.  He's been injured for most of the time since June, so maybe he too can be a help down the stretch when he returns from the DL.  Jeff Locke has been more than satisfactory since being inserted into the rotation in June, but people are understandably wary of another collapse from Jeff.  Vance Worley has been consistent, but he is in the most danger of being bumped into the bullpen upon Cole's return.  Edinson Volquez, by the numbers, has been good.  He just always gives me an uneasy feeling on the mound.  Overall, the pitching doesn't look like a playoff rotation, but there's a lot of variables.

The bullpen is the real concern of this team.  Mark Melancon has been nothing short of an elite closer since he was put into the role in June.  Tony Watson is arguably even better than Mark.  Justin Wilson can usually be counted on for one to two innings in relief, and he can bring the heat.  Jared Hughes has been a nice surprise.  He's made getting out of bases loaded jams his trademark.  That's where things get iffy.  The rest of the bullpen consists of Ernesto Frieri, Stolmy Pimentel, and Jeanmar Gomez. None of whom you would like to see in a must-win situation.  Personally, I think there are better options in the minors. Vin Mazzaro is a start.

The Bucs are in the most competitive division in baseball.  The Brewers, Cardinals, and Reds are all fighting along with the Bucs for the coveted NL Central crown.  If the Bucs want to take it, they need Cole and Liriano to return to, if not 2013 form, "pretty good" form. They need Pedro Alvarez to remember how to throw across the diamond.  And, lets face it, they need to trade for a reliever.

Let's Go Bucs