McCutchen's Return and How Pirates Stack Up in NL Central

Typically, I get very excited about the Pirates in the offseason (by Opening Day I’m a mess). Then as if I’ve had the same recurring nightmare, the Buccos take my optimism and unrelentingly crush it. Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results''. That is to a tee, what being a Pirates fan in recent years has become. Utter, sheer, soul-crushing insanity. Alright, it’s “just a game” as they say. Perhaps soul-crushing insanity is too far. I digress. Yet, when you have been waiting for a World Series Championship for over 40 years, well..

This offseason, McCutchen isn’t the only big name that the Pirates have signed. They have also added designated hitter Carlos Santana (not the singer, fortunately), first baseman Ji-Man Choi, and pitcher Rich Hill (who’s nickname is Dick Mountain). Santana, Choi, and McCutchen all have the ability to draw walks in the big leagues. Santana drew 71 walks in 131 games played last season, which is in the 97th percentile in walk %. Choi was in the 98th percentile for walk %, and McCutchen was in the 70th percentile. Essentially, these guys don’t chase and when they hit, they also hit the ball hard, which leads to home runs. Pittsburgh fans might just see more baseballs take a Pittsburgh Plunge into the Allegheny River than they ever have. Rising stars O’Neil Cruz, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Rodolfo Castro, Jack Suwinski, and Bryan Reynolds are all going to hit home runs as well. This Pirates’ lineup is unmistakably the most talented lineup that they’ve had since their playoff run from 2013-2015. My brother even got a Pirates P tattoo on his arm during those years, so I wonder what will happen if we make it to the playoffs again, or the World Series (face tattoo??)! Ok, that’s not happening in 2023. Yet, (with the MLB expanding the playoffs to six teams) that leaves the door open for the Buccos.

Despite the fact that this lineup has improved, it’s still not up there with the best lineups in the MLB. In fact, it’s debatably not even the third best lineup in their division. The St. Louis Cardinals lineup is better, and the addition of Dansby Swanson to the Chicago Cubs most likely puts them ahead of the Pirates as well. Pittsburgh may be yearning for October baseball, “Buctober”, as the yinzers have coined it, but this year might not be the time.

The reason it may not be time yet isn’t because of the Pirates’ lineup, it’s because of the pitching. Sure, there are some nasty pitchers in the rotation including Mitch Keller and Roansy Contreras, but there is also JT Brubaker who is average at best, and Rich Hill (Dick Mountain) who is about to be 43 years old. Combine that with a very underwhelming bullpen, and the Pirates still have problems. Unless the front office signs some seriously good arms to add to the bullpen, the Buccos don’t have what it takes this year to make the playoffs. Ah yes, let the soul crushing debacle begin once more, and crack those IC Lights because you’re going to need them. 

Hang on. Although this season we will probably not see October baseball in Pittsburgh, the Pirates are unquestionably moving in the right direction. Firstly, all of these off season signings point to a team and ownership that maybe, just maybe want to finally win. Secondly, the Buccos farm system has an overload of talented young players. In 2023 expect to see right handed pitcher Quinn Priester make his MLB debut. Priester was the 18th overall selection by the Pirates in the 2019 MLB draft. Last season for the pirates double A affiliate the Altoona Curve, Quinn had a 2.87 ERA through 75.1 innings pitched, while striking out 75 batters. Also, catching prospect Endy Rodriguez should see some big league action in 2023. Rodriguez batted .356 and had a remarkable .442 on base percentage for the Altoona Curve as well. There are plenty more young and skilled players in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system that I could sit here writing about endlessly. All there’s to say is, batten down the hatches and scrub the deck because the Pirates arrrrggghhhh coming!