Pittsburgh Pirates Midseason Report...The Positive
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by user Pittsburgh Pro Sports Report
So its the All-Star break and the Pirates have a losing record...Again!! Lets not forget this is a different year. It has a different feel, the players have a different attitude. Here are the Positive to this season thus far.
Record: The Pirates are 40-48, yes it is losing, yes it is mediocre for the talent that is on this team, but it is a huge difference compared to last years record at this time. The Pirates were 30-60, officially the worst team in baseball. This year, (and I can't believe I am saying this) THEY ARE STILL IN CONTENTION!! Now mind you the went 37-35 in the second half of the season last year, They had the best second half of all the teams in the central division. If they win 6 more games this year in the second half then last year, that would be a 43-29 second half record, a winning record, and an 83-77 overall record, and maybe a wild card breath or...Division Leaders!! Currently the Pirates are 9 games out of first place and 8 1/2 games out of the wild card. If the tear they have been on can continue into the second half of this season, then I expect magic.
Xavier Nady: Maybe GM Dave Littlefild knows what he is doing after all. Yes he traded away a very young but very good Oliver Perez, but look what we got for that: A powerful hitting, run producing superhero by the name of "The X-Man." His secret identity is Xavier Nady. Nady is batting .291, with a .504 slugging average, 50 RBIs, 14 HR, with 15 doubles and a triple.
Jose Bautista:This guy should win the Break Out Player of the Year Award. Jose Bautista is just have an absolutely tremendous year. He is batting a modest .257 but it is his 23 doubles and 43 runs scored that makes him one of the top players on this team. Not to mention some tremendous fielding plays that I have seen on SportsCenter.
Adam LaRoche:Well, this was almost a bust. LaRoche almost made Littlefiel look like and idiot (no comment). He traded away a pitcher that was 24-24 in saves last year, had a 95+ fast ball that I have seen top 100 MPH and was young and could have been around for a long time. Littlefield receives a player who had a great great year in Atlanta with 32 home runs 90 RBIs and a .285 average. Not a bad trade. Now consider the fact that the hitter you traded for hits below .100 for the first month of the season and below .150 for the fallowing month. BUST RIGHT? Now consider this, the pitcher Littefield dealt away is now out for the season with elbow surgery and the hitter you got, has been on a hot streak for late June and early July. Well Mr. LaRoche, welcome to Pittsburgh, I doubt you will be booed very much anymore. At the mid-season break LaRoce is hitting .239, with 13 HR, 23 doubles and 51 RBIs. That's the Adam LaRoche Littlefield traded for.
Jason Bay:I say if it weren't for Jason Bay, this season could already be declared a loss. Bay had a terrific beginning of the season. He made game saving catches in the out field, had game winning hits and has produced the most RBIs on the team. Not bad for a guy who went on a month long slump. I would Also like to say that Jason Bay never went on a slump in his previous years in the majors so there is no reason to get on his back about this one, hopefully this one is over and he will be back to his amazing self again. Hey even Jeter went into a slump just a couple of years back. I say Jason Bay will have a much much much better second half then fist, maybe MVP contention?
Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny: Well, Well, Well, seems the Pirates finnaly have two reliable starting pitchers. Tom Gorzelanny is pitching to potential with his 9-4 record, 3.10 ERA and 75 strike outs compared to 35 walks. Ian Snell has taken it upon himself to pitch well above the call of duty. His record is 7-5, defiantly not reflecting how well he has pitched this season. His ERA does: 2.93 is among league leaders. He also has 95 Ks on the season. This kid isn't going to rest until a World Series Trophy is back in Pittsburgh.
Matt Capps:My personal Hero. The guy I said should have been the closer since the start of the year. He has only blown one save in ten opportunities. I like that a lot better the Torres who blew six of eighteen. Thank You Matt Capps.
The Pirates ended the second half by wining their last four series. Lets hope this can continue into the second half. They need to keep the bats hot and get some other pitchers winning and I think this will be a great season for the Pirates.
