Pittsburgh Pirates Mid-Season Report Card

We are already at the All-Star break and now it is time to take a look at the performance of the 2008 Buccos so far.  There have been highlights and lowlights, games to remember and games to try and forget.  The Pirates sit at 42-48 with 4 games to go before the Mid Summer Classic. 

Pitching:  D

Where to start?  The Buccos pitching staff has been pretty much horrendous.  Starting with Matt Morris being released by the team early on and more recently with Tom Gorzelanny being demoted to AAA, the pitching staff has not performed up to par.  Ian Snell has greatly underachieved and the fifth starter is always a question mark.  Zach Duke and Paul Maholm are having acceptable years, with Duke being the most consistent.  The Pirates are LAST in the Major Leagues in ERA, at a mark over 5 earned runs per game.  If the Bucs want to reach the .500 mark, the pitching has to drastically improve.

Hitting:  A -

The offensive numbers are a pleasant suprise for the Pirates this year.  Starting in the outfield, Nate McLouth, Xavier Nady and Jason Bay comprise the most productive outfield in the National League.  McLouth came out of nowhere to represent the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2008 All Star Game, and deservedly so.  At this point, he has already hit 17 homeruns and 60 RBIs.  Nady adds another 12 dingers along with 55 RBIs.  Jason Bay seems to be back to his old form, hitting 17 homers with 56 RBI.  Six Pirate players already have double digit homerun totals.  The Bucs have scored 438 runs already this season, good enough to rank them 9th in the MLB.

Fielding:  C

The Pirates have committed the 2nd most errors in the National League, with 66.  Only the Florida Marlins have committed more.  However, the Bucs have turned 96 double plays, also 2nd in the league.  Fielding percentage comes in at .981.  These two aspects save the Pirates in this grade.

Coaching:  B-

John Russell has made some nice moves in his first season as Manager.  Moving players, such as Matt Morris and Gorzo, show that Russell is serious about winning.  Another plus for the Bucs is the stability of the line-up.  Playing regulars most every day gives the players and fans a good sense of consistancy.  Not enough can be said about the decision to play Nate McLouth in centerfield.  That move has paid off greatly.  Putting Ryan Doumit behind the plate is also a great move.  Having said this, the Pirates still sit in 5th place in the National League Central division.  Things can be done, but the record is ultimately what counts.

Overall:  C

The Pirates are exciting.  They are enjoyable to watch.  They have great offensive power.  But they still seem to be the same losing Pirates.  The Bucs were close enough to pull to .500 on the year numerous times this first half, but just can’t seem to get there.  Now with the Cubs picking up Harden and Brewers getting CC Sabathia, it doesn’t look likely that the Pirates can climb in the standings the second half either.