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Tag: 2017 Pirates Recaps

We all follow the game of baseball for a different reason. It typically relates to our childhood. The game has a certain energy level and flow. There's a progression from nothing-nothing, no men on base, to...
Jared Jones throws an elite fastball, an elite slider, and showed promise with his curveball and changeup development this spring. He's a top 100 prospect. He's a rookie of the year candidate from the start of the...

2017 Recaps: This Season Showed the Need For Top of the Rotation Performances

The Pirates had an unusual season from their starting rotation. They had a rare season in terms of health, seeing very few injuries to...

2017 Recaps: Third Base Provides the Biggest Hole For the Pirates Going Forward

I wrote about the second base position going into the weekend, and how the Pirates have a difficult decision to make at second base....

2017 Recaps: With Prospects on the Way, Jordy Mercer’s Time as the Starting Shortstop is Limited

The Pirates could do a lot worse than having Jordy Mercer as their starting shortstop. Mercer entered the 2017 season as the starter for the...

2017 Recaps: Josh Harrison Shows His Value, But the Pirates Now Have a Tough Decision

Josh Harrison's career has been an interesting one. He first came up as a super utility player, and served in that role as more...

2017 Recaps: Josh Bell’s Power Surge and Defensive Improvements Were a Bright Spot

The Josh Bell experiment at first base hasn't been a smooth ride. It hasn't always been full of hope. But the 2017 season gave...

2017 Recaps: The Pirates Don’t Have an Easy Decision Behind the Plate Going Forward

It's common for a small market team like the Pirates to take on risks. They do so by adding reclamation pitching projects, or by...

2017 Recaps: How Gregory Polanco’s Massive Upside Has Been Limited So Far in the Majors

No matter what happens, Gregory Polanco is going to be a very interesting case study for how nothing is guaranteed with prospects or young...

2017 Recaps: A Sign of Hope That Starling Marte’s Problems Won’t Carry Over to 2018

Starling Marte averaged around a 4.0 WAR from 2013-2016. Sometimes he was above that number, such as his 4.8 WAR in 2013. Sometimes he...

2017 Recaps: Andrew McCutchen is No Longer Reliable, But Still a Key to the Pirates Contending

For the third year in a row, Andrew McCutchen showed a disturbing trend of struggling during an extended period during the regular season. The trend...