Pirates relying on boat load of pitchers
PITTSBURGH – The Pirates were criticized, even mocked in some corners, for loading up on pitching, particularly the right-hander version, in the amateur draft earlier this month. The Pirates took righties with nine of their first 10 picks and 27 of 50 picks overall. Throw in the five left-handers they selected and the Pirates used 68 percent of their selections on pitching.
Some called it overkill but I happen to think it was a pretty smart idea. If you don’t think the Pirates need as much pitching as they can get then you haven’t been paying attention.
Left-hander Zach Duke was forced to the disabled list on Wednesday with a strained elbow. Not that Duke has been doing much this season as he is 3-8 with a 5.49 ERA in 14 starts, winning only once in his last 12 outings.
Compared to the options the Pirates had to fill his spot in the rotation before deciding to call up right-hander Daniel McCutchen to start Saturday night against the Athletics at Oakland, Duke looked like the reincarnation of fellow Texan Roger Clemens, minus the syringes and underage girlfriends.
In addition to McCutchen, the Pirates considered left-hander Dana Eveland for the opening along with Indianapolis left-hander Brian Burres and right-hander Charlie Morton.
Eveland pitched just three times for the Pirates in the span of three weeks after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a t rade for middling pitching prospect Ronald Uviedo, making one start then two relief appearances. In his last outing on Wednesday night, the portly southpaw was tagged for six runs in 2 2/3 innings by the Texas Rangers.
That left Eveland with an 0-1 record and 8.38 ERA for his Pirates career. At least, to this point.
Eveland does not have the option of declining an outright assignment to Indianapolis if he clears waivers. Thus, he could theoretically be back with the Pirates.
If that happens, everyone associated with the Pirates, from owner Bob Nutting to the kids who work in the clubhouse, should receive lifetime bans from baseball.
Bringing Burres back wouldn’t have been a much better choice. He pitched in 10 games, including seven starts, with the Pirates earlier this season and was 2-3 with a 5.62 ERA. Enough said.
As far as Morton is concerned, the Pirates can cite all the statistical metrics and scouting reports they want, but he clearly isn’t cut out to be a successful major-league pitch as he is totally devoid of confidence and other intangibles.
He was 1-9 with a 9.35 ERA in 10 starts this season before developing a phantom shoulder injury that gave the Pirates a chance to send him to Indianapolis on a rehabilitation assignment.
Even McCutchen does not inspire confidence despite going 4-5 with a 3.85 ERA in 10 starts with Indianapolis. He began the season with the Pirates and was 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in four games, three starts.
McCutchen is a changeup specialist, who has yet to establish himself in the major leagues at the advancing age of 27. At best, he’s a No. 5 starter and that’s only with the Pirates, whose 5.38 ERA going into Saturday was the second-worst in the major leagues, barely ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks (5.42).
Looked at under that prism, the Pirates’ draft strategy was crystal clear.
Herald-Standard sports correspondent John Perrotto is the editor-in-chief of BaseballProspectus.com.