Pirates’ middle relievers having an outstanding season
PITTSBURGH — Lee Hancock is a forgotten man in Pirates’ annals, making a combined 24 middle relief appearances for awful teams in 1995 and 1996.
However, Hancock did leave an impression with this spot-on analogy: “Middle relievers are like offensive lineman, the only time anybody notices us is when we mess up.”
While the Pirates’ late-inning relief duo of closer Jason Grilli and set-up man Mark Melancon have gotten plenty of accolades for their lockdown work, the middle men are also having an outstanding year.
Rookie left-hander Justin Wilson went into Friday night’s game against Milwaukee at PNC Park with a 5-1 record and 2.23 ERA while pitching 44 1/3 innings in 29 games. Wilson’s fastball has been clocked at 100 mph and he worked more than one inning 19 times while leading NL relievers in innings pitched.
Two rookie right-handers have also made contributions as Bryan Morris is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 22 games and 34 appearances, and Ryan Reid has allowed only one run in six innings in the first five games of his career. Morris has worked multiple innings in 11 of his appearances.
Vin Mazzaro, a righty who failed as a starter with Oakland and Kansas City, has found new life as a reliever after being acquired from the Royals in an offseason trade. In 34 1/3 innings over 26 games, he is 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA and has stranded all 12 inherited runners.
Lefty Tony Watson has the bullpen’s worst ERA at 3.91 through 33 games and 36 1/3 innings, but he has pitched more than an inning 19 times and stranded 11 of 12 inherited runners.
None of the five have given up a sack or been called for holding.
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The speculation about the Pirates trying to trade for Miami right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is exciting to think about, but it’s not going to happen.
General manager Neal Huntington is not going to give up a trade package that would have to include three of the organization’s top five prospects, not after spending more than six years turning a wretched farm system into a good one.
A more logical target would be Cubs right fielder Nate Schierholtz.
The 29-year-old left-handed hitter is having the best year of his seven-year career, hitting .289 with 11 home runs, a .339 on-base percentage and a .555 slugging percentage in 66 games through Thursday.
Schierholtz is reasonable priced with a $2.25-million salary and the Pirates would control his rights through next season. Best of all, the Cubs would take a good pitching prospect for Schierholtz rather than an upper-echelon one like Jameson Taillon or Tyler Glasnow.
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Six rehab starts in the minor leagues made no difference for right-hander James McDonald and now he is scheduled to be examined by famed orthopedist James Andrews at some point in the near future.
It’s hard to believe how McDonald went from being a potential franchise cornerstone to a complete afterthought in less than a year.