Pirates’ farm system still considered one of the best
It was not the greatest of seasons in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates, though their farm system is still considered one of the most talented in baseball.
The Pirates’ seven farm clubs went a combined 343-420 with just Class AAA Indianapolis (73-71) and high Class A Bradenton (78-61) posting winning records. Bradenton was the lone team to qualify for the postseason and was swept in two games by Fort Myers in a best-of-three series in the Florida State League.
Four teams finished at least 20 games under .500: Class AA Altoona (61-81), low Class A West Virginia (51-84) and the two rookie-level teams, Bristol (22-46) and the Gulf Coast League Pirates (20-40).
Short season Jamestown finished 35-40.
Here is a look at the individual statistical leaders:
Average: Josh Bell (Bradenton/Altoona) .325
Home runs: JaCoby Jones (West Virginia) 23
RBIs: Edwin Espinal (West Virginia) 71
Stolen bases: Drew Maggi (Altoona) 37
Wins: Chad Kuhl (Bradenton) 13
ERA: Adrian Sampson (Altoona/Indianapolis) 2.96
Strikeouts: Tyler Glasnow (Bradenton) 157
Saves: Yhontan Barrios (West Virginia/Bradenton) 15
n n n
The Pirates’ Mark Melancon entered the weekend with 26 saves, a pretty impressive total considering that he began the season as the set-up man for Jason Grilli, who was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in late June.
However, 20-save seasons aren’t what they used to be.
In fact, the Pirates have had four different pitchers save at least 20 games in the last five seasons. Octavio Dotel had 21 in 2010, Joel Hanrahan finished with 40 in 2011 and 36 in 2012, and Grilli had 33 last season.
The St. Louis Cardinals have had five different 20-save relievers in the last five seasons: Ryan Franklin with 27 in 2010, Fernando Salas with 24 in 2011, Jason Motte with 42 in 2012, Edward Mujica with 37 in 2013 and Trevor Rosenthal with 42 this season.
A total of 74 different pitchers have had 20-save seasons since 2010.
n n n
The Pirates beat Johnny Cueto in last year’s National League wild card game. The Cincinnati Reds right-hander has been extracting revenge this season.
Cueto raised his record to 4-0 against the Pirates in 2014 and 17-4 in his career last Sunday when he allowed two runs in eight innings at PNC Park. No Reds pitcher had won that many games in the same year against the Pirates since 2009 when Cueto and Homer Bailey both beat them four times during a 105-loss season.
The last Reds pitcher before Cueto to beat the Pirates four times in two different seasons was Joe Nuxhall, who did so in 1954, 1955 and 1957.