I was all excited to write about Steve Pearce and where he might fit in on the Buc’s team this year, but his reassignment to the Minor League camp on Monday kind of dampened my spirit; probably Pearce’s spirit too. Though he’s out of the picture for the opening day roster, barring an injury or trade, I do expect him to up at some point this year.
As for the starters, Jason Bay will certainly be the left fielder. It’s strange how one bad year caused such a drop in his status among major league outfielders. A year ago he was considered one of the top outfielders in the league and a superstar in the making. Now he’s washed up? I think it’s a little premature for that. I fully expect Bay to return to his 2004-2006 level, so maybe a .280 average, 30 homeruns and 100 RBIs will silence the critics.
Right field seems to be set too. When healthy last year, Xavier Nady but up solid numbers and provided many clutch hits. Assuming he’s healthy this year, his numbers could approach Bay’s. However, Nady is the most likely of all Pirates to be traded, so we might not get to see those numbers in their entirety. If he’s healthy, and producing fairly well, Nady will be gone by July 31.
Center field is the only position, other than catcher, with a legitimate competition going on. (Okay, the bullpen too, but Evan Meek versus Phil Dumatrait is hardly exciting.) Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan are competing for the starting job. Early on it seemed that if McLouth won the job, Morgan would start the year in AAA, since he’s less experienced and in more need of regular playing time. Assuming that option plays out, coupled with the departure of Pearce and part-time outfielder Ryan Doumit battling Ronny Paulino for the catcher’s job, who does that leave as reserve outfielders? Kevin Thompson? That’s it? So, I think this competition will not end when the season begins. I expect McLouth and Morgan to share time in center, pretty evenly. This gives the team a solid fourth outfielder and perhaps even raises the competitive spirit on the team a bit. Whoever eventually winds up as the regular will have to make way for Andrew McCutchen by next year, so…
2008: LF Bay, CF McLouth/Morgan, RF Nady
2009: LF Morgan, CF McCutchen, RF Pearce ?
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