By Tim Clark / / Column, Tim's Two Cents
Two

The stretch drive.

In sports everyone from players to coaches to fans worry about the stretch drive. You have to be playing well down the stretch.

Here’s the thing. Every game counts the same in the standings. They don’t weight the games at the end of the season more than games at the beginning of the season.

As baseball reaches the quarter pole, the Pittsburgh nine have wasted some golden opportunities early in the season.

Don’t get me wrong, this is the best Pirates team to step between the lines in a decade. I have yet to feel the typical defeatist attitude I usually have by the month of May. Still, I warned you of a couple shortcomings this Pirates roster had way back at the start of the season. Unfortunately, I haven’t been proven wrong.

The Pirates crummy bullpen and porous defense has cost them upwards of seven games. The latest coming on Sunday against an awful Giants team.

Again, I am thrilled the Pirates are 22-19. However, in this particular year that is good enough to be tied for last place in the National League Central Division. Their +31 run differential is sixth in all of baseball, but two teams ahead of them are in their division.

Most teams will blow a game or two every quarter of the season, but when that number is six or seven it really adds up.

So, how have the Pirates arrived at 22-19 at the quarter pole?

Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Good

The starting pitching has been as advertised.

Paul Skenes had two non Skenes-like outings, but otherwise has been Cy Young worthy. Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft have been pitching like Cy Young candidates as well. Keller is the grizzled veteran who has a track record of success. He has been even better than his career numbers. Ashcraft was highly thought of, but certainly had no track record to which you could base expectations. He has been an absolute stud.

Bubba Chandler has been just a bit disappointing. That is probably a little too strong of a description. Chandler has all the pitches and regularly hits triple digits with his fastball. Finding the strike zone has been an issue for Chandler. Once he gets more consistent control, Chandler will be more than solid.

Soon, Jared Jones will join the rotation. Jones had a strong start to his career, and he should upgrade the rotation even further. More importantly, Jones’ addition to the rotation will allow current fifth starter Carmen Mlodzinski to move to the bullpen.

It is arguably the best rotation in baseball. It is why more victories should have been garnered during this first quarter of the season.

The offense is actually scoring runs.

The new guys have certainly added some length to a really short lineup. The Pirates also hit home runs this year. Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn are professional hitters that the Pirates didn’t have in prior seasons. They also hit a fair share of home runs. The extra thump in the lineup has led to far more runs being scored. O’Neil Cruz still has some head scratching at bats, but on a whole has been light years better. Cruz already has 10 home runs. Last year he finished with 20 home runs total. He is also becoming a strength against left handed pitching. I said from the start of the season that Cruz would be the biggest factor in the success of the offense. Nick Gonzales has become a .300 hitter that has to date had a penchant for big hits. Finally, 20 year old Konnor Griffin is blossoming before our eyes. Already, I want Griffin at the plate in big situations.

The Bad

The bullpen lacks depth.

What I really meant to say is the bullpen stinks. I said from day one that Dennis Santana was not a closer. Credit to Don Kelly for realizing that fairly quickly this season. Gregory Soto has been really good to date. After recording 30 saves in 2022, Soto only had 9 from 2023 to 2025. So the good vibes with Soto may not last. Mason Montgomery, who came over from Tampa via trade, has been really good. From there, the rest of the bullpen ranges from spotty to awful. That simply isn’t good enough. A lot of good to decent starts have been foiled by this pitiful pen.

The Ugly

The defense, particularly in the outfield has been miserable.

Another of my initial concerns has come home to roost. In acquiring the bats needed to have a competitive offense, Ben Cherington brought in the same player. Marcel Ozuna literally can’t play the field. I’m not sure why Cherington would ever want a player like that, but here we are. To make matters worse, Ozuna has been dreadful. Brandon Lowe would be better as DH than playing second base. His defense hasn’t been terrible, but it also has not been sensational. Ryan O’Hearn is an excellent first baseman, but the Pirates have one of those. Consequently, O’Hearn has been thrown to the wolves in right field. He doesn’t lack effort there and has made most of the routine plays. Still, it hasn’t been great. Then there are two returning players that would make better designated hitters. Bryan Reynolds suddenly looks like someone fighting through quicksand when in the outfield. Meanwhile Spencer Horowitz isn’t even the best first baseman on the team, yet there he is at first base.

We have seen outfielders run together, stare at each other, and eight hop throws to the infield. Third base hasn’t exactly been stellar, because Nick Gonzalez is another hit first, field later kind of guy. Games have already been lost due to substandard defense.

How can they fix this so the Pirates can surge this summer?

The first fix is to not wait until the trade deadline to make a move. With the NL Central jam packed with above .500 teams, the sooner you upgrade the better.

How about killing two birds with one stone. Trade Spencer Horowitz for some bullpen help. Horowitz won’t get you a bona fide closer, but you could upgrade your middle relief. That move would allow Ryan O’Hearn to move to first baseman where he belongs and allow Jake Mangum to upgrade the outfield. Mangum is also a pesky hitter who can drive pitchers crazy.

The Pirates have a lot of quality prospects. It may be time to dangle some of those prospects to see if there is a closer available.

Of course the one thing that will happen in another week or two is Jared Jones returning, allowing fifth starter Carmen Mlodzinski to move to the bullpen. That will improve two areas.

With the starting rotation the Pirates have, the time should be now. For the first time in a decade, Pirates management actually invested in the roster. Don’t stop now. This team can certainly be a playoff team. You simply can’t allow the two weak spots to continue to cost your team games.

Ben Cherington is actually on a roll, so ride the wave and make the Pirates great again.

Tweet of the Week

Regular readers know how I feel about Bryson DeChambeau, so obviously this tweet hits a home run in my book.

 


The Weekly Shiny Penny

Whether you loved him or hated him, Bobby Cox was a winner and a legend.

 


A Penny For My Final Thoughts…

The second major of the season in golf is upon us. How about some thoughts…

  • I am still not sure I like the PGA Championship wedged in between The Masters and U.S. Open.
  • Cameron Young is on fire right now.
  • At this point, Rory should never be doubted.
  • Even though the wins haven’t been there, Scottie shouldn’t be doubted either.
  • What about the LIV players? Tyrell Hatton anyone?
  • Brooks Koepka is starting to figure things out. A contending Koepka would be a story.
  • Matt Fitzpatrick has a style that fits here.
  • I want to pick the favorite Scottie Scheffler, but I won’t.
  • I may put some money on Tommy Fleetwood at 27-1.
  • I would love to see Rickie Fowler in the hunt at 72-1.
  • I am picking, at 16-1, Cameron Young.
  • That means, undoubtedly, that Ludvig Aberg at 20-1 will win since I finally didn’t pick him.
Just my two cents…