It is no secret that the Pedro Alvarez once again goes into a Pittsburgh Pirates season as a key factor to the team’s success, however this year Alvarez moves across the diamond to first base.
Alvarez committed a Major-League leading 25 errors in 122 games, his fewest played since the 2011 season. The Pirates tried to be patient with Alvarez and did everything from extra reps before games to rest but nothing worked. This coupled with Josh Harrison’s breakout season meant the Pirates scaled back Alvarez’s in-game reps and when Alvarez did start, he would rarely play a full game as a defensive replacement was used. Alvarez was injured toward the end of the season and had one at-bat in September.
With Harrison now penned in as the Opening Day third baseman, Alvarez will do the same at first base. He has been working with former Pirate first baseman Kevin Young on defense and also has changed his approach at the plate.
Now Alvarez is not a dead pull hitter but instead has listened to hitting coach Jeff Branson and now has an all-fields approach. The short-term result has been a good one as Alvarez is hitting .333 on the spring with two of his hits being extra base hits.
Former Pirate Manny Sanguillen who has seen Alvarez on a daily basis at Spring Training said that if Alvarez continues this new approach, then he will hit .300.
“Whenever you have anybody that can hit the ball wherever it’s pitched, that’s the ideal approach, that’s the ideal swing,” Alvarez said. “I know that when I am hitting the ball the other way, that I’m doing something right.”
Time will tell if Alvarez keeps this up or if he reverts back to his old self. The Pirates are counting on him to succeed and to be the big bat first baseman that can work his way up to the cleanup spot in the batting order. Alvarez also will have to improve his .175 batting average against left-handed pitching.
If Alvarez struggles or get injured, Corey Hart will step in to take his place. Hart was signed in the off-season to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Hart was a Pirates killer while with the Milwaukee Brewers and against current team pitchers, Hart has a .270 average. The Pirates believe is back to full health after left knee surgery in January, 2013.
The Pirates were interested in Hart last season but he ultimately went to the Seattle Mariners where he struggled. Hart batted .203 in 206 at-bats. He was designated for assignment September 29, 2014 two seasons after putting up 30 home runs and 83 RBI. The Pirates hope his power is closer to 2012 Corey Hart and not the 2014 version.
Things did not get off to a good start as Hart was injured in a hot tub accident. Hart ended up slicing his foot and the injury required stitches and time off. Hart has recently returned to regular action and is batting .500 on the spring.
If Hart can get back in form, he would complement Alvarez for a bat to face left-handed pitching. In 2012, Hart was a .290 hitter with five home runs. Hurdle is glad that he has Hart’s back on his team and knows that if Hart avoids the injury bug that his bat will be an important part of a bench that saw improvement in 2014.
Hart did not get many reps at first base last season, playing there for two games and he may play some outfield in 2015 as well, however his main assignment will be to back up Alvarez. Hart has one season (2012) when the majority of his starts came at first base. That season, Hart played 103 games there and 53 games in right field. At first base, Hart had a .995 fielding percentage with four errors in 801 total chances.
Andrew Lambo will serve as third string should he make the roster as he is facing a serious challenge from Jaff Decker this spring. Entering Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, Lambo was a .174 hitter with four hits in 23 at-bats. Three of those four hits however are extra base hits.
Lambo has played in a total of 39 games and had 69 total at-bats in that time. Lambo has never been on an Opening Day roster before and is a .246 career hitter with one lifetime home run. Many fans were unhappy with the Pirates not giving Lambo a chance earlier in the season when the likes of Gaby Sanchez, Travis Ishikawa and Ike Davis could not get the job done. The Pirates stuck it out with what they had instead of sending up the .328 hitter who also had 11 home runs, 42 RBI and .986 fielding percentage at the position in Triple-A Indianapolis.
Now the Pirates are listening to their fans, though Lambo would be a bench bat, which is what the team wants knowing he has the capabilities of changing a ball game.
The Pirates go into the season more optimistic about the first base position than in 2014. Sanchez did not hit lefties the way he was supposed to while Ishikawa and Davis each cooled off after quick starts. The Pirates now hope they have rid Alvarez of the mental stress third base provided him and with a new philosophy and position once again expect big things. Hart and Lambo’s missions are to pick Alvarez up if he falls or needs a day off. If this can stay consistent or improve during the season, then the Pirates will be happy.
