The term “In like a lion, out like a Lamb” doesn’t have to only stick to the weather in April. The Pittsburgh Pirates (10-16) could go by the same motto as they started the month hot and finished it cold as ice.
A 6-4 record over the Cubs and Cardinals to start the season was a welcome sight considering the start the team had last season. The team did so by using the long ball. The Pirates hit 11 home runs over the first couple week of the season and were led by Pedro Alvarez, who hit six during that stretch.
Another positive that came from Alvarez was the fact that his plate discipline changed. The third basemen used the opposite field more on pitches away and took more walks ranking in the top 10 for the first two weeks.
Neil Walker was another welcome sight as he started things off with a bang on Opening Day with a walk-off homer. He recorded hits in eight of his first ten games while also hitting the ball hard for outs.
Things wouldn’t stay positive for the Pirates though, as the team has only won four times since.
The Bucs twice had leads against the Brewers in Pittsburgh only to see Jason Grilli uncharacteristically blow back-to-back saves on two Ryan Braun homers. The team was also victim to the big inning twice allowing the Cardinals and Reds to sneak away with victories.
Other than those occasions, the pitching staff has done a good job for the condition it is in. Wandy Rodriguez was placed on the DL on the 21st and Jason Grilli the same on the 26th (Both look to return within the next month). Those injuries didn’t impact the team as much as one would think as Brandon Cumpton looked great in a spot-start in a 2-1 loss to the Reds and Jared Hughes — called up for the Grilli injury — has already recorded a win with the team.
One injury that may play a big role on the Pirates success is the one of Russell Martin, who was placed on the 15-day DL on 4/26 with a strained left hamstring. His pitch-framing abilities and his work with the pitchers is pivotal to their success this season.
The home runs wouldn’t come as often after the first two weeks which cooled down the offense. The lineup produced more than two runs only five times in the past 17 games while getting shut out three times. The team is batting .221 while their BABIP (batting average of balls in play) is .259 which is 29th in the majors. That means when they hit the ball, it’s hit at someone 74% at the time which is unlucky, especially for the amount of hard-hit balls by the team. It’s a case of a team trying too hard to produce run support. The strikeouts have jumped, the plate discipline has decreased and the walks have lowered.
One bright spot through all of this is the play of Andrew McCutchen. The reigning MVP is batting .286/.500/.908 with 7 doubles, 4 home runs and 14 RBI. He is also 3-for-3 in the stolen base department.
The offense won’t remain this cold, but the question will be if the pitching staff can continue to keep their high standards up.
It’s only the end of April. Still 136 games to go.
Transactions
The team acquired 1B Ike Davis from the Mets for RHP Zach Thornton and a PTBNL.
The team DFA’d RHP Vin Mazzaro, who accepted the spot at AAA Indianapolis.
The team DFA’d 1B Travis Ishikawa, who chose free agency.
Travis Snider (3 games) and Russell Martin (1 game) were suspended for being involved in a bench-clearing brawl on Easter Sunday against the Brewers. Both men have appealed the suspensions.
(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America)
