While all of the talk around the Pittsburgh Pirates as of late has surrounded super-prospect Gregory Polanco, the Bucs have a bigger problem to worry about at the moment and that is trying to get left fielder Starling Marte figured out.
After a 2013 season, his first full one in the majors, that saw Marte post a .280/.343/.441 line, including 41 steals, the mere fact that Marte hasn’t taken the next step is one of the more disappointing aspects surrounding this 2014 team.
That rings especially true given the fact that the Pirates believed in Marte enough to throw him a hefty contract in which the youngster is guaranteed $27 million through 2021 and can make approximately an additional $20 million if the Pirates exercise team options in 2020 and 2021.
What we needed to see this season was a better command of the strike zone from Marte, but that hasn’t happened as he proved that he isn’t disciplined enough to be a leadoff hitter and was subsequently dropped in the lineup. That’s something that most people saw coming anyway, whether he performed at the top of the lineup or not.
However what most people didn’t see coming was a mere .235/.306/.362 line this season in over 200 at bats.
Even more disturbing is the fact that Marte’s mind seems to wander at times on the field with poor base running decisions and even worse looking at bats.
Needless to say the progression that Bucs needed to see is not coming along at nearly the rate the Pirates need it to come.
You can point back to last postseason to see exactly what Marte means to the Pirates’ offense.
Marte had just three hits and one stolen base in 26 postseason at-bats last year, between the wildcard game against the Reds and five NLDS games against the Cardinals. Other than his one hit, a home run, in the NLDS against St. Louis, his presence at the top of the lineup dragged the Pirates down in a major way.
Instead of figuring things out, Marte produced similar less than spectacular results for the first two months of the season until Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle had to make a change.
Now you have to look back to that contract and wonder if the Pirates would have been smarter to wait, especially when you consider the fact that he boasts career highs of only 12 homers, 25 walks and 35 RBI in a season.
Granted Marte has had only 890 career at bats, but it is a troubling sign nonetheless.
He was given the last couple days off which hopefully will be good for Marte. But in a pinch hit at-bat on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, he looked completely lost and fanned on three pitches.
If the Pirates are to have long-term success this season, Marte has to be a big part of what they do. There’s no getting around that fact. While Hurdle can get Marte some rest while Josh Harrison is hot, Harrison’s career to date says that likely won’t last. If and when Harrison cools off, Hurdle and company badly need Marte to pick things up.
Ultimately I feel he will. The kid is simply too talented.
I am more concerned with the mental lapses right now than the production.
But eventually Marte has to start making strides at the plate.
If he doesn’t it could turn out to be a very long season.
Marte will likely be back in the lineup Friday night when the Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers in a big three-game series at PNC Park.
Now would be a great time to start figuring things out.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
