The Pirates should turn to Andrew Lambo at first base (Flickr.com/Sports Crazy)
With September baseball fast approaching, the Pirates will be moving quickly to improve in all areas of need. While much attention has been focused on the production of Pirates right fielders this summer (or lack thereof), there seems to be a glaring weakness that continues to be overlooked.
The first base production for the Bucs this year has not been good. While the platoon of Gaby Sanchez (left handers) and Garrett Jones (right handers) started off strong, it has become increasingly clear that only one half of that platoon is maintaining a respectable level of production.
Garrett Jones, who has become a fan favorite over the last three years, had a great year at the plate in 2012 (27 HR, 86 RBI, .833 OPS in just 475 at-bats) and many Bucco fans looked forward to seeing him progress in 2013. However, not only has Jones not improved in any particular area, he has taken a huge step back.
“G.I.” Jones started off the year on a tear, hitting .312 with a .884 OPS in April, but since then it has only gone downhill. Back-to-back months putting up a mid-.600 OPS in May and June started the downward trend before Jones showed signs of turning things around with 9 extra base hits and a .493 slugging percentage. However, things have bottomed out for the lefty in August, as Jones has 8 strikeouts (compared to 9 in July in 25 fewer AB’s) and just 2 hits in 20 tries at the plate, good for a .467 OPS.
No, that last stat is not a type-o. Jones truly has been that dreadful at the plate this month, and on top of that, he was already in a platoon because he can’t hit lefties (1 of 18 this year). At some point you have to wonder when manager Clint Hurdle will begin looking for other options.
With the overworked bullpen in serious need of some help, combined with Jose Tabata’s recent hot streak, Andrew Lambo spent just one series up with the big club, and he looked shaky out in right field. However, Lambo has spent extended time at first in his time in the minors, and he has to be considered a legitimate candidate to replace Jones, if even for a few games (when eligible to be recalled, of course). If nothing else, perhaps benching Jones is the best thing for both him and the Pirates right now, and hopefully the time off will give him time to clear his head and work on any bad habits he has developed, because there is obviously something seriously wrong with him at this point.
Maybe Jones will pick it up the rest of this week. Maybe Lambo will start struggling in Indy. Then again, maybe not. With a pennant race not only a possibility but a foregone conclusion for this Pirates squad, some tough decision will need to be made.
