The 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation looks pretty similar to the 2009 version,but the bullpen sure looks different after an off season spent looking around the junkyards and flea markets of baseball.
The top four are the same as much of last season,although the Pirates have made a decision to not go with a numbered rotation,but instead mix the lefties and righties up a bit.
Zach Duke gets the opening day start and hopes to duplicate his 2009 ERA (4.09) but improve a 11-16 record that could have been better with some luck.
Ross Ohlendorf holds down the second slot after a 11-10 first full season and a respectable under four ERA.
Ohlendorf was pounded in spring training,but most of the time that is insignificant.
However,watch for a slow start from the righthander.
Paul Maholm had a rough time earning decision last season,finishing just 8-9 which is a low number when you consider that the former Mississippi State Bulldog started 31 games.
Maholm is the best pitcher on the staff ,in my opinion,but honestly he would be a third starter at best on a good team.
Hard throwing Charlie Morton has the best toolbelt of the starting five,but has never seemed to put it together on the field above the AAA level.
Morton could be the breakout star,if he can harness the stuff that he possesses,but that is far from a sure bet.
Daniel McCutchen beat out Kevin Hart for the final spot and I was glad to see that.
Hart has the superior arm,but lacks control and McCutchen was the safer pick.
If the Pirates can get a workmanlike season from him,I would be pleased...
The Pirates return just one arm from the 2009 bullpen (two counting Joel Hanrahan,who will start this season on the IR) in Evan Meek with the remaining pitchers coming from around the league.
Octavio Dotel has been given the closers job after two strong seasons as the White Sox setup man.
The righthanded Dotel should be pretty solid in the role,although he hasn't been a closer very often over his career.
Brendan Donnelly will be the righty setup man after an excellent comeback season with the Marlins in which he posted an ERA under 2.
D.J.Carrasco likely will be the late inning lefty,Carrasco is another arrival from the Windy City and pitched well for the Pale Hose last season.
The final four spots are split between righthanders and southpaws as the southpaws are led by former Red Sox Javier Lopez and Jack Tachner.
Lopez was awful last season,but the Pirates are hoping that is an aberration as Lopez pitched well for Boston over the three seasons before that.
Tachner is a player that I don't have a ton of hope for,but being the likely long man shouldn't damage the team too much.
The aforementioned Evan Meek and recent waiver claim Hayden Penn round out the pen.Meek has closer stuff,but needs time to mature into the role,while Penn was once a highly touted prospect that has never pitched well in brief big league appearances.
Penn was worth a flyer though and is the type of gamble that I would rather see the Pirates take than on the Jack Taschners of the world....
Overall,this is a worse team than that the one that started last season,but hope should begin arriving around midseason as then the Pirates should begin the dealing off of veterans of any value and begin to bring up the young bucks,Alvarez,Lincoln,Tabata etc....
Projected record:65-97
Photo Credit-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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