HOPE. Are the Pirates the Obama Campaign of MLB?

The 2009 Pirates were a veteran laden team that lost.  A lot.

The New 2009 Pirates are the youngest team in baseball that lost.  A lot.

What is the constant in both of those sentences?

Losing.

So what is the potential reward from making all of these moves this season?

Hope.

For the first time in, what… let’s just say a very long time, there is hope in Mudville.

Simply take a look at the Pirates pitching staff last year.  The following pitchers stood on the bump for pitching coach Jeff Andrews who was fired last September:

The primary starters were: Zach Duke      5-14, 4.82 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, Paul Maholm 9-9, 3.71 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, Ian Snell 7-12, 5.42 ERA, 1.77WHIP, Tom Gorzelanny 6-9 6.66ERA 1.80 ERA, Phil Dumtrait 3-4, 5.26 ERA 1.58 WHIP.

Throw in a little JV Benschtoten with a 10.48ERA, Yoslan Herrera with a 9.82ERA, Matt Morris with his 9.67, Jimmy Barthmaier at 10.45 that sounded like radio stations more than a pitching staff.  Add to the mix  Ross Ohlendorff with his 6.35ERA and 2.11 WHIP, Jeff Karstens at 4.03 ERA .

As you know it was ugly.

The New Bucs have shown serious improvement on the mound.  Pitching coach Joe Kerrigan can be proud of the effort by his staff.

When we complie the stats in our next issue do you think you will notice anything different?

The Pirates were once quoted by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick as being an organization that ran through pitching coaches (four coaches in five years) the way Primanti’s runs through coleslaw and fries.

Call Joe Kerrigan “Joe Almighty” or call him “The Professor.”  Whatever you choose, we know one thing.  The Pirates staff is getting it.

After watching Daniel McCutchen earn his first victory last evening in a 3-1 Pirates victory over the Reds, the pitching staff is finishing strong by listening to one (of several Kerrigan preaches) basic fundamental. 

Throw strikes.

McCutchen threw first pitch strikes all evening long.  It showed.  McCutchen had a breakout night with 6.1 IP and five strikeouts.  He allowed six baserunners.

Call me crazy, but I would much rather watch young pitchers that give the offensive challenged Pirates lineup a chance to win than sending out, well most of the names from the radio dial in 2008.

The Pirates pleased countless fans when a decision was made to bring in another coach to assist Kerrigan next season.

Brilliant.

Hope.

Change.

Someone get Neal Huntington a teleprompter.

HOPE is part one of a mini-series we will be featuring on Rum Bunter as the season concludes.