Can Daniel McCutchen Spark the Pirates in Oakland Tonight?

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Daniel McCutchen was insanely hittable when

he was with the club in April.  In 12 innings, McCutchen gave up 19 hits and 18 earned runs.  His ERA was 24.30 after his three inning start in Arizona.  After the Reds game where he pitched four innings and gave up three runs, he lowered it to 14.73, there was zero improvement when he made the start against the Brewers in the 20-0 ass whipping.  The Brew Crew knocked his 83 pitches around for six runs and McCutchen was sent packing after  he pitched 3.2 innings.

He landed in Indianapolis.  If you look closely at his numbers, he was impressive against Pawtucket.  He threw 14 innings, gave up eight hits, four walks, ten strikeouts.  The Paw Sox are eight games below .500.

So let’s look at his starts against the solid AAA teams.  He hasn’t done bad.  His WHIP is rather nice at 1.17.  One would expect that from the right hander.

Toledo is a pretty good club.  The feared Mud Hens hit McCutchen hard.

McCutchen also gave up seven homeruns.  Two against Gwinnett on May 31.  They are a bad ball club and McCutchen lasted just three innings.

Against the best ballclub, Columbus, he went 5.1 innings, gave up five hits, two earned runs and issued three walks.  In his last start against Durham, the team with the second best record in the International League, he pitched well.  But he didn’t get run support and the Tribe lost 2-0.

Perhaps McCutchen will pitch well tonight when the Bucs rock the 70’s throwbacks, but  I seriously doubt it.  I just don’t have enough proof.

The Pirates need a lift.  The young talent on the club certainly could use a pitcher that can pitch well.  The Bucs have been giving their starters some runs to work with.  The pitching hasn’t, and it certainly appears like it can’t shut down the opposition on a consistent basis.  Hell, even a once in a while basis.  The pitching is simply serving up runs at an insane pace.

Pirates fans hear the jokes piling up and the eyes turning towards Latrobe as the Bucs time in the spotlight wanes.  It’s hard not to blame some of them as the losses are skyrocketing and we’re not even to the All-Star break.   They don’t understand what’s happening.

But true Pirates fans can plainly see…the kids are learning.  The new generation wants to win.  They just need a little pitching.  That’s all we ask for this year.  Just a little pitching.