Pittsburgh Pirates Stay Old, Reward Jordy Mercer With Trip Back To AAA

Neal Huntington, the Pittsburgh Pirates Sr. VP and GM said yesterday that the team wanted to avoid an emotional decision.  The Bucs did that today apparently by sending Jordy Mercer back to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for starting second baseman Neil Walker to come off the disabled list.

Obviously what Huntington was referring to was Jordy Mercer’s productive weekend making an impact on the Pittsburgh Pirates moving forward.  On the GM’s show yesterday, Huntington addressed the topic about  Jordy Mercer .

Listed below are the responses about Mercer staying in the big leagues when Neil Walker returned.  It was easy to see what was coming as we told you yesterday.

*We can’t make emotional decisions.

*Fans hate when I say this, but we have to think about one, two, four years down the road.

*Huntington’s major point was the need for acquiring John McDonald still exists. Huntington mentioned that Chase d’Arnaud is still not going to return until June 1.

*The Bucs GM mentioned that Mercer’s OPS was .630 heading into Friday. (He failed to mention John McDonald’s OPS, but heh, whatever…Tim from Pirates Prospects tweeted it was .276)

*Mercer he had a great spring training….he is an internal candidate for the SS position in 2014….he has shown us that he can contribute down the road, now that time might be sooner.  (Not sure how that even makes sense, but anyway)

Take a look at the graphics below and it tells the story on this decision.

Of course the top graphic is John McDonald’s body of work thus far in 2013.

And as you know, the bottom graphic is Jordy Mercer’s body of work in 2013.

The Pirates continue to not have the best 25 players on their roster.  It has happened continually throughout the Coonelly/Huntington/Hurdle regime.

And each time it boggles the mind.