Buc Notes: March 5, 2016

Ryan Vogelsong and Jon Niese are the new kids on the block.  They are the two new pieces in a Pirates rotation that along with existing starter Jeff Locke look pretty shaky in the 3-4-5 spots.  The presence of both raises questions about the organization’s continued faith in Ray Searage – can he help one of them have a breakout year? Is it really an organization strategy to sign players and hope Searage can turn them around?

Plus, many pundits are asking whether the Pirates have done enough to ensure the team is playoff caliber in 2016. It’s a reasonable supposition that Vogelsong, Niese and Locke would all barely be fifth starters, if at all, on many MLB clubs that are deemed competitive.

This past week, Vogelsong pitched two great innings and looked good striking out two against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Vogelsong told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bill Brink that “It was a good way to start.”

Niese, pitching in the same game against the Blue Jays, hit some trouble.  He retired five straight before coughing up four runs.  Niese was really hamstrung by a Jason Rogers error that extended the inning and made the runs possible.

For post game interviews with both Vogelsong and Niese check out this post at Pirates Breakdown. It didn’t seem that Hurdle was disappointed in the Niese. Instead he had praise for the pitcher commenting on how he attacked the strike zone.

Niese saw time in the Mets rotation in 2015. He looked good in the first 30 starts tossing 3.40 ERA before having it balloon over five down the stretch and getting sent to the bullpen. It is unlikely that Niese was good enough to be on the Mets rotation – perhaps just opening the season in the fifth slot with a very short leash.  Niese was the only Pirate with a shaky first start.

Locke’s first appearance was an utter disaster.  He was overpowered by the Detroit Tigers – he gave up four runs on four hits and a walk in two innings.