Bold predictions for the 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates

Oct 1, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman

(5) hits a single against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of the 2014 National League Wild Card playoff baseball game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Recently the immortal Greg Brown and the probably-also-immortal Bob Walk made some bold predictions for the 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates.  We here at Rum Bunter appreciate the guts that it takes to take a few steps out on a ledge and shock the world.  We’d like to bring you our very own hot takes on the upcoming Pirates season.  Afterall, remember the old saying:  “Fortune favors the bold?”  Well none of us are going to get rich from this, but here now are our bold predictions, starting with our staff and ending with some choice readers’ takes.

Rum Bunter editor Jacob Misener‘s bold prediction for 2015 is this:

” Josh Harrison will be a 20-20 man in 2015.  Before 2014, Harrison was fond of telling people that if he had steady playing time, he would contribute.  Now, with a solid position for the entire season, Harrison will be better suited to focus on his work at the dish, becoming an annual 20-20 threat in the middle of the Pirates’ lineup, and he should continue to hit for average as well.“

Eric Scot, Rum Bunter Staff Writer, offers an ideal NL Central prediction for 2015:

Pirates 92-70 Cardinals 88-74 Cubs 79-83 Brewers 77-85 Reds 66-96

Well ok then!  We can see now that Eric is firmly onboard and bullish on the Pirates winning the Central crown in 2015.  But not everyone is that optimistic.

Staff Writer Gary Wallace lays the wood on the 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates:

I believe the Pirates got worse in the offseason, not better.  The loss of Russell Martin was a huge blow to both the offense and defense, and I do not believe the Pirates acquired enough pitching depth to carry an offense that was at times anemic last year.  I believe the Pirates will be very inconsistent this year.  While the Cardinals, Brewers, Reds and Cubs all have their problems, they all appear to be strong teams this year.  My bold prediction:  Pirates lose 90 games this year, finish in last place, and Alvarez, Walker and Burnett all will be traded by year’s end.

To the angry mob that’s currently being assembled:  please take a breath.  Gary does add “I hope my pessimism makes me look stupid at the end of the year!” So, there’s that.  Can we bring him out of hiding now?

Let’s move on and look at some more bold predictions.

Next: A Powerful Pedro Prediction

February 28, 2013; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher

(76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

One of the more tantalizing prospects in the Pirates system is Jameson Taillon.  Our own tantalizing staff writer Matt Bower has this for us:

Jameson Taillon helps the Pirates to a NL Central crown as a September call-up. David Price was called-up to the majors on September 14, 2008.  He helped the Tampa Bat Rays become the AL East champions that year, and even earned his first major league win in the ALCS against the Red Sox. I predict that top prospect Jameson Taillon will be the Pirates’ version of David Price in 2015. The 6’5’’ right-handed flame-thrower began tossing bullpen sessions in January, following Tommy John Surgery last year. After 3-4 weeks of bullpen work, he should begin to throw live batting practice and simulated games at Pirates City. The bold prediction is not just that the Pirates will win the NL Central. The team is talented enough that that prediction isn’t bold, believe it or not. When the Bucs and Cards are battling for first place, the organization will recruit a relatively fresh Taillon—who started the season late—for the grueling stretch run. His sinking 92-96 mph fastball and mortifying curve ball will be a welcome addition to a tiring starting rotation. He may not dominate, but he will show flashes of becoming a true ace in the coming years while helping the Bucs to their first division crown since 1992. If my prediction comes true, everyone in Bucco Nation owes me a beer. If I’m wrong, I’ll walk from Pittsburgh to St. Louis. Not really. Bonus off-field prediction:  Jose Tabata will get a tattoo of a neck, on his lips.

Logistically speaking, I’m not sure the neck tattoo thing will work on Tabata’s lips, even though I desperately want to see it.  By comparison, the less epic of Matt’s predictions is what I would consider to be a dream scenario for all Pirate fans:  Division contention late in the season, one of the 4-5 faces of the future getting  meaningful innings.  It’s all there.  Of all of our predictions today, I’d most like to see this one happen.  The tattoo, I mean.

We have a prediction for one of our pitchers of the future.  But what about a pitcher of the past AND present?   The Big Tuna fills us in:

I predict that the man currently known as “BATMAN”, A.J. Burnett, will be re-energized being back in Pittsburgh and will have an inspired year of baseball.  In two years with the Pirates, Burnett’s ERA was 3.51 in 2013 and 3.30 in 2014 with a 27-22 overall record.  He hasn’t been close to those numbers outside of Pittbsurgh since 2008. In many posts during his exodus period I wrote that “AJ Burnett needs Pittsburgh more than Pittsburgh needs AJ Burnett”.  Based on both respective parties’ 2014 seasons, I believe that was upheld to be a true statement.   Burnett will thrive once again from the love he gets from the fans, the admiration he receives from his teammates, and the respect he commands from the coaching staff.  He will once again be a big fish in a small pond and he’ll perform as such.  Look for Burnett to throw a sub 4.00 ERA season with 15+ wins and 200 strikeouts, if he stays healthy.

Very reasonable expectations from Tony and he seems to agree with Brown that a re-energized Burnett will recapture most of his pre-2014 form.  The 15+ wins I don’t see happening, but he seems to be a lock for a sub-4.00 ERA.   200 strikeouts is also in play if …say it with me everyone!  “If he stays healthy.”

Next, I’ll try to live up to these guys with my own prediction.

Next: A surprising Pirate is quite the catch(er)

Aug 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher

(19) makes a throw against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

For my prediction, I’m revisiting a topic I wrote about just a few days ago.  In that piece, I wrote about how Francisco Cervelli can assume control of the catcher position.  I’ve thought about it since that piece, and I am invoking my right to completely change my mind.  I now think that Chris Stewart will be the everyday Pirates catcher by June 1st.

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The biggest thing here for me is defense and working with pitchers.  To reiterate from my previous piece, Cervelli’s career average in throwing out base-runners is 22%, a full 5% below the league average.  Runners will have a field day against the Pirates if this isn’t at least brought up to a competent level, and it will cause Cervelli to lose favor with the analytic-heavy Pirates staff.  Stewart had a down year last year himself of only throwing out 23%, but his career average of 31% speaks volumes.  At the plate, Stewart came in with a slash of .294/.362/.331, but that was buoyed by an other-worldly split against LHP of .486/.526/.571.  I’ll spare you the gory details of his split against RHB but let’s just say it’s not pretty.  If he can get those splits a little closer, especially in .OBP, the Bucs will live with it.  Lastly, Stewart has a year of working with this pitching staff under his belt and that can’t be underestimated.

With that being said, let’s take a look at some of our readers’ bold predictions.

Next: Pirates fans have their say

March 20, 2013; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates gloves and a hat sit on the field before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

As spring training looms, fans are getting antsy and starting to think about what’s in store for the 2015 version of their beloved Pittsburgh Pirates.  We put the call out on our twitter to see what predictions fans had for us.  Here’s the cream of the crop:

I can totally see this happening.  I see it going down like this:  On a long flight from a west coast road trip, Cutch and Harrison have been messing with Big John Holdzkom the entire flight, with John getting more and more flustered with each passing quip.  As they go to exit the plane, Holdzkom takes a step out, but finally thinks of the perfect comeback, albeit hours late, and whips around in a frenzy to let it fly.  BAM!  Concussion city.  But in the end, Holdz will always find a way to contribute.  

I can see this happening, especially if someone at PNC happens to yell out “sweep the leg!”

Interesting.  This prediction assumes two things:  One, Gerrit Cole stays healthy all year, or at least healthy enough that he’s not a wreck in September, and that Nick Kingham is the one to make a difference in the fall vs Taillon.  I wouldn’t be surprised if both of them pitched meaningful innings.

Not pictured, but Morgan from twitter gives us this one that is a perfect note to end on:

My bold prediction, All three Pirate outfielders will make the All Star Game. Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco.

My, how badly I would  love to see this.  I think it will happen.  Maybe not this year, but soon.  And I hope that when it does happen, whoever is managing the NL team at that time (Hopefully Clint Hurdle) will play them all together in the same inning.  I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it

Well there you have it, folks.  Bold predictions are just that: predictions.  Most of these will not come true.  Some may be closer than we thought.  But this is what we as sports fans do in the off-season.  Until we have some actual baseball to watch, this is how we entertain ourselves.

When you look at it that way, these aren’t so outrageous after all, right?