The State of the Pittsburgh Pirates Address

May 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle watches from the dugout during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle watches from the dugout during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Staff Bum: Jon Niese

If you’re looking for a rant about how Neil Walker is the greatest man alive based on geography, you’ll have to look somewhere else (likely anywhere on Pirates twitter).  However, one cannot deny that Niese has not been excellent this season. Now, Niese has had the misfortune of some poor defense behind him, as well as pitching in hitters dojos such as Coors Field, Chase Field, and most recently Great American Ballpark. However, Niese’s 1.62 WHIP and  .304 BAA to go with his 5.63 ERA suggest that some of his misfortunes are his own damn fault. Out of the five  arms in the starting rotation, Niese has been the most underwhelming, and for that, I give him the punishment of Staff Bum