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It’s Josh Bell Time
By Marty Leap
Even though John Jaso has done a fine job for the Pittsburgh Pirates at first base this season, it is time for Josh Bell to become the Pirates’ everyday first baseman.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a strong offense all season long. The Pirates rank sixth in the National League in runs scored (434), fourth in hits (879), fourth in on-base percentage (.334), fourth in wRC+ (101), and sixth in wOBA (.320). However, this offense can improve.
How can this offense improve you ask? By promoting Josh Bell to be the everyday first baseman, that’s how. I am one of John Jaso’s biggest fans, and Jaso has done a good job this year, but the time has come for Josh Bell to become the Pirates’ everyday first baseman.
Josh Bell is one of the 50 best prospects in all of baseball. Bell is also the Pirates top hitting prospect. Furthermore, Josh Bell has proven he has nothing left to prove by continuing to play at Triple-A.
At Triple-A this season Josh Bell owns a .320/.404/.528/.932 slash line. Bell also has a .412 wOBA, 167 wRC+, and a very impressive walk-to-strikeout ration of 47:53. Obviously, Josh Bell has mastered Triple-A pitching and, in my opinion, has nothing left to gain from beating up in inferior pitching.
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These incredible numbers at Triple-A led to Josh Bell getting promoted to the Major Leagues on July 8th. Josh Bell would spend the final three games before the All-Star Break, as well as the first game after the break, in a Pirate uniform. In these four games Josh Bell would get four plate appearances, and he still has yet to make his first Major League out.
In the four plate appearances Josh Bell has accumulated in the Major Leagues he is 2-for-2 with a grand slam, two walks, and three runs scored. Not only has Josh Bell performed well in his Major League at bats, they have come against some of the best pitchers in baseball. His first Major League at bat came against Jake Arrieta and ended in a single, and his third and fourth Major League at bats both ended in walks despite coming against John Lackey and Stephen Strasburg.
As I said above, John Jaso has done a good job for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. The Pirates signed Jaso with one job in mind, get on base against right-handed pitching. Well, so far in 2016 that is exactly what Jaso has done.
On the season John Jaso has a .277/.350/.395/.745 slash line against right-handed pitching, to go along with a .327 wOBA and a 109 wRC+. While these numbers make Jaso an above league average hitter against right-handed pitching, Josh Bell is simply a better choice. Again, as I said above, it is time for Josh Bell in Pittsburgh.
Next: West Virginia Black Bears Mid-Season Report
If Josh Bell did become the Pittsburgh Pirates’ everyday first baseman instead of John Jaso a big question would be who becomes the Pirates’ lead off hitter? Well, to me, that is easy. Against right-handed pitching catcher Francisco Cervelli bats lead off while shortstop Jordy Mercer does it against left-handed pitching.
I realize that Francisco Cervelli is not a prototypical lead off hitter. However, the most important quality a lead off hitter can have is to get on base. And getting on base is exactly what Cervelli does. On the season Cervelli has a .352 on-base percentage against right-handed pitching. With this, there is no reason he can not bat lead off against right-handed pitching moving froward. It is time for Cervelli to bat lead off against right-handed pitching, with Josh Bell at clean up.
While John Jaso has been solid for the Pirates this season, the time has come for Josh Bell. At this point, Josh Bell needs to be the Pirates’ everyday first baseman and cleanup hitter against right-handed pitching. The Pirates are in a pennant race, and they need to put the best team possible on the field each night. By leaving Josh Bell at Triple-A, they are not doing that. So what I am saying is #FreeBell.