Ryan Vogelsong Needs Removed From The Pirate Rotation

The 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates are now 69-72. Unfortunately, they will not be making the postseason for a fourth consecutive season. Due to this it is time to start playing for 2017.

As the Pittsburgh Pirates begin to wrap up their 2016 season, it is time to begin to look ahead to 2017. The 2017 Pirates should be one of the best teams in the National League. Due to this, it is time to start playing for 2017.

One of the moves the Pirates can make to begin to prepare for 2017 is how they handle the second base position the rest of the season. I wrote about that last evening. However, another move the Pirates can, and should, make to begin to prepare for 2017 is to remove Ryan Vogelsong from the starting rotation.

Ryan Vogelsong returned from the disabled list on August 4th. And in his first five starts after returning Vogelsong was fantastic. With how well he pitched he appeared to solidify his rotation spot for the remainder of the season.

In these five starts Vogelsong pitched 29 innings he allowed 22 hits, just three home runs, and he had a strong K:BB ratio of 23:11. Ryan Vogelsong had a 50 percent ground ball rate, 2.48 ERA, and a 4.18 FIP in these five starts.

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However, in his past three starts the wheels have fallen off the cart for Vogelsong. In these three starts he has pitched 13 innings, he’s allowed 19 hits, three home runs, and he has an 11.08 ERA. Furthermore, Vogelsong has just five strikeouts and a FIP of 7.51 in these three starts.

Ryan Vogelsong is 39 years-old, he is a free agent to be, and he will not be a Pittsburgh Pirate next season. Combine those three components with the fact Vogelsong has been abysmal his previous three starts, and it is time for him to be removed from the starting rotation. Vogelsong should spend the rest of the season in the bullpen.

The Pirates could have a very good rotation built around young arms in 2017. It is time to see what these young arms can do. The next three weeks the Pirates need to build their rotation around the future, not the past and pitchers like Ryan Vogelsong.

Next: Is It Time To Cut Ties With Tony Watson?

Gerrit Cole returns to the Pirates’ rotation tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cole needs to be in the rotation the rest of the season. Not only is he the Pirates’ most talented starting pitcher, but he also needs to get back on track before the end of 2016.

Along with Cole, Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl also have rotation spots locked up for 2017. While I would like to see both of them make more starts the next three weeks, I would understand if they did not. Taillon had not pitched since 2013 before this season and Kuhl has had some injury issues.

Two young guys that I undoubtedly want to see make starts in the next three weeks are Tyler Glasnow and Trevor Williams. Glasnow might have a higher ceiling than any other pitcher in Minor League Baseball, and I am very high on Williams. Both have, successfully, worked out of the pen in September. I believe it is time to see what they can do as starters the next three weeks.

Even though he is set to become a free agent, I still want to see Ivan Nova making starts the next three weeks. First off, Nova has been the Pirates best starting pitcher since he was acquired at the trade deadline. Secondly, I would like for the Pirates to try and re-sign Nova. Due to this, they need to do all they can to make Nova happy the next three weeks.

The next three weeks Gerrit Cole, Ivan Nova, Tyler Glasnow, and Trevor Williams are four pitchers that I definitely want to see making starts for the Pirates. As for the fifth spot, I would like to see the Pirates rotate between Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl.

You might be wondering what about Steven Brault? Well, in my opinion, Brault’s future is in the bullpen. I believe he can be a very good left-handed reliever in the Majors Leagues. Due to this belief, I would like to see Brault moved to the bullpen as well.

The 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates have one big question mark, the starting rotation. Pitchers such as Tyler Glasnow and Trevor Williams could start to answer some of those questions in the coming weeks. It is time to remove Ryan Vogelsong from the starting rotation to make way for the younger guys.