Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hurdle Must Balance Development and Wins

The Pittsburgh Pirates have fallen out of a reasonable chance at the Wild Card, and their manager should take notice.

When Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle filled out his lineup card for Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, it was dotted with the usual names in the usual spots, namely John Jaso and Sean Rodriguez at first base and second base, respectively.

While no one will argue with the results – Jaso hit a home run in the first at bat of the game and S-Rod had a three RBI night – it highlighted a problem that Hurdle will have to face each time he makes his lineup as the team plays out the string.

The Bell Needs Rung..and Rung…and Rung Some More

We have written on these pages before on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ need to play young IF/OF Adam Frazier. He, along with Josh Bell, represent the biggest chance at an influx of youth in the playing field next season. The probable 2017 pitching staff is loaded with youth in Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow and others.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]By Pirates standards, the 24-year old was a quick call up.[/perfectpullquote]

Keeping pitching aside, Hurdle will have to balance some needed “reps” for his young position players with the desire to win as many games as possible to avoid a losing season, which would be the team’s first since 2012.

For Bell, this would mean more time at first base, something that is desperately necessary. Despite moonlighting in RF at times while Starling Marte fights back spasms, Bell’s future is at first base. In an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, general manager Neal Huntington noted that he still sees Bell as being an “adequate” defender at first base.

He won’t get there without time at the position, and what better time than now as the Pirates are all but out of the race.

Play the Kid, and Perhaps The Other Kid Too

For Frazier, regular at-bats would do wonders in turning promise into project-able production. To this point, Frazier has acquitted himself very well. An extra 50 plate appearances or so would put him over 150 for the season, which would be a fantastic number to build upon.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]Keeping pitching aside, Hurdle will have to balance some needed “reps” for his young position players[/perfectpullquote]

Frazier had but 299 PAs at the Triple-A level, hence the need for more hacks. By Pirates standards, the 24-year old was a quick call up. So far he has not shown any ill effects from the lack of cuts. That should continue, but more time at the plate might assuage any fears the organization might have in Frazier starting 2017 on the 25-man roster.

The elephant in the room is Alen Hanson. Tim Williams over at Pirates Prospects raised some excellent points as to the need to play Hanson. Do read his thoughts, but I’ll add the caveat that with his value in seeming freefall in the organization’s eyes, giving Hanson – who is out of options next year – a chance to “get some film on tape” might increase his value just enough to be a part of a potential trade package. Certainly Hanson could never headline any potential trade by his own merits, but his speed and ability to play shortstop and second base could allow him to cling to some value.

Respecting Veteran Free Agents

Make no mistake, decisions like these do not ultimately rest in the hands of the manager. Yes, the final say in the lineup card belongs to the manager, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are a very cohesive bunch. No decision is made in a vacuum, and the front office does have a say in who might get playing time. Huntington has gone on record recently as saying he wants to respect the veteran free agents – Rodriguez, Matt Joyce – who are going to playing for their next contract. Whether those deals are with the Pirates or another club, you have to respect the fact that Huntington and presumably Hurdle are aware of that factor.

But, there will come a point in which the Pittsburgh Pirates are truly out of the running this year, and when that point comes, Hurdle’s 2017 club can benefit from wise decisions in the waning days of 2016.

Photo Credit – Daniel Decker Photography