When you look at the 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates compared to the 2016 team 15 games into the season, you may see a ton of differences.
Players have departed, while others have arrived and the overall look of the club is different from last season. Despite the changes up and down the Pirates roster, this team looks to be the opposite of the 2015 club in the sense that early on, the offense has been the strength, while the pitching staff has endured struggles.
Last season, the Pirates pitching staff was one of the best in baseball, ranking second in the Major Leagues with a total team ERA of 3.21. The staff also allowed the least amount of home runs in baseball (110) and, as a team, allowed the tenth lowest opposing batting average (.248).
On offense, the Pirates ranked 22nd in Major League Baseball in Team Batting Average (.260), 23rd in Team Home Runs (140), and seventh in Total Team Strikeouts (1322).
In 2015, The Pirates won 98 games for the first time since 1991, when they lost in seven games in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates had this historical season last year by having a stellar offense, but also by having an exceptional pitching staff. Cy Young Candidate Ace Gerrit Cole led a solid pitching rotation which was also made up of Francisco Liriano, AJ Burnett, JA Happ, Jeff Locke, and Charlie Morton. The Bullpen, otherwise known as the “Shark Tank,” was led by Closer Mark Melancon, who posted a franchise record 51 saves in 2015. Relievers Tony Watson, Antonio Bastardo, Jared Hughes, Joe Blanton and Joakim Soria were also amongst the common contributors out of the Buccos pen last season.
The first 15 games of this season have been a completely different story for the Bucs.
The Pirates offense currently ranks first in the Major Leagues in Team Batting Average (.291), second in Team Walks (68), and 24th in Total Team Strikeouts (108). This early season success on offense is unlike what the Pirates endured at the plate as a team last season.
The Pirates are amongst the bottom three teams in baseball with only seven total home runs, but have managed to score runs based on a strategic lineup. This lineup is basically designed to get leadoff runners on base, specifically John Jaso and Andrew McCutchen in the one and two spots in the lineup, and drive them in with their middle of the lineup hitters.
The Pirates organization has been criticized, especially after losing Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker, for not having enough power in the lineup to score runs on a consistent basis. However, early on in the season, they have proven capable of scoring runs in different ways. Compared to last year’s team, who scored 60 runs in the first 15 games of the season, this year’s Pirates squad has scored 63 runs in 15 games on only seven home runs. There is still work to be done to make this offense great, but changes can be made as the season progresses.
The Pirates pitching staff currently sits 25th in Major League Baseball in Team ERA (4.42), tied for seventh in Most Home Runs Allowed (18), and has allowed the most walks in baseball (73).
Last night’s 8-2 loss against the San Diego Padres really summed up the struggles that the Pirates pitching staff has battled through during the early part of the year. Starter Jeff Locke pitched three innings, giving up eight earned runs on 11 hits while walking four batters and striking out two. Following last night’s outing, Locke is now 0-2 with a 7.24 ERA and 13 walks in 13.2 innings.
Despite the bad outings from Locke, he is not the only Pirates starter to hit a cold streak. All of the Pirates other four starters including Cole, Lirano, Jonathon Niese and Juan Nicasio have ERA’s above 3.50 this season as well. The Bullpen has also struggled, as Melancon, AJ Schugel, Ryan Vogelsong and Neftali Feliz are the only members of the pen to have an ERA under 4.26.
Now, it is early on in the season and it may be harsh to completely give up on the Pirates pitching staff within the first 15 games. It also may be a stretch to think the Pirates offense won’t endure some struggles as well. With 147 games left in the Pirates 2016 season, only time will tell whether the Pirates can continue this stellar offensive output and if the Pirates pitching staff can avoid stumbling any further. It’s a long season and fans shouldn’t exactly be concerned with a 7-8 start, especially when last year’s 98-win team had a 6-8 record on April 21 of last year.
The Pirates offense will only be aided once Jung Ho Kang returns from injury and it is possible that the Pirates pitching staff, who could see Jared Hughes back in the bullpen sooner rather than later, can likely get back to form. There do remain some concerns regarding the Pirates starting rotation, but there are some available starting pitching options, including free agent Tim Lincecum, who the Pirates could explore acquiring if they want to go down that route. Some other options, which most likely won’t be until later this summer, could also include top prospects Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon.
The fact of the matter is that the Pirates have always been capable of getting value from players that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to get value from. Sometimes, it doesn’t exactly happen right away. The pitching struggles are difficult to watch and the offensive success has been a pleasant surprise. It will be interesting to see if these things, good and bad, persist or end anytime soon
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