Countdown to Opening Day: #22 Pittsburgh Pirates

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#22 Pittsburgh Pirates: Save yourself, save your Buc

PROJECTED LINEUP
RF Starling Marte
2B Neil Walker
CF Andrew McCutchen
3B Pedro Alvarez
1B Gaby Sanchez
LF Travis Snider
C Russell Martin
SS Clint Barmes
P AJ Burnett

PROJECTED ROTATION

AJ Burnett
James McDonald
Wandy Rodriguez
Francisco Liriano
Jeff Karstens

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Jason Grilli

Set-up: Mark Melancon

Top Prospect: Gerrit Cole (RHP)

Neal Huntington, Bob Nutting and everybody else in the front office - I'm calling you out. I know you have been dealt some bad luck since 1979 and the last World Series win, but come on now. Something is wrong when you cannot win 81 games in a season. The Pirates have not been a winning ball club since 1992. Kids born in that year can legally drink now. And if they are Pirate fans, they probably are.
They have hit on a few first rounders in the recent years, yet they still cannot seem to put all together. Right now the Steel City isn't even demanding a championship. They just want to see their team play in October. Two years ago they were in N.L. pennant talks until a play against Atlanta (umpire Gerry Meals still can't go to Pittsburgh) sent them in a tail spin. The Pirates went 18-38 over the last two months. Last year was worse as they finished 9-22 after being 11 games above .500 at the break.
There clearly is some talent in the clubhouse, led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen. Now is the time the front office needs to "Buc Up" and spend a buck or two. You're telling me you are going to let Joel Hanrahan walk and make your closer a aging veteran (Jason Grilli), who has been up and down from the minors his entire career? Fill the void Hanrahan causes with actual closer please. Your team and your fans deserve that.
I'm not saying spend 150 million, but put seriousness into your squad. It is time to make somebody say," the Pirates are going for it." Because this organization died with Disco.

Cole and Taillon

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Just face it, the Pirates are never going to spend big. But when they are in the race for the third consecutive season at the All-Star Break the Buccos have kiddos bail them out. The Pirates stay in the race for the entire season. Gerritt Cole gets the call first and is lights out from June on. Jameson Taillon, who starts the season in Double-AA makes the jump right to PNC Park in late July and  contributes immediately. Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett continue to enjoy the National League over the American League and the Pirates celebrate with their 21-year old fans who have never tasted postseason baseball.

REAL TALK - Who they going to blame it on this year? Clint Hurdle? The hitters hit homers and the pitchers rack up strike outs, but there is a downside to every regular. Too many strikeouts for Pedro Alvarez, lead-off hitter Starling Marte's on base is nearly the same as his batting average, and Gaby Sanchez cannot touch right handed pitchers. Liriano, Wandy Rodriguez and James McDonald all have their day when they walk the ballpark and it leads to a mediocre year. Just under the magic win total.

Breakout: Neil Walker

Bust: Jason Grilli

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: James McDonald 

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 79-83 (4th in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 77-85 (4th in NL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Kansas City Royals **