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Pittsburgh Pirates

12-21, NL Central (5th)
Team RankingAVGRHRERA
Pirates.2446101074.04
Cent Division5th6th5th3rd
National League 10th13th14th11th
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Season Preview


Danny Knobler's Take

It was hard to find anyone who liked this team this spring, and it’s hard to see how the Pirates can end a string of losing seasons that stretches all the way back to 1992, back when Barry Bonds and Jim Leyland were both young. The Pirates improved their coaching staff with the addition of Perry Hill and Joe Kerrigan, and general manager Neal Huntington beefed up his staff of special assistants, but too many of the players are the same. The rotation still looks shaky, and the lineup still looks too much like the one that didn’t produce enough last year. The only time the Pirates really got noticed this spring was when prospect Jose Tabata’s 43-year-old wife was charged with kidnapping.

 
Staff Picks
Place Knobler Miller Mack Rosen
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Complete Staff Picks
 
Team Info
2008 record: 67-95, .414 pct. (6th in NL Central)
As Pirates manager: John Russell, entering 2nd year (67-95)
Stadium: PNC Park (38,362; grass)
 
Top Prospects
1. Andrew McCutchen, OF
  Has a nice combination of power and speed; should arrive later this season.
2. Pedro Alvarez , 3B
  David Price's Vandy teammate could get a September callup but showed up out of shape.
3. Jamie Romak, 1B
  Free-swinging slugger follows the Pirates footsteps of former farmhands Brad Eldred and Steve Pearce.
4. Bryan Morris, RH/SP
  One of the prospects from the Bay-Manny Ramirez blockbuster, and will need a couple of years.
5. Neil Walker, 3B
  Converted from catcher to third baseman and needs more time to develop there.
 
 
Ross Ohlendorf struggled in five September starts last season but earned a rotation spot after an impressive spring. (AP)
 
Outlook
Video
Danny Knobler: Preview
Interview: Eric Hinske
NL Central: Division Preview
Columns
Hope and change? In Pittsburgh?
Five things to know
 
( Eric Hinske and Craig Monroe )
Lineup
No.PlayerABHRAVGRBIRSB
1.N. Morgan, LF 160 0 .294 7 26 9
2.F. Sanchez, 2B569 9 .271 52 75 0
3.N. McLouth, CF597 26 .276 94 113 23
4.R. Doumit, C431 15 .318 69 71 2
5.A. LaRoche, 1B492 25 .270 85 66 1
6.B. Moss, RF236 8 .246 34 19 1
7.A. LaRoche, 3B223 5 .166 18 17 2
8.J. Wilson, SS305 1 .272 22 24 2
Pitching
No.PitcherIPW-LSVERAKsBB
1.P. Maholm, LH206.1 9-9 0 3.71 139 63
2.I. Snell, RH 164.1 7-12 0 5.42 135 89
3.Z. Duke, LH185.0 5-14 0 4.82 87 47
4.R. Ohlendorf, RH 62.2 1-4 0 6.46 49 31
5.J. Karstens, RH51.1 2-6 0 4.03 23 13
CLM. Capps, RH 53.2 2-3 21 3.02 39 5
 
 
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