Report Card Time

Welcome back! Sorry about my hiatus, I took a little time off to visit Sin City, re-charging the batteries and dropping some coin on strippers in the process. I'd like to get back into full stride by giving my fair, and unbiased, evaluation of the Pirates' first half performance of the 2009 season.

Given your already growing frustrations of the Battlins', I do find it somewhat fitting for our unlovable team to end the first half getting trounced by the Phils and then having the pleasure of watching both of our All Star selections sit on the bench last night, forgotten and unused.

With a not so stellar record of 38-50, and 9.5 games out of first place, it would be easy to just write off the first half as an F. I'm certain that is what most of you will score our last place club. Being an optimist, I'm quietly watching the new management team, and although I may be sipping the Cool Aid, I do find some logic in the moves and non-moves that the front office is making. The one chilling reality that we all must embrace is that this management team cares very little about the breaking of the string of consecutive losing seasons in 2009. Should Freddy Sanchez and/or Jack Wilson be traded in the upcoming weeks, it will only strengthen this position. Whether we agree or disagree with the current philosophy of rebuilding the organization's young talent, we should believe that any short term solutions could potentially spin this club into a string of bad seasons well into the next decade. This organization, as a whole, was completely broken when the new guys came to town, and as my personal trainer often says, "you didn't get fat overnight, and you won't get skinny overnight."

Despite all the bad press and ill feelings we read and harbor, we should note that in the last several months, the Bucs have acquired some young guys who can play. The difference these days is that the returns have been guys with talent and upside, not just more medium grade ballplayers who hit .270 with mediocre power. The additions of Charlie Morton and Garrett Jones, along with the long awaited promotion of the highly skilled Andrew McCutchen have already infused the team with some guys with the tools to help win games. Should salvage project Lastings Milledge realize anything near his potential, the loss of light hitting Nyjer Morgan will be quickly forgiven and forgotten. Of course, these steps forward are met with typical Pirate underachievement, and thus we have a team 12 games under .500. With all this said, here is my breakdown for the first half.

THE GOOD:

• Sir Frederick. Is anyone looking for a scrawny middle infielder with awkward mechanics and an over aggressive swing? Despite Sanchez' obvious physical limitations, he consistently keeps the BA on the north side of .300 while turning in gold glove caliber second base work. Granted, Sanchez will never be a Chase Utley type guy, capable of carrying a lineup, but Freddy has flat out been the best Pirate since he earned the starting nod in 2006. It will be a shame if he's traded before the true rebound finally occurs, but if his trade brings more quality young guys, then I can understand.

• The New Look Outfield. How does an outfield of McCutchen, Jones, and Milledge look? Well, that's what you may be seeing within a month. Jones could be the truly remarkable story here, as a two time castoff who spend parts of 11 seasons in the minors, now getting the chance to play. With some amazing left handed power, could he finally be that guy that sinks balls into the Allegheny on a regular basis?? Brandon Moss is the one disappointment to note, as I had him earmarked as a rising star in April. Although he possesses the tools, he had better start translating potential into production, or he will lose his job soon, most likely to Milledge.

• The Rotation. Probably the most improved part of the team. The starters have reduced their combined ERA by over a run a game since last year, and should surpass the 2008 quality start total by mid August. Zach Duke has been the success story, and his All Star selection was truly based on merit. The downer note is the rapid decline of opening day starter, Paul Maholm, who's ERA is well over 5.00 since June 1. Should Maholm and the coaching staff correct his issues soon, the second half will look very good for the starters.

THE BAD:

• Ian Snell. Possibly the most tragic case of lost or misjudged potential on the North Shore in years...and there have been many. Snell's dramatic dropoff, coupled with a similar stock loss with Tom Gorzellany, over the last year and a half has really stymied the Bucs potential of building and maintaining a solid rotation. Hopefully Snell will be able to regain that form, but I feel that when he does, it will be when he's pitching to the Pirates and not for them.

• Matt Capps. There was a time, not so long ago, that I considered Capps to be the best Pirate pitcher. The one time reliable, and at times, dominant, closer has fallen onto some funky times these days. The complete meltdown against the Phils on Saturday was enough for even me to call for his head.

• Karma. Is it just me, or does it seem that no matter what strides the Bucs make, somehow, someway, Lady Luck manages to thrust her pretty little fingers into their faces and just fuck stuff up? Perhaps it's the sports gods leveling things off for the continual success of virtually every other athletic program in town. This year's bad mojo belongs to opening day cleanup hitter, Ryan Doumit. Losing Doumit, the team's best all around hitter, for 70 games severely crippled an already underpowered lineup. I'll peg the cost at 5 wins minimum...and 5 more wins would have the Battlins' at just under .500. The recent struggles of Maholm also have many folks thinking ailment, which, once again, gets chalked up to nothing more than sadly timed misfortune.

OVERALL: Before we score this first half, we need to remember that 2009 is like the baseball version of The Empire Strikes Back, meaning, it's a transitional year. I truly feel that this was the year off pulling off bandaids and attempting to find cures for the cancer, and not just another year of jettisoning vets for prospects. The potential is here that within a year we could see a lineup boasting McCutchen, Sanchez, Jones, Doumit, Pedro Alvarez, Milledge, and whatever combination of LaRoches you wish to sprinkle in. You are hearing it here first, the Bucs will win 85 games in 2010 and compete for the division in 2011. Should these tremendous events not occur, then I will also agree that this first half should get an F. Until then, I will grade it out as "incomplete". Now, please excuse me, I need to refill my Cool Aid.