Pittsburgh Pirates bench proves to be a letdown
By Matt Shetler
When you have a collection of guys hitting under .230 getting regular at bats this late in the season like Clint Hurdle’s Pittsburgh Pirates do, it means two things.
For one, your offense isn’t very good. Secondly, your bench is even worse.
Jun 27, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (5) during an at bat during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has done an admirable job over the past couple of years assembling a bullpen and finding decent pitching overall. But when it comes to adding productive bench players to this team, Huntington has failed miserably.
In addition to running three or four guys out on a nightly basis that have very little chance to contribute, the Pirates don’t have anyone behind them that can help out much in a big situation either.
Once again the Bucs bench is pretty lousy and that’s becoming a trend.
The problems the Pirates have hitting with runners in scoring position have been well documented, but it’s also a problem that the bench players can’t step up and get a big hit when needed. The Pirates are the worst pinch-hitting team in baseball and it’s not even close.
So far this season, Pirates’ pinch-hitters are only 34-for-184 (.185), with only a pair of homers and only 17 RBI. That’s unacceptable, especially when you consider they have a collective OPS of barely over .500. Good teams can bring guys off the bench that can get big hits in big spots of the game or keep innings going with quality at bats. The Pirates can’t do that.
Here’s a look at individual Pirates’ hitters have performed off the bench:
Pedro Alvarez: 2-for-4, RBI
Rod Barajas: 0-for-4, RBI
Clint Barmes: 0-for-1
Jeff Clement: 1-for-10, RBI
Eric Fryer: 1-for-4
Matt Hague: 4-for-14, 2 RBI
Josh Harrison, 4-for-27, 3 RBI
Gorkys Hernandez: 1-for-5, RBI
Garrett Jones: 3-for-13, RBI
Starling Marte: 0-for-1
Andrew McCutchen: 0-for-1
James McDonald: 1-for-2
Casey McGehee: 6-for-14, 3 RBI
Michael McKenry: 3-for-11, RBI
Nate McLouth: 0-for-13
Jordy Mercer: 1-for-7
Yamaico Navarro: 0-for-12
Alex Presley: 2-for-12, HR, RBI
Gaby Sanchez: 2-for-10, HR, 2 RBI
Travis Snider: 2-for-7
Drew Sutton: 1-for-5, RBI
Jose Tabata: 0-for-4
Neil Walker: 0-for-2
As you can see, the numbers aren’t pretty. Harrison is often Hurdle’s go-to-guy off the bench and he’s a lousy pinch-hitter to be kind. The only two guys who had remote success off the pine were Hague and McGehee; naturally, neither are on the club right now.
A good bench is an important part of assembling a winning team and the Pirates don’t have that.
If this team fails to make the playoffs or finish over .500, which looks quite possible right now, there will be many things to point the finger at. The bench should be one of those.
Just a few more hits here and there off the bench and the Bucs could be sitting pretty right now instead of fighting for their lives.