Pittsburgh Pirates Season Preview: A look at the starting pitchers
By Matt Shetler
Wild Cards
Jeff Karstens: I’m not overly excited about having Karstens in the rotation again, but he will be when and if he is healthy. If he can stay healthy though, which is unlikely as he is making his first trip to the DL to start the season, Karstens is a veteran that you know what you will get from.
Charlie Morton: Morton showed some positive signs in 2010 and should be ready to return in June. The Bucs surprisingly tendered him a contract this season so you know he will get the opportunity when healthy. If he shows some flashes of being the pitcher from 2010, then he could give the Bucs rotation a nice lift. However if he doesn’t, he could be tough to watch.
Francisco Liriano: Liriano should be ready to go sometime in May. He has a live arm and talent, which is a bonus. If he can figure out how to pound the strike zone consistently under pitching coach Ray Searage, then I don’t see how his power left arm won’t help this rotation out.
February 20, 2012; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburg Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole (75) works out during camp at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle McPherson: McPherson has all of the tools and missed a golden opportunity by not pitching well during spring training. However he will put it together in Triple-A and will be heard from some time this season.
Top Prospects
Gerrit Cole: Not much to say here. Cole showed what he can do in spring training and after some Triple-A experience this season, he will show that he is big league ready, although many scouts already believe that he is. if he isn’t up by July, I will be shocked.
Jameson Taillon: Taillon is also very close, although I don’t believe he will be an option until next season. His performance for Team Canada against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic showed why the Pirates future is so bright.
Luis Heredia: Heredia is still considered to have ace stuff as well, but at the young age of 18 he remains a long way from the majors. He seems to be progressing solidly though, and Pirates fans look forward to potentially seeing him pitch more innings in full-season ball this year.
Last year, Heredia spent the season in the rotation at State College. He had a low strikeout rate, but he pitched very well and Baseball America ranked him as the league’s second best prospect. He allowed only two HRs and produced a high groundball rate. Heredia will almost certainly be at West Virginia this season
There are no shortage of quality arms in the Pirates system, as guy like Phil Irwin, Tyler Glasnow, Clay Holmes, Nick Kingham, Zack Von Rosenberg and Stolmy Pimentel are all worth keeping an eye on.
My Take:
It’s hard to get excited about the Pirates rotation after the top two guys. Guys like McDonald, Sanchez, Morton, Karstens, Liriano, Locke and McPherson offer up too many question marks.
On a good note, the Pirates do have depth to turn to.
The bad news is that it isn’t quality depth.
Until the Bucs get their young arms to the show though, this rotation will likely continue to hold them back.