Pittsburgh Pirates Roster Starts to Take Shape as Opening Day Approaches

As Opening Day draws near, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been setting up their roster and appear to be ready for the start of the 2016 season. The starting rotation and bullpen have been finalized and one more man was added to the bench.

With Opening Day on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been making roster cuts all week. There were questions surrounding the starting rotation, the bullpen, and the bench. As players start to leave camp, the answers to these questions have become more clear.

The starting rotation is officially set as Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio were named the fourth and fifth starters for the Pirates. Now the Pirates rotation in 2016 looks like this, Francisco Liriano, Here if Cole, Jon Niese, Jeff Locke, and Juan Nicasio.

Nicasio has had a great spring training with the Pirates and was rewarded for his efforts by making the rotation. In 15.0 innings pitched this spring, Nicasio gave up no runs and struck out 24 batters. He spent most of last season coming out of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen and will get a chance to break back into the starting rotation with the Pirates this season.

For Nicasio, it will be a chance for him to revitalize his career. As it stands now he is slated to start the third game of the season for the Pirates when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday April 6. This will be the first big test for Nicasio to see if he can bring his spring training numbers into the regular season.

Locke won the other spot in the rotation after an up and down spring. In total he threw 19.0 innings while giving up 14 runs and striking out 11 batters. Locke struggled last season with Pittsburgh and is looking to have a rebound year with the Pirates in 2016.

We will see Locke pitch for the first time during the second series of the year against the Cincinnati Reds. Locke's biggest problem throughout his career has been his inconsistency. It has plagued him again during spring training as his current ERA sits at 6.63. When he gives up a lot of hits it spells a bad day for the Pirates. However, when he limits the number of hits he gives up, he becomes a much more effective pitcher.

With the rotation finally rounded out, The Pirates can look forward to their different match-ups in the beginning part of the season. After the starters though, the bullpen has to be able to come in  and hold a lead for Pittsburgh. Their were two remaining spots for the bullpen and three pitchers contending for them. In the end it was Kyle Lobstein and Cory Luebke who got the call to the bullpen.

Lobstein had a great spring training with Pittsburgh throwing a total of 13.0 innings giving up four runs and striking out eight batters. Lobstein was acquired this off-season from the Detroit Tigers where he threw in the bullpen and went 3-8 with a 5.94 ERA. Lobstein will be one of three Pirates left handers in the bullpen this season.

Cory Luebke will join the trio as the third lefty of the bunch. Luebke has struggled a little bit as of late. In total Luebke threw 7.2 innings giving up five earned runs and striking out five batters. Luebke last pitched in the majors with the San Diego Padres back in the 2012 season. He is looking to revitalize his career with Pittsburgh and get back on track to the major leagues.

The Pirates also made some finalization to their bench and reserve players. Last season, their was no true fourth outfielder on the Pirates roster. They had a constant merry-go-round between Sean Rodriguez, Josh Harrison, and even Pedro Florimon. However, that has changed in 2016 as the Pirates look to sure up their outfield depth.

Veteran Matt Joyce has made the club as announced by manager Clint Hurdle a couple of days ago. Joyce came over on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Joyce had a really good spring for Pittsburgh hitting .256 with four home runs and nine RBI. Joyce is a veteran presence on the bench that can help give a day off to guys like Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco.

Joyce spent time last season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and struggled. He hit .174 with five home runs and 21 RBI. He is looking to bounce back with the Pirates in 2016. It will be a good thing for the Pirates to have a true outfielder to back-up in the outfield. Defense will be much greater with a true outfielder rather than a guy who can play multiple positions.

There are only a few questions remained to be answered for the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates. There is one spot remaining on the bench and two men fighting for it. Cole Figueroa and Pedro Florimon are fighting for the 25th man on the roster. Both are valuable options who can provide speed and are able to back-up multiple different positions.

With Opening Day only three days away, it is an exciting time of year as baseball is just around the corner. After a 98 win season last year, the Pirates are looking to take that next step and win the National League Central Division. They have a chance to prove themselves this year and will look to prove themselves in 2016. With leaders like Andrew McCutchen and Francisco Cirvelli on this team, things are looking up for the Pirates in 2016.

Early Offense Not Enough as Pirates Fall to Orioles

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored three runs in the first inning, but it wasnt enough as they fell to the Baltimore Orioles by the final score of 5-3. Williams started and gave up two runs in five innings of work.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored early and often, but it wasnt enough as they lost to the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 5-3. They started the game off with consecutive hits and were able to score three runs in inning number one. However, that is all they could muster and the bullpen faltered at the end of the game causing the Pirates to lose.

Minor leaguer Trevor Williams started the game and performed pretty well throwing 5.0 innings giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out five. He was hurt by the home run ball in inning number one as Nolan Reimold and former Pirate Pedro Alvarez each homered the put the Orioles to an early 2-0 lead. Overall, it was a good start for Williams and will definitely be something he can build upon as the season approaches.

Williams has had a good spring training for Pittsburgh appearing in three game and throwing 7.0 innings giving up two runs which is good for a 2.57 ERA. Williams will more than likely start the year in the Triple A Indianapolis rotation, and could be used in a spot start or two with the Pirates during the season.

Last year, Williams split time between Double A and Triple A going a combined 7-10 with a 3.85 ERA. Williams has shown good strikeout numbers throughout his professional years striking out over 100 batters twice in his three years, and he is showing that ability again here in spring training. Williams is someone I am looking for to help the Pirates in the future.

The Triple A starting rotation could be one of the best rotations in minor league baseball this season. As it currently looks you could have a rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Williams, AJ Schugel, and Cory Luebke. All five of these pitchers have great talent and, if needed, could be called up to start a game for the Pirates and would do it effectively. For the Pirates, this back log of pitching talent is a good dilemma to have.

Tony Watson entered the game next and was very efficient in his 2.0 innings of work giving up one hit and striking out 2 batters. Watson has been his normal self over the course of spring training as he is pitching to a 3.86 ERA in six games. Watson will be key in the back of the Pirates bullpen as he will be the set-up man for Pittsburgh. Himself along with Neftali Feliz and Mark Melancon will be tasked with finishing the game for the Pirates.

Then, the bullpen started to struggle as Arquimedes Caminero was up next and pitched 1.0 inning giving up one run on two hits while walking one and striking out one. Caminero has been inconsistent throughout the course of spring training this year. He currently has a 10.00 ERA this spring training.

He was successful his last two times out combining to throw 3.2 innings only allowing one hit and striking out one. However, in the three games prior to that he threw a combined 3.1 innings giving up nine runs and striking out four. For Caminero, consistency has been something that has been bugging him over the last few seasons. If he can become a pitcher who can consistently get batters out, it will bode much better for his career.

Cory Luebke was next and once again he struggled on the mound tonight. Luebke threw 1.0 inning giving up two runs on three hits on the afternoon. Luebke is fighting for one of the final spots in the Pirates bullpen. With Watson the only current lefty in the Pirates bullpen, there is still one lefty spot remaining and two pitchers fighting for it. Luebke did not help his case today with his performance.

Luebke currently has a 5.74 ERA through four games pitched. Luebke is fighting back from a multitude of injuries over the last couple of seasons and this season is a chance to turn things around. With one spot remaining and Luebke and Kyle Lobstein fighting for it, this last week of the season will definitely be an interesting one for both pithcers.

Overall, Williams put out a good start, and the back-end of the bullpen fell out at the end. Williams definitely impressed me on the mound and set himself up for a good start to the year at Triple A Indianapolis. Caminero and Luebke both have things to work on as the season approaches, and both have exactly one week to fix it.

Offensively, the Pirates scored first but couldnt add on. They scored all three runs in the first inning as an RBI Triple by Josh Harrison and an RBI single by Jake Goebbert scored the Pirates runs on the afternoon. However, there were some good performances on the day despite the lack of runs scored on the afternoon.

The offensive star of the afternoon was Harrison, who went 1 for 3 on the afternoon with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Moving into the everyday second baseman role, Harrison no longer has to worry about where he is going to play on any given day. He can relax and work on what needs to be worked on at the plate and in the field.

Harrison has been the face of hustle on this Pittsburgh Pirates team and that was apparent again this afternoon. His RBI triple was actually a routine fly ball to left that fell into no man's land. However, no one was covering third base, so once Harrison got to second he turned on the jets and got into third without a contest. This hustle is why I am a huge Harrison fan and why I think he will succeed as the second baseman in 2016.

Jordy Mercer also had a good offensive day going 2 for 2 on the afternoon. Mercer is having a good spring training to this point hitting .289 with one home run and one RBI. A traditionally slow starter at the plate, Mercer is looking to improve with the bat this season. He has been a good defender throughout his career, but the offense has never really come around.

Mercer is slated to be the everyday short stop for the Pirates in 2016 as he was in 2015. Mercer really did not come through with the bat until June last season where he hit .304. prior to that he barely hit .200 in the months of April and May. This fast start for Mercer could be a sign of things to come, and if he can transfer this over to the regular season, we could be in store for a break-out year from Mercer.

John Jaso is the final offensive star of the day going 1 for 2 with a walk out of the leadoff spot. Jaso walked to start the game and hit a double in his second at-bat of the day. Jaso has been solid in the transition to first base and overall is hitting .226 this spring with two RBI. Jaso has been a reliable hitter throughout his career and will be just fine as the Pirates first baseman.

We have noticed this spring that manager Clint Hurdle has not been using the traditional lineup. He has been leading off with Jaso, one of the slower guys on the team, and hitting Andrew McCutchen in the second spot. Jaso's ability to get on base is a plus for having him leadoff. You want your leadoff man to get on base and then be driven in by the three and four hitters. As long as Jaso cam get on base consistently I have no problem with him leading off the game.

The Pirates are back in action tomorrow at McKechnie Field when they take on the Minnesota Twins. The Twins will be throwing righty Tyler Duffy (0-1 6.48). Last time out he threw 4.0 innings giving up one run on five hits while striking out two. The Pirates will counter with righty Gerrit Cole (0-0 9.00). Last time out Cole gave up two runs in 2.0 innings of work against the Detroit Tigers. He has been dealing with a side injury and has thrown a couple of side sessions over the course of spring training. Cole will be testing that side tomorrow to see if it is ready for Opening Day. First pitch for tomorrow is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Pirates Bench Full of Versatile Players in 2016

The Pittsburgh Pirates have many different options for their bench in 2016. They have plenty of versatile options and plenty of straight up position players to choose from.

Opening Day is one week away, and one of the questions the Pirates have to resolve is who will be the five players on the Pirates bench this season. It is up to manager Clint Hurdle and his staff as to whether or not they want to go with versatile players at multiple positions or players who are skilled at one or two positions to help the Pirates off the bench. The Pirates have good players in both scenarios that could help them succeed in 2016.

The Pirates look to have a bench full of versatile players this year who can give everyday players multiple breaks. I can see the bench being Chris Stewart, Sean Rodriguez, Michael Morse, Jason Rodgers, and Pedro Florimon. Each of these players have versatility, which could be a key aspect to the 2016 Pirates.

The main stays from last years Pirates bench are Chris Stewart and Sean Rodriguez. Both of these players have proved successful for the Pirates in past years. Stewart is one of the best back-up catchers in the league. He served as Gerrit Cole's personal catcher towards the end of the season and had 14 wins with Cole. This season he will be back and will serve as the back-up catcher/Cole's personal catcher. 

Rodriguez will serve as the super utility man on the bench in either combination. The role was previously played by Josh Harrison, who is currently the starting second baseman. With Harrison in more than a solidified role, the job will now fall on Rodriguez's shoulders. Last season, Rodriguez appeared all over the field for the Pirates playing at first base, second base, short stop, third base, right field, and left field. He has shown the ability to hold his own at all of these positions comitting a total of three errors between the six positions.

The other players in this combination are wild-card options. First we have Pedro Floriomon, a natural short stop who has seen time at second base and the outfield throughout his career. The former Minnesota Twin saw time with the Pirates last season and played mostly second base and short stop. His big hit with the Pirates was his walk-off triple against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Florimon has been most noted for his defense throughout his professional career with a batting average that has been lacking. Florimon has had a pretty good spring with the bat however hitting .242 with one home run and a team high 12 RBI. If the Pirates go this option, it will be a battle between Cole Figueroa, another utility infielder, and Pedro Florimon. Both would provide strong defense to the team.

In this option Jason Rodgers, acquired from the Brewers in the off-season, would also make the team. Rodgers was a late-season call-up for the Brewers last season and performed well in a small sample size. Rodgers hit .296 with four home runs and 16 RBI in 152 at-bats. Rodgers has experience at first base, third base, right field, and left field.

While not as versatile as Rodriguez, Rodgers has shown the ability to play multiple positions throughout his career. In his minor league career, he has a .991 fielding percentage at first base, his primary position, committing 23 errors in 2270.2 innings. Rodgers is still a young player with some minor league options ahead of him. He has some experience in the outfield which could be useful to the Pirates as well.

Rodgers is a swing guy who could go either to the majors or the minors and succeed for the Pirates. Rodgers is a guy I am really excited for. Whether it be now or in the future, he can bring a lot of skills to the Pirates and will be an intriguing option either now or in the years to come.

The final addition to this versatile bench is Michael Morse. Morse could make an appearance on either bench as well simply for the power bat that he brings to the lineup. He can also play first base and both corner outfield position if he is needed there. Morse is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career but has turned it around this spring hitting .345 with three RBI.

Morse could be a very productive bat off of the Pirates bench in 2016, providing some much needed pop late in the game. I feel that Morse's role will change as the season goes on, and he will eventually be used as a platoon in right field for the Pirates. This will help Morse's chances of making the team immensely because it gives the Pirates a back-up option in case of injury to an outfielder.

The bench will be relied on a lot this season not only for days off, but for offense and speed at the end of the game. These five players will provide excellent defense and can handle any position on the field. However, we will probably see more than these guys throughout the season as it always takes more than 25 players to have a successful season. The Pirates have many players that will be helping them on the bench as the 2016 season progresses.

Harrison's Solidified Role Bodes Well for Pirates in 2016

Utility man Josh Harrison now has a defined role on this team as the starting second baseman. That will help him become a more consistent player and produce for the Pirates on a regular basis.

Josh Harrison has played all over the baseball field for the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout his career. He has played games at second base, short stop, third base, right field, and left field. This versatility has made him a valuable asset to the Pirates. He has also produced consistently over the course of his career, and as a result he has a more solidified role for the Pirates in 2016.

With the departure of Neil Walker, Harrison is now slated in as the everyday second baseman for the Pirates this year. Harrison came up through the minor leagues as a second baseman and gets to move back to that position this season. I see the move boding well for Harrison as he no longer has to worry about whether or not his name will be on the lineup card on a consistent basis.

Last season, Harrison hit .287 with four home runs and 28 RBI playing in a bunch of different roles. Over his career with the Pirates he is hitting .284 with 24 home runs and 126 RBI in five years with Pittsburgh. Harrison was not a household name until the 2014 season. This is when he broke out, hitting .315 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI, and showed his versatility on the field. 

One of the pluses on Harrison offensively is his ability to get on base. He does not have a lot of power in his bat, but through extra base hits and walks he gets on base on a consistent basis. Last season he had an on-base percentage of .327, which is just above league average. He also gathered 163 total bases last season in his 120 hits.

Harrison had a total of 34 extra base hits last year including 29 doubles. With Harrison's speed, extra base hits will be a big factor for him this year. If he is able to work the gaps and consistently hit doubles and get himself in scoring position, that will be a big plus for the Pirates this season. He might not have the speed of Andrew McCutchen or Starling Marte, but he can still turn a regular single into a double in the blink of an eye.

When he is not hitting the gaps, he is still getting balls through the infield at a very high rate. His BABIP last season sat at .336, which is way above the league average of .300. When the ball is put in play, Harrison has the ability to make it a base hit both with his bat control and his legs. If Harrison can stay consistent with his career so far, he will be a good player in Pittsburgh's lineup.

I can see Harrison spending most of the year at the lead off position for Pittsburgh. I think Gregory Polanco will be moved down in the lineup, giving Harrison the top spot. This suits Harrison because he is a very patient hitter at the plate. Last season, he saw 3.49 pitches per plate appearance. This patience will suit the Pirates nicely at the top of the lineup and will help wear a pitcher down late in the ball game.

The move to the everyday second baseman role also helps Harrison out offensively. Of the multitude of positions that he plays, his fielding percentage is best at second base, .982. This was his natural position as he made his way through the minor leagues and now he gets to play it everyday at the major league level.

In playing 605.2 innings at the position he has only committed six errors. The move to second will help eliminate some of the throwing errors he committed at third base last season. He commited nine errors at third base last season and that contributed to his poor fielding percentage. The move to second base will help his defense out tremendously.

For the first time in the last couple of years, the Pirates will have a speedster at second base. Neil Walker brought power to the position over his time with the Pirates, but the speed was never there and, although one of the best defenders in the league, there are some balls that Walker could not get to due to a lack of speed. 

Over the course of his career, Harrison has a range factor of 3.37. To put this in to perspective, Pirates great short stop Jack Wilson had a career 4.61 range factor at his position. So, While Harrison is not quite up with the greats at his position, he still has a very solid range factor at second base. This will help the Pirates immensely because Harrison will be able to make some of the plays that Walker, who's range factor is 2.33, was unable to make.

Harrison brings a lot of hustle and heart to the Pirates lineup this season. He showed this back in 2014 when he one the MLBPAA Heart & Hustle award for his on-field play. We have seen Harrison hustle all around the field and show a real passion for the game. This caused the Pirates to sign Harrison to a four-year 27.3 million dollar contract last season that could keep Harrison with the Pirates until 2020. For the Pirates, they will have many more seasons of Harrison ahead and that is a good sign of things to come.

Josh Harrison and the rest of the Pirates are back in action today when they take on the Boston Red Sox at Jet Blue Park. The Red Sox will throw their ace on the mound David Price (0-1 3.86). The Pirates will counter with Ryan Vogelsong (0-1 4.00). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Outfield Homers as Pirates Defeat Orioles

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 6-5 yesterday. They were lead by home runs from Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco. Jeff Locke threw 5.0 innings in the start

The Pittsburgh Pirates took on the Baltimore Orioles yesterday and emerged victorious winning 6-5. The home run ball was a major factor as the Pirates hit three on the day in the one point victory. The battle for the fifth spot continued as Jeff Locke took the mound for the Pirates in hopes of gaining the trust of manager Clint Hurdle.

Locke had an ok outing throwing 5.0 innings giving up three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Locke has struggled for the majority of spring training with only a few good starts here and there. He is in a contest with Ryan Vogelsong and Juan Nicasio for the last two spots in the Pirates rotation.

Locke currently has a 6.63 ERA over the spring giving up 14 earned runs in 19.0 innings pitched. Overall, his outings this spring have not been that good. In his five spring outings he has given up four, zero, two, five, and three runs. His shut out against the Phillies and his two-run game were his best outing of the spring. When Locke gives up a lot of hits, it causes trouble for him. In the two good games this spring he has given up two hits a piece. In the games in which he gave up three runs or more he has given up four plus hits.

Looking at the current field for the fifth starter spot, Locke's chances look to be dwindling. Nicasio has yet to give up a run this spring and Vogelsong has a 4.00 ERA in 9.0 innings pitched. As the field stands right now, it looks like Locke is the odd man out. His performance has not been up to par and it has effected his status in spring training.

The back-end of the bullpen was up next as Mark Melancon and Tony Watson each threw a scoreless inning of work. Melancon gave up no hits and struck out one while Watson gave up one hit and struck out two. Both pitchers were efficient and got the necessary work in for the game. They are both very reliable pitchers and will help the Pirates succeed this season.

The Pirates bullpen is something I am very high on this year. Along with Melancon and Watson at the back-end, you also add Neftali Feliz who has closer experience. This essentially gives the Pirates three closers at the end of the game. If the starting pitchers can do enough to keep the team in ballgames and the offense can score just enough runs, the game could be over by inning number seven with these three pitching in the later part of games.

Having these three also gives the Pirates some flexibility at the closer position. If Melancon has pitched too many days in a row, you can always turn to Watson or Feliz and have a very capable pitcher closing out games. While this might take away from Melancon's save numbers, it will save the Pirates in the long-run because Melancon will be well rested and more effective on the mound.

Up next, it was Cory Luebke in his third spring training appearance since coming back from, elbow surgery. He struggled today throwing 1.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out two batters. Luebke has given up three earned runs in 3.2 innings of work this spring. He is trying to revitalize his career with Pittsburgh after not pitching in the league since the 2012 season.

Once regarded as a top prospect in the Padres minor league system, Luebke has had some success at the major league level. In his career he is 4-3 with a 5.16 ERA and 53 strikeouts. Luebke is a strike out pitcher and has used that to his advantage in past seasons. He will more than likely start the 2016 season with Triple A Indianapolis to finish rehabbing his elbow. After that we could see him as a spot starter during the regular season for Pittsburgh.

Rob Scahill got the final out for the Pirates as he threw 0.1 innings giving up one hit and getting Drew Dosch to ground out to Josh Harrison to end the game. Scahill is also competing for a spot in the middle of the Pirates bullpen after pitching their last season.

Overall, I was impressed with the Pirates pitching this afternoon. Locke struggled on the mound again, but the bullpen came through for the Pirates and held the Orioles at bay. A positive from yesterday's game is that the home run ball was a non-factor. That has been troubling the Pirates for the entirety of spring training. It was nice to see the ball stay in the ball park tonight.

On the offensive side, the Pirates were lead by three home runs from Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. The starters played most of the day for the Pirates and as spring training is winding down that's a good thing to see. For a small ball type team, the power really shined through and it was just enough for the Pirates to take this one.

The offensive star in this game was Gregory Polanco as he went 2 for 4 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored. Polanco has struggled at time during spring training as he is currently hitting just .237 with one home run and one RBI. Polanco had an up and down season last year as well and he cannot let that effect him in 2016.

Polanco is a key player for the Pirates this season. Last year he hit .256 with nine home runs and 52 RBI. If Polanco is able to break out this season, the Pirates could have one of the best outfields in all of major league baseball. Polanco has struggled against left handed pitching throughout his career and that is something he needs to work on in 2016. The Pirates do have a back up option in Michael Morse if Polanco continues to struggle. However, this season will be a big one in determining what the Pirates should do in terms of long term action with Polanco.

Francisco Cirvelli shined today as well also going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Currently hitting .280 on the spring, Cirvelli is looking for another big year behind the plate for the Pirates. He will be key to keeping the pitching staff on track and keeping the Pirates in ball games. Cirvelli has proved to be the heart and sole of this team in the past and needs to continue that here in 2016.

New comer David Freese also had a good day going 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored on the afternoon. The second half to the Pirates first base platoon, Freese is looking for a good year with Pittsburgh. He had success against the Pirates while playing for the Cardinals and is looking to transfer that success to Pittsburgh. In the beginning of the season he will be used at third base until Jung Ho Kang returns from injury.

Today the Pirates travel to Ed Smith Stadium to take on the Baltimore Orioles again. The Orioles will be sending right hander Trevor Wilson (0-0 2.89) to the mound. The Pirates will counter with Jon Niese (0-2 14.40) making his third appearance of the spring. First pitch for today's game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Nicasio Remains Hot in Pirates Win Over the Minnesota Twins

Juan Nicasio continued his hot spring training as the Pirates defeated the Minnesota Twins on the road today by a score of 2-0.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were in split squad action this afternoon, and half the team traveled to Century Link Sports Complex to take on the Minnesota Twins. The Pirates were able to defeat the Twins by a final Score of 2-0. Pitching was very good today only giving up sic hits on the afternoon in 9.0 innings of work.

Juan Nicasio started the game for the Pirates and continued what has been an outstanding spring for the Pirates. He threw 5.0 innings giving up five hits while walking two and striking out eight, Nicasio has really solidified his spot as the fifith starter in the Pirates rotation. Out of the three candidates, Nicasio has had the best spring and has had the most experience.

In his last two innings he has thrown 10 innings and struck out 18 batters. Not particularly known as a strikeout pitcher, Nicasio has really turned it on this spring and has impressed me as the spring progresses. As it stands right now, he is having the best spring out of any pitcher on the roster throwing 15.0 innings while striking  out 24 batters and having yet to give up a run. Nicasio pitched in the bullpen last season and is looking to return to the starting rotation for Pittsburgh here in 2016.

Nicasio has been a bright spot for the Pirates this spring and looks to continue this success into the regular season. Nicasio's best major league season came with the Colorado Rockies in 2013 when he went 9-9 with a 5.14 ERA while striking out 119 and walking 64. He is looking to better those numbers in 2016 for Pittsburgh. If Nicasio can be a reliable option at the back end of the rotation, Pittsburgh could posses one of the best rotations in baseball.

Up next was Neftali Feliz, who will be in the back part of the Pirates bullpen in 2016. Feliz performed well today throwing 2.0 innings giving up no runs on one hit while striking out one. Feliz has also had a good spring pitching to a 1.50 ERA in six inning of work. The former Texas Rangers closer is looking to succeed in a late inning role for the Pirates in 2016.

The Pirates have essentially three closers in the back of their bullpen with Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, and Feliz. If the game gets into the late innings and the Pirates have the lead, there is a good chance that they are going to come out victorious. This will be a key to the Pirates success in 2016. If starters can keep them in the game and the Pirates can score enough runs, this could be a big year for the Pirates.

Veteran Jim Fuller came in to finish the game for the Pirates and threw 2.0 perfect innings while striking out two batters. Fuller collected his first save of the season in the contest and and is also pitching well with a 1.23 ERA this spring. Fuller will be a reliable reinforcement for the Pirates bullpen in 2016.

Fuller spent last season with Triple A Nashville in the Oakland Athletics organization and went 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA. Fuller has been in professional baseball for seven years and has yet to make it to the big league level. This could be the year as he will be pitching in Triple A Indianapolis. If any of the bullpen pitchers get injured, we could see Fuller up at some point during the regular season.

Pitching was very good in this game. They gave up only six hits in 9.0 innings of work and in total struck out 11 batters. Nicasio continued his hot spring and still has not given up a run. Feliz also continued his successful spring and is looking to be a key contributor to the Pirates bullpen during the 2016 season.

The offense did not do much for the Pirates in this one, but did just enough to win the game. Sometimes, that is what is going to happen for the Pirates this year. With a lack of power, the clutch RBI hit will be essential to the Pirates success. Today, they got good pitching and did just enough to win the game.

Chris Stewart lead the offensive charge today, going 1 for 2 with one run scored on the afternoon. The Pirates back-up catcher last season established his role as Gerrit Cole's personal catcher. Together they won 14 games last season and will continue the duo this season. Stewart is a great back up for the Pirates to have as he provides great defense and a bat that can come through in the clutch when the Pirates need him to.

David Freese and Starling Marte each went 1 for 2 on the day with singles in the game. Marte has been putting together a very good spring hitting .429 with one home run on the spring. Freese, who just joined the Pirates, has been in a little slump early on hitting .182 in the early going. Both players will be an essential part to this Pirates team and will help lead them to success in 2016.

Minor league outfielder Elvis Escobar got his first spring training action and went 1 for 1 with one run scored on the afternoon. Escobar spent last season on the West Virginia Black Bears and hit .296 with five home runs and 64 RBI. It will be a long time before we see him in a Pirates uniform, but he is a promising young outfielder for the Pirates to look forward to.

Up next the Pirates come back together as a full squad at McKechnie Field as they take on the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles will be sending righty Miguel Gonzalez (1-3 14.90) to the mound. The Pirates will counter with lefty Jeff Locke (0-3 7.07) as he continues his fight for the fifth starter spot. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Liriano Homers but Pirates Cant Come Through Against the Braves

Francisco Liriano hit a home run but struggled on the mound today as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Atlanta Braves 7-3 in the home half of split squad action.

The Pittsburgh Pirates squad was split this afternoon as they took on both the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins. In the home half, the Pirates fell to the Braves by a score of 7-3. Francisco Liriano started the game for the Pirates and struggled on the mound in his third outing of the spring. Performance is not the most important thing in spring training however. It is important that Liriano gets in his work and throws the necessary pitches that he needs to.

Liriano threw 3.2 innings today giving up four runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out five. Liriano has been named the Pirates opening day starter and is looking to get ready for the season. His slider has been his out pith throughout his career and it has led to a couple of productive seasons for the Pirates.

Liriano finished last season going 12-7 with a 3.38 ERA. He led the team in strikeouts and was one of Pittsburgh's more consistent starters. When he takes the mound, you know that the Pirates will be in the game. His strikeout ability is an intriguing ability for the Pirates and it is good to see that ability coming back with the five strikeouts today.

Up next Daniel Bard came into the game and struggled even more. He did not get any batter out while giving up three runs on three hits while walking two batters. Bard has had a solid spring up to this point, but everything seemed to snow ball on him this afternoon. These were the first runs he has given up this spring and his development will continue as the season goes on.

Jorge Rondon came in to clean up Bard's mess and ended up throwing a good game. He pitched 2.1 innings only giving up one hit while walking two and striking out one. Rondon, a non-roster invitee, came over from Baltimore in the offseason and is having a good spring up to this point. He has pitched in seven games while striking out six batters in 9.0 innings of work.The righty will more than likely start the year with Triple A Indianapolis and will be used as insurance help in the bullpen.

Eric O'Flaherty continued his fight for a bullpen spot next as he threw 2.0 innings allowing two hits and striking out four batters. O'Flaherty has pitched well this spring despite a few hiccups early on as he has a 2.25 ERA. Trying to return to form after a down year, O'Flaherty is trying to return as one of the elite relievers in the game. If he can come back to form, the Pirates bullpen will definitely be a strong point for this team.

 Trey Haley finished out the game on the mound for the Pirates as he threw 1.0 inning giving up one hit in the ninth. Haley is still currently on the active roster, but has had his struggles this spring as he sports an 8.10 ERA. Last season combined between Double A and Triple A Haley was 4-4 with a 2.45 ERA. Another great bullpen relief option, Haley will be throwing in Triple A for the Pirates this season and will be used as reinforcements.

The overall performance on the mound was ok in this game. Liriano and Bard struggled, but the back-end guys pitched really well. I am not too worried about Liriano, as he will come around and be ready for opening day on April 3rd. The good thing is that he got in his necessary work and he got the five strikeouts in the game. O'Flaherty continued his positive spring as he continues to fight for a spot in the Pittsburgh bullpen.

On the offensive side, the Pirates did not get much done as they only scored three runs on 10 hits on the afternoon and left 19 men on base. This is a stat the Pirates need to improve upon before the season begins. With a lack of power this year, it becomes more and more important that the Pirates score any runner that reaches base. It is a skill that will be worked on as the season progresses for the Pirates.

Jordy Mercer was the star offensively today for the Pirates as he went 2 for 3 with a single and a double on the afternoon. Mercer is generally a slow starter to the season and it has plagued him for the last couple years with the Pirates. However, this year, Mercer is hot out of spring as he is hitting .303 (10 for 33) with one home run and one RBI.

Mercer is known more for his defense than anything else. He has a career .979 fielding percentage at the short stop position commiting only 31 errors in 2,907 innings at the position. If he can add offense to his game he will be a more complete player and can contribute on a regular basis to this Pirates offense.

For the younger players, Erich Weiss had a good day going 1 for 2 with one RBI on the afternoon. The young second baseman played in his first spring training game this afternoon and performed well. Weiss transitioned between Single A and Double A hitting .277 with three home runs and 63 RBI. For Weiss, the key was getting his feet wet in the major leagues and can use today's experience to help him in his development at the Double A level.

The glaring issue for the offense today was the number of people left on base. 19 is a large number and that includes many missed opportunities. These opportunities need to be capitalized on as the season advances if the Pirates want to win a lot of games in 2016. The home run ball will not be the big blow in the Pirates offense, rather it will be the RBI double.

Up next, the Pirates come back together as a full squad at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida. They will face of against the Baltimore Orioles who will send Miguel Gonzalez (1-3 14.90) to the mound. The Pirates will counter with lefty Jeff Locke (0-3 7.07). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh Pirates fall to the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Toronto Blue Jays today by a score of 3-2. They got a good start from AJ Schugel but the offense just couldnt get anything going in the loss.

The Pittsburgh Pirates traveled to Dudein, Florida today to take on the Toronoto Blue Jays in a spring training match-up. It did not go well for the Pirates as they fell to the Blue Jays 3-2. The offense could not get anything going today besides good games from Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte. Pitching did well today only giving up three runs and eight hits in eight innings of work.

Due to yesterday's rain out, AJ Schugel got the nod for today's game. Schugel performed pretty well throwing 2.0 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out a batter. Schugel gave up both runs on one hefty blow as Troy Tulowitski took him deep in the first inning. Other than that he pitched pretty well giving up only one other hit on the afternoon.

Schugel was claimed off waivers by the Pirates this off-season from the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Last season, Schugel pitched at Triple A and went 2-7 with a 10.18 ERA in nine innings pitched. Schugel will more than likely start the year at Triple A Indianapolis, and will be called up for bullpen help as the season progresses. While not a top prospect, Schugel is a serviceable option if needed at the major league level.

Up next was Arquimedes Caminero who threw 2.0 perfect innings for the Bucs striking out one batter. Caminero has been plagued by inconsistency this spring and must work on improving that before the season starts. He is a definite lock for the bullpen and will be called on in some high leverage situations for the Pirates this season. 

Last time out against Baltimore, Caminero threw 1.1 innings giving up four runs on five hits while striking out two batters. So, we have seen both the good and the bad this spring from Caminero and at the end of the day if Caminero can show the good side more than the bad side the Pirates will be in good shape on 2016. I can see Caminero possibly closing for the Pirates one day if he can regain some consistency this season.

Cory Luebke came in next in his second outing of the spring. Luebke threw 1.0 inning giving up two hits and one run while striking out one. Luebke is coming back from injury and has not pitched in the big leagues since 2012 when he went 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA in five games pitched. Luebke has a chance to regain his career with Pittsburgh and is likely to start the year in Triple A Indianapolis.

Rob Scahill continued his fight for a bullpen spot next throwing 1.0 inning giving up no runs and retiring the side 1-2-3. Scahill had some success early in the season with the Pirates last year, but faded out at the end of the year going 2-4 with a 2.64 ERA in 28 games pitched, Scahill is an intriguing option for the Pirates as he has shown success in the past, and would fit nicely in the Pirates bullpen.

The game was finished out by a pair of non-roster invitees as Curtis Partch and Guido Knudson finished things off. each pitcher threw 1.0 innings of work and gave up two hits. Partch struck out one while Knudson got out of a jam. Both Partch and Knudson will look to develop in the minors this season for the Pirates.

Overall, pitching did very well for the Pirates today. The home run ball has been a problem for the Pirates this spring training and again effected them today. This is one thing the Pirates pitchers need to work on. The more the ball stays in the ball park, the better chance the Pirates have of pulling out a victory.

Offensively, besides the first inning, the Pirates couldnt get anything going today. The Pirates scored two runs in the first inning on an Andrew McCutchen two-run home run, but other than that ntohing else happened. As in the past, they scored early off of starter Marco Estrada, but were shut down by the Blue Jays bullpen.

Starling Marte had the best offensive day for the Pirates going 3 for 4 with three singles on the day. Marte is having a very successful spring training to this point hitting .440 with one home run and four RBI. Marte had a breakout season offensively for the Pirates last season. He set a career high in home runs, RBI, and hits in a season.

He also got rewarded for his defense as he won the Gold Glove and Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards last season. Marte is only looking to improve in 2016 and will help the Pirates this season. Marte is a main stay in left field for the Bucs and will be called upon to be a big run producer in 2016. Marte's strike outs are something he needs to work on in 2016, but he has a shot to be a star for the Pirates this season.

McCutchen also had a pretty successful day going 1 for 3 with the big two-run home run in inning number one. McCutchen is also having a good spring hitting .280 with four home runs and seven RBI. McCutchen has been named to four straight all-star games and has been in the running for the MVP for the last several seasons. McCutchen is the face of this Pirates franchise and will be another big factor in 2016.

Although it does not look good on the score card, first baseman John Jaso also had a good day going 0 for 1 with three walks on the afternoon, and one run scored. Jaso has been batting in the leadoff spot for the Pirates this spring and is hitting a moderate .278. Jaso will be the everyday first baseman for the Pirates and will look to be a run producer for the Pirates.

McCutchen lead the scoring today offensively, and in the end it wasnt enough to lead the Pirates to victory. Another  positive note from the game is that minor leaguer Jose Osuna got his first at bat of major league camp and hit a single. The Pirates offense has shown signs of life this spring, but in the end it just was not enough today. As the regular season draws closer the lineup will improve and start producing more runs as the season progresses.

The Pirates have two games tomorrow as they will have their first split squad action of the season. The first game will take place at McKechnie Field as the Pirates take on the Atlanta Braves. It will be Jhoulys Chacin for the Braves against Pirates Opening Day starter Francisco Liriano. The second game will be played at Centruy Link Sports Complex where the Pirates will take on the Minnesota Twins. The Twins will be throwing out Kyle Gibson and the Pirates will have Juan Nicasio on the mound, who is looking to build upon his great spring training. Both games are scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m.

Jung Ho Kang Making Strides Towards Return

Jung Ho Kang participated in a minor league game Friday starting his comeback from Off-season knee surgery.

With the signing of David Freese this off-season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a contingency plan just in case third baseman Jung Ho Kang isn't ready for the start of the regular season.

Kang has been doing baseball activities such as fielding ground balls, and facing batting practice pitching. However, he had not faced a live major league pitcher since last September.

That all changed Friday when Kang participated in a minor league game. He got two at-bats in the game and looked good at the plate. Kang's return to the major league lineup will be a big plus for the Pirates this season.

Last season, Kang defied all of the doubters who said he couldn't transition to the major leagues by being one of the offensive stars for the Pirates. He hit .287 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI.

Coming over from the Korean baseball league where he hit 40 home runs, he struggled at first in the majors but turned it on quickly and was an essential part to the 2015 lineup. Supplying protection for guys like Pedro Alvarez and Andrew McCutchen.

In 2016, I feel that Kang will be right back where he left off. He will hit in the fourth spot in the lineup helping to protect McCutchen. Kang's bat is one that can make up for the loss of power on the Pirates team this season, but he has to be healthy first in order to do that.

Kang also brings a lot to the field defensively. He had a .961 fielding percentage committing 9 errors over the course of the season. He did transition between short stop and third base last season.

Now having a solid position at third base will help him be more consistent in the field. Kang is never going to win a gold glove, but that won't stop him from helping the Pirates in 2016.

If Kang is not ready for opening day, David Freese will be the starting third baseman until Kang returns. Freese is another fine option to play third base. He won a world series MVP at the position back in the 2012 season.

It is still a long process until we see Kang back in major league games, but seeing live action on the field is a major step in the right direction. I have been a huge Jung Ho Kang fan since the day the Pirates signed him. He had great numbers in the Korean league and they transitioned nicely over to the MLB.

Kang will be an instrumental part to the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates. He is going to bring some power to the plate and consistent hitting. Himself and McCutchen will be the two leaders on this team as the Pirates try to get past the wild card game and deep into the playoffs here in 2016.

Plenty of Options Available At First Base For The Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a plethora of available talent at the first base position. It gives them the ability to mix and match their lineup for the differet opponents they will face throughout the year.

Coming into the season, one big area of concern for the Pittsburgh Pirates was the first base position. With the loss of Pedro Alvarez to free agency, the Pirates only had Michael Morse available to step-in at the position for the Pirates. Flash forward to today, and the Pirates are left with many options to play the position in 2016.

This is a good problem for the Pirates to have because each man can be relied on to play the position at a high level. As of right now the active roster has seven potential first baseman on it. They include Max Moroff, Jake Goebbert, Jason Rodgers, Sean Rodriguez, Josh Bell, David Freese, and John Jaso. Now obivously guys like Moroff, Bell, and Goebbert will be in the minors to start the season due to minor league options, but that still leaves four capable men to play the position in the major leagues.

The number one guy out of spring training right now is John Jaso. Jaso is currently hitting .294 this spring (5 for 17) with 2 RBI. He is not as much of a power threat as Alvarez was, but he can sneak the ball into the gap for extra bases, which will be a lethal weapon for the Pirates this season. Jaso signed a two-year deal with the Pirates so he will help be the transition into the Josh Bell era at first base.

Jaso is a good offensive player as with the Rays last season he hit .286 with five home runs and 22 RBI. He split time between designated hitter and outfielder for the Rays last season. Of his 53 hits last season, 22 of them were for extra bases. With the deep gaps that PNC Park has, this will be a key element of Jaso's game. If he can find that left centerfield notch in PNC, it will allow for the Pirates to score a lot of runs this season.

The acquisition of David Freeze offers another veteran option for the Pirates to use off the bench. Last season with the Low Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Freese hit .257 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Freese is a familiar face to the Pirates organization as he aged for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2009-2013.

Freeze gives the Pirates a veteran bat that they can use either as a platoon option with Jaso or as a clutch bat off the bench. I really like the Freeze signing and feel that in the long run it will help the Pirates tremendously.Freese was a world series MVP back in 2013 and has proven clutch in the past. He will be a valuable asset to the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Another familiar face to the Pirates organization is back as Sean Rodriguez will serve as the team's super utility player. Last season Rodriguez hit .246 with 4 home runs and 17 RBI. He started the 2015 NL Wild Card game for the Pirates at first base, but was eventually pulled for Alvarez.

Rodriguez offers a great skill set to this Pirates team.He has the ability to play all over the diamond. Last season he made apperancez at first base, third base, second base, short stop, right field, and left field. This makes Rodriguez a great guy to have on the bench for his ability to give a lot of players much needed days off. While Rodriguez will spend some time at first base, I think he will spend the majority of his time in that super utility role.

Michael Morse is another good question as to his role in 2016. The acquisition of Freeze made Horse's future very unclear. Last season Morse hit .231 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI. It was the worst season of his career and he is looking to get back to his 2014 form.

Morse has been working a lot in right field This spring, so he might be looking at more time out there this season. The plus with Morse is his power ability. A left handed power bat at PNC Park is always a plus with the short portch in left field. Of Morse can come off the bench and be a clutch hitter for the Bucs. He will fit right in and make an impact on this team. I am a big fan of Morse and think he will be a key player for the Pirates this season.

The wild card to make the major league club is off-season acquisition Jason Rodgers. Acquired from the Brewers in a trade that sent outfielder Keon Broxton to Milwaukee, Rodgers hit .296 with four home runs and 16 RBI. Granted this was in very limited action, but Rodgers definitely is a promising option for the Bucs.

Rodgers does have some minor league options left which makes him expendable for the Pirates. They can send him down to Triple A Indianapolis to start the season and then bring him up half way through. Rodgers is another one of those guys who can play multiple positions for the Pirates. He has played first base, third base, left field, and right field in his career. This also adds to Rodgers value for the Pirates.

Having so many options at the first base position is always a good thing. The more people you have the more chance of success there is. I think that the Pirates will start the season with a platoon of Jaso and Freese throwing Rodriguez in there every now and then. Morse will be used primarily as a bat off the bench and a back up corner outfielder. If Gregory Polanco struggles we could also end up seeing a Polanco/Morse platoon in right field.

First base will be a key position for the Pirates this year. Having someone who can produce at the position will go a long way to solidifying the Pirates lineup. The regular season is quickly approaching and excitement is building for another great season of Pirates baseball.

McCutchen rakes, Locke Struggles in Pirates Loss to the Yankees

Andrew McCutchen hit his third spring training home run, but Locke struggles mightily as the Pirates lost to the New York Yankees today by the final score of 7-2 at McKechnie Field.

After a fantastic start from Juan Nicasio yesterday, it was Jeff Locke's turn to step-up and prove he deserves the fifth starters spot. However, Locke struggled mightily in today's Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 loss. Locke's inconsistency bit him in the butt again after a decent start his last time out where he threw 4.0 innings giving up two runs.

Today he was hit and hit hard as he threw 5.0 innings giving up 6 hits while walking two and striking out two. Locke needed a strong start today to save his chances at becoming the Pirates fifth starter, but his outing today might have hurt those chances. Locke has been an inconsistent pitcher throughout his major league career and that trend has continued this spring.

Of Locke's four outings this spring, He has two really good outings and two really bad outings. In the too good starts he only gave up two hits, but when he struggled he gave up four or more hits. Locke has to limit the number of hits he gives up throughout the season if he wants any shot at being successful at the major league level. Personally, I think he has very little chance at being the fifth starter, and if he continues this he might be out of the Pirates bullpen very quickly.

Mark Melancon came into the game next and had a very clean inning only giving up one hit and striking out one. Melancon set the single season save record for the Pirates last season and looks to be a dominant closer once again this season. So far, in limited spring action, he has looked solid and in mid-season form. It will be a big bonus for the Pirates to have a reliable arm closing out games for the Pirates in 2016.

Eric O'Flaherty came in next and struggled in his one inning of work. He gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits on the afternoon. O'Flaherty's spring ERA sits at 3.00, which is pretty respectable. O'Flaherty is currently fighting for a spot in the middle of the Pirates bullpen trying to revitalize his career. O'Flaherty has showed a lot of promise so far and has gone a long way to solidifying a role on this Pirates team. It may not be from the start of the season, but he will help this team at some point in 2016.

Non-roster invitee AJ Schugel came in next and threw 1.0 inning giving up one hit. Schugel was followed by Cory Luebke, who was making his first spring appearance. Luebke threw 1.0 inning giving up no hits and walking one. Luebke is coming back from a left elbow injury and is looking to get back on course with the Pirates.

At one point, he was regarded as one of the top prospects in major league baseball. However, the last time he pitched in the MLB was during the 2012 season when he went 3-1 in five games pitched with a 2.61 ERA. Another lefty option for the Pirates, Luebke looks to work with pitching guru Ray Searage to get back to his top prospect status.

Overall, today's game was the complete opposite of yesterday's contest. Locke struggled mightily in his start on the mound. Then the bullpen came in and pitched pretty well. In the end the offense was not enough to get past the Yankees. The Pirates scored early off of Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, but couldn't get anything else going on the afternoon.

Andrew McCutchen got the scoring started hitting his third home run of the spring in inning number one. McCutchen finished the day going 1 for 3 with that home run and one RBI. McCutchen has had a great spring training so far hitting .273 with those three home runs. Unlike last season's struggles, McCutchen has been hot this spring and hopefully those numbers can transfer over to the regular season and he can lead the Pirates into victory.

John Jaso also had a good day for the Bucs going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Jaso is currently hitting .294 on the spring, and is working hard at the first base position. If Jaso can be a decent defensive player and produce on offense, he will be an upgrade over Pedro Alvarez at the position. While Jaso doesnt posses the power that Alvarez had, he has the ability to work the gaps and that will be a big plus for the Pirates this season.

David Freese made his Pirates debut today and went 1 for 2 on the day. Last year, Freese hit .257 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Freese is a proven veteran bat and that will be key for the Pirates to have off of the bench this season. Freese provides insurance at first base and third base and could prove a key piece for the Pirates this season.

Overall, relief pitching did well today, but the bad start put a damper on things for the Pirates. On the offensive side, the team collected eight hits and only scored two runs. They left 15 men on base during the afternoon. This is a stat the Pirates need to work on this season. With a lack of power, driving guys in becomes more and more of a key and that is something the Pirates need to do this season.

The Pirates are back in action tomorrow as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 p.m. The Pirates will be facing a familiar foe as the Phillies send out Charlie Morton who in his only appearance of the spring pitched 2.1 innings and giving up one run on one hit while striking out two. The Pirates will send Gerrit Cole to the mound, who is also making his second appearance of the spring. His last time out Cole pitched 2.0 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out a batter. 

Nicasio Fantastic in Pirates 9-3 Loss To The Orioles

Juan Nicasio had a fantastic start for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it wasn't enough as the bullpen faltered in the Pirates 9-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.

It was a fantastic day for Pittsburgh Pirates starter Juan Nicasio, but for everyone else the day did not go as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Baltimore Orioles by the final score of 9-3. The bullpen struggled mightily and the offense was held to just three runs on six hits. But the loss does not take away from the fabulous start by Nicasio.

Nicasio pitched 4.0 innings today giving up only one hit and striking out 10 batters. As I stated in my article yesterday, one thing Nicasio has to work on is the amount of hits he has given up. Well today he did just that giving up only one in his four innings of work. Another impressive number is the 10 strikeouts on the day. Nicasio is not known as a guy who will strikeout a lot of batters, but it is nice to see the performance from him today.

Nicasio has yet to give up a run this spring training and, after today's start, has made a strong statement to be the teams fifth starter. The Pirates have not had a solid back-end of the rotation option for the last couple years. If Nicasio can prove consistent on the mound and not give up a lot of runs, he could be a force to be reckoned with at the back of the Pirates rotation.

After Nicasio however, things started going down hill fast on the mound for the Pirates. Next in the game was Jared Hughes who went 1.0 inning giving up three runs on three hits while striking out a batter. The big blow for Hughes was giving up the two-out three-run home run to Johnathan Schoop in the fifth inning. Hughes has had a tendency to give up the long ball this spring training, and that is something he will need to work on as the regular season approaches.

Arquimedes Caminero followed him and struggled just as much pitching 1.1 innings giving up four runs on five hits while walking a batter and striking out two. Caminero was also plagued by the home run ball as  Christian Walker hit a three-run home run off of him in inning number seven. Caminero has been known for his inconsistency throughout his time with the Pirates and that is starting to show again here in spring training with a number of good outings surrounded by quite a few bad ones as well.

Both Caminero and Hughes are going to be in the middle of the Pirates bullpen during the season and both have had their struggles over the course of spring training. The long ball has been detrimental to both of these pitchers as Hughes has given up three during the course of spring training while Caminero has given up two. The more home runs you give up the worse off you are, so Hughes and Caminero need to work on those numbers as the season approaches.

Jim Fuller had to come in to relieve Caminero in the seventh and pitched 0.2 innings giving up one run on two hits. The veteran Fuller was trying to clean up after the Caminero home run, but the hits he gave up lead to another run for the Orioles. 

Curtis Partch finished out the day for the Pirates on the mound throwing 1.0 inning giving up one run on one hit while striking out two. The home run ball hurt Partch as well, as Joey Rikard hit a solo shot off of him in inning number eight. However, besides that pitch Partch has a pretty good day with the two strikeouts. 

The bullpen pitchers struggled mightily today and is what ultimately cost the Pirates the game. Nicasio had a fantastic start and really solidified himself as a contender on this pitching staff. Last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers he was 1-3 with a 3.86 ERA out of the bullpen. He is looking to make a return to the starting rotation, and is making a strong claim for that fifth spot as spring roles on for the Pirates.

The offense struggled today as well.  After starter Kevin Gausman left the game they were held to just two hits in the final five innings. They hit the ball well early on off of Gausman, but just could not figure out the Orioles bullpen. There will be a lot of games this year where the Pirates only score three runs or less do to a lack of power, but when your pitching staff is giving up nine runs, it is hard to win many ball games.

Andrew McCutchen was one of the offensive stars today as he went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored on the afternoon. McCutchen hit a long two-run home run off of Gausman in the fourth inning that gave the Pirates the early lead. However, that lead would not hold as the bullpen faltered. It was McCutchen's second home run of the spring as he gears up for the regular season.

McCutchen has not hit under .290 since the 2012 season and shows no signs of slowing down this year. The face of the Pirates franchise, McCutchen has been a proven performer throughout his time with the Pirates and will be called upon to lead again this year. With the loss of power this season, McCutchen will be the guy looked upon to hit 20 or more home runs and produce a lot of RBI's. The team will go as McCutchen goes this season and from the looks of it, McCutchen is ready to go.

Francisco Cirvelli also had a good day at the plate going 1 for 2 with a run scored on the afternoon. Cirvelli is currently hitting .235 (4 for 17) this spring in seven games played. He had a breakout season with the Pirates last year and looks to continue his success behind the plate again this season. The key for Cirvelli will be to stay injury free like he did last season. Cirvelli brings a lot of fire to the Pirates lineup and can get this team going when in a slump.

The loss today brings the Pirates spring training record to 5-9 so far. Even though they lost, there were a lot of positives to take away from today's game. First of all, Nicasio proved that he can compete at the major league level and pitched very well today. Secondly McCutchen, who is currently hitting .263 on the spring, is heating up as April approaches. Hughes and Caminero will both come around and be key contributors to this Pirates team.

The Pirates are back in action tomorrow as they come back home to McKechnie Field to take on the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m. The Pirates battle for the fifth starter spot continues as Jeff Locke takes the hill trying to follow up Nicasio's fantastic start this afternoon. The Yankees have not yet announced their starter for tomorrow's contest. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the game can be seen on ROOT Sports and heard on 93.7 The Fan.

Battle for the Fifth Starter Spot Heating Up for Pirates

Kyle Lobstein, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Locke are all battling it out for a chance to be the fifth starter in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation. Each has shown signs of success and it has made for a heated battle so far in spring training.

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, four fifths of the 2016 starting rotation have been set. Francisco Liriano will start things off on Opening Day followed by Gerrit Cole, John Niese, and Ryan Vogelsong. The one question that remains is who will round out the starting five for the Pirates. As Spring Training has moved forward, there are three candidates who are currently the front runners for the position.

Kyle Lobstein, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Locke have been battling it out to earn the right to be the fifth starter in the rotation. Each has shown signs that they can handle the role, making for a heated battle. Last season, Locke was the fifth starter and struggled mightily going 9-11 with a 4.59 ERA. The Pirates will be looking for a more dependable option going into 2016.

The key to being a fifth starter is keeping your team in the ball game and throwing as many innings as you can. The Pirates have one of the best bullpens in Major League Baseball, but it means nothing if they are forced to work more than they have to during the course of the regular season. The fifth starter needs to be someone who can throw a lot of innings and keep the Pirates in the ball game when they are on the mound.

As stated before, Locke was the fifth starter for the Bucs last season and struggled mightily. So far in his first three spring training starts, the numbers have not been too kind to him either. He has a record of 0-1 and is pitching to a 6.00 ERA giving up six earned runs in 9.0 innings pitched. He has also struck out six batters and walked two over the course of those 9.0 innings.

The positive that sticks out for Locke is the strikeout to walk ratio. He is currently sitting at six strikeouts to only two walks giving him a 3.00 Strikeout per walk ratio. This is a pretty good number for Locke considering last season that ratio was down to 2.16. It will be key for Locke to be able to keep his strikeout numbers up while keeping his walk numbers low.

The thing I dont like from Locke is the number of hits he has given up so far. In those 9.0 innings of work, he has given up eight hits. For a starting pitcher, you have to limit the number of hits you give up so that your pitch count doesnt get too high. Pitch count is everything now a days and if you are giving up a bunch of hits, it doesnt allow you to be able to go deep into ball games, which is something the Pirates need from their fifth starter this year.

Last time out, Locke had a pretty strong showing against the Detroit Tigers throwing 4.0 innings giving up only two runs on two hits while striking out five and walking one. It was nice too see Locke only giving up those two hits in four innings of work and seeing the five strikeouts. Locke has been known for his inconsistency in the past, so we will see if those demons come back to bite him as spring training starts to wrap up.

Nicasio, who came over in free agency from the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been very impressive so far in spring training. He has appeared in three games and he has no record throwing 6.0 innings and giving up no runs while striking out six and walking three batters. He has yet to give up his first earned run in Spring Training which is a good sign moving forward.

It is nice to see the strikeout numbers being at one per inning for Nicasio. Not really known as a strikeout pitcher over the course of his career, only striking out 100 or more batters once, Nicasio has been getting a lot of swings and misses early on in spring training. His six strikeouts to three walks ratio sits exactly where Locke's sits at the nice 3.00.

Again a problem with Nicasio is the number of hits he has given up. He has given up four hits in his 6.0 innings of work. While not as bad as Locke, that number needs to greatly improve. Pitchers will start to fatigue if they give up too many hits and that is something the Pirates fifth starter cannot do. If Nicasio can limit his hits to about 6.0/2 ratio rather than a 6.0/4 ratio he could be set for a successful 2016 campaign.

Nicasio's last start was a strong one as well against the Tampa Bay Rays when he threw 3.0 innings giving up no runs while walking one and striking out three. Again he gave up the three hits in the three innings of work, but overall it was a good performance. Nicasio has the most experience out of the three hopefuls and that could play a factor in the selection process.

Lobstein rounds out the group of hopefuls, and like Nicasio, has yet to give up a run during the 2016 spring training. He has pitched to a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA while striking out four while walking three. Lobstein is the youngest of the group of hopefuls and hopes that his inexperience doesnt get in the way of his chance to be the fifth starter.

Lobstein has shown the ability to work out of trouble early on in spring training. He has been faced with many situations with runners on base in close ball games and has been able to get out of them uscaved. While you do not want to be in these situations as a starter, it is a plus to be able to get out of them. He has allowed six people to reach base so far this spring in 4.0 innings of work and has been able to strand all of them. This will be key if things start to look bad for Lobstein in a game.

One thing I do not like about Lobstein is the number of batters he has walked. In his 4.0 innings of work this spring, he has walked 3 batters. When your walks start to get up to the number of innings you throw that is not very good. Lobstein has some control issues he needs to work out, but if he can contain those issues he could be a big pick up for the Pirates in 2016.

Lobstein's last time out was yesterday against the Boston Red Sox when he came in relief of starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. In that game he threw 1.0 inning giving up two hits while walking one and striking out two. His only start of the spring thus far has been in the first spring training game against the Detroit Tigers when he went 2.0 innings giving up no runs, striking out one and walking two. 

Out of the three candidates for that fifth starter job, I feel Nicasio should be the guy this season. He has the most experience out of the three and is having the best spring training to this point. Nicasio has impressed me with his strikeout ability and the ability to keep his walks down. While he still needs to work on the amount of hits he gives up, that can work itself out as the season progresses.

I feel that both Lobstein and Locke will still make the Pirates roster and will both be available out of the bullpen in a long relief role. It is always good to have a multitude of lefties in the bullpen and with both Lobstein and Locke being lefties, it offers the Pirates many options out of their bullpen to face the tough left handed batters.

The battle for this fifth spot will rage on tomorrow as Nicasio takes the mound for the Pirates as they take on Kevin Gausman and the Baltimore Orioles in a game that has first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Vogelsong Strong in Pirates 3-1 Win Over the Boston Red Sox

Ryan Vogelsong went four innings and Pedro Florimon drove in two runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox today at JetBlue park by a final score of 3-1

The Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers shined in today's win over the Boston Red Sox. Six Pirates pitchers combined to give up only one run in the Pirates 3-1 win over the Red Sox. Ryan Vogelsong started the game for Pittsburgh and pitched very well in his third spring training outing. On the offensive side, Pedro Florimon continued his hot spring training driving in two runs in the victory.

Vogelsong showed great poise on the mound today throwing 4.0 innings giving up one run on four hits while striking out two. Vogelsong was able to bounce back nicely in this start after giving up 3 runs in 3.0 innings of work. Vogelsong is trying to have a bounce back season after struggling with the Giants last season. So far in spring training, he has shown resilience on the mound to get out of certain situations. The big blow to Vogelsong today was a home run by Pablo Sandoval in the second inning.

Vogelsong has given up eight hits in nine innings of work. He will have to reduce the number of hits he gives up throughout the season. On a positive note, he has struck out 4 batters in those nine innings of work while only walking two. If he can keep striking out two batters for every one walk he will be good for the rest of the season.

Kyle Lobstein was next and despite pitching in a little bit of trouble, he got out of the inning with a scoreless frame. He threw 1.0 inning giving up two hits while striking out two and walking one. Lobstein has shown success early in spring training, and as the fight for the fifth starter spot rages on, Lobstein has yet to give up a run in spring training. He has walked quite a few batters, but has shown that he can work out of tough situations and strand runners.

Trey Haley followed and threw a scoreless inning of relief giving up two hits and walking a batter. In five spring training innings, Haley has struck out four batters and has only given up two walks. Haley will more than likely start the year in Double A Altoona, but the spring training success will no doubt help him in his development in the minor leagues.

The competition for the middle relief spot in the bullpen was next as Eric O'Flaherty and John Holdzkum were next. Each threw a scoreless inning of relief. O'Flaherty retired the side in order while Holdzkum walked a batter and struck one out.

Currently in the middle of the Pirates bullpen Jared Hughes and Arquimedes Caminero are locked in. However that last middle relief spot is still up fro grabs and guys like Holdzkum, O'Flaherty, and Rob Scahill will be battling for it. So far of the three O'Flaherty has had the best spring training. Holdzkum and Scahill have been roughed up as of late, but today's performance proves that Holdzkum could be headed in the right direction.

Daniel Bard finished out the game throwing a scoreless inning while striking out one. Most of his spring training outings have been coming in for one or two outs. Acquired threw a minor league deal this off-season, Bard is looking to turn around his career after being out of the league since 2013. He has pitched for the Red Sox throughout his career and kept his ERA anywhere between the mid 3's to the low 2's. With Ray Searage working with him Bard can try and work things out in Triple A and eventually make his way to the major leagues.

Overall, the pitching did fantastic today and kept a pretty potent offense at bay. Besides the Sandoval home run, the Red Sox offense was kept quiet for most of the day. Vogelsong had a strong showing and proved he has what it takes to compete at the major league level. If Vogelsong can compete and keep the Pirates in ball games, it will go a long way to helping the Pirates succeed in 2016.

The offense was rather quiet today but managed to score just enough runs to squeeze out a victory. With the loss of power bats like Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker, sometimes the Pirates will have to win the close ones like they did today.

Jake Goebbert shined today going 2 for 2 with one RBI on the day. Goebbert is one of many first baseman on the roster that is vying for major league playing time in 2016. Goebbert might be put on the back burner with guys like John Jaso, David Freese, and Michael Morse all ahead of him for the first base job. However, he does provide good infield depth down in Triple A Indianapolis.

Pedro Florimon had the big hit that sealed the victory for the Pirates. With one run in on the Goebbert single, Florimon stepped up with two on and two out and promptly delivered a two out two RBI single that put the Pirates ahead for good. Florimon finished the day going 1 for 3 with that RBI single.

Cole Figueroa performed well today as well going 2 for 2. Figueroa has performed well so far in spring training hitting .350 and showing the ability to play multiple positions on the field including third base, short stop, second base, left field, and right field. This versatile depth in Triple A will be key to helping out the Pirates in 2016.

Overall, today was a good day for the Pirates as they showed they can pitch with any team in the major leagues. Small ball will be the name of the game for the Pirates this season as they look to score as many runs as they can to pull out close victories. I feel that this team is equipped to succeed this season and beyond.

The Pirates have an off day tomorrow but return to action on Wednesday when they take on the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles will throw out righty Kevin Gausman who threw two scoreless inning in his last outing. The Pirates will counter with righty Juan Nicasio who has had a strong spring throwing six scoreless innings while striking out six batters. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Glasnow/Taillon Among Eight Sent Down to Minor League Camp

The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first round of spring training cuts earlier today. Among the eight players that were sent down were top pitching prospects Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon.

As we quickly approach the half way point to Pittsburgh Pirates spring training, we have approached the first round of big league camp roster cuts. And, as we look at the names of some of the players who got sent down, none of the players listed come as any surprise. The group includes a talented core that the Pittsburgh Pirates can look forward to in the near future.

Among the group were pitchers Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Chad Kuhl, Steven Brault, Kelvin Marte and Trevor Williams, catcher Reese McGuire, and outfielder Harold Ramirez. Each player has a lot of upside and proved themselves to be a bright spot deep into the Pittsburgh Pirates future.

The most notable of the players sent down were Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon. Both players are fine pitchers who could see some big league time as early as this year. Both have things they need to work on and both have the opportunity to work their way to the big league staff. Glasnow and Taillon are both very competitive and I can see both of them making their debuts this season.

Glasnow finished spring training throwing 1.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits while walking three batters. While those numbers don't look great, it doesn't mean that the spring was a total loss. Glasnow got his feet wet in the big league camp and can build on those experiences in the minor leagues. Not included in those stats are his Black and Gold game start where he went 2.0 innings giving up one run while striking out two batters. The future is bright for Glasnow and with some maturity he will be a good major league starting pitcher one day.

Taillon finished his spring training throwing 4.0 innings giving up two runs on six hits while striking out three batters. The other starter in the Black and Gold game, Taillon also threw 2.0 innings giving up tow runs in that game. For Taillon, this season will be one where he looks to stay healthy for a full season. He will be competing in the Triple A rotation, and barring any injuries or poor performances, could see some time in the big leagues late in the year.

Both of these top pitchers proved that they have what it takes to face major league batters this spring. Each one also has their own little things that they need to work on, but with some work in Triple A, they will be ready for big league action before we know it.

As for the other pitchers sent down Chad Kuhl threw 3.0 innings this spring giving up one run on four hits and striking out two batters.Steven Brault added 3.0 innings of his own giving up 4 runs, 2 earned runs, on five hits while striking out one. Trevor Williams tossed 2.0 innings giving up no runs and striking out four, and Kelvin Marte rounds out the group as he threw 4.2 innings giving up four runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out two.

All of these pitchers are very talented guys that the Pirates can look forward to having in the future. Each has something very intriguing to offer in the Pirates future and each will be a big part of the Pirates success now and moving forward.

Another promising prospect sent down was catcher Reese McGuire. Looked upon by many as the catcher of the future, McGuire was participating in his first big league camp.

He got his feet wet in major league camp hitting .100 (1 for 10) in six games played. In yesterday's game, he caught seven innings behind the plate after the departure of Chris Stewart.

McGuire is a solid hard working prospect who is slated to be the everyday catcher at Double A Altoona. Drafted in the first round of the 2013 draft by the Pirates, McGuire is a guy they look to have man the plate in the future.

While his offense has been average early on in his professional career, his fielding has been above average. He caught 33 percent of base stealers last year and had a .984 fielding percentage. Defense is key for a catcher and if McGuire can pick up his offense a little bit, he could be an elite major league starting catcher.

The other prospect who was sent down was outfielder Harold Ramirez. Ramirez had a very successful spring training hitting .579 (11 for 19) with two double and an RBI.

Ramirez showed that he can handle the bat at the plate and he played defense really well in the field. Ramirez will join McGuire in Double A to start the season. Ramirez will first get some more playing time as he plays for team Columbia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic qualifiers.

All of these players are very talented minor league prospects. Each offers a skill set that will be beneficial to the Pirates in the years to come. Pitching depth has always been a strength for this Pirates team and there is no lack of that in this group of players. However, some of the offensive prospects are coming around as well. Only time will tell, but for now, it looks like there is a bright future ahead for your Pittsburgh Pirates.

Marte/Diaz Power Pirates Past Tigers in 9-5 Spring Training Win

Starling Marte and Elias Diaz each homered in the Pirates 9-5 spring training win over the Detroit Tigers at McKechnie Field in Bradenton Florida.

With the wind blowing out at McKechnie Field in Bradenton Florida, the ball was jumping off the bat and going over the wall. The Pirates and Tigers combined for five home runs on the afternoon in the Pirates 9-5 victory. Today was also the spring training debut for Gerrit Cole, who was dealing with some rib discomfort earlier in the spring.

For Cole, the big factor in today's game was testing that rib and seeing how it felt in game action. Looking at the numbers for Cole does not tell the whole story of the game today. Cole threw 2.0 innings giving up two runs on two hits and striking out one batter. Cole's outing would have been very good if it was not for two bad pitches.

The first batter of the game Anthony Gose started out the game taking a 1-2 pitch from Cole over the wall for the first run of the game. The ball was a routine fly out on any other day, but the wind helped the ball get over the wall. His second mistake came later when former Pirate Casey McGehee crushed a Cole fastball over the wall in left-center field.

Other than those two pitches, Cole had a pretty good outing. He located the ball where he wanted for the most part and was throwing in the mid to low 90's all afternoon. For Cole, this game was a chance to get back into the swing of things facing live batters. While not the opening day starter, Cole will be ready to go for his first start of the season shortly after that. He is looked upon to lead the pitching staff and build off of his successful 2015 season.

Non-roster invitee Jim Fuller was next and he threw a perfect 1-2-3 third inning retiring the side quickly and efficiently. Tony Watson followed and got a little roughed up in his one inning of work. He gave up two runs on three hits while striking out two batters. The big blow to Watson was a two-run home run by Steven Moya. Watson has had a good spring in limited work and will be just fine by the start of the season.

Rob Scahill was next and threw 2.0 innings giving up one run on two hits while walking one and striking out one. Scahill is looking for a spot in the middle of the Pirates bullpen to help bridge the gap between starters and the back-end of the bullpen. For Scahill, it has been an up and down spring with some good outings, like today, and some bad outings, For Scahill it will be a tough battle but he has a shot at making the Pirates 2016 bullpen.

Three non-roster invitees finished out the game as AJ Schugel, Guido Knudson, and Kelvin Marte threw three scoreless innings to end the game. The three pitchers combined to only give up three hits in the last three innings of work and were able to hold the Tigers minor league hitters at bay.

Overall, the pitching staff did pretty well today despite giving up five runs. The wind didnt help matters on the mound, but besides a couple of bad pitches, the Pirates pitchers were effective today. They got the work they needed to get done finished and kept the Pirates in the ball game when it counted later in the game.

The true story of the day however was the offense. The Pirates scored 4 of their nine runs via the long ball today and showed the ability to hit with runners on base. many times we saw batters moving runners over or getting that timely extra base hit right when the Pirates needed it. This will be key as the season goes on with the decrease in power numbers. Small ball will be the strategy the Pirates have to work with in order to succeed in 2016.

The big performer on the day was Starling Marte. He went 2 for 3 on the afternoon with three RBI and a run scored. The big hit for Marte came in the third inning when he hit a three run home run off Tigers starter Matt Boyd that gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead scoring Jordy Mercer and Andrew McCutchen. Marte would add a single later in the day to complete his afternoon.

That four run third inning really helped the Pirates establish themselves in the game. Up to that point the Pirates only had one hit, a lead off single by Josh Harrison, and they looked pretty down at the plate. Then, with one out, Harrison hit his second double of the day which was followed by a bloop single by Mercer putting runners at first and third with one out. Then McCutchen produced an RBI single that put the Pirates on the board. Then Marte hit the big three-run home run to conclude the inning.

Elias Diaz also had a good day as he went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run and 3 RBI on the day. His home run came in the eighth inning and scored Dan Gamache. It gave the Pirates the insurance runs they needed and put them ahead for good making the score 8-5. Diaz's bat has been coming around this spring as he is currently hitting .471 in grapefruit league action. He will start the year as the everyday catcher down in Triple A Indianapolis so he can grow and continue to develop.

Today was a good day for the Pirates offense as they broke out and scored nine runs on the day. It is a good sign for things to come. I was especially excited to see the long ball coming into play with the home runs from Marte and Diaz. While power will not be the forte of the 2016 Pirates, it is always nice to see it when it helps the Pirates win a big ball game.

Up next the Pirates will travel to JetBlue Park to take on the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox will send right-hander Joe Kelly to the mound. Kelly is currently 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in spring training in two games pitched. The Pirates will counter with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, who is currently 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in five innings pitched. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

David Freese Signing Provides Depth for Pittsburgh Pirates Infield

The Pittsburgh Pirate's signing of David Freese helped solidify their infield depth while providing a proven veteran presence that will help the Pirates moving forward in 2016

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a move that will help solidify their problem with infield depth. They signed veteran infielder David Freese to a one year 3 million dollar deal. Freese experienced the Pirates rise over the last couple years as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2009-2013. During his time with the Cardinals he won a World Series back in 2011 and was named World Series MVP that same year.

Most recently, Freese has been a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the last two season. In 2015 he hit .257 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 121 games played. Freese has played most of his career at third base, but can also play first base as well. Freese provides some infield depth that this team has been desperately looking for.

A plus about Freese is his ability to get extra base hits. Last season, 37 percent of his hits went for extra bases. He uses the gaps effectively and has some pop in his bat that will be a key factor at PNC Park. He has shown that he can be a key contributor as he was an offensive leader for the Cardinals during his time with them.

Freese's power numbers is another thing that jumps out at me. His 14 home runs were the second most for his career, only behind his 20 home runs that he hit back in the 2012 season. Freese's power might go down a little bit this year with the big left field at PNC Park but having a little pop off of the bench is never a bad thing.

Freese can also find holes when he makes contact as his 2015 BABIP sat at .338. If Freese can prove that he can consistently hit the ball, he could find himself in the lineup more and more often. Freese has shown flashes of success and could be a consistent contributor to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016.

One thing that Freese has to work on is his patience at the plate. In 424 at bats last season, Freese only walked 31 times. As a guy coming off the bench, you have to be able to work the count and tire out the opposing pitcher. Freese only saw 3.89 pitches per at bat last season and needs to improve upon that number in order to be effective off of the Pirates bench.

Overall, Freese has been a pretty solid defender throughout his career. He holds a career .955 fielding percentage at the third base position. He is not a fantastic defender by any means, but he can get to the ball and make most of the plays that need to be made. Last season, he committed 8 errors in 241 chances at third base.

He also has some experience at first base playing 21 innings there in his career. With the log jam of players at first base however, I dont see Freese playing much there. However, he has yet to commit an error at first base where he holds a 1.000 fielding percentage in a very small sample size. For Freese, the key will be to be a solid pinch hitter and give Jung Ho Kang a few off days during the regular season.

Freese will more than likely be the opening day starter at third base with Jung Ho Kang still recovering from off-season knee surgery. However, when Kang returns, Freese will more than likely be used as a back up at first and third base possibly seeing some time in the corner outfield position. With a log jam of versatile players, the Pirates bench could be playing all over the field throughout the season.

I really like the Freese signing as it brings in both a security blanket for the beginning of the regular season as well as a reliable back up that the Pirates can utilize when Kang returns to the starting lineup. Freese has proven that he can be successful and looks to help the Pirates in chasing down the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs for the National League Central Title.

With Opening Day only 21 days away, the regular season will be here before you know it. For the Pirates and David Freese there is a lot of work ahead, but it will be all worth it when you finally here the roar at PNC Park on Opening Day when everyone will sound together the chant of every Pirates fan, "Let's Go Bucs."