Pirates Cling to Hope
Promising Young Pitchers Struggle Early
By John E. Sacco

In one of the most poignant moments of the 1994 movie "The Shawshank Redemption," actor Tim Robbins, playing the character of Andy Dufresne, turned to his friend Red, played by Morgan Freeman, and said, "Hope is a good thing."

With that in mind, the Pirates may have a good thing going on with their starting pitching staff because there seem to be high hopes for it.

But the first month of the 2006 season suggests that this hope might not spring eternal.

While it is certainly far too early to draw definitive conclusions, the Pirates' starting staff isn't ready to lead the woebegone and reeling franchise from the depths of 13 consecutive losing seasons, or help it avoid a 14th straight season of sub .500 baseball.

Zach Duke and Paul Maholm opened eyes and turned heads with their efforts in the second half of the 2006 season. Ian Snell pitched his way into the starting rotation during spring training.

Oliver Perez continues to perplex those around him. He is nowhere near the pitcher he was in 2004 when he led the National League in strikeouts per nine innings. His inconsistency continues, his velocity isn't close to what it was two years ago, and his control is a constant concern.

Victor Santos is simply on the staff because the Pirates plucked him in the Rule 5 Draft during the off-season and they must offer him back to Kansas City if they want to remove him from the roster.

At this point, the club would still rather pace Sean Burnett, and Tom Gorzelanny, two potential left-handed starters, at Class AAA Indianapolis.

NEW TEACHER

With plenty of potential spread across several young arms, bolstered by the arrival of a new pitching coach in Jim Colborn, hope was indeed plentiful just one month ago. After one month of baseball, however, the hope for this staff is a bit more subdued.

"I don't think what the staff did during one month really matters," said Jonathon Mayo, of MLB.com. "It's a little too early to draw conclusions. You would have liked the starting staff to get off on a better foot. But I don't think we can draw any real conclusions as to what it will be like."

Mayo said the fact that Duke seemed to settle down as April wore on was a positive sign, and that Maholm had a couple good efforts. However, he was alarmed at how Snell was bounced around in his early starts and at Perez's inconsistency.

"Perez is the biggest wild card," Mayo said. "One time he can look like the best in the league. The next time out he has no command. It's troubling.

"I think they should let Snell make at least 15 starts, show that he can't start at the major league level. He has one of the biggest chips on his shoulder I have ever seen and he has used that since he was an amateur. All he hears is he's not big enough to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. He's been nothing but effective in the minors as a starter. So if he goes through 15 to 20 starts and doesn't fare well, maybe he would stomach that move to the bullpen and really shine there."

The Pirates, in spite of the rough early start, still think they have the makings of an exceptional starting staff.

Manager Jim Tracy hailed new pitching coach, Jim Colborn, as a pitching guru of sorts when he brought him to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles. Tracy continues to heap praise.

"He has not only the ability to teach the physical aspects of the game, but also the ability to communicate with his pitchers," Tracy said.

The young pitchers-Duke and Snell in particular-said in the pre-season that Colborn's style was more to their liking than that of the previous pitching coach, Spin Williams, and manager, Lloyd McClendon.

Duke's and Snell's remarks that suggested the former coaching staff lacked proper communications skills and techniques rankled McClendon. It also heaped additional pressure on Colborn, who took some heat in the first month of the season for the failings of the young staff and for changing what he perceived as a problem with Duke's delivery.

"I think Colborn is fine," Mayo said. "A couple of years he and Tracy spent in Los Angeles, the Dodgers over-achieved. I know they spent a lot of money. That doesn't always mean you put a good team together.

"I think he maximized what he had… At worst, he's an average pitching coach in the major leagues. At the high end, maybe he is one of the better ones around. He's not Leo Mazzone. But who is?"

As for tinkering with Duke, who went 8-2 with a 1.81 earned run average in 14 starts in 2005, Mayo said before reacting hysterically to it, it would be wise to find out just what was corrected.

According to former Dodgers' pitcher and Texas Rangers' pitching coach-and current ESPN analyst-Orel Hershiser, it was a matter of balance in Duke's delivery.

Hershiser seems to think Duke will be fine and adjust accordingly.

"Just because you have success, it doesn't mean there are not things you can improve on," Mayo said. "There is nothing the matter with setting a guy straight."

Perhaps the Pirates and their fans need to be set straight in their expectations of this group of young starters.

ADJUSTING EXPECTATIONS

"We're not talking about (John) Smoltz, (Tom) Glavine, and (Greg) Maddux here," said Jim Callis of *Baseball America*. "I think they have a chance to be a good rotation. But I'm not sure it's going to be a great rotation.

"If they could get those guys 30 starts, and nobody gets hurt or gets beat up too bad mentally, then I think that would be a successful season for the starters and a step forward in the process. I mean, who thought this was a contending club anyway? They need to get these guys innings and experience. Sometimes it takes awhile."

Of course, general manager David Littlefield, Tracy and Colborn had their standards and expectations set a bit higher than that for the club's starting rotation this season.

In reality, though, getting the young arms through a major league season without injury and without them losing their confidence would be a positive, especially in light of their struggles to date.

"I'm not happy with the overall results," Colborn said. "But I am committed. These guys are learning a lot more than what's been put in front of them in the past, I think. They're willing to learn and get better."

Colborn gained a reputation in Los Angeles for getting as much out of his pitchers as possible. In 2003, the Dodgers' team ERA of 3.16 was more than half-a-run lower than any other team's. LA's team ERA was among the top four in the National League three of the past four seasons.

While his reputation has taken some hits in the first month, Colborn is steadfast in his beliefs.

"I always have conviction with what I do," he said. "I try to be prudent with my decisions, cautious, actually. Over the years, I've gained confidence in what I do and seen numerous successes. So, I do sort of think that the way I teach pitching is effective."

The Pirates had better hope so.

John Sacco has covered the Pirates and major league baseball for PSR since October 1998. Previously, he covered the team from 1986-1992 and is a former member of the Baseball Writers' of America Association, Pittsburgh chapter.