Looking Ahead
5 Issues The Pirates Should Address This Winter
By Jim Lachimia

Strengthen the Rotation: During spring training this year, the general consensus was that the Pirates would go as far as their starting pitchers would take them. Unfortunately, only one - 14-game winner Tom Gorzelanny - was above average on a consistent basis. Ian Snell can be his own worst enemy when he lets his emotions get the best of him (think Carlos Zambrano), but he's an enormous talent and here to stay. Paul Maholm needs to be more consistent over six months, but he did contribute a terrific batch of starts in July and August, which likely cemented his spot in the rotation. But after those three guys, there are huge question marks. Matt Morris did little to silence the folks who criticized his acquisition, and even the most ardent Zach Duke backers are beginning to wonder if his mystifying fall from grace is permanent. Additions from outside the organization are needed to bolster the starting staff and create quality competition for jobs.

Settle the Centerfield Derby: So who plays here next year? Nyjer Morgan's speed and defensive capabilities make him very intriguing, but he barely has 1,500 at bats as a professional. It's fun to watch Chris Duffy track down balls in the gap too, but offensively he hits the ball in the air way too much and gets far too little mileage out of his speed. No disrespect to Nate McLouth-his August performance this year was terrific (7 HR, 10 steals, 22 runs)-but he's always been viewed as a fourth outfielder, and that's likely accurate. Andrew McCutchen has been considered the centerfielder of the future, and it's not out of the question that new management could give him the job if he performs as well in spring training next year as he did this year. The Pirates are short on speed and athleticism, and this is one spot where they can get it, so making the right choice is critical.

Get Some Catching Help: At times this year, Ronny Paulino angered fans and drew criticism from the media for lumbering on the bath paths and casually going after balls in the dirt and throws to the plate. But Pirates' pitchers perform better when he's behind the dish and his offensive numbers are respectable for a catcher - weird batting stance or not. Nonetheless, a good addition to the team would be a solid veteran catcher who could share the job, challenge for the job, or at least give Paulino more time off so he can keep his energy level up. This year the Pirates moved their best catching prospect (Neil Walker) to third base and transformed another catcher into a rightfielder (Ryan Doumit), so Paulino knew the job was his. Sometimes even an implied threat is a great motivator. Jack Wilson playing his best baseball after Cesar Izturis was acquired is a good example of that.

Resurrect the All-Star Leftfielder: In the second year of his lucrative four-year contract, Jason Bay struggled more than anyone in these parts had ever seen him struggle before. From the beginning of June on, the two-time All-Star was pretty dreadful. He entered the season as a .292 lifetime hitter, but his batting average plummeted into the .250 range. Even more disturbing than the numbers was the fact that he looked so lost at the plate so much of the time. Bay didn't seem to recognize pitches very well, and guessed wrong way too often. Not the sort to make any excuses, the former N.L. Rookie of the Year downplayed the effect a sore knee had on his performance, but he played the outfield like a guy that was nursing an injury. All that being said, it's possible that 2007 was some sort of aberration. Bay showed too much in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to lose faith in him completely, but somebody needs to figure out what's wrong with him. This team needs its stars to perform like stars - no exceptions.

Attitude Adjustment: One of the reasons the Adam LaRoche deal created so much excitement last winter was because it was a bold move by a team that hasn't made many in recent years. In general, the Pirates have done a lot more tinkering and tippy-toeing around than anything else. With a new president and a new general manager on board (under the watchful eye of owner Bob Nutting), hopefully that will change. Progressive thinking, an aggressive approach, and excellent judgment will be necessary to get the Bucs into contention. Be bold!