Having followed up 20 years of losing records with back-to-back playoff appearances, the Pirates enter 2015 as a team that everyone now knows is a contender, as 2013 was no fluke. Pittsburgh is 333-315 under Clint Hurdle, for a .514 winning percentage that is better than any Bucs skipper since Danny Murtaugh, who died in 1976.
The Pirates lost a very important piece of their team when Russell Martin left for Toronto as a free agent, but Pittsburgh still has one of the National League’s most formidable lineups and a solid pitching staff, with Edinson Volquez replaced by the returning A.J. Burnett, back from his year backpacking in Europe, or pitching for the Phillies, one or the other, who even knows?
So, what can be expected from the Pirates in 2015? Here are five predictions.
1. Get on the Cole train
In his age-23 season last year, Gerrit Cole had 138 strikeouts in 138 innings, putting him in pretty good company. The other pitchers this decade that young, or younger, to pitch as many innings and have at least as many strikeouts as innings pitched in a season have been Jose Fernandez, Clayton Kershaw (twice), Mat Latos, Michael Pineda, Chris Sale and Stephen Strasburg. There is an obvious injury red flag raised with that list, but it’s an indication that Cole, whose 3.65 ERA last year belied his performance, which included a 3.23 FIP, is ready for huge things. Given that he threw another 22 innings in Triple-A last year, Cole should be able to handle 180 frames this year, and pitching like he can, that will mean Cy Young votes at the end of the year.
2. Catch a rising star
Francisco Cervelli never got a chance to be the regular catcher with the Yankees, but in 785 career plate appearances, he has hit .278/.348/.381, including a .301/.3070/.432 line in 162 trips to the plate in 2014. The Pirates got Cervelli for reliever Justin Wilson, and while he will be a downgrade from Martin, the Venezuelan backstop will hit enough and throw out enough runners to keep everything humming along. Catchers often take longer to blossom than other players, and Cervelli will be getting his first real chance at 29. He will make the most of it.
3. Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos
Jung Ho Kang hit 40 homers with an 1.198 OPS for the Nexen Heroes last year in Korea. Let’s not get it twisted, though, because Eric Thames hit 37. Yes, the same Eric Thames who played a bit for the Blue Jays and Mariners in 2011 and 2012. Rick van den Hurk, best known as the guy who gave up home runs 754 and 760 to Barry Bonds, led the Korean league in strikeouts, right ahead of 2002 Tigers participant, and owner of five strikeouts in 30 major league innings, Andy Van Hekken. This is not to say that Kang cannot succeed here, but he is going to be taking a major step up in competition level. Last year, Pirates shortstops (mostly Jordy Mercer) hit .258/.308/.378 with 12 home runs. In his first year in Pittsburgh, making all the adjustments of both baseball and culture, Kang’s numbers will not be noticeably different from that line.
4. Hot diggity dog!
As the Pirates have gotten better, they have gotten better at celebrating, too. First, it was the Zoltan “Z” gesture after base hits. Last year, Pittsburgh players mimicked WWE star Daniel Bryan’s “Yes!” chant, taking their cue from the fans in left field. This summer, it’s going to get even better when Brandon Cumpton discovers an arsenal of hot dog cannons in a PNC Park storage closet. Whenever a Pirate hits a home run, five players will go to the top step of the dugout and fire away, sending wonderful celebratory tubed meat into the hands of the adoring Pittsburgh fans. Tickets behind the home dugout will skyrocket on StubHub and one man will become a local celebrity after he catches four hot dogs in one game, and is shown on television catching one with one hand while eating one with his other hand.
5. Three’s not the charm
The Pirates will be among the top teams in the National League all year, with a chance to win either the Central Division title or the wild card with a strong finish to the season. Sound familiar? That’s how it’s been the last two years, only this time, it is not meant to be. A 10-game trip to Los Angeles, Colorado and Chicago will be Pittsburgh’s undoing, with the wild Coors Field losses against a non-contending team the hardest to take. When the Pirates get home, they will need a sweep of the Cardinals to keep their hopes alive, and they will win the first two games before a 14-inning loss in the series finale despite three Andrew McCutchen home runs. Still, it will be another winning season and serve further notice that with their young core, the Pirates are going to be in the mix for a while.
