PITTSBURGH — The Pirates’ offense has struggled to get a lot going all yr, and it begins with the highest of the order.
On Tuesday, Oneil Cruz took his second crack at leadoff hitter this season, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts to set the tempo for the Pirates’ 3-0 loss to the Nationals at PNC Park. Monday went a lot better, recording two hits and scoring twice, one of many uncommon video games this season by which the Pirates obtained manufacturing out of the highest of the order.
So yeah, there’s attraction for attempting Cruz up high.
“I’ve tried a bunch of various folks there; I’ve talked to a bunch of various folks, some folks had robust ideas on him going there,” supervisor Derek Shelton stated earlier than the sport. “He’s carried out it earlier than, simply looking for what works. I feel there’s a likelihood that we’ll run him on the market for a bit and see the way it works.”
There are apparent execs for having Cruz bat leadoff. He’s taking extra walks this season. He can steal bases. He’s obtained nice offensive potential. The draw back is he’s a possible middle-of-the-order bat, and he received’t get almost as many RBI alternatives.
In actual fact, nearly each life like choice for a leadoff hitter comes with pink flags:
• Pham and Frazier have loads of expertise within the position, however at the moment have OPS marks of .466 and .453, respectively. Suwinski matches the analytical mannequin of somebody who walks rather a lot, has some energy and sees pitches, however his OPS is .477, even after a multi-hit recreation Tuesday.
• Kiner-Falefa provides pace and has some expertise batting first, however he’s in a 2-for-21 hunch and didn’t have a very good displaying because the leadoff hitter final season.
• Andrew McCutchen batted up high lots final yr, however at 38 years outdated, he’s not likely an on a regular basis choice anymore, particularly with Bryan Reynolds restricted to being the designated hitter due to his shoulder harm (although he’s in a throwing program and will see the sphere within the close to future).
Maybe issues can be totally different up high if Spencer Horwitz was accessible. He had a .357 on-base share with the Blue Jays final season, had the stable peripherals you need from a leadoff hitter — reminiscent of a low chase price and a excessive stroll share — and he would add some depth at a place that’s been riddled with accidents. He was projected to be the starter coming into the yr, and the 2 main backups, Jared Triolo and Endy Rodríguez, are additionally on the injured record now.
It’s simply hypothesis that Horwitz was going to be the leadoff hitter (he hasn’t appeared in a recreation in a Pirate uniform but, in any case), however having him bat up high in opposition to right-handers, after which possibly a southpaw masher like Hayes or Nick Gonzales (additionally on the injured record) in opposition to left-handed starters, might be an ideal pairing.
You possibly can’t actually pair folks on the injured record, although. So, for now, it’s Cruz.
Maybe Cruz could be a catalyst up high. Discover methods to get on base, steal a bag and scrap collectively that early run. The offense wants a spark, and if it’s not him, Shelton has proven he’s not afraid to strive another person.
