2008 Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Predictions & Season Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are doing everything they can to try and bring new life to the Steel City. They hired a new president, GM and manager with a whole new coaching staff to go along with it. The Pirates have to deal with the embarrassment of 15 straight losing seasons. They are one losing season short of the futility established by the woeful Philadelphia Phillies from 1933-1948. Despite many new faces, the Pirates will likely have to deal with this unwanted record for years to come. Below are Larry’s 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates predictions along with a season preview of what to expect.
Starting Rotation:
The starting rotation will be inexperience, but Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke each notched another year of major league service in 2007. Veteran Matt Morris will be counted on to nurture these four young starters, none of whom will be older than 26 on opening day, after Morris was dealt to the Pirates at the All-Star break last season. Should one or more of these starters falter, there isn’t much help there after. At least the Pirates know who their starting 5 will be even before Spring Training, whether it’s good or bad.
Bullpen:
There is no question the Pirates have developed a solid closer in Matt Capps. At age 24, Capps toughness and propensity for throwing strikes earned him the closer’s job non June 1st last season after Salomon Torres struggled. Capps converted 18-of-20 save opportunities the rest of the way and held right-handed batters to a mere .181 average. Damaso Marte and John Grabow are fine situational left-handers. However, the Pirates have so little depth that they considered making a few relievers out of starters. Sean Burnett, John Van Benschoten and Bryan Bullington could start if their either Maholm, Duke or Morris struggle in the rotation. Competition for jobs will be fierce during spring training. Rule 5 pickup Evan Meek from Tampa Bay is a sleeper that could become a gem in this ‘pen for years to come.
Line-Up:
CF Nyjer Morgan will hit leadoff for the Pirates after ending the 2007 season with an 11-game hitting streak. This all came when their season clearly was over, so now how can Morgan produce when every game matters? SS Jack Wilson resurrected his career last season with a .296 average, his highest since the 2004 season. Wilson will bat in the No. 2 spot just ahead of 2B Freddy Sanchez. He was the 2006 National League batting champ and has 383 hits over the past 2 seasons. 1B Adam LaRoche had career highs in hits (153) and doubles (42) in his first season in Pittsburgh. LF Jason Bay has not lived up to his potential and this is the reason why he has been demoted to the No. 5 spot in the Pirates’ batting order. Bay hit just 3 home runs in his final 139 at-bats and the Pirates desperately need more production out of him this season. RF Xavier Nady hit 17 of his 20 homers against righthanders last season. The No. 7 and No. 8 spots in the lineup will be manned by 3B Jose Bautista and C Ronny Paulino. Bautista’s averaged jumped 19 points to a semi-respectable .254 last year. Paulino is a career .373 hitter against lefthanders in 225 at-bats. OF Nate Mclouth starts the season on the bench, but will surely compete for a starting job after hitting .267 with 12 homers after the All-Star break last season. OF Kevin Thompson will provide exceptional defense, but is unproven at the plate. C/OF Ryan Doumit will see some time behind the plate and in the outfield. Doumit was 3-for-12 with 2 homers as a pinch-hitter last year. IF Josh Wilson gets his chance to play in his homtown. IF Chris Gomez is a journeyman with his eighth team in 15 seasons off the bench as well.
Pirates 2008 Predictions:
The Pirates always seem to be starting over and on some new rebuilding plan and this year will be no exception. They are trying to develop a young major league roster and re-stock their farm system while trying to convince their fans they are capable of at least a .500 season. They won’t be able to multi-task successfully this year, that’s for sure. They have taken care of the getting younger/re-stocking piece quite well though. That .500 record part? Well it’s going to take at least a few seasons for that to happen. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be, once again, the bottom feeder of the NL Central as they finish in 6th place by a landslide.
Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbook and bookies. You won’t believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry’s long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning MLB action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.
2008 Pittsburgh Pirates Odds:
Odds to win NL Central:
40/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant:
50/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series:
100/1
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