Mid-season report card: Grading the Pirates A to F

After watching Josh Hamilton’s astonishing 28-home run display in the Home Run Derby Monday… After watching Josh Hamilton’s astonishing 28-home run display in the Home Run Derby Monday night, I couldn’t help but think that a Pittsburgh Pirate was on the mound for it.

It was 71-year-old Claybon Counsil instead. Still, the Pirates might benefit by giving the batting practice hurler a tryout.

Bucco fans have become all too familiar with the pitching staff’s uncanny ability to dig huge ditches for the offense to climb out of, which is something it actually has been able to do on occasion.

At the All-Star break, Pittsburgh’s record stands at 44-50, three games ahead of last year’s pace. If it weren’t for the ineptitude of the pitchers, the Pirates might actually be in the chase for the wild card.

Here’s how the Buccos grade at the midway point of 2008.

Catcher: B+

The only reason this mark didn’t grab an A is because of Ronny Paulino, who was so bad that he went from starter at the end of last season to AAA material by June.

Thankfully, Ryan Doumit has picked up the slack. He finally has stayed (mostly) healthy this season and rewarded the Pirates’ brass by collecting 11 home runs and batting .329 so far. His defense is improving as well.

First Base: D

Annual slow starter Adam LaRoche duplicated the feat this season, just now breaking out of a long slump. A recent tear brought his average up to .251 with 11 home runs, but he was less than .220 for three months.

Even with the outstanding Pirates offense this year, had the team received even average contributions from LaRoche consistently, it could be higher than .500.

Second base: D-

The 2006 National League batting champion, Freddy Sanchez, has fallen endlessly into the baseball abyss and can’t get out. Sanchez is batting just .226 after hitting .344 in 2006 and .304 last year.

His other shortcomings have also become more noticeable. His defense is average, his shoulder has been bothersome all season, and he’s slower than a caterpillar.

Shortstop: B-

When Jack Wilson got hurt in the third game of the season, one of Pittsburgh’s biggest fears came into fruition. His replacements failed miserably to make any contributions during the two months Wilson was out.

When healthy, Wilson has produced offensively and defensively. If he is traded, the team will have a huge hole at shortstop.

Third base: C

For the second year in a row, Jose Bautista has manned the hot corner. And for the second straight year, no one in Pittsburgh really seems to notice.

After a bad start, Bautista has rebounded with 10 home runs and a .257 batting average. He remains inconsistent, though, both at the plate and in the field. He will flub an easy grounder and follow it with a gem. Pittsburgh needs a breakout second half from Bautista.

Left Field: A

The outfield has been phenomenal, with Jason Bay returning to his pre-2007 form. The 2004 NL Rookie of the Year already has accumulated 19 home runs, just two shy of what he had last season.

Center Field: A

There’s nothing bad to say about Nate McLouth. The centerfielder who sat behind Chris Duffy and Nyjer Morgan under previous manager Jim Tracy has worked his way to the All-Star Game as Pittsburgh’s lone representative.

McLouth is tied for the team lead with Bay in home runs (19), gets on base with regularity and is a threat running the bases. His defense is also superb and getting better every day.

Right Field: A

Xavier Nady and Bay could have been in the All-Star Game. Nady is fifth in the NL in hitting, adding 12 home runs. He also leads the majors in outfield assists with 10.

It appears Nady is the most likely Bucco to be moved at the trading deadline. Teams like Tampa Bay, Atlanta and the Yankees all have been rumored as potential suitors. Nady certainly has earned the right to play in a pennant race, but his contributions in the second half could lead a Pirates surge toward .500.

Bench: B

Doug Mientkiewicz quickly grew into a team leader while providing quality defense at third and first. Raul Chavez replaced Paulino as the backup catcher and is a top defensive stopper. Chris Gomez is batting more than .300 in a reserve role, and Rivas has improved after a terrible start.

But the difference maker has been Jason Michaels, acquired in an early season trade with Cleveland. Michaels collects RBIs in bunches, with 25 in 100 at-bats. He’s the perfect fourth outfielder for this team.

Starting Pitching: D-

Wow. This group was supposed to improve on a hopeful 2007 to be the strong point of the Pirates. Instead, the starters have been a disaster – possibly the worst staff in all of baseball.

Ian Snell, the perceived ace of the staff, has an ERA of 5.92 in 18 starts, which is more than two runs higher than last year. Tom Gorzelanny, who was expected to anchor the second spot, was struggling and was demoted to AAA Indianapolis two weeks ago. We don’t even need to talk about Matt Morris.

If it weren’t for Paul Maholm, the staff might as well be filled with little leaguers. Maholm has made 12 straight starts of six innings or more, salvaging the otherwise overused bullpen. He is 6-5 with a 3.93 ERA.

Bullpen: C

Often rushing in to save the day because of the evil starting pitching, the Pirates’ bullpen has been shaky. The back end has been mostly successful thanks to Damaso Marte, John Grabow, Tyler Yates and, until recently, Matt Capps. But the relievers have cooked up quite a few messes themselves.

Franquelis Osoria has been overused, and the answer of the trivia question: Who is currently the worst reliever in the majors? Sean Burnett has steadily improved, but hasn’t had a 1-2-3 inning since getting called up.

There is no help on the way for the starters or the relievers, so the Pirates offense might need to score 10 runs a game to keep up its current pace.

Now, if you excuse me, I’m going to go work on my curveball.