Pittsburgh Pirates: Has the Ship Sunk?

The Pirates incredible season has vastly set sails into a head-on collision. It all starting in Philadelphia, when the Pirates pitching, which has been supurb all year, was burtally hammered. The team looks tired, unfocused and well basically, "those same ole' Bucs".


There is one move though, I believe could turn this current losing streak around. It all begins with the starting pitching. The work load for Kevin Corriea and James MacDonald has been alot, Corriea has almost already equaled his number of innings he pitched all season last year. Corriea's numbers are showing it. Since June Corriea's ERA has progressively gotten worse, in July his ERA was 6.08.

What I say needs to happen is you have to sit down Kevin Corriea. Week in and week out this guy gets harder to watch. He leaves pitches REPEATLY up and over the middle of the plate. I'm suprised this guy had the first half All-Star season he had. He may have gone against the odds for the first three months, but for the past two months its plain as day, you must sit him.

So what I suggest is make Corriea the "long-reliever" out of the bullpen and go to a six man rotation, bringing up Brad Lincoln and Ross Olendorf, who will come off the DL within 10 days. Brad Lincoln has earned the right to be given another shot at the rotation and the Pirates have more of a meaningful future with Ross Olendorf. Going to a six man rotation will refresh Karstens, Maholm, Morton and McDonald and will allow you to see what you have in Lincoln and Olendorf.



~Brad Douglass~