Your 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates

You cannot look at the minors without first deciding who you think will be on the Big League Team. Most of this is set. Although I think the bench will be a surprise.

Starters:
C - Chris Synder
1B - Lyle Overbay
2B - Neil Walker
3B - Pedro Alvarez
SS - Ronny Cedano
LF - Jose Tabata
CF - Andrew McCutchen
RF - Jones/Diaz

Bench:
OF - Diaz/Jones
C/UT - Ryan Doumit
UI - Josh Rodriguiz
UT - Corey Wimberly
C - Jason Jarmillo

A word or two needs to be said here for why these bench players were picked. The Pirates have as much as said that they are looking not to lose people. They have also said that Ryan Doumit will be more than just a back up catcher. Meaning he will either play some corner outfield as a fifth outfielder or some back up first base or both. That will mean sometimes Doumit will be on the field with Snyder leaving no back up catcher on the bench if they only go with two. It also means that Doumit will play back up catcher and his defense is awful. So, I think that Jarmillo, who will be lost if he does not make the team, will be a third catcher. Freeing Doumit up to play outfield some. This bumps John Bowker off the team. The Pirates did not take Josh Rodriguiz in the Rule 5 to cut him in Spring Training. So, he will break camp with the team. This creates a little of a problem as they will probably want to hide him a little. So now the fifth outfielder is a defensive liability and the back up Utility Infielder will be a question mark and not a pinch hitter. So, that means the last spot needs to be someone who can do it all. Corey Wimberly can. He plays third and second as well as short, and has played all three positions in the outfield. This makes him the perfect guy for the last spot. This means that the Pirates will also lose Ciraco.

Pitching:
SP - Paul Malholm
SP - Kevin Correia
SP - Ross Ohelendorf
SP - James McDonald
SP - Charlie Morton
RP - Jeff Karstens
RP - Scott Olsen
RP - Jose Ascino
RP - Chris Resop
RP - Tony Watson
RP - Evan Meek
RP - Joel Hanrahan

I think most of this is pretty straight forward. I think Morton will get the fifth slot because the Pirates appear to be in love with him and they will lose him if they cut him. Olsen will be in the pen because they have need of lefties there. Karstens they have already said they prefer him to be in the pen. Ascino will be lost if they do not keep him, and he is pitching well in the Winter Leagues. Watson is the guess. I think they will need another lefty in the pen, and Watson is probably as good as he is going to get right now. He is probably ready for this role. Also I think Kevin Hart will start out the season on the DL, giving Watson a spot in the pen.

This is what I think will happen, and it sets the stage for our trip through the minor leagues. We will start in AAA and work our way backwards.