What the Pirates still need . . .

While it is entirely possible that the Pirates make the playoffs this year, they are clearly a team lacking something.  They are not playoff ready.  What exactly is it?

I have a slightly different view than many.  I think the Pirates are pretty set at the positions.  Sure you could upgrade a few, and probably for a World Series run, one of the weak positions needs to be upgraded.  The weak positions are: catcher, short stop, and corner outfield.  However, corner outfield was a bit of problem this year because of the unexpected regression of Jose Tabata.  And with Sterling Marte coming up, I think the corner outfield position is going to be fine.  I think with only a weak short stop who can play defense, and a catcher who is at least a power threat from time to time, the Pirates are  fine offensively.  

The problem is with pitching.  And it is not with the bullpen.  The Pirates have bullpen depth in AAA including Morris, Wilson, and soon Victor Black.  Plus, the front office has a track record of adding the right free agent pieces there.  It is starting pitching that is the problem.  

Let me start with James McDonald.  Everyone has him penciled in next year as a key piece of the rotation, but I think he is a liability.  McDonald had a good first half and has struggled lately.  Sounds a lot like Charlie Morton last year.  Morton has been on the DL, but if you remember was not so good at the beginning of this year.  The problem with the Pirates staff is that they are depending on people who have a one good year, or a good half a year.  Other than Burnett, who is aging, the Pirates do not have a dependable front line starter.  In Jeff Karstens they have a dependable back of the rotation guy.  He is not going to overpower any teams, but will keep you in most games.  Wandy Rodreguiz was a great trade acquisition because of this very reason.  He has been the guy on the Astros, which means he is probably a 3 man.  So the Pirates have three guys in their rotation for next year.  McDonald will not duplicate his early success, and will end up hurting the team as he has at the end of the year.  Correia is more effective.  

The hope for next year is not Cole, who has yet to show his stuff in AAA.  He may be up mid year at the earliest, but he should not be counted on as a front line guy.  Jeff Locke could be ready.  They need him to turn out to be a good pitcher since they traded away Rudy Owens.  Kyle McPhearson also has the high K rate and a speedy fastball, but he was injured most of this year, so expect him to repeat AAA.  The load then is squarely on the shoulders of Locke.  That is not really a recipe for a good run next year.  Hopefully the Pirates will be able to compete again, but it could be another disappointing season next year.  

The Pirates need to set their sights on 2014.  That year should be a full year of a now fairly experienced Gerrit  Cole, a second year for Locke, and the year Taillon arrives mid season.  Add that to Wandy, Burnett, and maybe McPhearson, and the Pirate rotation starts to look like a top of the line rotation.  That is when I expect to make the deep run into the playoffs and World Series.  

Of course the Pirates could surprise me with a Free Agent signing that addresses the problem, but it is going to be a tough market to do that.  I think they feel they addressed it as best they could with Wandy.  The future is very bright for the Pirates, but unless the Cards collapse, this year is not the year.