Second Half - If the Pirates want to get better

The Pirates looked like the same team as the first half as they could not throw anyone out stealing, had wild pitches, balked, failed to convert a run down (Ronny Cedano thanks a lot), and got picked off second base BY THE CATHCER! Tabata got two hits and so did McCutchen (one of which was a two out RBI), Walker converted a sac fly, and Alvarez got a hit. That was about it. So here are a few things I think we ought to watch for while expecting the Pirates to lose a lot of games.

1) McCutchen has to hit .290 to .300 for the year. He was a little under this at the All Star break. McCutchen is the "Carrier" for this team, and thus, he has to hit at least .290. The leader has to get it done on the field.

2) Garrett Jones has to hit more HRs in the second half than he did in the first half. The Pirates are woeful in power hitting. Part of that is because Jones did not live up to expectations. He needs to have at least some power in the second half for the Pirates to have success.

3) Alvarez needs to end up with a .250 AVG and 10 HRs. This is doable, but his continued progress is important for future hopes.

4) Tabata needs to hit above .250 for the second half and Walker needs to hit .280. These guys are the future, we needs to see the future with a bright spot.

5) A trade needs to take place. I don't care who it is, but someone needs to get traded that is not part of the long term future. Duke, Dotel, Church, Doumit, even Milledge as long as the return is good.

6) The Pirates need to sign Tallion and Allie. With Rojas on board this is the next big project with Kingham a priority as well.

7) Sterling Marte needs to get back healthy. The minors have been full of injuries, and Holt as well as Sanchez are done. It would be nice to see someone come back with no real complications.

As a word of caution, people need not to get so excited about Morris. He needs to show a lot more in Double AA than he has before he is a top notch prospect. He did dominate A this year, but after multiple years in it, he really should have. He is behind where he ought to be, so let us just wait and see on his second half before we put him up at the top of Pirate hopes.