Getting excited for the Bucco Trade Deadline

Stunningly, the Pittsburgh Pirates have the best outfield in Major League Baseball.

Nate McLouth is by far the most productive CF in the NL (.315/.399/.606). Jason Bay is arguably the second most productive LF (.294/.416/.550) after Pat Burell. Finally, Xavier Nady is probably the NL's second most productive RF (.317/.379/.525) after Ludwick. Overall, Pittsburgh OF are 2nd, 7th and 12th in OPS for all major league outfielders. No other team comes close to that kind of combined production. Heck, the Yankees and Red Sox don't even have outfielders higher than 15th (Matsui) and 19th (Ramierez).

Our bullpen is above average, too. Although they're 18th in MLB in ERA, they're 3rd in IP and we have a few extremely dependable guys (Grabow, Capps, Marte, Osoria).

So why do we suck so bad?

One reason is we have a terrible, terrible infield. Doumit, our best catcher, is injured. Jack Wilson just returned from injury yesterday. We have no third baseman. LaRoche, at first, is a joke at the plate.

The more morbid reason, though, is our starting pitching. Despite average relief ERA, the Pirates are dead last in team ERA. That's because our starting pitching ERA is 5.66, .33 runs worse than the Rockies, who are TWENTY-NINTH.

Think about that. That means that over the course of one season, if there were no relief pitchers, Pirates starting pitchers would allow 54 more runs than the NEXT CLOSEST TEAM. Compared to the Indians, who have the lowest SP ERA in MLB, the Pirates would allow over FOUR HUNDRED more runs.

That's HISTORICALLY bad.

What does this mean? Because of our bankrupt farm system, it means there's no hope for the Pirates the next couple years to not tie the Phillie's 16-season losing streak this year or to break the record next year (remember, that's for all major NA sports, not just baseball).

But, for obsessed Bucco fans it means we get to enjoy the first major trades by the new management, who so far seem to be more competent than the former management. Jason Bay and Xavier Nady will both be traded and their stocks are high, so that's very exciting. We should be able to get some top prospects and the Pirates will be looking good in 2011! I'm interested to see who we get.

If you remember, last season around this time I declared that I would cheer for whomever the Pirates trade Jason Bay to until they get better (see this post). Although I won't stop cheering for the Buccos, I still hold that I will become a fan of Jason Bay's new team, even if it's the *gulp* Cubs.

Also, I reserve the right to reject this promise if it's the Indians, because no one would wish that kind of heartbreak, misery, and insanity on anyone.

Do any of you guys' teams in playoff contention need a good corner outfielder???