2011 Lineups

The Pirates have made a handful of moves this off season that will have an impact on what their major league team looks like in 2011. My guess is that the major free agent signings are over on the offensive side. Hopefully the Pirates will add some more pitching, but I'm confident in saying that we can start projecting what the 2011 lineup will look like. I'll go ahead and take a crack at it.

There will certainly be a platoon in right field, and there is now an opportunity for a platoon at first base. My guess is that Garrett Atkins will not get any opportunity to start in the majors, unless there's an injury, so he won't be mentioned in this post. Here's what it looks like, right now:

Pirates vs. right handed pitchers:

1. Andrew McCutchen, CF
2. Jose Tabata, LF
3. Neil Walker, 2B
4. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
5. Garrett Jones, RF
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Chris Snyder, C
8. Ronny Cedeno, SS
9. Pitcher

Pirates vs. left handed pitchers:

1. Andrew McCutchen, CF
2. Jose Tabata, LF
3. Neil Walker, 2B
4. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Matt Diaz, RF
7. Chris Snyder, C
8. Ronny Cedeno, SS
9. Pitcher

If the Pirates hold on to Ryan Doumit, which doesn't seem very likely, he will probably make a lot of starts at catcher against righties, as well as making a couple starts in right field. There's not a whole lot that will change as the year goes on, in terms of minor leaguers. Last year, we were anticipating the arrivals of Tabata and Alvarez, and were pleasantly surprised with Walker's performance. This year the only guy you can point at that will come from the minors and start in the majors is Chase d'Arnaud. d'Arnaud is no where near the calibur prospect that Tabata and Alvarez were, but if he works out he will certainly be an upgrade from Cedeno.

All-in-all that's a pretty decent lineup, the best the Pirates have had in a long time. We're not gonna be at the top of the league in scoring or anything, but it should be good enough to be competitive. The pitching is still no where near good enough to have the team actually compete in 2011, but it will at least be a better brand of baseball being played.