Getting No Run Support Is A Real Pain-Yuh

The Pittsburgh Pirates just took 2 of 3 games from the Cincinnati Reds, which was a very nice way to start a tough stretch of games. However, the offense struggled mightily in these 3 games and totaled only 4 runs on 15 hits.

Collecting 5 hits a game is not going to get it done. That is especially true when you have no serious home run threats in the lineup. You could get away with a 5-hit game when one of those hits is a 3-run home run, but that's just not happening with this lineup. That is specifically why the Pirates should add a power bat this month, and that is the number one need, in my opinion.

The possible trade target names we have heard are Hunter Pence, Andre Ethier, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Pena.

You have all heard the reports and rumors elsewhere I'm sure, so this will be brief.

My guy is Carlos Pena. That is who I want the Pirates to acquire for their stretch run, and I'd like it to happen as soon as possible. The problem is that it most likely wouldn't be possible to get him too early, as the Cubs have no reason to not hold off until the deadline to try and get the best possible offer. The Cubs are out of contention and would be foolish to not dump Pena, because of his 1 year, 10 million dollar deal. They will lose him after this season, and it would not be in their best interest to try and re-sign him, so they have to get something for him rather than nothing.

The Pirates could probably acquire Pena without losing any serious prospects, but would have to take on a good amount of his salary, which they are prepared to do (at least it seems so).

So what are the baseball reasons that I want the Pirates to get Pena? Well here's one, Since May 1st, he has hit 20 home runs. He hit those bombs in 242 at bats, which is a home run every 12 at-bats. That's quite a ratio. If he were to hit at that pace for an entire season, he would hit over 40 home runs. So there's the perspective. In the last 4 complete seasons, Pena has hit 28, 39, 31, and 40 home runs chronologically from 2007 through 2010. He has serious power.

Pena got off to a really slow start, and still has an unimpressive .230 batting average, which is 10 points lower than his career average, but the .487 slugging percentage is something you can't look past. Pena would help offense in a huge way, especially playing in PNC Park with the short porch in right field. That, teamed with the fact that the Pirates can get him without losing much besides money, is why I really want the Pirates to go get Pena.

I understand that Pedro Alvarez is coming back, but at this point I don't think Pirate fans really expect him to get back to his late 2010 ways this year, although it will help the team incredibly if he does. The bad signs we have seen from his all year make it even more important for the Pirates to get a power bat to help this team's playoff chances.