Starting Pitchers:
- Zach Duke:
2009: 32 GS, 11-16, 4.06 ERA, 2.16 SO/BB
Duke was the Pirates' most consistent pitcher in 2009. He was the victim of the Pirates' anemic offense, and certainly did not deserve anything close to 16 losses last year. Duke's season was definitely unexpected, but at at 26, I see no reason to believe he can't put up similar numbers are next year, but I don't really expect it.
2010 peak: 33 GS, 14-9, 3.90 ERA, 2.25 SO/BB
2010 expectation: 30 GS, 10-10, 4.25 ERA, 2.10 SO/BB - Paul Maholm:
2009: 31 GS, 8-9, 4.44 ERA, 1.98 SO/BB
Maholm was the Pirates opening day starter in 2009, but I'm guessing he will be the #2 guy this year. He is the Pirates best strikeout pitcher and is at his best when he has the great control that we've seen he is capable of having. Paul is only 27, and should be successful for the Pirates again in 2010.
2010 peak: 33 GS, 16-9, 3.75 ERA, 2.40 SO/BB
2010 expectation: 32 GS, 10-8, 4.10 ERA, 2.20 SO/BB - Ross Ohlendorf:
2009: 29 GS, 11-10, 3.92 ERA, 2.06 SO/BB
Ross the Boss was one of the big surprises of 2009 for the Pirates. He pitched fantastically almost all year, and especially down the stretch. He put up 176.2 strong innings for the Bucs, and definitely took some pressure off of the bullpen. The most exciting part of all of this is that his velocity and movement appeared to increase as the year went on. There were times Ohlendorf clocked in at 96 and 97 on the radar gun. He's 27 and has some a lot of upside. At worth he'll be the Pirates #3 starter, and heck, I would feel fine with him as our ace.
2010 peak: 33 GS, 15-11, 3.75 ERA, 2.35 SO/BB
2010 expectation: 32 GS, 14-13 3.95 ERA, 2.15 SO/BB - Charlie Morton:
2009: 18 GS, 5-9, 4.55 ERA, 1.55 SO/BB
Morton came to the Pirates in the Nate McLouth deal, and was very inconsistent. He, like Maholm and Ohlendorf, is 27 years old, but is a lot less mature and has a lot less experience than those two. Morton was very impressive at times in 2009, but more often than not he was wild and not very efficient. He might have the best stuff of any of the Pirates' starters, but really doesn't know how to use it well enough to be a top of the rotation starter, yet. He has some work to do with his mechanics, and that could result in injury. He does have a high ceiling, but I don't really see him reaching anywhere near it next season.
2010 peak: 33 GS, 17-9, 3.55 ERA, 2.10 SO/BB
2010 expectation: 25 GS, 8-14, 4.45 ERA, 1.75 SO/BB - Daniel McCutchen:
2009: 6 GS, 4.21 ERA, 1.73 SO/BB
The top 4 in the rotation are set for 2010, but you can't say that for the 5 spot. Unless the Pirates make a big free-agent signing (Justin Duscherer for example), there will be spring training competition between Daniel McCutchen and Kevin Hart, fighting for this spot. While I don't particularly care for either of those pitchers, I like McCutchen better than Hart. Neither of them have very good stuff, but both have shown they are capable in the big leagues as end of the rotation starters. While I won't be expecting McCutchen to be anything more than a 5 starter, I do expect him to win some ball games for the Pirates. He is also 27 years old but had no big league experience before last year. Even if he does win the gig, he will most likely lose it at some point to Brad Lincoln, one of the Pirates' top prospects.
2010 peak: 25 GS, 7-5, 4.20 ERA, 1.90 SO/BB
2010 expectation: 15 GS, 3-6, 5.10 ERA, 1.70 SO/BB