Here's an excerpt from my latest column for TribLive.com:
The Pirates will be better. But not like local optimists think. The outside world isn’t buying in. For example, TheBigLead.com doesn’t have the Pirates ranked among its top 20 teams in MLB. Starting pitchers Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft have pitched 101 big-league innings between them. If Griffin doesn’t stick, the bottom third of the order is a disaster. Potential problems abound.
Including this one: The Pirates have a quartet of left-handed hitters expected to be among their top producers that could be badly compromised by left-handed pitching. Brandon Lowe’s lifetime average against lefties is .219. Ryan O’Hearn’s is .217. Spencer Horowitz is at .192. Oneil Cruz, .173.
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The lefty/lefty conundrum isn't being talked about. But it could tie the Pirates' attack in knots.
Those mentioned comprise four of the Pirates' presumed top six hitters. They don't figure to better their stroke against southpaws. Not at this point in their respective careers.
I'm predicting 77 wins.
Better. But not a playoff team.
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