BENCH CRUZ

(Third in an series.)

At TribLive.com, I've written two columns about the Pirates' Oneil Cruz dilemma.

In one column, I suggest trading him. Click HERE to read.

In another column, I moot how to fix him. Click HERE to read.

In this blog, I propose benching him.

Baseball has one catch-all statistic: OPS. It combines on-base percentage plus slugging percentage. It sums up a player's value with one number.

Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum was a 29-year-old rookie with Tampa Bay last season. His OPS was .698.

Cruz, 27, made his MLB debut in 2021. He is thought to have superstar potential. His OPS last season was .676.

Bench Cruz, play Mangum.

Mangum is good in the field, can run, and he competes.

Cruz mangled Thursday's season opener at New York with two Little League-level miscues in the first inning.

He got benched Saturday.

On Sunday, Cruz so noticeably lollygagged catching a sacrifice fly that Pirates announcer Greg Brown, who is paid to be a homer, called his effort "lackadaisical."

Cruz doesn't play winning baseball.

He's realized whatever potential he's got. Cruz is what he is.

At 27, Andrew McCutchen finished third in NL MVP voting after winning the award the season before. He was a four-time All-Star at that point.

At 27, Roberto Clemente was a three-time All-Star.

At 27, Willie Stargell was also a three-time All-Star.

At 27, Cruz is none of the above.

Nobody expects him to be McCutchen, Clemente or Stargell. Not anymore, certainly.

But Cruz hurts the Pirates more than he helps.

Mangum is better.

Bench Cruz, play Mangum.