Kuzul

Behold a pale horse, the Pittsburgh Pirates are serious contenders for the World Series in 2014.

After 20 consecutive losing seasons, the Pirates reversed their fortunes with a 94-win season in 2013. The pitch-framing prowess of Russell Martin, leadership of Andrew McCutchen, might of Pedro Alvarez and unforeseen success of the pitching staff led the Steel City exodus out of baseball purgatory once and for all.

Star center fielder McCutchen was quoted as saying, via JockBio.com, “We won’t let history define our future. Our actions will do the talking. Our determination will turn doubters into believers.” And the rest is almost history.

I say almost because the Pirates organization is rooted in a history rich with stars and World Series victories. From Honus Wagner to Roberto Clemente to Dave Parker, the Pirates have tallied five World Series championships.

The current makeup of the clubhouse is reaching the apex of greatness, but they aren’t quite there yet. McCutchen and Co. know a World Series victory, their first since 1979, is the only thing that will make them great.

For what it’s worth, the 2013 season will never be forgotten among the Pittsburgh faithful. The fervor in which fans raised the Jolly Roger at PNC Park in 2013 is also leading to increased expectations for 2014. With the current roster, the Pirates have enough juice to exceed those expectations and bring the Steel City its first World Series championship in 35 years.

In many ways, the 2014 Pirates mirror the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Alvarez is similar to Ryan Howard in power. Martin provides stability behind the plate much like Carlos Ruiz. Neil Walker is cut from the same cloth as Chase Utley. Starling Marte provides electricity akin to Shane Victorino. Finally, McCutchen is playing the role of Jimmy Rollins via superstar talent and leadership.

Like the 2008 Phillies, the 2014 Pirates pitching staff lacks billowing luster on paper.

Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, Brett Myers and Kyle Kendrick rounded out a Philly rotation that many considered mediocre. Closer Brad Lidge was lights out, tallying 41 saves in 41 opportunities, though. Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and others filled out the bullpen.

In order for the Pirates to live up to and surpass expectations, they will need their pitching staff to outdistance their production from a year ago. Last season, Pittsburgh’s team earned run average (ERA) was third best in Major League Baseball. According to FanGraphs, their fielder independent pitching (FIP) was third best as well. 

A major provocateur of their 2013 success, A.J. Burnett, is currently a free agent. Over the winter, the Pirates let Burnett walk after figuring they would not be able to fit his $14 million option into their budget. Therefore, the rotation will have a slightly different look in 2014.

According to MLB Depth Charts, Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole, Wandy Rodriguez, Charlie Morton and Edinson Volquez are projected to round out the rotation. The projected bullpen consists of Vin Mazzaro, Stolmy Pimentel, Bryan Morris, Justin Wilson, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and closer Jason Grilli.

While Cole has the pedigree to be one of the best arms in baseball for some time, a lot of question marks surround the rest of the staff. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, it has depth with Jeff Locke, Jeanmar Gomez, Brandon Cumpton and elite prospect Jameson Taillon.

To consider the pitching staff ho-hum is dismissing the position the team is in. The Pirates have a plethora of proficient arms to lean on if necessary.

The energy surrounding the lineup is another source of pride for this roster. With Marte leading off, the Pirates are constantly in a position to score runs early on. Shortstop Jordy Mercer is expected to bat second. While he may not be the long-term solution at the position for Pittsburgh, his .285 batting average last season was respectable.

The meat of the lineup consists of McCutchen, Alvarez and Walker. Martin is projected to bat sixth followed up by two platoon situations in the seven and eight holes. 

At first base, the Pirates are likely to split at-bats between Gaby Sanchez and Andrew Lambo. In right field, the platoon of Jose Tabata, Travis Snider and Lambo is expected to loom large.

On the plus side, the Pirates have a farm system affluent with talent. Taillon is the only pitcher who is close to being MLB-ready, though. As for position players, shortstop Alen Hanson and outfielder Gregory Polanco are nearing their turns in the majors. Should some pitching, Mercer or any outfielder not named Marte or McCutchen fail to suffice through June, the Pirates will be able to lean on one of their young and talented prospects to fill the void. 

Baseball is budding once again in Pittsburgh.

The last time the Pirates sustained a run of consecutive winning seasons was from 1990 through 1992. The last time they were a serious threat to reach and win the World Series ended on October 14, 1992. Atlanta Braves first baseman and Carlisle, Pa., native Sid Bream crossed the plate, and the Pirates became irrelevant for the next two decades.

Vegas Insider has the Pittsburgh Pirates at 25-1 odds to win the World Series in 2014. With dark-horse odds, many won’t expect them to be as successful as they were a year ago. To win the National League pennant, the Pirates have the seventh-best odds at 12-1. Those odds are just slightly better than the woeful Phillies. 

Inside Pirates’ fandom, expectations are huge. Understanding the consequences of seeing Burnett walk into free agency are met with realistic assumptions about the rest of the roster. But to suggest a 37-year-old pitcher will make or break a baseball team is asinine. His loss is not that big of a deal for Pittsburgh.

The truth is that an organization no longer has to spend an abundance of dollars in order to field a championship-caliber club. No, it has to develop talent in-house and play matchmaker with the rest of the pieces to the puzzle.

So far, it looks as if general manager Neal Huntington and skipper Clint Hurdle are doing a great job with that task.

With one of the better farm systems in baseball, the Pirates have turned themselves into the Tampa Bay Rays of the NL. With a roster loaded with potential and following a year where they had better-than-expected success in the postseason, Pittsburgh is priming itself for a serious run at the World Series in 2014.

Major League Baseball is officially on alert.

All statistics provided courtesy of FanGraphs.com and Baseball-Reference.com.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

At last, the question of whether A.J. Burnett will retire or return to pitch in 2014 has been answered. Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review is reporting that, according to a source, the 37-year-old Burnett will indeed return for his 16th big league season. 

Not only did the source confirm Burnett’s desire to pitch in 2014, he suspects that the right-hander, who posted a 3.30 ERA with 3.2 BB/9 and a league-leading 9.8 K/9 in 191 innings pitched last season, will test the open market and not limit himself to a return to Pittsburgh. 

While Burnett has stated his desire to remain with the Pirates—he was quoted last offseason as saying he wouldn’t want to pitch anywhere else but Pittsburgh if he resumed his playing career after 2013—he’s much more likely to land a bigger contract elsewhere or, if anything, drive up the Pirates’ price with multiple teams bidding on his services. 

Here are five teams that could have the most interest in adding Burnett to the front of their rotation in 2014.

Begin Slideshow

If only New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis could be the player he was in the second half of 2012 (.888 OPS, 20 HR in 75 games) over the course of a full season, he likely wouldn’t be on the trade block this offseason. And if he were, teams would be much more willing to match general manager Sandy Alderson’s asking price for the 26-year-old.

While Alderson has indicated to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com that he’s fine with the current logjam at first base as the team heads into spring training, it’s still very likely he’d prefer to send Davis and his $3.5 million salary packing.

The move would make room for the much more consistent Lucas Duda (.852 OPS in 2011, .718 OPS in 2012, .767 OPS in 2013) in a possible platoon with Josh Satin, who had an .882 OPS in 82 at-bats against left-handed pitching last season. 

Kendrys Morales is the last viable first-base option on the free-agent market, although teams are shying away from his asking price and the draft pick it would cost any team that signs him. Trading for Davis could still be a much more preferable way to upgrade their lineup. 

Here are four teams who could still have interest in acquiring Davis and the potential trade piece it would take to land him. 

Begin Slideshow

With a wave of impact prospects poised to reach the major leagues as early as late 2014 and more high-ceiling talent developing in its lower levels, a strong case can be made that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system is the best in baseball.

Even after the graduation of Gerrit Cole to the major leagues last season, the Pirates still boast a deep collection of high-end pitching prospects. It shouldn’t be long until right-hander Jameson Taillon—the second overall pick in the 2010 draft after Bryce Harper—joins Cole in the big league rotation, and Nick Kingham isn’t far behind after a breakout 2013 campaign between High- and Double-A.

In the lower levels, 6’7″ right-hander Tyler Glasnow absolutely dominated last year during his full-season debut, holding opposing hitters to an anemic .142 batting average while piling up a South Atlantic League-leading 164 strikeouts in 111.1 innings for Low-A West Virginia.

The system also stands out for its outfield depth, with top prospect Gregory Polanco on the verge of reaching the major leagues and taking over as the Pirates’ everyday right fielder. Beyond Polanco, switch-hitter Josh Bell’s potent bat suggests breakout potential and could result in a taste of Double-A late next season, while 2013 first-rounder Austin Meadows and fellow New York-Penn League standout Harold Ramirez will both make their full-season debuts at Low-A West Virginia.

Here’s a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top 10 prospects for the 2014 season.

Begin Slideshow

After guiding the Pittsburgh Pirates to the postseason for the first time since 1992, Clint Hurdle was named National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday night by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Of the 30 ballots completed, Hurdle was awarded first-place votes by 25 of the baseball scribes covering the sport around the country.

The honor isn’t just well deserved, it’s validation for a franchise that has undergone a seismic shift in culture since Hurdle arrived prior to the 2011 season. 

By contending in the top-heavy National League Central, Pittsburgh ushered in a new era of winning. By qualifying for the postseason, the Pirates shocked the baseball world. Now, Hurdle’s Manager of the Year award signifies the final piece of the 2013 puzzle for a franchise that has lacked direction for decades.

As stated here before the official announcement came down, Hurdle’s recognition goes well past just the 2013 campaign. From leading a 15-win improvement in his first season to another solid seven-win improvement in 2012, Hurdle set the stage for the Pirates to take the leap from mediocrity (79-83) to excellence (94-68) in 2013. 

When the Pirates tabbed Hurdle as the manager to replace John Russell, few around baseball took much stock in the hire. After all, even if the Pittsburgh farm system finally began to produce quality players, it would take an outstanding effort from the manager and coaching staff to mold them into contenders without the help of expensive veterans. 

As the Pirates morphed from awful to poor to mediocre, the culture changed around an improving young core of talent. Sure, the rise of Andrew McCutchen to MVP candidate expedited the process, but Hurdle’s willingness to stick with Pedro Alvarez through his development, trust Mark Melancon in a prominent bullpen role, and bat Starling Marte at the top of the order galvanized the work of Pittsburgh’s player development staff. 

Furthermore, Hurdle’s personality and willingness to evolve his thinking, both on and off the field, endeared him to veterans like Jason Grilli, Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano. Free-agent and trade acquisitions played a major role in the makeup of the 2013 Pirates roster, but none of the veteran talent came from expensive, long-term contracts. Instead, they were players needing a place to rehabilitate past success (Liriano), prove a big-market team wrong for moving in a different direction (Martin), or make an entire organization in Philadelphia feel foolish for letting talent languish in Triple-A (Grilli).

Before arriving in Pittsburgh, Hurdle took a team to the World Series but failed to win consistently during his tenure in Colorado. Much of his demise was based on a system that failed to generate enough talent. Or, when it had talent, suffered through major injury issues during seasons of high expectations.

Still, Hurdle could have easily remained stuck in his ways when approaching the situation in Pittsburgh. If the 56-year-old manager began the 2013 season without changing anything about his style, few would have noticed or complained.

Despite helping Pittsburgh improve from 55 wins in 2010 to 79 in 2012, Hurdle did the opposite. With the help of bright front-office minds, he evolved, per Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 

By accepting the value of information on defensive shifts and how his pitching staff could maximize the strengths and weaknesses of his defensive alignment, going all-in with a philosophy that was foreign to him during his best years in the dugout, Hurdle placed the 2013 Pirates on a path to success.

That path led to 68 defensive runs saved, according to Fangraphs, good for third in baseball. Hurdle’s adaptability wasn’t highlighted as prominently as wins and losses, but there was a link to a member of Pittburgh’s past who routinely took a similar route to victory.

The full announcement of Hurdle’s victory included this seemingly innocuous fact from the BBWAA:

The Pirates qualified for a wild-card berth with a 94-68 record, the first time they finished a season above .500 since 1992 when they were 96-66 and won the NL East, their previous postseason appearance. Jim Leyland won Manager of the Year honors that season as well as in 1990.

At first glance, including Jim Leyland‘s accolades in a story about Hurdle’s honor feels like nothing more than linking the past and present of success for the Pittsburgh organization. Yet it does much more than that when you think about why Leyland was so successful.

He trusted young players, had the ability to coerce veterans into giving him maximum effort, and, even though he never subscribed to advanced statistics like defensive runs saved, always was open to learning and evolving his thinking.

Decades separated successful managers in Pittsburgh, but their similarities validated the culture change for the franchise. By finding a manager who would do what it took to bring the Pirates back to their past years of glory, the franchise finally moved forward. Clint Hurdle didn’t just win 94 baseball games—he exhumed two decades of uninspired baseball thinking in the name of progress.

Not bad for a manager who had only one winning season on his ledger before 2013.

Comment below, follow me on Twitter or “like” my Facebook page to talk all things baseball.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle faced a difficult decision following his team’s 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the National League Division Series: Trust a struggling veteran to start Wednesday’s deciding Game 5, or play the hot hand of a rookie.

Hurdle announced on Monday that veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett would be skipped in the rotation in favor of rookie Gerrit Cole as the starter for Game 5 of the NLDS in St. Louis.

Hurdle’s decision to start the 23-year-old Cole in the win-or-go-home game isn’t entirely surprising. In Game 2 of the NLDS at Busch Stadium, Cole held the Cardinals to one run on two hits over six outstanding innings. It marked the team’s sixth consecutive win in a game started by Cole. Burnett, on the other hand, was shelled in Game 1, allowing seven runs over two-plus innings.

After watching Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha take a no-hit bid into the eighth inning against his club on Monday, Hurdle addressed the media regarding his choice for Game 5:

It’s a difficult decision, because [Burnett] has meant so much, we’ve asked so much of him while he’s been here… A.J. wants the ball every day he’s scheduled to pitch. That’s one of the things that’s gotten him to this point in his career and having the success that he’s had. You want to treat men professionally. Sometimes we don’t agree on things. We have to find a way to get this together to give our team the opportunity to win in all aspects.

Since the beginning of September, every subsequent start has been the most important of Gerrit Cole’s promising career. And, to put it simply, the right-hander represents the Pirates’ best chance at winning Wednesday’s game.

Game 2: A Quick Review

Making his first career postseason start, as well as his first against the Cardinals, Cole shut down a dangerous St. Louis offense over six innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Cole’s success in the outing was a direct result of consistently getting ahead in the count, as he threw a first-pitch strike to 13 of 21 hitters and ultimately retired all but two of them.

After using his fastball 64.63 percent of the time during the regular season, Cole threw the pitch only 54.65 percent of the time in Game 2 (47 of 86 pitches), according to Brooks Baseball. Despite the Cardinals’ collective success against fastball this season, he was highly effective with his heater—which was clocked as high as 101.9 mph, via Brooks Baseball—in the outing, throwing the pitch for a strike 61.7 percent of the time while commanding it to each quadrant of the zone. He also threw it first pitch to 13 hitters, including nine over the first three innings.

However, Cole’s feel for sequencing his secondary arsenal (changeup/curveball/slider) is what made him almost unhittable over six innings on Friday. The rookie purposely showed his change and both breaking balls to most hitters while working off his fastball during the first trip through the order.

Over the course of the outing, Cole threw 27-of-39 secondary offerings for a strike (69.2 percent), which was aided by 19 swinging strikes, five of which were whiffs. And when he was either even or ahead in the count, the right-hander did an outstanding job of getting hitters to expand the strike zone: 

Game 5: What to Expect

Even though the Cardinals have now experienced what Gerrit Cole is all about, it’s not guaranteed that they’ll have him figured out for Round 2 on Wednesday.

Gerrit Cole is the rare breed of pitcher capable of shutting down the most potent offense on a given night. The right-hander is the epitome of a power pitcher, boasting a fastball that registers in the upper 90s and even bumps triple digits deep into starts. However, when he’s on his game, Cole is more than just a guy with a big fastball.

Beyond the 80-grade heater, Cole features a wipeout slider in the upper 80s and a mid-80s changeup with late fading action to the arm side. He has also shown increased confidence in his curveball over the last month-and-a-half, another power offering thrown in the low- to mid-80s with downer break, though it’s still his least developed pitch. In Game 2 of the NLDS, his entire arsenal was on full display as he and catcher Russell Martin executed a specific plan of attack.

Considering the Cardinals offense has struggled to produce runs following its seven-run outburst against Burnett in Game 1, Cole (and Martin) will presumably employ a similar game plan on Wednesday. If he can consistently get ahead in the count and utilize his full repertoire of pitches from the onset of the game, the 23-year-old has the chance to be equally, if not more, successful. However, if things start to go south in the outing, expect Hurdle to give Cole a quick hook with the season on the line.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Even though all eyes in Pittsburgh will be focused on Busch Stadium Wednesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals end their epic 24-game battle (regular season included) in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, it’s important to talk about what this year has meant for the once-maligned franchise. 

There were times throughout the 2013 season when I expected the Pirates to fall apart. I convinced myself there wasn’t enough talent on offense and that certain pitchers overachieving in the first half would fall back down to earth. 

Yet the fall never came for two reasons. One, teams can have really good years that exceed even the most optimistic expectations. Two, and more importantly, the Pirates have finally hit that window of contention you hear about with smaller-market teams. 

The “window” is when all the years of drafting, scouting, trading and player development converge at the MLB level. Some teams, like Tampa Bay, are able to stay in contention over a longer stretch of time than others. 

There’s no telling how long the Pirates’ window stays open, but I can tell you with complete confidence right now that this isn’t a one-year wonder. 

Here is why those skeptics out there should start to pay close attention to the Pirates. 

The Nucleus 

Often, you will hear a team talk about the “core players” it will build around. Some can be franchise-type players who will represent the city and team in All-Star Games and get all the media attention, both good and bad. 

Other times these are good players who wouldn’t be classified as superstars, but they are more than capable of handling themselves as a starter on a playoff team. 

The Pirates already have their franchise cornerstone with Andrew McCutchen. Beyond that, while they don’t have many stars, there is a core that works together quite well. More importantly, for a team that can’t spend a ton of money in free agency, most of the key players from this year’s team will be back. 

The one big name from the 2013 team that isn’t under control through next season is A.J. Burnett. After flaming out in spectacular fashion with New York, Burnett has found a second life with the Pirates with a 3.41 ERA, 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings and 7.0 wins above replacement in 393.1 innings. 

Would it be a surprise to see Burnett go after a big contract offer somewhere else? Absolutely not. But it also shouldn’t come as a shock if the Pirates get some sort of discount on him for playing such an integral part in reviving his career. 

That nucleus right there is pretty good. It’s not a great unit overall, though McCutchen is one of the three or four best players in baseball today and can hide a lot of issues elsewhere.

Pedro Alvarez isn’t a great hitter, or even a good one. He doesn’t get on base and can’t hit lefties, but there aren’t a lot of players in today’s game hitting 36 home runs. 

Russell Martin isn’t a dynamic catcher, but he hits for power and is a strong defender behind the plate. 

Starling Marte is still raw on both sides of the ball. He isn’t someone who should be hitting at the top of a good lineup moving forward, but his combination of speed and power are exciting. This gives him a future as a potential regular corner outfielder. 

The Pirates already have the makings of a solid nucleus in the big leagues, though that isn’t the reason to believe in them. 

The Farm

I love Pittsburgh’s farm system. In my post-MiLB season top 10 rankings, I had the Pirates ranked No. 6 overall. If you want to tell me this is a top-five group, I wouldn’t argue with you. 

What’s even better is that their top prospects are so close to the majors. Gerrit Cole made his debut in June and has gotten stronger the more he pitched, giving him a future as bright as any young pitcher in baseball. 

Not far behind Cole on the pitching side is Jameson Taillon, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft who got a late-season promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis. Taillon will debut in the big leagues at some point in 2014. 

Taillon has true top-of-the-rotation stuff with a big fastball and wipeout curveball as his bread and butter. Sometimes his heater can be too straight and get hit harder than it should, which is also something that was being said about Cole prior to his call up. 

If the Pirates allow Burnett to walk away after this season without making an offer, it will likely be in large part due to Taillon’s ability and proximity to the big leagues. 

Gregory Polanco, who would be a center fielder for most teams in baseball, will have to move over to right field when he gets called up next season because McCutchen isn’t going anywhere. 

The good news is, Polanco’s bat and arm profile just as well in right field as they do in center, though there is obviously more value with the up-the-middle player. He can hit, hit for power and is a strong defender despite what he showed on some poor routes in the Futures Game.

A little further down the prospect pipeline are shortstop Alen Hanson and breakout pitching prospects Nick Kingham and Tyler Glasnow. Hanson and Kingham have an outside shot to debut next season, though 2015 is more likely. Glasnow is further away, but he could arrive shortly after those two in 2015. 

Then you have this year’s two high-ceiling first-round picks in Austin Meadows, the most dynamic high-school talent in the class, and Reese McGuire, the best defensive catcher. They won’t be ready for at least three years, yet they could end up being as good as anyone in the system right now. 

General manager Neal Huntington, who we will talk about more in just a moment, and his staff have done a fantastic job of being aggressive in the draft with high-ceiling talent that is going to cost a little more money. Those players might have slightly more risk attached than some of the more polished players available, but if you hit with them, you are going to have an incredible roster. 

Are all of these players going to hit their ceiling? Of course not. But even if two of this group hit and the rest turn into average big leaguers, that’s one hell of a core you have under control for a long time. 

Smart Front Office

It’s crazy to think right now, but Huntington wasn’t guaranteed a job after the Pirates fell apart at the end of the 2012 season. He even acknowledged the possibility of being fired in comments made last September (h/t Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). 

If [owner] Bob [Nutting] or [team president] Frank [Coonelly] decide to make a change and they bring in a new general manager, that’s their call. I sure hope they don’t because I believe in the people we’re working with. I believe in what we’re doing, and I believe in how we’re doing it.

I understand that winning at the MLB level is the most important thing, and Huntington had five years to do that before 2013.

But considering the mess this franchise was in under the previous regime, run by Dave Littlefield, it was going to take a lot of time to produce results. The fact that the Pirates were even competitive enough in the first half of the 2011 and 2012 seasons before falling apart said that progress was being made. 

Look where the Pirates are now, with a loaded farm system and good enough talent at the MLB level, which speaks to how well Huntington and his staff have done building the entire franchise back up. 

Not only that, but look at some of the shrewd moves that Huntington has made.

He acquired Burnett from the Yankees at a time when no one wanted to touch him. Francisco Liriano was a forgotten man before signing with Pittsburgh. He gave Russell Martin a two-year contract  last winter when New York refused to meet his asking price on a three-year deal the previous season. 

Mark Melancon was a disaster with Boston in 2012, but he had some success with Houston in 2010 and 2011. He was traded to the Pirates for Joel Hanrahan, who missed most of this season with an arm injury, and put up a 70-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 71 innings this year. 

When you are in charge of a small-market team that can’t spend tens of millions of dollars on free agents, you have to get creative at times. Huntington has built a staff capable of doing that, and almost all of his moves this season have paid off. 

Having a smart front office that knows what it is doing, pays attention to what  the advanced metrics can tell you about a player beyond what the standard numbers are saying and is confident enough to take chances on forgotten players and cast-offs is what gets you into the postseason. 

The Pirates have one of the best front offices in the business, which is why they are where they are right now. 

Conclusion

It’s amazing how quickly things can turn around for a franchise. I am sure most of Pittsburgh would agree that a 20-year losing streak isn’t quick, but what I mean is how fast this franchise has gone from a joke to potentially one of the best in baseball for the next five to 10 years. 

There are still holes that have to be filled in the offseason that could prevent the Pirates from making a return trip to the postseason in 2014. However, they are only going to get better starting in 2015 when all of those young players in the minors start to reach the majors and get experience under their belt. 

This is not a one-year fluke, like the Marlins during either of their World Series runs where they spent a ton of money on a team in 1997, only to trade it away the next offseason, or the young crop in 2003 that found another gear and couldn’t repeat it before trading away assets. 

The Pirates are going to be a fixture at the top of the National League Central, alongside St. Louis, for years to come. They will compete for championships and might even win one sooner or later. 

Don’t underestimate the Pirates as simply a great story. They are very dangerous and are proving that on a national stage this postseason. 

Note: All salaries and information obtained first-hand. If you want to talk baseball, feel free to hit me up on Twitter with questions or comments. 

Follow @adamwells1985

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

What Gerrit Cole did Friday afternoon in Game 2 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals is what every organization dreams of from a No. 1 overall draft pick.

Making his first career postseason start, Cole, who the Pirates selected first overall in the 2011 draft, held the Cardinals in check for six innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts. The 23-year-old even helped his own cause at the plate with a two-out RBI single in the second inning to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Cole was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in early June and served as one of the team’s more consistent starters following his arrival, posting a 2.85 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 75.2 innings over 12 starts following the All-Star break. More importantly, the right-hander thrived amidst a heated playoff race in September, going 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 39/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 innings (five starts).

But as we all know, regular-season success means nothing come October. So, nobody really knew what to expect from Cole on Friday, especially against a dangerous Cardinals offense that scored 77 more runs than any other NL team this season and set a modern record by batting .330 with runners in scoring position.

So, let’s break down what made the rookie so successful against the Cardinals.

Friday’s game marked the first time the Cardinals faced Cole, so everything they knew about the right-hander heading into the game was courtesy of advanced scouting reports and video. However, this seemingly worked against St. Louis; most evaluations of Cole would best describe him as a pitcher with electric swing-and-miss stuff but command that still leaves something to be desired. That being said, if he can be efficient with the fastball while keeping his secondary offerings around the zone…then look out.

The Cardinals ran into the latter version of Cole on Friday, as the right-hander used his full arsenal to shut down their potent offense through six outstanding innings. Cole’s success, as is generally the case with him, was a direct result of consistently getting ahead in the count. Specifically, he threw a first-pitch strike against 13 of the 21 hitters he faced and went on to retire all but two of them.

Gerrit Cole is the epitome of a power pitcher, boasting a fastball that registers in the upper 90s and routinely scrapes triple digits. However—as I’m sure everyone is now aware—he’s more than just a velocity guy. When he’s at his best, the young righty features a wipeout slider in the upper 80s and a mid-80s changeup with late fading action to the arm side. On Friday afternoon, all three pitches were on full display as Cole and catcher Russell Martin executed a specific plan of attack. 

Having thrown his fastball 64.63 percent of the time during the regular season, Cole scaled back his use of the pitch to 54.65 percent in Game 2 (47 of 86 pitches), according to Brooks Baseball. That suggested that both he and Martin anticipated the Cardinals would be sitting “dead red” early in the count from the onset of the game.

Suffice it to say that they were on to something.

Both of the hits that Cole allowed in the game came against his fastball. In the first inning, Carlos Beltran—a notorious fastball hitter—turned on an elevated, middle-in 97 mph heater for a ringing double to the right-centerfield gap. Later, Yadier Molina accounted for the Cardinals’ only run on the afternoon, drilling an opposite-field, solo home run on a poorly located fastball (95 mph).

Beyond that, however, Cole was highly effective with his heater, throwing the pitch for a strike 61.7 percent of the time while commanding it to each quadrant of the zone. And even though though the Cardinals were looking to turn around his fastball, Cole confidently threw it first pitch to 13 hitters, including nine over the first three innings.

However, Cole’s feel for sequencing his slider and changeup is what made him almost unhittable over six innings on Friday. The star rookie intentionally showed both pitches to a majority of the Cardinals hitters during the first trip through the lineup while working off his fastball. Basically, Cole conveyed the message that he was feeling good with his entire arsenal and, as a result, he was able to keep hitters off balance throughout the game.

So, the fact he recorded four of five strikeouts with his fastball is simply a testament to his execution. And when the lineup turned over, Gerrit Cole adjusted his approach and pitched backward, relying on his secondaries to get ahead in the count.

If the NLDS goes to five games, manager Clint Hurdle will be forced to make a tough decision. As of now, veteran A.J. Burnett is scheduled to start a potential Game 5 in St. Louis despite allowing seven runs in two-plus inning in Thursday’s Game 1 loss. However, with two days off built into the postseason schedule between Friday and Game 5, Cole would be able to make the start on normal rest. And given the way he threw in Game 2’s win, I wouldn’t be the least surprised if he ultimately gets the nod over Burnett.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cincinnati Reds will travel to Pittsburgh tonight to take on the Pirates in the National League wild-card game. 

The Pirates swept the Reds to end the regular season and finished with an impressive 94-68 record. The season marked the Pirates first winning season since 1992. 

Mat Latos was supposed to take the mound for Cincinnati in tonight’s do-or-die contest, but due to bone chips in his elbow, the Reds will start Johnny Cueto. In his last two starts, Cueto has been sharp, allowing only two earned runs over 12 innings. 

Interestingly, Cueto was also Cincinnati’s Opening Day Starter. I’ll defer to the superstition aficionados on that one. 

Pittsburgh will throw Francisco Liriano who has been spectacular at home this year. While on the bump at PNC Park, Liriano went 8-1 with an 1.74 ERA this season. 

However, the playoffs are a fresh start, and both teams desperately want to extend their seasons. It’s going to be loud in Pittsburgh, and tonight’s tilt should be a dog fight. 

Come back at 8:07 PM ET for live analysis and reactions once the game is underway. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Baseball season is fast approaching its 162nd game and regular season conclusion. For the second year, though, four teams will be playing game 163. Since being implemented last season, much has been said about the incongruity of a one-game playoff after a 162-game marathon, and the debate will likely continue as long as it exists. For now, though, 90-plus wins may only be good for one extra game.

Based on ticket prices, fans and sellers are treating the play-in games like a game seven. On average, play-in games have a premium of 77 percent on the secondary market compared to each teams average price for 81 home games. Despite the critics, there’s no question that the play-in game creates a level of excitement and possibility that didn’t exist before it came into existence. This year, the American League is particularly exciting, with three teams that could host the game and five teams that could play in the game. The National League is much cleaner, and the only question is whether the game will be played in Pittsburgh or Cincinnati.

Despite that simplicity, the play-in format makes the final series of the season between the Red and Pirates all the more significant. After clinching a play-in spot last night, there’s a good chance that the Pirates will play the Reds in a final series of the season for the right to see who hosts the play-in game. MLB schedulers deserve credit on that one, as well as the Yankees–Rays series that starts this week. Despite all the drama and injury of 2013, with a sweep, the Yankees would be right back in the hunt for October.

If the Yankees do get in, they would not be hosting, and we’ve compiled a list of the average price of the Wild Card play-in game for each team and compared that to their regular season average. The results shed some light on what the market thinks could happen, and what fans are willing to pay to see the 163rd, and most important, game of the season. 

For detailed breakdown of how playoff contenders prices have changed over the month of September, visit TiqIQ’s blog.

Begin Slideshow