Kuzul

The game played in PNC Park Friday night wasn’t the most important battle that took place inside the stadium’s walls.

The real battle wasn’t even visible to the naked eye.

The Pirates organization partnered with Mylan Specialty L.P. on Friday to sponsor PNC Park’s first ever Allergy Awareness Night. For their first edition, the Pirates chose to focus on life-threatening peanut allergies.

“We are excited to work with Mylan to ensure increased awareness of this important issue, and to help provide a fun experience at PNC Park for our dedicated fans with life-threatening allergies,” said Pirates president Frank Coonelly. “Pirates baseball is one of the hottest tickets in town and we want to take steps to ensure all fans are able to enjoy the best ballpark in America.”

Not only are peanut allergies the most common food allergies among children, but it hits very close to home for the Pirate organization.

Pirate coach Mark Strittmatter is all too familiar with the health risks associated with this all-too-common issue. 

“Peanuts may be a baseball tradition, but not everyone can enjoy them safely. In fact, my own son—of course a huge Pirates fan—has a life-threatening peanut allergy,” said Strittmatter.

“That’s why I’m so proud the Pirates are partnering with Mylan Specialty L.P. to raise awareness of life-threatening allergies. I want to make sure that all our fans are able to enjoy Pirates games,” the Pirate coach added.

Of course, Strittmatter’s son isn’t the only person facing this relatively overlooked affliction. In fact, food allergies in general are more common than most people realize. The only thing separating a peanut allergy’s adverse effects is the severity.

Anaphylaxis.

That word may not be familiar to you, but mentioning it around someone suffering from this would evoke a cautious reaction.

The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ website describes anaphylaxis like this:

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that has many possible triggers, occurs quickly, without warning and should be treated immediately with epinephrine. Symptoms may include hives or redness of the skin, tightness in the throat, nausea, dizziness, breathing problems and/or a decrease in blood pressure.

They then go on to mention that epinephrine is the only “first-line treatment” for anaphylaxis, and people at risk must have the naturally occurring hormone available at a moment’s notice.

At the very least, peanut allergies are an unavoidable, life-altering situation. At their worst, they’re, well, worse than that.

The severity, and the prevalence of this allergy, is exactly why awareness is important. That, at least in a sense, is where I come in.

I attended Friday night’s game for non-baseball purposes. 

I spent the first half of my night in the press room on purpose. When I decided to take a trip down to “The Deck,” I wanted it to look different.

Allergy Awareness Night isn’t about the allergy itself. It’s about promoting awareness so simple things like this can be made possible more often.

“Life-threatening allergies are a growing public health problem, particularly among children and teens. In fact, a recent study shows as many as one in 13 children in the U.S. suffer from a food allergy,” said Heather Bresch, CEO of Mylan Inc. “We are proud to partner with our hometown team to help the people of Pittsburgh and their family members with life-threatening peanut allergies experience the fun and excitement of a night out at the ball park.”  

I wanted to feel that when I entered Section 335 and walked the length of The Deck. The press room certainly holds its advantages in terms of observing the game itself, but it does lack a certain human quality. Baseball, at least for me, is defined by that human quality, and that was never truer on Friday night.

I knew it would be different from the second I approached. A sign stating “Private Event: No Access Past This Point” blocked my way, and I had to ask the gentleman standing guard at the gate very nicely if I could pass through. I stated my purpose, and he let me in.

The first feeling that came to me after turning my attention to the section before me was the happiness emanating from every kid and the adults sitting with them. It was contagious. I didn’t know any of these people personally, but you could tell this meant something to them.

Away from any, and all, danger Friday night was just about baseball, in a way that they may not have enjoyed before. The atmosphere was cozy, and the people were happy.

Most of that can be attributed to the food stand located directly behind their seats.

The food was still food per say, but it didn’t include one thing (peanuts) that most people associate directly with America’s pastime. Everything on the menu,­­­­­­ from nachos to salsa to hot dog buns, had their ingredients laid out on a custom-made, peanut-conscious menu.

This allowed kids to order whatever they liked on the menu without a care in the world. They even had two salads on the menu for the ultra-health conscious individual.

PNC Park has played host to 35 Pirate victories this season, but Friday’s was the biggest. Despite the team’s heart-wrenching 9-8 defeat at the hands of the Padres, this was a game everyone could go home feeling good about.

Friday night’s game was the 12th sellout of the Pirates’ season, and that was due, in part, to the individuals sitting by the enormous scoreboard in left field. Their presence goes back to Coonelly saying, “We want to take steps to ensure all fans are able to enjoy the best ballpark in America.”

They should, and they did.

That’s how it should be, and steps should be taken to make this more than a one-time thing. 

Since Friday night’s event was all about raising awareness, let me do my part by supplying you with some more information:

• Strittmatter spoke to fans Friday night via Jumbotron, asking everyone to take a look at myallergysurvey.com. If you have a chance, check it out. It’s quick, easy and there’s a ton of information.
• Check out foodallergyfoundation.org. More major league teams are taking part in events like this. The foundation’s site will tell you when and where to find them.
• This cause has a whole blog dedicated to it. Peanutfreebaseball.com tells you where to find events like this in the minor leagues as well as the majors.
• Lastly, so you’re aware of the attention this movement is getting, NBC Nightly News had a feature on it. Watch the short video here.

Admittedly, I didn’t know much about any of this prior to Friday night’s festivities, but now I’m completely aware.

The information is out there. The Pirate organization, and every other participating group, should be proud. 

Baseball, and sports in general, have a chance to raise awareness like many groups cannot. There are thousands of eyes on professional sports franchises every time they take the field, court or rink. If one person leaves that game, or turns their TV off, knowing more than they did before about something like this, then it’s a victory.

Congratulations, Pittsburgh Pirates. Not only does the Steel City have their baseball team back again, but Friday night allowed everyone to enjoy the ride.

*Quotes supplied by Kenneth Meyer.

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Faced with the the classic dilemma of playing the seasoned veteran or the young up-and-comer, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has done a great job at finding a healthy balance of offensive production and defensive reliability from catchers Rod Barajas and Michael McKenry at a position the team has struggled to find production from in the past.

While there is the criticism that Barajas is not hitting enough to warrant continued regular action behind the plate (he’s only hitting .200), he is far too important to the psyche of the collective Pirates pitching staff to significantly downgrade his playing time.

With a staff ERA of 3.70, the Pirates rank fifth in the National League thanks in part to Barajas‘ game-calling experience.

Being able to manage a game is one of the most underrated attributes of a catcher, and a key ingredient in championship-caliber baseball teams; just ask Tony La Russa and Terry Francona. Both of them had defensive-minded catchers in each of their multiple World Series runs over the last decade, in Yadier Molina and Jason Varitek.

I dare not compare the Pirates catchers’ offensive prowess to Molina or Varitek, but they certainly have similar mindsets.

Having a large enough sample to draw from, Pirates management knew what they were getting when they signed Barajas: a guy who is never going to hit for a high average, but one who will run into a pitch every once in a while and hit it over the fence. And by all accounts, Barajas is having a typical to slightly down year, but what he contributes to the team’s success has been invaluable.

On the other hand, Michael McKenry has finally shown that he can swing the bat a little bit, which has begged the question of whether or not the 27-year-old should get the bulk of the playing time.

In his last 20 games, McKenry is hitting at a .346 clip with six home runs and 17 runs batted in. It is not that McKenry isn’t a good catcher, it is just that Barajas has the “seasoning” that longevity in the league brings. McKenry should still get his starts, and maybe some more, but for now, this team needs the combination of both until Hurdle, and most importantly, the pitching staff feels comfortable having McKenry as their full-time receiver. 

Food For Thought

In 2011, catchers from National League playoff squads compiled an average line of a .270 batting average, 16 home runs and 72 runs batted in.

On top of that, those teams that made the playoffs had a composite ERA of 3.54—a number which is so low because the Phillies put together a mind-boggling 3.02 team ERA in ’11.

To date, Barajas and McKenry have posted just a .227 batting average, but the power numbers have exceeded Bucco Nation’s expectations, the two hitting a total of 19 home runs and driving in 50. If current trends continue, the Pirates might find themselves playing in October.

You can follow me on Twitter at @mcfarlands412.

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It is certainly a bit of a misnomer to use the term “underpaid” when discussing professional baseball players. With a new league minimum salary of $480,000, even the sixth outfielder and the lefty specialist make more annually than the President of the United States. Make no mistake—if you’re talented enough to catch the eye of a big league team, you have the chance to become better paid than the majority of Americans. The league minimum is nothing to sneeze at, but the league average is a tick above $3 million—a paycheck most of us would be hard-pressed to complain about. 

Of course, all players—and all player contracts—are not created equal. They are frequently based on past performance and hope to approximate future performance, an inexact science at best. It is not uncommon for aging players to perform significantly worse in the final years of their contracts than they did when they first signed it, and every now and then you get players whose numbers take drastic and unexplained dips soon after signing mega-deals.

These so-called “albatross contracts” haunt the dreams of every major league GM, who want nothing less than to sign the next Dan Uggla ($13 million, batting .210), Bobby Abreu ($9 million, recently designated for assignment by the Dodgers) or Vernon Wells ($21 million for a whopping -.4 WAR per Fangraphs).

But on the other end of the spectrum are players who are playing well above their pay grade. These are mainly younger players who have yet to become arbitration eligible, but have already started to contribute in big ways to their big league club. For some of these players, the right break for their team in the playoff race could mean a big boost in their MVP candidacy (as we have seen in recent years, MVP voters very much factor team success into the spirit of the award). 

We can quantify the extent to which a player outperforms their paycheck by calculating their cost vs. performance score—the average MLB salary divided by the player’s salary, multiplied by the player’s WAR. 

Read on to find out which legitimate MVP candidates are being paid less than Jack Wilson.

All salary figures are courtesy of Baseball Player Salaries, and all batting stats are courtesy of Fangraphs.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t land any of this year’s most coveted trade chips, but they approached the July 31 deadline with a level head and the necessary poise.

Pittsburgh added four players either at, or prior, to this year’s trade deadline. Check out NBC Sports’ Matthew Pouliot‘s overview of the Pirates new acquisitions:

They certainly got more interesting with Travis Snider in right field and Sanchez replacing Casey McGehee in the first base platoon. Snider hasn’t been quite as much of a disappointment as everyone thinks—he has a .248/.306/.429 line and 31 homers in 835 at-bats—and he’s just 24 years old. Sanchez is a career .298/.390/.488 hitter against lefties. He’s been way off this year, but if the Pirates can get him straightened out, he’ll be a nice part-timer. Again, I’m not sold on the moves—Brad Lincoln was looking pretty good since a switch to the pen—but factor in the Wandy Rodriguez pickup last week and they belong in the winners category.

The only move he doesn’t touch on involves the Pirates flipping McGehee to the Yankees for Chad Qualls. Qualls has been designated for assignment once this year, and he probably would have fallen victim to the same fate in New York. He is carrying a 4.89 ERA into PNC Park, but his career ERA (3.84) suggests a possible turnaround. 

None of these moves jump off of the page and shake you. None of these players are “star” players, and the Pirates didn’t improve exponentially, but each player provides stability to the Pirate roster.

Adding Snider allows Pittsburgh to move Alex Presley to a permanent bench role. This makes the Pirates’ lineup more versatile and adds more power to their home run-happy batting order.

Snider hasn’t proven himself this year. He’s hitting .250 with three home runs and eight RBI in 10 major-league games this season, but the potential is definitely there. His Triple-A numbers are excellent (.335, 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 61 games), and he gives the Pirates another piece for their future nucleus (under team control until 2016).

Sanchez doesn’t provide the same potential, but he is coming off two very solid seasons. He has the potential to hit 20 home runs, and he could flourish in a platoon role with Garrett Jones at first base. They only had to give up speed merchant and defensive outfielder Gorkys Hernandez who was no longer a valuable piece on the bench.

Qualls and Rodriguez both add stability to the stable of Pittsburgh’s overachieving arms. I mentioned Qualls’ struggles this season, but he’s a solid middle-innings option on a young squad. Rodriguez is an above-average lefty, and those don’t grow on trees.

Some Pittsburgh fans may groan at the thought of these moves. The Pirates didn’t make the big splash that everyone was hoping for, but they got the job done without sacrificing anything important for the future.

For this particular organization, that’s what’s important. They’ve worked too hard to get their farm system back to respectable status, and they’ve spent too much time developing their current nucleus, to blow it up in one year.

Small market clubs can’t throw dollars and prospects around like it’s nothing. Each move has to be calculated, and the future always has to be considered. 

Pittsburgh did an excellent job of making the moves necessary to continue their playoff run this year without diminishing their future plans. In Snider’s case, they actually added a potentially valuable piece.

Expect Pittsburgh’s new players to keep them in the thick of this year’s pennant race. They got stronger in important areas, and the added energy will give them the momentum they need down the stretch.

Neil Huntingdon was in unprecedented territory for any Pirate general manager in recent memory, but he showed an acuity that comes with experience.

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Neal Huntington was active at the trade deadline, making two key moves to update the Pirates‘ offense as this team chases its first playoff berth in 20 years. He was able to improve the Bucs both in 2012 and down the road without parting with any key assets (via ESPN).

Many are criticizing Huntington for failing to acquire a big name bat like Hunter Pence or Shin-Soo Choo but, given the high prospect costs associated with those players, the Pirates’ decision to pursue younger, cheaper players was the right one.

In acquiring Travis Snider and Gaby Sanchez without giving up any major pieces, the Pirates immediately get somewhat better while potentially improving the team substantially in the short-term future.

The Pirates Add Another Young Power Bat

The Pirates’ more noteworthy trade saw them acquire outfielder Travis Snider from the Blue Jays in exchange for relief pitcher Brad Lincoln.

Both Snider and Lincoln have substantial pedigree, and neither has yet lived up to his lofty expectations. Yet, Snider is a 24-year-old power hitter, whereas Lincoln is a 27-year-old relief pitcher. Snider’s short- and long-term potential far exceeds Lincoln’s for that simple reason.

Snider will become an everyday player for the Pirates immediately. He is batting second tonight.

In Snider, Pedro Alvarez, and Garrett Jones, the Bucs suddenly have a substantial stable of left-handed power behind table setters Starling Marte and Neil Walker. Throw in National League MVP Andrew McCutchen, and this can be one of the best offenses in the league.

This offense has the potential to stick together for a long time, too.

Aside from Jones, all of the Pirates’ core offensive pieces have several years of team control remaining. Alvarez is starting to show his superstar potential, and Snider and Marte have just as much capability. McCutchen obviously is what he is at this point. Suddenly, the Pirates have the look of a future offensive juggernaut.

Losing Lincoln does sting a bit, as he was an important part of the current bullpen and has done a great job of reinventing himself as a late-inning reliever. But, he is already 27 and the Pirates have shown a knack for developing a good bullpen on the cheap—year after year. Trading Lincoln for a player like Snider is a no-brainer.

The Bucs Increase Their Offensive Depth

Travis Snider was not the only piece the Pirates added to their offense Tuesday. The Bucs also acquired Gaby Sanchez from the Marlins in exchange for Gorkys Hernandez and their competitive balance pick.

No offense to Hernandez, but the competitive balance pick was by far the more valuable piece here. Hernandez is an amazing defensive player, but his bat simply does not play in the outfield.

It is interesting to see the Pirates already utilizing the ability to trade picks and, while the draft pick certainly has some value, a player with recent success like Sanchez is more valuable than a sandwich pick.

While Sanchez will likely begin his Pittsburgh career as the odd man out of the lineup, he provides important insurance if any of Snider, Marte and Jones falters. Sanchez was an above-average hitter in his previous three seasons, so there is reason to believe he can overcome his 2012 struggles and provide the Pirates with no worse than a valuable bat off the bench.

Like Snider, Sanchez’ value is not confined to 2012. Though he is already 28, Sanchez can still contribute to this team for two to three incremental years. It seems likely that the Pirates would trade Victor Black or Barrett Barnes for this production, so trading their compensation pick makes perfect sense as well.

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The 2012 Pirates have relied on first-round picks such as Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez to carry the offense. These guys had been groomed in the system and unlike many other first round picks of the Pirates, made it to the big leagues and have been highly productive.

Yet, the success of the 2012 Pirates is also largely due to players who came out of nowhere to start producing for the Bucs, and it is those players who I want to take a closer look at.

Garrett Jones

Jones had a long path to reach the major leagues, let alone be a successful player. Garrett was drafted in the 14th round of the 1999 Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He played three seasons in their minor league system before being released and signed by the Minnesota Twins.

He would remain in the Twins organization all the way until the 2008 season, yet he would only play in 15 games with the Twins during that time as he was blocked at first by Justin Morneau.

In the winter of the same year, the Pirates signed Jones to a minor league deal, one that received relatively little attention. Jones had a strong spring, but didn’t make the club. The 2009 Pirates were so bad, however, that eventually he would get his chance, and he made the most of it.

Jones would go on to hit 21 home runs in just over half a seasons worth of games and earned a starting spot the next year. Yet, 2010 was not the kindest to Garrett. While he did top 20 home runs and 80 RBI receiving everyday at bats, his weaknesses, such as his inability to hit lefties, were exposed, and his batting average plummeted as a result. 2011 brought a platoon in right field with the highly unsuccessful Matt Diaz, and Jones’ numbers dropped again. 2012 brought about another platoon, this time with Casey McGehee, and for most of the first two months, it looked as if Jones was playing his way out of the starting lineup yet again.

In June however, things began to change. As the Pirates offense improved, so did Jones, who is now putting up his best numbers since his original call-up in 2009. This has allowed him to stay in the lineup more vs. lefties, who he is also hitting far better as of recently. The man who became the Pirates everyday cleanup hitter was destined to be a career minor leaguer until the Pirates took a flier on him, and if the Bucs make it to October, he will be a large reason why. 

Drew Sutton

Utility man Drew Sutton’s story is one that deserves its own piece, so I will try and give the shortened version of this man’s success story.

Sutton bounced around between the Astros, Reds, Red Sox, Braves and Rays organizations before coming to the Pirates (Actually, he was on the Pirates before the Rays, but only for a day). Playing for four organizations in one calendar year would challenge the mental toughness of any athlete, and Sutton was no exception.

Once arriving in Pittsburgh, though, Sutton played himself into more regular at-bats, and hit one of the most memorable game winning home runs in PNC Park history against the Astros, an emotional time for both Sutton and the Bucs.

Sutton recently scored the game winning run vs. the Astros in Houston, and keeps bringing the magic day in and day out. Championship teams have utility men such as Sutton amongst them.

Jeff Karstens

Jeff Karstens was essentially the sixth most valuable player in the deal that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen and himself. After pitching poorly in the Bronx, Karstens got himself a spot in the Pirates putrid 2008 rotation, and showed from the onset that maybe he had what it took to be a big league starter.

He nearly pitched a perfect game vs. Arizona in one of his first outings, yet, after a couple unsuccessful years, he was dropped from the 40-man roster and essentially was free to go sign with any other team. He ended up coming back to the Bucs and making the team as the fifth starter in 2011, where he would go on to post a sub-3.50 ERA and become the most valuable pitcher during the year.

Posting similar success in limited time this year, Karstens is proving to be a very valuable fourth starter as well as a leader on the staff. 

Jason Grilli

Surprisingly, Jason Grilli actually was a first-round pick way back in 1997, yet, didn’t have a full-time major league job until 2006. By 2011, Grilli was out of the big leagues after producing mediocre numbers and bouncing around several different teams.

He was with the Phillies Triple-A squad in Lehigh Valley when the Pirates signed him after his contract set him free if he wasn’t in the big leagues by a certain date. For the first time in his career, Grilli began pitching lights out and racking up strikeouts.

He has been one of the premier set-up men in the game this year, on pace for over 100 strikeouts, and is the bridge to getting to Joel Hanrahan. One of the most valuable pieces on the team, it is amazing that Grilli was wilting away in the minor leagues just one season ago. 

Michael McKenry

The only reason the Bucs even have the Fort at the moment is due to injuries from a season ago. Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit were both injured within a week of each other, and the Bucs were left with Dusty Brown posting terrible numbers behind the plate.

They decided to make a low risk acquisition in trading for McKenry from the Boston Red Sox where he was in Triple-A. Soon, McKenry’s style of play became a hit in the Burgh, yet, his numbers weren’t exactly awe-inspiring. This year, McKenry took it upon himself to become a better hitter, and that he has. McKenry has his nine home runs so far in under 125 at-bats. That is a Ryan Braun level of power, and it is coming from the short, backup catcher on the Bucs.

With his hot-streak carrying over from June to July and hopefully August, it will be just a matter of weeks before McKenry becomes the starting catcher.

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The Philadelphia Phillies want Brad Lincoln as a middle reliever from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs think that two months of Shane Victorino is too little in return. The Phillies think that eight months of Hunter Pence is too much.

My previous piece put forth the opinion that an offer of Lincoln plus something else for Pence might work. This piece is about how to work a deal with Lincoln assuming that the Phillies are willing to give up Victorino, but not Pence, for him.

The Phillies aren’t contending this year, so two months of Victorino are just a liability for them (but not for the Pirates who ARE in contention). On the other hand, with Chase Utely and Jimmy Rollins healthy, they might want to keep Pence for a 2013 run.

To state my position, I’m unwilling to trade Lincoln for two months of Victorino or Pence, but would be glad to trade Lincoln for eight months of Pence (who becomes a free agent at the end of 2013). Therefore, I would accept a deal for FOUR months of Victorino/Pence.

So how can one construct “four” months of Victorino (or Pence)? Indirectly, by using prospects. Specifically, I propose that the Pirates “sell” Lincoln to the Phillies for a mid-level pitching prospect, say Julio Rodriguez or Lisalberto Bonilla, using two months of Victorino to make up the difference.

In so doing, I’m assuming that Lincoln will be a low-to-mid rotation pitcher at best, and more likely, a long reliever/spot starter. I’m not in the camp of those who think that Lincoln will blossom into a top of the line pitcher. Those people wouldn’t be willing to trade him even for Pence.

Basically, I’m saying that I want, not a top of the line prospect, but a potential replacement for Lincoln; someone who has perhaps a 50-50 chance of developing into “Brad Lincoln” in two to three years. Two months of Victorino would then represent the other 50 percent. Or put another way, the two pieces together would then represent “four” months of Victorino, which is my starting point.

If the prospect works out, the Pirates would have gotten two months of Victorino for “free.” If not, they would have traded Lincoln for the two month rental in Victorino. The average of the two is worth several months of Victorino.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have been a great team this year. With just one simple move, they got a lot better.

According to multiple sources, Pittsburgh acquired Houston Astros‘ lefty Wandy Rodriguez. Rodriguez is 7-9 with a 3.79 ERA this year, but opponents don’t hit well against him. Rodriguez has only walked 32 batters this year, although he has only retired 89 batters on strikes.

Pittsburgh has a good rotation, but it is inexperienced. Rodriguez adds depth to the rotation while also adding a pitcher who throws strikes and knows how to force weak contact. With James McDonald already in the rotation, Pittsburgh’s rotation just improved a lot.

In the deal, Houston received prospects Robbie Grossman, Colton Cain and Rudy Owen. Owen and Cain are pitchers, while Grossman is an outfielder. After selling their stars for a few consecutive years (and getting rid of Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, Carlos Lee, Rodriguez and others in the process), Houston has stockpiled their farm system in hopes of future success.

Pittsburgh has a whole different perspective about the trade, though. The Pirates are contending for the first time in a while, and they are looking to add pitchers. A.J Burnett has always been inconsistent, and Kevin Correia and Erik Bedard have struggled to find a home. Rodriguez will add a lot to the rotation, and he will definitely be able to help if the Pirates make the playoffs.

If the Pirates don’t make the playoffs, he could help them next year. Rodriguez is signed through 2013 and would be in a Pirates uniform again next year (unless Pittsburgh traded him).

With a great bullpen, a solid offense (consisting of the game’s best hitter) and a much, much better rotation, the Pirates will definitely contend. Last year, the Pirates came out of the gates strong, but faded away in August eventually missing out on a playoff berth. This year’s team is more experienced, and they are ready to win now.

Thanks to Rodriguez, it should be easier for the Pirates to win.

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With the Pirates’ success over the first half of the season, it has been easy to overlook the fact that their farm system is as strong as it has been in recent memory.

Despite their inability to agree to terms with No. 8 overall pick Mark Appel, the Bucs boast several high-end talents throughout the organization. This talent is supported by an increasing level of depth throughout the minor leagues.

The prospect ranking below takes into account performance through the All-Star break and includes signed draft picks (had the Pirates signed Appel I would have ranked him fourth). I will update the ranking again at the end of the season.

1. Gerrit Cole (RHP, Altoona)

Most have considered Cole the Pirates’ top prospect since the team drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft. The UCLA right-hander can top 100 on the radar gun and backs up his fastball with a plus slider and changeup.

While Cole has not dominated this year, he has performed consistently well, striking out over a batter an inning. He was recently promoted to Altoona, where his peripherals have remained strong.

In an organization with multiple potential No. 1 starters, Cole remains the top prospect by a hair. He is the most polished and may be ready to join the Pirates as early as June 2013.

2. Jameson Taillon (RHP, Bradenton)

The 2010 No. 2 overall pick would be most organizations’ top prospect, and he makes a fantastic 1B for the Pirates. The hard-throwing Texan’s arsenal is centered around two elite pitches: a 97-98 MPH fastball and a 12-to-6 curveball.

As FanGraphs’ Kiley McDaniel notes, Taillon has not been consistent this year. Even following a recent slump, his numbers remain above-average, yet his strikeout rate has fallen off as he has struggled to locate his fastball and generate a sharp break on his curveball.

Yet Taillon, who has already thrown only one less inning than he did last season, remains a considerably talented pitcher. He is a potential future ace and would slot in nicely behind Cole in the Bucs’ rotation in 2014.

3. Luis Heredia (RHP, State College)

Heredia has as much talent as either Cole or Taillon, but his development is far behind that of the other two pitchers.

Of course, he’s only 17 years old. And even at 17 years old, pitching to college juniors and seniors, Heredia is putting up strong early numbers. While the process is more important than the results this year, it doesn’t hurt to see him succeeding either.

I have Heredia ranked higher than most other people do, as his ceiling his unmatched. There is a lot that can go wrong between State College and Pittsburgh, but pitching prospects with Heredia’s potential are rare. Just because he is not Cole or Taillon yet does not mean Heredia should be taken for granted.

4. Starling Marte (OF, Indianapolis)

The Pirates’ top hitting prospect remains another relatively polarizing player. Marte’s strengths—contact, speed, defense—are obvious, but at times his weaknesses—strike zone control and overall approach at the plate—can be just as glaring.

Marte has made strides in Triple-A this season, improving his walk and power statistics, but he is still striking out over 20 percent of the time, a high number for a hitter who expected to make a living primarily by hitting for average.

Marte will likely join the Pirates’ outfield within a month, and he clearly has the skill set to be an above-average regular. But the flaws in his game may hold him back from ever becoming a star.

5. Josh Bell (OF, West Virginia)

The Pirates have not seen much of Bell since they paid him a substantial bonus to forgo his commitment to the University of Texas. The outfielder has not yet returned to the field following his knee surgery in April. 

It is a shame to lose months of development, but Bell has yet to turn 20. He has the most power of any hitter in the Pirates’ organization other than Pedro Alvarez, so he will remain an important part of the Bucs’ future for a while.

It will be at least 2-3 years before Bell is ready to don the black and gold, but he is the closest thing the Pirates have to a true middle-of-the-order bat in the minors.

6. Alen Hanson (SS, West Virginia)

Hanson has been the breakout star of the Pirates’ farm system this year. The 150-pound middle infielder has followed up two years of excellent contact hitting with a power surge, belting 15 home runs already this season.

A shortstop who slugs .575 and steals 20-30 bases is a rather valuable commodity, though it remains to be seen if Hanson can stay at the position. His bat looks like it would play just fine at second base, however, or at any position if this year is any indication.

Yet Hanson also has considerable room to grow, as he hasn’t even turned 20. He remains a bit lower on this list due to a lack of pedigree compared to some of the top performers above him, but he has as much upside as any hitter in the organization not named Andrew McCutchen.

7. Jeff Locke (LHP, Indianapolis)

The Indianapolis left-handers represent the near-opposite type of prospect from Hanson. They do not have star potential, yet they have performed consistently for several years and should become solid No. 3 or No. 4 starters. They are a tier below a player like Hanson as the upside simply isn’t there, but they are valuable commodities nonetheless.

Locke is the best of the three, with better peripheral statistics than Rudy Owens. A 3.40 FIP in Triple-A is nothing to sneeze at.

I believe Locke is a better pitcher than Kevin Correia right now. There’s a good chance either Locke or Owens will be asked to help the Pirates down the stretch this year, and I hope Locke gets the first look.

8. Robbie Grossman (OF, Altoona)

Grossman is a sabermetrician’s delight, posting excellent walk rates throughout his minor league career. Yet scouts have often questioned whether he can hit consistently and with enough power to be an everyday corner outfielder.

Grossman was on his way to answering those questions last fall, posting a .1097 OPS in the Arizona Fall League before breaking his hammate bone. The injury is known to sap power for the better part of a year, so it his hard to properly evaluate his 2012 performance.

Yet he has done enough to maintain his solid prospect status, compiling a stellar on-base percentage (.367 this year) once again. He is only 22 years old and remains an important part of the Pirates’ outfield depth.

9. Kyle McPherson (RHP, Altoona)

McPherson is another player who has put together several strong seasons in the Pirates’ organization. If not for a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the first half of the year, McPherson may have been next in line for a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation.

A shoulder injury is always a concern, but it’s a good sign that McPherson has pitched well in his five starts since returning to Altoona this season.

At his best, McPherson combines the excellent command of a pitcher like Rudy Owens with a superior ability to miss bats. McPherson has a higher ceiling than any of the pitchers currently in Indianapolis.

10. Gregory Polanco (OF, West Virginia)

Polanco has followed in Alen Hanson’s footsteps this season, flashing brilliant power and speed during a breakout year in West Virginia.

While Polanco is only a year older than Hanson, he is still only 20, and he has as much star potential as the West Virginia shortstop.

Yet Polanco places a more common position than Hanson and he did not have nearly as strong of a track record as Hanson did coming into the 2012 season. Polanco still has more to prove.

11. Rudy Owens (LHP, Indianapolis)

Prior to this season, Owens was ahead of Locke developmentally, but he seems to have plateaued a bit in Triple-A.

In two seasons with Indianapolis, Owens has averaged roughly six K/9. It’s hard to excel in the majors without missing bats, so Owens seems like a back-of-the-rotation arm at best.

Owens is another potential call-up this season, but the Pirates might be better off trading him if his value is indeed higher than Locke’s.

12. Bryan Morris (RHP, Indianapolis)

Once considered a potential No. 2 starter, Morris has re-invented himself as a late inning reliever. His performance has improved substantially in this role, as Morris is now striking out more than a batter an inning with better control numbers.

Morris was a Pirate for a day this year, though he did not appear in a game for the team. He will certainly be called up in September if not earlier.

The Pirate were expecting more than a late-inning reliever when they acquired Morris as part of a prospect package for Jason Bay, but his emergence will aid Neal Huntington’s annual low-cost bullpen construction during the next few seasons.

13. Wyatt Mathisen (C, GCL)

With the Pirates’ failure to sign first-round pick Mark Appel, Mathisen becomes the Bucs’ top prospect from the 2012 draft.

Mathisen is a valuable addition to a Pittsburgh organization that lacks catching prospects. Given Tony Sanchez’ inconsistency and Mathisen’s superior hitting tools, Mathisen became the top catcher in the Pirates’ farm system the day he signed.

Mathisen has performed solidly in limited plate appearances since signing, doing nothing to diminish his prospect status.

14. Alex Dickerson (1B, Bradenton)

Alex Dickerson is the latest name in the Pirates’ ongoing search for a long-term third baseman. The 2011 third-round draft pick profiles as a league-average starter or better at the position.

Dickerson’s performance at Bradenton this season has been underwhelming, and the Pirates would like to see him hit for more power. Yet he is getting on base at a healthy clip and his numbers are certainly not a cause for alarm.

Dickerson edges Matt Curry as the Pirates’ top first-base project due to his age (he just turned 22) and pedigree.

15. Nick Kingham (RHP, West Virginia)

Nick Kingham rose up several prospect boards following a strong 2011 season at State College, but his 2012 performance has not held to form.

Kingham has successfully increased his strikeout rate this season, but his other peripherals are poor. His high home-run rate this season has been his largest issue; hopefully that is primarily caused by loosed fastball demand and will be phased out over time.

For now, Kingham has yet to put much distance between himself and the scores of other projectable young pitchers in the Pirates’ system.

16. Justin Wilson (LHP, Indianapolis)

Justin Wilson is a polar opposite of his fellow Indianapolis pitchers, capable of dominance and incompetence in any given start.

Control has always been a problem for Wilson, who has walked more than a batter every two innings throughout his career. While he has top of the rotation stuff, Wilson’s control issues have prevented him from making the leap.

Given that Wilson is already in Triple-A and still has such severe control problems, it’s hard to expect him to become a reliable pitcher for Pittsburgh.

17. Tony Sanchez (C, Indianapolis)

Sanchez’s performance over the last three seasons has been disappointing, leaving questions about whether he is truly the catcher of the Pirates’ future.

While Sanchez still has a strong glove, he has not had a good offensive season since 2009. A recent hot streak in Triple-A represents his first real display of power in that time frame, but his walk and strikeout rates in 2012 are the worst of his career.

Sanchez may get to the majors soon on account of his defense, but he doesn’t look like a long-term solution right now.

18. Barrett Barnes (OF, State College)

Barnes, another 2012 draftee, adds to the Pirates’ institutional outfield depth as a consistent all-around performer.

The rookie is off to a strong start to his professional career, with an .873 OPS in 113 plate appearances and equivalent strikeouts and walks. Small sample caveats clearly apply, but it is good to see Barnes starting off his career on the right foot.

As a college hitter, Barnes could move through the system relatively quickly, and he is a nice fallback option if a player like Robbie Grossman doesn’t pan out.

19. Matt Curry (1B, Altoona)

Curry forced Pirates’ management to notice him last year, when he posted a .671 slugging percentage in 195 plate appearances for West Virginia. Now, he is a part of the conversation regarding the Pirates’ first baseman of the future.

Curry has backed up last season’s performance with a strong 2012 run in Altoona, compiling an .890 OPS so far this year.

The first baseman has his flaws: He turns 24 next week, he struggled in his Altoona debut last season and he strikes out a lot. But Curry has consistently provided production at a position where the Pirates are very thin, so he remains a name to watch.

20. Clay Holmes (RHP, State College)

The recent struggles with Neal Huntington’s strategy of drafting projectable high school pitchers can be seen in the fact that the highest rated of these prospects always seem to be the ones who have not yet had the chance to fail against professional competition.

Such is the case with Holmes, who made his professional debut with State College this season. Holmes has pitched well in his 28 innings, but it’s difficult to draw conclusions from 28 innings.

There is still time for the Zack Von Rosenberg’s and Quinton Miller’s of the world to grow into solid prospects, but so far the early returns on the Pirates’ high school pitchers are slim.

Honorable Mentions: Victor Black, Colton Cain, Jarek Cunningham, Brock Holt, Mel Rojas

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

2012 has provided the Pirates and their fans with entertaining baseball and a legitimate shot at a postseason birth for the first time since 1992.

This could mark the first time since the turn of the century that the Pirates have surpassed 80 wins, let alone contended for the playoffs.

Yet, this century, while providing plenty of heartache to Pirates fans, has provided some players that were worth the price of admission to come and see play. Naturally, some grace the field at the present day.

I will attempt to rank the top 10 Pirates since Y2K over the next few slides to revive good memories from a much drearier past as well as to show where current Buccos stand amongst them.

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