Perrotto: Handing out Pirates’ First-Half Awards
Well, that was quite an eventful first half for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
They had a seven-game losing streak that led to the firing of manager Derek Shelton on May 9, replacing him with bench coach Don Kelly. Then they had an eight-game losing streak under Kelly that finally ended with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in Minneapolis.
That skid came directly on the heels of the Pirates having what was arguably the most dominant homestand in franchise history. They swept three-game series from both the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals from June 27-July 2, outscoring their opponents 43-4 in the six games.
No major-league team since at least 1901 had scored 43 or more runs and allowed four or fewer runs in a six-game span.
However, the bad has outweighed the good as the Pirates enter the All-Star break today. They are 39-58 and buried in last place in the National League Central, 18.5 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs and 11 games behind the fourth-place Cincinnati Reds.
The Pirates talked at the start of spring training about having hopes of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2015. Now, it would take a major miracle to finish .500.
So, as the Pirates take four days off before resuming play Friday night against the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park, let’s hand out some first-half awards:
Best Player: Oneil Cruz
Cruz has his warts as the center fielder’s batting average is .212, and he has struck out 116 times in 360 plate appearances. However, Cruz leads the NL with 29 stolen bases while being caught stealing just four times. Cruz also has a team-high 16 home runs in 85 games. Bryan Reynolds is the only other Pirates player to be in double digits in that category.
Worst Player: Bryan Reynolds
A year after playing in the All-Star Game, Reynolds is hitting .225/.287/.369 in 91 games. He has also played poorly defensively, with minus-5 defensive runs saved in right field. That’s not what a frugal franchise wants from a player on an eight-year, $106.75-million contract.
Best Pitcher: Paul Skenes
No one justifies the new age thinking that wins don’t matter for a starting pitcher more than Skenes. His record is 4-8 through 20 starts. However, that is so misleading. Skenes will be the NL starter in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because his 2.01 ERA leads the league. That Skenes has made 12 quality starts and has four wins is a testament to the awfulness of the Pirates’ offense.
Worst Pitcher: Colin Holderman
The genial right-handed reliever gave up runs in seven of his first nine appearances this season and has never gotten untracked. Knee and thumb injuries have hampered Holderman, but aren’t entirely to blame for his 9.00 ERA and 2.067 WHIP in 14 games. Holderman is now trying to get his career on track again at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Best Rookie: Isaac Mattson
The 29-year-old Mattson is old for a rookie and made a three-game cameo with the Pirates last season. However, the right-handed reliever has been outstanding in two stints with the Pirates this year, posting a 1.89 ERA in 16 games. He is quickly becoming a fan favorite, a status bolstered by being a Pitt alumnus.
Best Manager: Don Kelly
The Pirates were 12-26 under Shelton and are 27-32 under Kelly. That’s not great, but it’s progress.