Mailbag: Is there a Plan B at leadoff?

03/06/2006
Chris Duffy is projected to be the Pirates starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. Should Duffy struggle at the plate or suffer an injury, Jason Bay will likely take over in center field. But who will bat leadoff? It seems to me that the Pirates don't have many other viable leadoff options. -- Alex L., Greensburg, Pa.
You raise a very interesting question, Alex.
Duffy had an outstanding rookie season, batting .341 and playing some of the most spectacular defense we've seen from a Pirates center fielder since Andy Van Slyke. However, with only 39 big-league games under his belt, Duffy doesn't have much of a track record. In the last six years, we've seen Adrian Brown and Tike Redman look like they would be Pittsburgh's center fielder of the future one year only to watch them struggle to hold down the job the next. And let's not forget that Duffy has already had more than his share of health problems.
You mention the option of moving Bay to center field, and the Pirates could certainly go that route if they needed to. They could insert either Jody Gerut or Craig Wilson into the starting lineup as a corner outfielder and not lose much offensively. But the Pirates probably don't want to have their best offensive player wearing himself out tracking down fly balls in center field. The huge left field at PNC Park is already enough of a defensive chore.
My best guess is that the Pirates will use Nate McLouth in center field and at the top of the order if Duffy struggles. The speedy McLouth has hit between .297 and .322 with 40, 31 and 34 steals during his last three Minor League seasons. He more than held his own in 41 games with the Bucs last season, and he's shown a lot of patience at the plate this spring. He's certainly not a bad backup plan.
Do you think it will be too much pressure on Zach Duke to be the No. 1 starter in his sophomore season? Can he handle squaring off against other No. 1 starters around the league? -- Tom B., Breezewood, Pa.
Well, Jim Tracy hasn't named his Opening Day starter yet. If he does select Duke, I believe the young lefty can easily handle the pressure.
We were hearing about Duke's unmatched poise long before he ever made it to the big leagues, and he's done nothing to this point to prove his supporters wrong. Unlike a lot inexperienced players, Duke never seems to get rattled out there. He sticks with his game plan and shakes off adversity.
Remember the game at Wrigley Field last summer when Duke struck out Derek Lee and induced Aramis Ramirez to hit into an inning-ending double play to get out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in his win over Greg Maddux? Rookies just aren't supposed to be able to do that sort of thing.
As for the pressure of having to match the other teams' aces, that won't really be an issue because rotations don't line up perfectly after teams have played a few series. There is a good chance that Duke will be facing a No. 4 or 5 starter in his second and third starts. Not that this would matter much to Duke. He seems to thrive on the challenge of proving himself against the best the league has to offer.
Do you think the weight Jack Wilson put on will boost his power numbers?-- Jonny H., Monroeville, Pa.
No. And neither does Jack. Wilson simply wants to be able to sustain his strength all season. He has been known to drop 10-15 pounds over the course the 162-game grind, so the extra weight gives him a better foundation to begin with.
It seems to me the Pirates gave Jack Wilson the big money too soon. That money could have been used on a solid free agent next offseason. Do you think that the Pirates should have waited for Wilson to have an offensive year like that of two years ago before signing him to a big extension?-- Shane L., Palos Verdes, Calif.
While it is true that Wilson was already under the contractual control of the Pirates through the 2007 season before he signed his extension, he would have been eligible for a hefty pay raise this winter. By signing Wilson to an extension now, the Bucs have given themselves payroll assurance with their shortstop. They've protected themselves in the event that the going rate for shortstops exceeds their budgetary means.
I don't know if even Wilson ever expects to have another Silver Slugger season. But if he can hit between .280 and .300 and continue to play Gold Glove-caliber defense, I believe the Pirates have made a wise investment in a player who has become one of the mainstays of the franchise.
I think Joe Randa can work this year at third base. But what about next year? Could you see the Pirates signing or trading for a power third baseman for the future, because I can't see Randa being part of the future at his age? -- Mike D., Pittsburgh
You're right on the money about Randa being a one-year fix, Mike.
The team wanted to give 2005 Minor League Player of the Year Jose Bautista at least a few months worth of at-bats at Triple-A before bringing him back to the big leagues. Randa gives the Pirates a solid, if unspectacular, veteran at the position while Bautista continues to develop.
Unless Bautista struggles mightily at Indianapolis this season, the third-base job will probably be his to lose at this time next spring.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/