Saturday, March 8th, 2008 by Adam Wagner
Steve Pearce makes life hard
Steve Pearce is complicating John Russell’s life, hitting better than any other player in camp to this point in an effort to make the manager keep him on the big league squad to begin the season instead of returning to AAA Indianapolis. After showing hints of talent two seasons ago, Pearce exploded last season, moving up three levels and receiving a major league call-up at the the end of the season. Now, Pearce wants to spend the entire season at one level, namely Pittsburgh, particularly in right field, a position that, by all accounts, could be open.
Due to Ryan Doumit’s potentially supplanting Ronny Paulino at catcher, casting Paulino to the bench, and other team’s interest in Xavier Nady (the Mets reportedly asked the Pirates about the streaky outfielder), the starting job in right field could very well come open at some point this year. Nady will not finish the season with the team, particularly if he hits one of his hot streaks prior to the trade deadline. He not only has Scott Boras for an agent, but was Dave Littlefield’s mancrush, not Neal Huntington’s. At this point, he does not fit into the future plans for the Pirates and prospects should be acquired for him while they can be.
Pearce, however, does fit into the future for the team, probably as the starting right fielder as early as next season (or the middle of this one). According to Pirates.com, Pearce has been working very hard at improving defensively in the outfield even though it is not his glove that would get him on the team, but his bat. After hitting 31 last seasons on his jaunt through the minor leagues last summer, Pearce seems as if he could be ready for the show even if he could use a little bit more time at AAA.
Pirates’ fans, however, want a reason to have hope and Pearce could provide that, stepping up and taking a starting job at a young age and, in the process, providing some youthful excitement to an otherwise mediocre lineup.
The pros to keeping Pearce are obvious: a young, powerful bat and a potential fan favorite. The negatives are starting his arbitration clock (not that much of an issue as he’s already 24) and having him possibly sit on the bench for at least half of a season, potentially stunting his development.
If the Pirates could assure that Pearce was going to get about 35% of the at-bats in right field, enough to allow Nady to showcase himself and Pearce to stay in form. If the Pirates could arrange for that to happen, then Pearce should be wearing black and gold on opening day. Otherwise, he should be on a plane to Indianapolis.
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