As youngsters we are taught that the name of the game in baseball is pitching. Unfortunately, when you take a look at the statistics of the 2007 Pittsburgh Pirates you will see that their dismal ERA of 4.93 placed them 14th in the National League, only .01 ahead of the 2 worst staffs (Cincinnati and Florida).
This allowance of runs cannot continue if the Pirates are to start their long climb to respectability within the Central Division of the NL. The responsibility for this improvement belongs to 4 home grown young starting pitchers (Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Paul Maholm, Zach Duke) and 1 grizzled journeyman (Matt Morris).
Gorzelanny and Snell both started the season hot and were each considered for All-Star selections at the break. As the season wore on each cooled down some though Gorzelanny finished 12th in the league in wins with 14, while Snell placed 7th in the circuit with 177 strikeouts. In his second full year with the team Maholm won 10 games. Going into the season opening day starter Duke was being counted on as perhaps the best of this group. However inconsistency and injuries hampered him throughout the year as he finished with only 3 victories.
There is certainly plenty of optimism for these four in 2008. They will all be 25 or 26 heading into this season with some measure of experience and success already. They will also have the opportunity to be watched by new pitching coach Jeff Andrews, who handled each of them during his same role with the AA Minor League Affiliate Altoona Curve team during 2004 and 2005.
One more wild card for the development of the youngsters is that 33 year old late season pickup Matt Morris will be in camp with the team from day one of spring training. Morris struggled in his 11 starts after being acquired, only winning 3 games. But he is a veteran, a guy who will pitch a lot of innings without walking many, and should be a good influence for the kids to follow. When Matt was at the age (26) that the rest of the rotation is nearing he led the 2001 St. Louis Cardinals to a Wild Card spot, winning 22 games and finishing 3rd in the league in Cy Young voting.
