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| "El Toro" is looking to bounce back in 2012 |
After posting a rookie line of .256/16/64 in just 386 plate appearances in 2010, every media outlet in the industry predicted a huge season from the Pirates third baseman last Spring. Fantasy Baseball publications ranked him in the top five potential draftees at his position, and the Pittsburgh media was humming over the possibilities of the young Pirates slugger. The Pirates, capitalizing on their first true marketable team in over a decade, began to plaster the city with posters and commercials starring Alvarez. After 18 years of futility, people were beginning to see the light at the end of the dark Pirates tunnel - and they turned to Pedro Alvarez to lead the way.
Unfortunately for everyone, the 24-year old player with less than three years of professional baseball experience simply was not ready to become the face of the downtrodden franchise. Major League pitchers figured out the holes in his swing, as they often do. Managers of rival clubs threw tough left-handed relievers at Alvarez during critical moments late in games, slowly breaking down his confidence to the point where anything other than a fastball down the middle became a challenge to even foul off. Eventually, an injury forced him to the 15-day DL, giving the Pirates an opportunity to outright Alvarez to AAA-Indianapolis. Thereafter, 2011 became a lost season for the third baseman.
As we close in on the start of 2012 Spring Training, there is no hype. The Pittsburgh Pirates took the baseball world by storm during the first half of 2011, only to finish the season as they typically have for the past nineteen years. There are no expectations, no preseason predictions of Jolly Roger glory. Alvarez is an afterthought in the fantasy baseball world, having gone from impact bat to late-round sleeper on every preseason ranking. During a time of the year when most Pittsburghers expect to be knee-deep in Steelers Super Bowl hype, the Pirates are yet to break into the public consciousness.
It might be just the ticket for Pedro Alvarez. A chance to evaluate himself on his own ability and not on the predictions of the so-called experts. No pressure, no expectations - just Pedro, a bat, and some very green Spring Training pitching. A strong spring could be just the thing to catapult Alvarez to the level many expected him to be at a year ago. For the Pirates, they need to do everything possible to coddle the young slugger and rebuild his confidence. Without a healthy and productive Alvarez in the middle of their lineup, the Pirates will once again be bringing up the rear in all National League power rankings. A solid season from "El Toro" could be the missing piece needed to get the Pirates over the .500 hump in 2012.
In case Alvarez isn't ready to reach his potential, the Pirates went out and acquired Casey McGehee from the Milwaukee Brewers as an insurance policy. McGehee (who we profiled as part of our First Base Preview) is not exactly a "sure thing", coming off a very disappointing 2011 season with the NL Central Champions. A change of scenery could be the ticket for McGehee, who will immediately pay dividends in the clubhouse with his inspired attitude and gritty play.
Josh Harrison and Chase d'Arnaud figure to battle it out for a bench spot in Spring Training, with Harrison having the best chance to back-up whomever is playing third base due to his defense at his natural position. d'Arnaud was able to get some valuable major league experience in 2011, and although he looked overmatched at times, his talent is evident. On defense however, d'Arnaud projects more to the middle infield.
Down on the farm, the Pirates do not have a certified third base prospect in their system. The closest they have is SS prospect Jordy Mercer. Mercer is currently ranked in the Top 20 prospects in the Pirates system for 2012 by minorleaguebaseball.com and after a solid season in 2011 spent between AA and AAA, he could be ready to contribute at the major league level sometime in 2012. While his natural position is SS, he has experience at 3B and 2B. Mercer hit 19 HR between stops in Altoona and Indianapolis in 2011, so his power has a chance to be decent. The number that worries the Pirates is his age - 25 at the start of this season - which is a tad high to still be considered a prospect.
Beyond Mercer, the Pirates have Eleyvs Gonzalez, a 22-year old third baseman who spent 2011 with the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League. His season was fantastic, finishing with a line of .322/6/83 and stroking 36 doubles in 503 plate appearances. He has a good chance of moving up to Altoona this season, where he will get a look at more advanced pitching. Check back next spring for Gonzalez, who could be a nice sleeper prospect heading into 2013.
That pretty much sums up the third base situation for the 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates. As we are behind on our 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview here at Steel World Order, we will attempt to post the previews for both Starting Pitching and the Bullpen tomorrow. Thank you for reading, and Lets Go Bucs!
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