PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan)- The Pirates concluded the ceremonial first half of the season just below .500 at 44-45 and currently sit 2.5 games back of the Cubs for the NL Central lead.
It's been a rollercoaster ride to this point, as different parts of the Bucs overall game have worked at different times during the season...but not necessarily all at the same time.
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"Pitching. It's the starting pitching more than the bullpen for me. I think the starting pitcher has to be more consistent, they have to go deeper into the ballgame to where you can set up your bullpen a little bit better. When we're getting four, five, maybe six innings on occasion, I don't think that's enough. I think it's been too sporadic, I think they need to be a little bit better.
Offensively, it's a great team to watch. I'm enjoying watching this team as much as any team that we've had, probably since '13 and that whole three year run. I think if the starting pitching gets sured-up and obviously getting healthy helps, getting Kela back in the bullpen would help. But I thought the bullpen has been better of late. So for me, the bullpen, if you can not make them throw three, four, five innings every night, I think they're going to be in much better shape."
Going along with the importance of starting pitching, John believes Dario Agrazal has an opportunity to steal a rotation spot and bump someone else out if he continues his solid production.
"If the need is there, he's been the guy to come in and he's unflappable. He's not afraid, goes about his business and [he's] maybe not the best 'stuff' guy but he can locate and when he locates he's pretty good. I think there's some deception to his fastball and I think he knows how to pitch and how to locate. He's not going to get away with as many mistakes as some guys who have better stuff but absolutely, the way he's pitched there's no reason to be afraid to run him out there."