[Operation Shutdown]

Pirates Season in Review
Just going to take a player by player analysis on how the Pirates did this season.

C JR House
House really improved a lot this season, upping his average to 0.271 with an OBP of 0.364 and a SLG of 0.449. He also hit 15 HRs and drove in 70 runs. Defensively, he had 4 passed balls and 7 errors, which isn't too bad, but he still struggled with throwing runners out as runners were succesful 68 out of 86 (79.1%) times they ran against him. Coming into the season, it was thought that he and Cota would have to split time, but he showed that he is definitely deserving of a starting role.

C Humberto Cota
Cota was given about 127 at-bats this year, and started in 35 games behind the plate. He continues to hit very well, with an average of 0.276, and OBP of 0.324 and a SLG of 0.504. He smashed 5 HRs and drove in 23 runs. He did very well defensively, with no errors and two passed balls in his 35 starts. He also threw out 9 out of 17 runners that tried to steal against him. Cota has played so well over the past two years, the Pirates may look to use him as trade bait, especially with Doumit making his way up through the minors.

C Ryan Doumit
Doumit was a September call-up this year and got his first taste of big league action. He was only used as a pinch hitter, and got one hit in seven at-bats but the Pirates are expecting big things from him in the coming years. This year he hit 0.347 with 8 HRs and 55 RBIs for the Nashville Sounds.

1B Craig Wilson
Wilson picked up where he left off last season, putting in another solid performance this year. He had an average of 0.279, and OBP of 0.334 and a SLG of 0.428. He smacked 23 HRs and drove in 91 runs while scoring 87 runs. Striking out continues to be a small problem for him though, as he struck out 116 times this season. Wilson made 144 starts at first base this year, and committed just 11 errors in 1304 1/3 defensive innings for a fielding percentage of 0.993. He continues to put up solid numbers, and will more than likely be the starter next year as well.

1B Carlos Rivera
Rivera continues to do a well enough job coming off the bench. He hit 0.247 with 3 HRs and 20 RBIs in 162 at-bats this year. He started 18 games this year, but did give up an uncharacteristic three errors.

2B Bobby Hill
Hill improved just a little bit with his hitting this year, with an average of 0.267, an OBP of 0.362 and a SLG of 0.384. He also hit 8 HRs and drove in 60 RBIs and scored 80 times. Hill continues to struggle against mostly the righties, as his average was 0.333 against lefties, but just 0.248 versus righties. While his average isn't very high, he continues to get on-base. Hill also managed to steal 61 bases in 87 attempts this year, for a percentage of 70.1%. In 142 starts at second base, Hill committed 17 errors for a fielding percentage of 0.977, not too bad for a second baseman. Hill is a pretty good cheap solution for the Pirates currently at second base.

3B Rob Mackowiak
Mackowiak continues to struggle with hitting for average, as he hit just 0.252 with an OBP of 0.316 and a SLG of 0.480. He still has a good bit of power though, as he hit 23 HRs and had 99 RBIs and scored 86 runs. Striking out continues to be a problem for him as well, as he struck out 126 times this season. Mackowiak struggled in the field as well this season, committing 29 errors in 149 starts for a fielding percentage of just 0.938. With Drew Henson making his way up through the minors, Mackowiak may also see him as trade bait come this offseason.

3B Dean Palmer
The Pirates are also struggling to find a good back-up third baseman as well. Palmer hit just 0.195 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs in 154 at-bats. Palmer started 13 games at third base and committed three errors.

SS Marshall McDougall
This was probably the one shot McDougall had at trying to prove himself good enough for a starting job at SS. He did OK, hitting 0.242 with an OBP of 0.320 and a SLG of 0.395. He also hit 13 HRs and drove in 58 while scoring 70 runs. In 138 starts, he committed 24 errors for a percentage of 0.963. With Castillo coming up through the minors, I'd expect to see McDougall moved to more of a SS/3B backup role next season.

2B/SS Jack Wilson
Wilson lived up to his adage of solid defense but poor offense again this season. He hit just 0.229 with no homers and 14 RBIs in 170 at-bats. He made 19 starts at second base, committing just 4 errors (0.965) and 15 starts at shortstop, committing just two errors (0.969). He will probably continue the same role next season as well.

SS Jose Castillo
Castillo spent most of the season in Nashville where he hit 0.282 with 14 HRs and 69 RBI's. He was a September call-up and hit 0.314 with no homers and 6 RBIs in 35 at-bats. He will probably by the starting shortstop for the Bucs next year.

LF Xavier Nady
Nady made huge improvements over last season, especially in his power numbers. He hit for an avg of 0.287, an OBP 0.348, and a SLG of 0.469. He smashed 24 HRs while driving in 103 and scoring 93 runs, while also managing to steal 4 bases. In 145 starts in left field, he committed nine errors, but also connected on 15 assists for a fielding percentage of 0.967. He will no doubt be back with the club next season.

CF Mark Kotsay
Kotsay had another superb season in centerfield for the Pirates hitting 0.306 with an OBP of 0.361, and a SLG of 0.488. He smashed 19 HRs and drove in 81 and scored 113 runs. He also stole 32 bases in 51 attempts for a percentage of 62.7%. He made 145 starts in centerfield and committed just 7 errors while assisting in 12 plays for a fielding percentage of 0.980. He will also likely be back as part of the solid outfield the Bucs have.

RF JJ Davis
Davis without a doubt established himself as a major league player this season. In his rookie year, he hit 0.265 with an OBP of 0.326 and a SLG of 0.465. He also hit 25 homeruns, while driving in 92 and scoring 74 runs. Like so many other Pirate hitters, he struggled with the almighty K, striking out 147 times this season. In 138 starts in right field, he committed just 3 errors and compiled 11 assists for a fielding percentage of 0.989. He will also likely be back next year in a Pirate uni.

OF Tony Alvarez
Alvarez continued to shine off the bench for the Pirates. He hit 0.290 with 7 HRs and 46 RBIs. He made 58 starts in the outfield (17 LF, 17 CF, 24 RF) and did not commit a single error, and made 2 assists. With Alvarez due for arbitration this offseason, it is doubtful that the Pirates will be able to hold on to him due to payroll restrictions.

SP Sidney Ponson
Ponson spent a lot of the season on the DL, but did pretty well for the Pirates this season. He finished the season with a record of 10-10 with an 3.87 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. In 25 starts, he compiled 172 innings, and struck out 133 and walked just 46 hitters. If the Pirates can continue to afford him, he will likely be back for the Pirates next year.

SP Kris Benson
Benson also had a fairly decent season finishing with a record of 15-12 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. In 33 starts, he pitched 211 innings, striking out 195 hitters and walked just 68 batters. With one year of arbitration remaining, he will likely be around for at least one more season.

SP Oliver Perez
Perez had an absolutely superb season for the Bucs finishing with a record of 16-8 with a 2.49 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. In 33 starts, he compiled 216 2/3 innings, racking up 162 strike outs and walking just 70 batters. Despite the fact that he's arbitration eligible this year, I imagine the Pirates will do everything they can to keep this guy on the team.

SP John VanBenSchoten
VanBenSchoten got his chance this year when Maddux went on the DL and he made the most of it. He finished the season at 3-4 with an ERA of 3.42 and a WHIP of 1.21. In 12 starts, he pitched in 73 2/3 innings and struck out 77 hitters while walking just 19. Without a doubt he will be in the rotation next year.

SP Dave Williams
Williams had a bunch of ups and downs this season, but did fairly well for a #5 starter. He finished the season with a record of 7 -12 with an ERA of 5.39 and a WHIP of 1.55. In his 27 starts, he had 143 2/3 innings, striking out 81, but walking a high 76 batters. Depending on how some of the pitchers develop in the minors during the offseason, he may or may not be back next year.

Bullpen
The bullpen did pretty average this year, with some pitchers doing very well, while others did not do too well.

Vogelsong finished 2-3 with 1 save and an ERA of 5.31. He made 71 appearances and pitched 83 innings.
Grabow appeared mostly as a spot starter, but finished the season at 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA. He may have a shot as a long reliever next year.
Boehringer did quite well this season, finishing 4-2 with 2 saves and a 2.87 ERA. He made 65 appearances and pitched 84 2/3 innings. He will become a free agent this year.
Scot Shields was acquired in July through a trade and finished at 6-2 with 1 save and a 1.03 ERA. He made 59 appearances and threw in 69 2/3 innings of relief.
Beimel put together another solid season in relief, finishing at 2-1 with 2 saves and a 3.72 ERA. He made 40 appearances and pitched in 55 2/3 innings.
Sauerbeck did not have a very good season, finishing 2-1 with 1 save, but a high 6.10 ERA. He made 53 appearances and pitched in 48 2/3 innings, and walked an astounding 45 batters. He will become a free agent this year.
Mark Corey continues to perform well finishing at 5-2 with 2 saves and a 2.48 ERA. He made 59 appearances and pitched 58 innings.
Mann was a mixture of good and bad, and very bad this season, and finished with a record of 1-8 with 30 saves. Despite the 8 losses, he had just 5 blown saves and finished with a 85.7 save percentage. He made a total of 60 appearances and pitched 65 1/3 innings.

Cy Young Award Winners
Mark Buehrle won the Cy Young Award for the AL finishing the season with a record of 21-8 and a 3.48 ERA. He was 8th in the AL in ERA and first in wins. Adam Wainwright won the award for the NL, finishing the season with a record of 20-6 and a 2.51 ERA. He was 4th in the NL in ERA and 1st in wins.

MVP Winners
Texas' Alex Rodriguez finally won the MVP in the AL, hitting 0.303 with 47 homeruns and 142 RBIs. He was 9th in the AL in average, but led the league in homers and RBIs. Sosa won the award for the NL, hitting 0.293 with 58 HRs and 136 RBIs. He finished 2nd in the NL in RBIs and led the league with homers.

Rookie of the Year
Baltimore's Jack Cust won the award in the AL, hitting 0.267 with 24 HRs and 88 RBIs. The Pirates' own JJ Davis won the award in teh NL, hitting 0.265 with 25 HRs and 92 RBIs.

Gold Gloves
2004 American League Winners

Pitcher: Danny Graves, ANA
Catcher: Ivan Rodriguez, CLE
First Base: Paul Konerko, CHA
Second Base: Luis Castillo, CHA
Third Base: Troy Glaus, ANA
Shortstop: Alfredo Amezaga, ANA
Leftfield: Carl Crawford, TBA
Centerfield: Johnny Damon, BOS
Rightfield: Ichiro Suzuki, SEA


2004 National League Winners

Pitcher: Tom Glavine, NYN
Catcher: Jason LaRue, CIN
First Base: Todd Helton, COL
Second Base: Orlando Hudson, COL
Third Base: Rob Mackowiak, PIT
Shortstop: Jose Hernandez, COL
Leftfield: Geoff Jenkins, MIL
Centerfield: Roberto Castilleja, SDN
Rightfield: Vladimir Guerrero, MON

That wraps up the 2004 season. All of the player files, as well as the box scores and logs of the playoffs are up on the website now for anyone that wants to look. Look for me to begin 2005 later tonight, with a lot of payroll decisions to make, it should be a hectic off season.