[Operation Shutdown]

Pirates Season in Review
The Pirates really created a buzz around Pittsburgh, increasing fan interest dramatically, and for the first time since 1992, the people of Pittsburgh were talking about the Pirates in the month of October, even though football season had already started. The Pirates finished with an amazing record of 98-64, second in the central division, and winners of the wildcard, though they lost in the first round of the playoffs to their nemesis Chicago Cubs. They did all this with the third lowest payroll in the major leagues, with a payroll of just $42 million. Here's a breakdown of how all the players did this year.

C Ryan Doumit
After JR House was injured and then traded, Doumit really stepped things up and contributed well at the major league level. He finished the season with a 0.298 average, 0.338 OBP, and 0.433 SLG. He hit 11 HRs and drove in 62 runs in 416 at-bats. He did well behind the plate, committing just four errors and three passed balls in 991 2/3 defensive innings for a percentage of 0.995. He also threw out 24 of 75 runners (32%).

C Humerto Cota
Cota did a good job as back-up once again and will likely be a permanent fixture there. He hit 0.264 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs in 125 at-bats. He started 31 game behind the plate and committed just 2 errors and one passed ball in 292 2/3 defensive innings. He did not do as well throwing out runners this year as he's done in the past, throwing out just 8 of 29 (27.6%).

1B Craig Wilson
Wilson once again plugged away in the cleanup spot in the lineup this year. Many fans wanted to see Davis moved to the cleanup spot, but Lloyd McClendon decided that he'd rather have more of a veteran presence there, and Wilson didn't disappoint as he led the team in RBIs with 120. He hit for an average of 0.281 with a 0.321 OBP and a 0.455 SLG. He smashed 22 HRs, but also struck out 124 times in 609 at-bats. Wilson was solid defensively again this year, and started 147 times and committed just 6 errors in 1321 innings for a percentage of 0.996.

1B Ray Navarette
Navarette did well as a back-up after the Pirates decided to release Carlos Rivera. He hit 0.315 with 0 HR and 9 RBIs in 124 at-bats. In 12 starts, he did not commit a single error in 110 defensive innings.

2B Bobby Hill
Hill really improved dramatically at the plate this year, increasing his average from 0.276 to 0.295 this season, and also had an OBP of 0.384 and a SLG of 0.381. He hit just 3 HRs and drove in just 48 runs, but he also led the league in stolen bases with 57 of them, and scored 81 runs this season. He continues to hit better against the lefties, as he hit 0.340 versus lefties and just 0.278 against righties. Defensively, he started in 140 games and committed just 12 errors and was involved in 99 double plays in 1216 defensive innings for a 0.983 fielding percentage.

3B Drew Henson
Drew Henson had a good rookie year at the plate, hitting 0.271 with an OBP of 0.328 and a SLG of 0.425. He went yard 13 times and drove in 82 runs in 558 at-bats. Defensively, in 143 starts, Henson struggled a bit and committed 26 errors in 1290 innings for a fielding percentage of 0.935. He won the rookie of the year award.

3B Yurendell DeCaster
DeCaster had real limited chances and hit just 0.156 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs in 45 at-bats. He started just 6 games and did not commit any errors in 54 innings.

SS Marshall McDougall
Almost midway through the season, McDougall was given the starting SS job after Jose Castillo was traded. He did pretty well this season hitting 0.290 with an OBP of 0.340 and a SLG of 0.458. He hit 9 dingers and knocked home 52 runs. Defensively he started 73 games at SS and committed just 9 errors while contributing in 38 double plays in 686 defensive innings for a 0.977 fielding percentage. He also started 13 games at 3B and committed 4 errors in 111 innings for a percentage of 0.927.

SS Jack Wilson
Wilson was once again given back up duties for 2B and SS this year and hit 0.229 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs in 153 at-bats. He started 22 games at 2B and committed no errors in 238 innings, and also started 8 games at SS and committed 2 errors in 75 innings for a fielding percentage of 0.950.

LF Xavier Nady
Nady improved a bit on last year and hit 0.312 with an OBP of 0.386 and a SLG of 0.491. He hit 24 homeruns and drove in 102 RBIs, very similar numbers to last year. His plate discipline improved this year as he struck out just 106 times and walked 67 times in 583 at-bats, compared to 117 times and 57 last year. He did well in the field again this year and started 144 games and committed just 8 errors, though people learned that he had a great arm from last year, and he had just 8 assists in 1308 innings for a percentage of 0.970.

CF Mark Kotsay
Kotsay once again performed brilliantly in the leadoff role for the Pirates hitting 0.307 with an OBP of 0.368 and a SLG of 0.488. His power numbers dropped off a bit this year, hitting just 15 HRs and driving in 61 runs, but he still managed to score 116 runs. Defensively, he started 144 games, and committed just 6 errors and had 13 assists in 1276 1/3 innings for a percentage of 0.982.

CF Manuel Ravelo
Ravelo wasn't brought up until September and did well, hitting 0.333 with 4 RBIs in 21 at-bats.

RF JJ Davis
Davis improved leaps and bounds on his rookie year last year, hitting 0.292 with an OBP of 0.351 and a SLG of 0.548. He led the team and set a new team record with 40 HRs and also had 111 RBIs. He started 145 games and committed an uncharacteristic 12 errors and had 6 assists in 1303 innings for a percentage of 0.956.

SP Sidney Ponson
Ponson had a decent season, finishing with a record of 16-8 with an ERA of 4.04 and a WHIP of 1.28 in 32 starts. He struck out 161 batters and walked 73 in 216 innings of work.

SP Kris Benson
Benson had probably one of his best season in a Pirate's uniform, finishing with a record of 14-9 and a 3.44 ERA and a WHIP of just 1.05. In 219 2/3 innings pitched, he struck out 189 batters and walked just 48 hitters.

SP John VanBenSchoten
JVB proved that he is a capable MLB starter this year with a record of 17-9 and a 3.63 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. In 205 2/3 innings pitched he struck out 187 batters and walked 65.

SP Dave Williams
Williams had an amazing season, easily the best of his career as he finished 19-6 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP, all career bests. In 222 innings, he struck out 149 hitters and walked 75.

SP Brian Bullington
Bullington pitched just for few months in the season and finished with a 3-3 record and a 5.73 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. In 55 innings, he struck out 50 hitters and walked 21 batters.

SP Zach Greinke
Greinke started the majority of the games in the #5 spot for the Pirates and finished 4-6 with a 5.97 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. In 89 innings, he struck out 55 hitters, and walked an alarming 43 batters.

Bullpen
The Pirates bullpen this year as a whole did a pretty good job.
Grabow was used mostly as just a mop-up reliever and pitched in just 16 1/3 innings and had an ERA of 6.06.
Jimenez was the go-to guy as middle reliever, and other than Mann he racked up the most innings with 71 1/3 innings pitched in 70 appearances. He finished with a 2-2 record with 2 saves and a 4.42 ERA.
Shields was also used a good bit and worked 64 2/3 innings in 56 appearances. He finished with a 6-3 record with 1 save and a 2.92 ERA.
Vogelsong was used sparingly and pitched in just 46 games and racked up 48 innings. He had a record of 4-3 with a 6.19 ERA.
Gabe White was used as the main set-up reliever and made 41 appearances and pitched in 43 1/3 innings. He finished with a 3-0 record with 1 save and a 4.98 ERA.
Corey was used as the other set-up guy and also as a middle releiver and made 72 apperances and racked up 68 2/3 innings. He finished with a 2-3 record with 1 save and a 3.59 ERA.
Jim mann finished with the most saves in the NL with 44 saves and finished with a record of 7-7. He made 70 appearances and pitched in 75 innings and struck out 69 hitters and walked 28. he blew just 6 saves for a percentage of 88%.