Grading the Pirates through the break

Monday, July 09, 2007

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Grading the Pirates' performance through the All-Star break, player by player, for those who spent more than a month on the active roster:



Tom Gorzelanny

STARTING PITCHERS

IAN SNELL- A, 5th-lowest ERA in league, staff-best 93 strikeouts. Outstanding.

TOM GORZELANNY- A, 8th-lowest ERA in league, staff-best 9-4 record. Outstanding.

PAUL MAHOLM- C-, Twenty losses? Not now. Past nine starts have been solid.

ZACH DUKE- D-, With .364 opponents’ average, every hitter was Ted Williams.



Tony Armas and Matt Capps

RELIEVERS

DAMASO MARTE- A-, Maybe majors’ best lefty specialist: Lefty hitters went 4 for 42.

MATT CAPPS- B+, 9 for 9 in saves as new closer, despite giving up too many hits.

SHAWN CHACON- B, Not so hot as starter, but averaging K per inning out of pen.

MASUMI KUWATA- C, That touchdown by the Brewers July 2 blew up his numbers.

SALOMON TORRES- C-, Losing closer’s job, six blown saves, overshadow great May.

JOHN GRABOW- C-, Struggles with fastball control responsible for 5.32 ERA.

JOHN WASDIN- D-, Won job in spring training. Has not pitched well since.

TONY ARMAS- F, Joins Burnitz, Randa on list of recent free-agent flops.

CATCHERS

RYAN DOUMIT- B+, No telling what he might have done if he played more.

RONNY PAULINO- D, Offense, defense and even effort called into question.



Jack Wilson, Jason Bay and Adam LaRoche

INFIELDERS

FREDDY SANCHEZ- B, Who can complain about .300, even if it is not a batting title?

JOSE BAUTISTA- C+, More needed from bat, but glovework has been golden at times.

ADAM LaROCHE- C, Despite horrific start, on pace for 25 home runs, 100 RBIs.

JACK WILSON- C, His .985 fielding percentage 3rd among league shortstops.

JOSE CASTILLO- C-, Fared well when starting, but rarely started. Not a bench guy.

DON KELLY- D, Fell well short of becoming Pirates’ next Jose Hernandez.



Xavier Nady

OUTFIELDERS

XAVIER NADY- A-, Platoon player? Not with 14 home runs, 50 RBIs. A leader, too.

JASON BAY- C+, Big reminder yesterday: He has 13 home runs, 56 RBIs.

NATE McLOUTH- C-, Bats .293 as starter, but 4th outfielder 6 for 36 as pinch-hitter.

RAJAI DAVIS- D+, Speed matters little with low average, erratic routes in outfield.

CHRIS DUFFY- D, Has yet to show he can perform in first half of a season.