McCutchen and Alvarez

[Darkstone42]

Welcome to the 30 Club, Pedro

He wasn't amazing this season (except in stretches), but I'll take what Alvarez has done this year, especially if he can build on it next year and into the future.

 

[evolver115]

With Alvarez hitting an opposite field bomb tonight, that now puts him at the thirty home run mark. McCutchen is already there.

I know the collapse has been awful to watch, and the hope that was there all summer is now a distant memory, but I still will end up looking back on this one event and see progress.

Both are only 25, with years of control remaining. The pirates haven't had two young, homegrown position players like this probably since Bonds and Bonilla.

If there is anything positive to take away from the 2012 season, I think this may be the most promising sign. Patience wore out a long time ago, but hey.. We're pirates fans. If any fan base could hold out hope, it is ours.

 

[element1286]

True that, I know Cutch has dropped off, but 950+ OPS for the season is great no matter how you slice it.

Pedro's numbers are very similar to his 2010 rookie season, I'll take that he is stabilizing as a player for the long run, with some upside left in him. And last year was a blip on the radar.

 

[evolver115]

Both McCutchen and Alvarez have both exceeded my expectations. I really had all but given up on Pedro after last season, and the whole winterball deal. He just seemed to be regressing in every facet of his game since 2010. There is no mistake about him now after this season. I'm not saying he is going to be an all-star, but he has the makings of one, and he easily represents the best young power bat the Bucs have had since Ramirez.

With Cutch, everything he's done this season, aside from the basepaths, has exceeded my expectations. The sky is the limit with him. I love his attitude more than anything. He is a true throwback, and a rarity in this day and age of the modern athlete.