Pitchers and catchers report next week! Spring training is one of my favorite times of the year, it is a time of optimism, especially being a Pirates fan. It is about the only time we have to be positive. Then the season starts…and well we all know how things go. I figured to honor the beginning of spring training, I would rank my favorite Pirates pitchers. This will be a top ten though. And it has to be pitchers during my lifetime. 

Before we get to the top ten though, here are a few honorable mentions:

Kip Wells, Josh Fogg, Charlie Morton, John Smiley, and Zach Duke. Smiley was so good in 1991, and it was crazy that the Pirates traded him to the Twins that off-season. Fogg, Duke, and Wells were good pitchers for the Pirates, but they played for very bad teams. And I loved Charlie Morton, and hated how the Pirates tried to make him a ground ball pitcher (I would cringe every time the announcers would call him Ground Chuck–especially since the internet had already dubbed him Electric Stuff). 

TEN

Oliver Perez (2003-2006)–who remembers the trade that brought Perez to the Pirates? It was in August of ’03, the Buccos sent Brian Giles to the Padres for Ollie and Jason Bay. The next year, Oliver Perez went 12-10 and struck out 239 batters (I think he led the league in K/9). He looked like he was set to become a dominant force. He had some injury issues, and was eventually traded to the Mets for Xavier Nady. But…there was that exciting time where we were pumped about the future (Ollie looking like a burgeoning ace, Jason Bay winning ROY, Jack Wilson won a Silver Slugger…and yet the Pirates went 72-89 that year).

NINE

Stan Belinda (1989-1993)–Stan Belinda is from Port Matilda, which is like ten miles from my hometown. It is always fun rooting for a local boy. He was the pitcher in game seven against the Braves. I always felt bad for him.

EIGHT

Scott Sauerbeck (1999-2003)–The Pirates were bad during those years, but one of the bright spots in 2002 was Scott Sauerbeck (and Brian Boehringer). Sauerbeck racked up 28 holds (as did BB, kinda crazy) that year, which was good for sixth most in the Majors. He was a lefty, who came in with a pretty big sweeping curve. I just liked watching him pitch, and was bummed when the Pirates sent him to the Red Sox.

SEVEN

Paul Maholm (2005-2011)–Maholm debuted in 2005 (as did Zach Duke –who I think had way more hype, and started 6-0). Going into the next season, there was some excitement about the young pitchers. But like most Pirates seasons, they could not put it all together. Maholm was always a solid pitcher, and I respected him for playing in Pittsburgh for so long. Every season, especially towards the end of his time, it felt like there were rumors about him being traded. Honestly, if he could have played during those years for a team that scored runs, he probably wins more games. He was a reliable lefty innings eater. He would go seven innings, give up four runs, and call it a day. He was never really injured (maybe a little DL stint in 2011 since he started 26 games?). The funny thing is, if he stays in Pittsburgh for the 2012 and 2013 teams, he probably helps them by being that 4th or 5th starter, who helps preserve the bullpen a little every time he takes the mound. Funny to think about…

SIX

Mark Melancon (2013-2016)–When the Pirates received Melancon in 2012, I was a bit salty when they traded Joel Hanrahan to Boston. I remembered Melancon having success against the Pirates when he was with the Astros, but that did not tell me much since the Pirates sucked. But something clicked in Pittsburgh, and Melancon ended up being a great setup man (I think the advanced stats showed him being the better pitcher in high leverage situations). Once he took over as the closer, he was dominant. Crazy that he never saw that same level of success after leaving. There was something calming about Mark, like he walked on the field, and you knew the game was over. 

FIVE

Paul Skenes (2024-current)–In a few years Skenes will probably be number one on this list, but for now he slots in here. I love watching him pitch, and I cannot wait to see how he does in year two. It is also depressing because the better he pitches, the chances of him being in Pittsburgh for very long are basically zero. I want to try and enjoy his time here, but it is always in the back of the mind.

FOUR

Joel Hanrahan (2009-2012)–He was so dominant for those two years when the Pirates had epic collapses. He had an incredible entrance. And when he was on the mound, you knew what was coming: THE HEAT. One of my favorite moments was the game in 2011 against the Red Sox. 

THREE

 

Doug Drabek (1987-1992)–He was sooo good. I remember being a little kid, and watching him pitch a no-hitter into the bottom of the 9th. My dad let me stay up so I could see the end of the game. I was so disappointed when Drabek gave up a single with two outs. He had that sweet mullet and mustache, and basically perfect mechanics. The last time I saw him pitch as a Pirate, he went eight innings and gave up one earned run…it was game seven of the NLCS. 

TWO

 

AJ Burnett (2012-2013,2015)–I remember the Burnett trade like it was yesterday. I rolled my eyes that the Pirates brought in some washed up pitcher from the Yankees, who were so desperate to be rid of him, they ate a huge chunk of his salary. And then, he ended up being awesome. But more than just awesome, he seemed to invigorate the entire team. There was a moment in August when he tells Hanley Ramirez to SIT THE FUCK DOWN. There was also the way he took James McDonald under his wing (and later Jeff Locke). I truly believe he helped more of the young pitchers than Ray Searage ever did. 

ONE

 

Gerrit Cole (2013-2017)–Cole is one of my all-time favorite players. I still love watching him pitch. He won 19 games in 2015 for the Pirates despite that team trying their hardest to change his style. I do believe the Pirates had the right idea with their mid-tier pitching back then, having them pitch on a downward plane, and try to force hitters to hit on top of the ball causing grounders. Have a solid infield, and you can assemble a decent staff that way. BUT, they had a Ferrari in the garage, and were trying to force it to be a Hyundai. Gerrit Cole throws hard, and he likes to throw up in the zone at times. He feeds off his emotions, and when channeled properly, he is basically unhittable. Funny enough, my favorite Cole moment was not of him pitching, but it was him at a Penguins playoff game, drinking beer and beating the glass cheering on the Pens. In a different universe, the Pirates do not go into arbitration trying to knock him down a few bucks, and they just give him the max that first year, which causes him to have a better relationship with the Front Office, then he agrees to a deal buying out his remaining arbitration years, plus a few extra (similar to the McCutchen deal). In that universe, they probably pay way more than they did for Cutch, but I think Cole truly loved playing in Pittsburgh, and I think he would have gladly stayed. Unfortunately, in this universe, they treated him like shit, fought him in arbitration, then traded him to get the maximum value. Blah. The Cole Saga is one of those moments in the recent era of Pittsburgh baseball that shows just how awful the ownership is, and why so many of us are already dreading the day when Paul Skenes gets shipped out of here. 

Damn, that got a little dark. I apologize. Hard to be positive with this team. Enjoy the beginning of baseball season!