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Pittsburgh Pirates Season Predictions | 2012 Season Betting Preview

2012 MLB Handicapping: Pittsburgh Pirates

The 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates got a fast start out of the gate last season and actually stayed in the Central Division race past the All-Star break, but the end result was a 72-90 record and another losing season.

MLB Team Betting Previews- Pittsburgh Pirates
Odds to Win the NL Central: +2000
Odds to Win the National League Pennant: +3300
Odds to Win the World Series: +6600
2012 Projected Win Total: 73

For close to two decades now, the Pirates’ faithful have been waiting for a ballclub that can win more games than it loses, but unfortunately they will most likely have to wait at least one more season.

The Pirates have been quietly stock piling some quality talent from the amateur drafts over the past few years, but it is doubtful that any of their current prospects will make any kind of major impact this season.

Instead, this team will have to rely on handful of great players to go along with a roster filled with very average players to try and end the team’s current winning drought.

A couple of new additions to the starting rotation; A.J. Burnett and Erik Bedard could make a dramatic impact if (and these are huge if’s) Burnett can return to the form of his glory days with Florida and Toronto and Bedard can stay healthy enough to start 20+ games this year.

The rest of the starting rotation and bullpen is filled with far more questions than answers considering that Pittsburgh finished last season with a team ERA of 4.04.

The one bright spot in the bullpen is All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan, who finished 2011 with 40 saves and an ERA of 1.83. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

The Pirates’ lineup will rely heavily on the bats of Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker, who combined for 172 RBI last season. McCutchen led the team with 23 homeruns, but also led the team with 126 strikeouts. Walker batted a respectable .273 on a team-high 596 at-bats and led the Pirates in hits with 163.

If third-year veteran Pedro Alverez can return to the form he showed as a rookie in 2010, Pittsburgh should be able to easily improve upon the 610 runs they scored last season, which was the third-lowest in the NL.

2012 Outlook

The rebuilding process in Pittsburgh has been a slow crawl over the past few seasons and 2012 should be no different.

The talent level appears to be getting better, but the Pirates remain a small market team that cannot or is not willing to compete with the big boys in the National League.

Collectively, they have the ability to mount a serious run at 82 wins and an above .500 finish this season, so there is some solid value in the ‘over’ bet on 73 projected wins, but everything has to fall into place quickly for that to happen.

Realistically, 75 wins is probably the upper threshold for this team as they once again stay in the division race well into July, but still fail to end a seemingly endless string of losing seasons.

Prediction: 74-88 and 5th in the NL Central

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By Dave Schwab

David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.