The Pirates of this year's vintage are a much more mobile group than in year's past. There are quite a few players that can move around the bases and take advantage of miscues from the other team. In years past it was strictly station to station with many of the Pirates' offensive players.
In the game on Sunday the speed of this year's team helped them take a win away from the Cardinals and salvage something from what was looking like a disastrous series. It was a disaster in many ways, if you looked at the lineups the past two days, one would have to think that they were watching a AAA club and not one at the top of a major league division.
I have to wonder then why did Xavier Paul enter the game later and not start? Granted throwing him in there when he did, gave the Pirates the win. Paul is one of the few players that would have been as aggressive as he was in the 10th. Why did Matt Diaz start instead of Paul? Granted Diaz went 2 for 4 the night before, but it is not as though he is a guy that has been dependable all season. Putting him left field, that expansive left, could create quite the circus. Would Paul not be a better fit, especially with a righty in Lohse taking the start?
Additionally I hope that the lineups we trot out to play the Braves do not really resemble this one all that much. I don't think that this team can afford not having Alex Presley in there right now and having Chase d'Arnaud, today withstanding, hitting in such an important spot at the top of the order.
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