The X Factor

Perhaps this Pirate season unlike any other in recent memory, the team is depending on the growth of the younger players, the X factor. This will be the driving factor in what type of season the Pirates may or may not have. Last season some of the younger pitchers took some steps forward, as did the position players, but once the season dragged on a little more they ran out of gas and so did the season.

The key then to the offseason was to replace the guys that were leaving with players that could either replicate their production or be as close to or better than it. Gone is Cedeno. In is Barmes. Gone is the multi headed catching platoon. In is Barajas. Gone is Maholm. In is Bedard and Burnett. It is not a hard plan to wrap one's head around.

The whole key of it paying off is that the young core grows and improves by greater margins. I think that this will be a common theme for the season. One that I plan on taking a look at as the spring progresses and as does the season. It is not that complicated of a plan. It deals a lot with the unknown and unpredictable, but in the Pirates situation it really is perhaps their only shot.