Why does Andrew McCutchen suck now?

[outofplace]

He hit .279 with an .849 OPS last year in a Pirates lineup with little protection. I don't think he's an MVP candidate anymore - the Pirates wasted those years - but I think he's perfectly capable of hitting .275 with 25 home runs and 80-90 RBI. Which is pretty solid.

Two things can be equally true: McCutchen should not be evaluated on his stats in April and the Pirates got less for him in a trade than the other 29 teams theoretically would have. Why? Because the message from Pirates ownership not to spend to compete has been made crystal clear over the past few years, and every opponent knows it can use that to their advantage in negotiations with the team.

Exactly, though it goes back more than just the last few years. The Pirates have been doing this for decades.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Don’t look now, but .364/.453/.500 in 53 May plate appearances.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Don’t look now, but .364/.453/.500 in 53 May plate appearances.

#oopTrigger

 

[outofplace]

I have brought up McCutchen's history of terrible starts before, now, haven't I?