Yin Yang Controversy

The Pittsburgh Pirates division run ended quite some time ago but they have been playing loose lately and have won six of their last nine series against contenders.

And that's where this story begins.

Before the players could even step one foot onto their charter from Houston to San Diego Sunday, they found themselves embroiled in a major controversy. It seems there are some folks who follow the Dodgers that are calling Jim Tracy's credibility into question in the Pirates upcoming four-game series with the Pads.

Why, they ask, did the Pirates request Tony Armas Jr. (career 1.13 ERA, 0.50 WHIP vs Pads and second best starter ERA on team in September) to be removed from the rotation in favor of John Van Benschoten (11.38 ERA, 2.29 WHIP in second half) Monday? And if Tracy absolutely wanted to go with youth, why not Bryan Bullington instead?

And why, they ask, did Tracy put Xavier Nady back into the lineup Sunday in Houston knowing he isn't 100% when the Pirates have the 6th best OPS in baseball in September pretty much without him? That's a curious move, they say, when Nady has a career .179 batting average and .636 OPS against Padres pitching, and Nady's hammy problem makes him a sure go-to target in Petco's huge right field.

And lastly they ask, why did Tracy stick Bay back into the lineup Sunday to get him ready for the Padres series when his knee is killing him and he has managed just four hits from September 2cd on (.190 batting average).

Playing Bay and Nady while less than 100%, they suggest, means Steven Pearce (.304/.360/.435 in September) and Nate McLouth (.270/.426/.541 in September) have to sit on the pine while Jim Tracy's second love Nyjer Morgan (.214/.279/.286 in September) plays center.

Do Tracy's moves, they wonder, have anything to do with his obvious hatred for Dodger management and the fact the Dodgers are two and one-half games behind the Padres in the Wild Card hunt and a sweep or near sweep of the Pirates might eliminate the Dodgers?

That's the Yin.

The Yang is Pittsburgh Pirates new hire President/CEO Frank Coonelly and his self-professed love for the Philadelphia Phillies who happen to be one and one-half games behind the Padres in the Wild Card hunt.

Phillies fans are also questioning why Coonelly isn't putting Tracy's moves on ice so that the Pirates put the most competitive team on the field they can for four games, all things considered. They note Tracy ran with the same lineup for almost two weeks and the Pirates scored more runs than almost any team in baseball. So why is Coonelly agreeing to drastic "look at youthful rotation" changes now?

Bucco Blog believes the integrity of the game requires the Pirates fielding the best nine players every game until the season is over. John Van Benschoten is certainly not one of his best available - at least on paper. Now what adjustments Jim Colborn and JvB have made in the past two weeks is anyone's guess.

And it was clear in Sunday's game against the Astros Jason Bay isn't 75% on his legs. One play in particular required Jack Wilson to go well past medium depth left field to grab a grounder Bay could only hobble toward. And it's true Nady is far from 100% himself because he allowed balls to fall in Sunday that he normally was able to get to, plus he's hitting a woeful .143 in September with a 36% strikeout rate.

Perhaps Coonelly is letting Tracy dig his own grave? Perhaps the Pirates want JvB to been showcased in front of the hordes of scouts that are expected at Monday's game? Perhaps it's all just a coincidence.

No matter the reason, the controversy exists and the players know they are smack in the middle of it. Unfortunately, that's not good because, as we know, our roster chokes under pressure.

This will be a very lively series you certainly don't want to miss.