Revolving door at first has led to historically bad results

If they were still around, Abbot and Castello could have done a whole bit about the Pirates' first base situation.

This season, 10 different players have gotten reps at first base, none more so than Michael Chavis. But with just nine games to go in the season, the Pirates opted to designate Chavis for assignment in favor of waiver claim Miguel Andújar.

Wanting to give other players opportunities and at-bats down the stretch was the reason given for why Chavis was let go after his batting average had dropped to .229 and his OPS to .654.

Andújar would make his Pirate debut Monday at PNC Park, singling and driving home a run as the Pirates beat the Reds, 8-3.

"It feels amazing to have that type of game tonight," Andujar said. "We competed the whole game and we won."

Andújar could very well be part of the Pirates' 2023 mix, though it is a position he is still learning. Zack Collins, another former top 100 prospect who was claimed off waivers earlier this month, has gotten some reps at first and could as well through these final eight games. But it would seem unlikely that either is the answer at first base for next season.

And do the Pirates ever need an answer, or really any sort of improvement, at first base.

Going by FanGraphs' calculations, Pirate first basemen this year have combined for -3 WAR, the worst in baseball by a solid win and a half (Astros are 29th at -1.5). Last year's Pirates team got a franchise-worst -1.8 WAR from first basemen. This year's team has long passed that total.

While WAR isn't always the be-all, end-all stat, it is a very good way to compare players or teams across different generations. And in the history of the National League, the only teams to ever get -3 WAR or worse from first base are the 2013 Brewers (-3.9), 1947 Phillies (-3.6) and 1999 Brewers (-3).

Here's how those negative three "wins" were distibuted:

Yoshi Tsutsugo: 193 PA, -1.3 WAR
Michael Chavis: 426 PA, -0.7 WAR
Josh VanMeter: 192 PA, -0.3 WAR
Zack Collins: 21 PA, -0.3 WAR
Kevin Padlo: 11 PA, -0.3 WAR
Yu Chang: 49 PA, -0.1

It's not a flattering list, especially once you add Bligh Madris, who is officially qualified as an outfielder and not a first baseman despite getting reps there. 

"We’ve tried different people there," Derek Shelton said. "I think we will continue to do that. But I do think it’ll be an area that we focus on during the offseason."

Internally, the only prospect who could realistically make the jump to the majors is Malcolm Nunez, who was acquired from the Cardinals at the deadline and made the jump to Class AAA last week. That is unless you are still a Mason Martin believer, which is becoming less likely.

That almost guarantee means the Pirates will have to look externally at the free agent and trade markets to fill what has been the worst offensive position of a last place team.

It's almost impossible for Andújar to make such an impression in nine games to make first base seem secure, but he could potentially be a boon for the team. The runner up for the 2018 rookie of the year, the former Yankee had been plagued by injuries and then didn't get much of a shot to get playing time after falling down the depth chart. A chance in Pittsburgh could be just what both parties need.

"I think I just had a lot of confidence," Andújar said. "I think playing every day helped me get into a good routine, and I could be the best version of myself out on the field."

MORE FROM THE GAME

• Jack Suwinski continues to be one of the best hitters at their home park in baseball. A two double game Monday improved his slash line at PNC Park to .282/.359/.613, and that second double broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh:

"It’s a good connection — him and the ballpark," Roansy Contreras joked.

• Another good connection: Oneil Cruz and the leadoff spot, where he now owns an .848 OPS when batting at the top of the order. Cruz picked up four hits to jumpstart the Pirates' offense, which also got multi-hit support performances from Ke'Bryan Hayes and Kevin Newman.

“Consistent all the way through," is how Shelton described the performance.

• Contreras' night was cut short because of a rain delay halfway through the fourth inning, where he allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two.

He didn't quite have his normal velocity, averaging about 93 mph compared to his normal 95-96 mph, with Shelton citing his workload this season and him making a rare start in the cold.

"Compared to last year, I’ve thrown more innings," Contreras said. "With it being September, I’ve felt a little bit of drop on the velocity. But it was good."

• JT Brubaker threw a live batting practice before the game, saying afterwards his goal is to make one more start this year.

“It sucked [to finish last year on the injured list]," Brubaker said. "But the steps we did last year reassured me that I was going to be good for the offseason and spring training. This is just reassuring me once again that this was just a little, minor hiccup, nothing to season-end. Get another start and have a full offseason to do what I need to do.” 

Brubaker is officially on the injured list with right arm inflammation, though he referred to his lat as what he was mindful of.

• The other roster moves of the day: José Godoy was activated off the taxi squad (he went 0-for-4 behind the plate Monday) and Greg Allen was designated for assignment.

• With the win, the Pirates improve to 57-97 on the season. They need to go at least 6-2 down the stretch in order to avoid a second straight 100-loss season.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Boxscore
• Live file
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard

THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 7-day concussion list: C Tyler Heineman

• 15-day injured list: RHP JT Brubaker (right arm inflammation), LHP Eric Stout (low back discomfort)

• 60-day injured list: Yerry De Los Santos (lat), OF Canaan Smith-Njigba (wrist), RHP Colin Holderman (right shoulder), RHP Blake Cederlind (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow), C Roberto Pérez (hamstring)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Oneil Cruz, SS
2. Bryan Reynolds, CF
3. Miguel Andújar, DH
4. Jack Suwinski, LF
5. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
6. Cal Mitchell, RF
7. Kevin Newman, 2B
8. Zack Collins,1B
9. José Godoy, C

And for David Bell's Reds:

1. TJ Friedl, LF
2. Jonathan India, 2B
3. Kyle Farmer, DH
4. Spencer Steer, 3B
5. Stuart Fairchild, CF
6. Aristides Aquino, RF
7. Matt Reynolds, 1B
8. Jose Barrero, SS
9. Chuckie Robinson, C

THE SCHEDULE

Mitch Keller (5-12, 3.99) will try to keep his ERA in the 3s Tuesday night against Hunter Greene (4-13, 4.91), who took part in a combined no-hitter at PNC Park back in May. I've got you guys covered the rest of the way.

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