Showing posts with label Andrew McCutchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew McCutchen. Show all posts

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Andrew McCutchen, Pirates to steal more bases in 2013?

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is one of baseball's elite players and sure to be an early first-round pick in fantasy baseball drafts this year.

Over the past three seasons, however, his base-stealing production has continued to decline: 33 steals (2010), 23 (2011) and 20 (2012).

That said, that trend could very well be reversed in 2013 as McCutchen and the Pirates make a more concerted effort to swipe more bases.  And McCutchen is studying some successful base-stealers that don't have his natural gifts to help make that happen.

"I know that with my speed I should be able to get to the next base without a problem," McCutchen said, per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I like to watch the guys who need a little more than just speed to get to the base. You can really see their mechanics and their form."

"His attitude toward us is, 'I want you to go,'" [teammate Alex] Presley said (of manager Clint Hurdle). "'I want you to be aggressive. If you get thrown out, you get thrown out.'"

Although McCutchen stole a career-low 20 bases last year, he set career highs across the board in other categories: .327 batting average, 31 home runs, 107 runs and 96 runs batted in.

Along with Milwaukee's Ryan Braun and Angels rookie Mike Trout, McCutchen was one of three 30-20 players last season.

Going into the 2013 season, McCutchen is currently the fifth-ranked player on my overall big board.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Andrew McCutchen left Friday's game with a sore wrist

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen left yesterday's game against the Rays with a sore wrist.

James McDonald, the team's No. 3 starter, left the game with pain in his side within an inning of McCutchen.

Per Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, manager Clint Hurdle won't speculate on either injury, saying "We don't know. I don't talk about injuries. Normally, information doesn't get accurate until later on. I'm not a doctor."

Based on average draft position (ADP) from Mock Draft Central, McCutchen is the 12th outfielder and 42nd player off the boards in fantasy baseball drafts this year.

Last year, McCutchen hit 16 home runs and stole 33 bases while scoring 94 runs and hitting .286.