Unfortunately, this year for the Pisces is all about the future. The team is not expected to seriously contend for a playoff berth, and is likely headed back to the top part of the amateur draft.
It's not all bad in the Steel City though. Some top prospects are in the majors now or are on their way and projected to arrive mid-season. A couple of building blocks are already in the infield. Donald "Missing" Parsons and Alan Williams will be the starting double play combination. Brian Staudt, a workhorse, has moved from second to third to make room for the two youngsters. Recent acquisitions by trade are behind the plate (James Dominy) and in left field (Perry Hodgin). Both Hodgin and Dominy are entering their prime and signed reasonable contract extensions. In the end though, while the lineup has upside and some solid pieces, there's nothing to indicate a juggernaut, especially with big holes at first base and right field.
The starting pitching will feature three players in salary drives, a man looking for redemption, and two unproven youngsters. The three free-agents-to-be are Timothy Hornyak, Wilfredo Desilva, and Robert Gaertner. While none are true top of the rotation arms, all three are solid. Ramiro Roxas is looking for redemption. After a 4.08 and 3.44 ERA in the first two years of the league, Roxas slumped to a 5.92 mark last season. Meanwhile Pedro Soto (a 3* prospect last year) and Rule 5 pick Joseph Basho will fight for the #5 spot. The bullpen is an all-or-nothing mix as Vincent Furness and Ariel Santos are as good as any reliever, but the others unfortunately can be just as bad as any other reliever.
Midseason, Pittsburgh expects to welcome two stars of the future when "Buck" Ro joins the rotation and "Tiny" Croce takes over at first base. Both are elite five-star prospects and a great deal will be expected from them right away.
In all, it's likely a season where the Pisces will be swimming upstream while they prepare for the future.
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