Pittsburgh Pirates Jarrod Dyson Picked Off at Second

On the eighteenth of August, in Pittsburgh in the time of the Plague, with the score 3-3 and nobody out in the bottom of the ninth, the Pirate's centerfielder, Jarrod Dyson, the winning run, was picked off second base by the catcher. This amazing event was reported nationally as follows:

"Pittsburgh Pirates Jarrod Dyson Picked Off at Second



Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Guillermo Heredia (5) reacts after being picked off at second base in the ninth inning.
The Pirates had a chance to win it in the ninth when they put runners and first and second with no outs. But speedy Jarrod Dyson was picked off second base by catcher Roberto Perez and the inning eventually ended when Nick Wittgren (1-0) struck out Josh Bell with two on."

While such an event might astonish the average fan, the reporting is more important. The article identifies the player picked off at second as two different guys, first Dyson and then Heredia. Accuracy in the Press is not a high priority but this error is more understandable than most. The Pirates actually do not have a set lineup. In fact in two games I have seen, two separate players who have never played in the outfield before have played center field. 28 pitchers have pitched for them so far in this short season. The Yankees do not have names on their jerseys because everyone knows who they are, the Pirates have names because no one knows who they are and even then can't tell.

I have no problem with the Nuttings making a buck with a small market team. I wish only that they were better at it. The problem here is that every team must have a few capable players to be a real team rather than a group of imposters. Center field is one of those positions. You are morally obligated to have a centerfielder, a catcher and a shortstop. 

Perhaps a social action group should show up at Nutting's house and demand a center fielder.