Buccos Cove Player of the Week: Colin Moran
The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially played a week's worth of games and they have seen their share of ups and downs on both sides of the ball. Through their first six games of the season, they sit at 2-4 and are currently tied for last place in the National League Central. With that in mind, it is time to pick our first 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Player of the Week. For week 1, it wasn't very hard to come up with the winner as he was the man who has kept the offense afloat over the first six games. Colin Moran has been on fire to start the season and is our first Buccos Cove Pirates Player of the Week!
Moran has been the life blood of the Pirates offense so far this season, leading all of the "everyday starters" in all three statistical categories. Through his first six games of the season, he is hitting .300 with three home runs and four RBI in 20 at bats. Two of those three home runs came in one game as the Pirates lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Opening Night. It was the first time in his career that Moran hit two home runs in the same game and both came in key situations. Without the success of Colin Moran, the Pirates could be in much worse shape than they already are. Let's dive into the first week of the season, and see what has made Moran so successful.
A Change in Approach Produces More Power
One of the biggest things talked about on the telecast when Colin Moran comes to the plate is his change in approach. He worked extensively with Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein over the off-season and, at least early in the season, we are seeing the benefits of this off-season work. Eckstein told Moran to not be so timid late in counts and be more aggressive at the plate. We have definitely seen Moran take that to heart and he is making more contact than ever before. He leads the team with six hits this season and a 1.164 on-base plus slugging percentage. With more swings comes more contact and early in the season, that has helped Moran.
In Moran's case, more contact also leads to more power as he has gotten off to a hot start with three home runs in his first six games. All three of those home runs have come in big situations and helped jump start what was otherwise a static Pirates offense. His first came on Sunday in St. Louis and was the first Pirates home run of the year that gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead. That sparked a five-run outburst from the Pirates over the last three innings of the game, and gave manager Derek Shelton his first career win. His second two came in the Home Opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. His first of the day came after a one hour and 42 minute rain delay, and gave Chad Kuhl a 1-0 lead in his first regular season appearance. His second came after the Brewers had tied the game at 1-1 and was the first splashdown home run of the season. It gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead in a game they would eventually lose 6-5 in 11 innings.
You would think being more aggressive would lead to more strikeouts, but in the case of Moran that has not happened through the first six games of the season. In his first 22 plate appearances this season, Moran has struck out five times for a strikeout percentage of 22.7%. Right now, that is on track with Moran's career numbers, but he hasn't been striking out in big situations. Moran is never going to be the hardest man to strike out in the National League, but he is showing signs of improvement over these first six games. Whether or not he sustains this success over the entire season is going to depend if he can make adjustments when the opposition starts trying to bait him into chasing pitches.
Colin Moran's Game of the Week: 7-27 vs. Brewers
Colin Moran seems to love hitting during the Home Opener, and the 2020 home opener was no exception. Even though the Pirates ended up losing the game 6-5 in 11 innings, Moran had a big night going 2-4 with two home runs and two RBI. It was the first time in Moran's career that he hit two home runs in the same game, and it was his first time hitting the ball to the Allegehny River. His first home run literally got the offense going after doing absolutely nothing. The game was in a one hour and 42 minute rain delay, before the team's took the field in a 0-0 game. Moran would come up following the delay and launched a ball into the right field seats to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. The home run was big because it allowed Chad Kuhl to make his return from injury with a lead rather than having to pitch in a tie game.
After the Brewers tied the game in the top of the seventh, Moran would come up once again in a tie game. This time, he launched a 1-1 fastball into the night sky and gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead. The shot made it to the Allegheny River on the bounce and was the first time that Moran has hit one into the river. The home run sparked a four-run bottom of the seventh inning that gave the Pirates a 5-1 lead at the time. Moran would end up being pulled in the ninth inning for a better defensive option, but the ninth inning would be a disaster for the Pirates and they eventually lost 6-5 in 11 innings.
Colin Moran and the Pittsburgh Pirates are back in action tonight as they start a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. Trevor Williams (0-1) makes his second start of the 2020 season for Pittsburgh while Yu Darvish (0-1) goes for Chicago in his second start of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 pm, and you can watch the game on AT&T Sportsnet or listen live at 93.7 The Fan. The Pirates are looking for a rebound after dropping their first two series of the 2020 season.
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