The Pirates need to do better than Pedro Alvarez at first base, and not just in the future. Now.
Sure, he’s second on the club in homers with 10, and his .748 OPS ranks fourth among regulars ahead of Neil Walker, Gregory Polanco, Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison. Baseball Reference says he’s been worth a half win above replacement at the plate as a result.
But none of that is saving the Bucs from his defense, where numbers offer hard evidence of the struggles that have been plain to see as his 10 errors — most among MLB first basemen — have mounted.