If I needed to choose my favourite cliche assertion in sports activities media, it’d be that father time is undefeated. Time and time once more we see the decline of a as soon as seemingly unstoppable athlete, because the miles begin to pile on and they’re merely not the identical as they as soon as had been. Despite all that, 37-year previous Andrew McCutchen continues to show his value to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and why he could be one of the vital underrated stars of his era.
I wish to get the plain out of the way in which first, McCutchen is the best Pirate of the twenty first century. When the groups of the late 80’s and early 90’s had been disbanded, the town of Pittsburgh was determined for a brand new baseball star. The departures of Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Jim Leyland, and others left the group with out an identification leading to a document 20-season streak the place they posted a shedding document.
I’m not going to behave like he did it by himself, however McCutchen was largely answerable for bringing Pirates baseball again to the forefront, and “Buctober” was a really actual factor in his first stint with the group. There’s much more proof of this as when he was traded, the group went into one other unprecedented streak of mediocrity. A number of 100-loss seasons ceased when McCutchen re-signed with the group as a free agent in 2023. Once more, he’s not solely answerable for that however it’s clear to see that when McCutchen is carrying black and gold the group is in a greater spot total.
Drafted in 2005 straight out of Fort Meade Excessive College, McCutchen didn’t instantly change issues in Pittsburgh, however as soon as he arrived it was laborious to recollect what occasions had been like with out him. The thrill surrounding the Pirates was at an all-time excessive. The group constructed round McCutchen with different gamers like Starling Marte, Gerrit Cole, and Josh Harrison they usually had been lastly aggressive and thrilling.
When the information broke that the Pirates could be signing the veteran outfielder in 2023, it was like historical past repeating itself. The billboards, the press-conference, the jerseys, the complete expertise was like 2012 yet again. His first recreation again in PNC Park as a Pirate was like a rock live performance. Even when the performances weren’t fairly the identical, it was value watching each step of the way in which. Now in 2024, by all of the ups and downs that this group has handled, there’s a really actual dialog for bringing McCutchen again for an additional yr, as he has put collectively one other robust marketing campaign.
Undoubtedly the profession of Andrew McCutchen is coming to a detailed, so the dialog of Cooperstown is actually starting to bubble. Within the case of McCutchen, he’s considered as a fringe Corridor-of-Fame candidate. I don’t suppose it’ll be simple to persuade the voters, however I do consider that McCutchen is completely a Corridor-of-Fame participant, and doesn’t get sufficient recognition for being probably the greatest outfielders of his period.
McCutchen’s resume consists of 5 All-Star group picks, four-straight Silver Slugger awards, a Gold Glove award in 2012, and was the MVP within the Nationwide League in 2013. He has a profession line of .274/.368/.463 with 2,147 hits, 319 homers, and 1,095 RBIs. At his peak, he was arguably one of the best participant within the Nationwide League. From 2010-2015, McCutchen collected 35.4 bWAR and had a 146 OPS+. His 35.4 bWAR trails solely Joey Votto (35.7) over that span.
McCutchen not too long ago eclipsed 20 homers in a season for the tenth time in his profession, and is certainly one of simply 5 energetic gamers to have a minimum of ten seasons with 20+ residence runs. His eight seasons of 20+ residence runs with the Pirates is second to solely Willie Stargell. He has additionally tallied 5 seasons with a minimum of 20 stolen bases, as he was really an all-around offensive risk, exhibiting the flexibility to hit for contact, hit for energy, get on base, and steal when wanted. Remarkably he’s certainly one of simply 12 gamers in MLB historical past with a minimum of 2000 hits, 1100 runs, 1000 walks, 1000 RBI, 300 homers, 400 doubles, and 200 stolen bases. Seven of these different gamers are in Cooperstown.
Last item I’ll say in regards to the prospects of Cooperstown, is that if the numbers will not be sufficient for the voters then his character must be. Cooperstown has a “Character Clause”, which is considered when figuring out a participant’s candidacy. Thus far, it has solely been utilized in regards to a participant’s adverse character qualities i.e Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez for his or her connections to steroids. Not as soon as has the Corridor considered somebody’s constructive character qualities, but when there have been to be a primary, McCutchen suits that mould.
In 2015 he was awarded the Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award for his dedication to neighborhood and understanding the worth of serving to others, was awarded Pittsburgher of the Yr in 2023, and has all the time been a role-model on the sector and off. There have been higher gamers, however there could also be no higher individual in baseball from this era, and for some which means greater than a silly trophy.
Beloved within the metropolis of Pittsburgh, and impactful in any respect his different stops alongside the way in which, Andrew McCutchen has performed out the type of profession that the majority gamers can solely dream of. His charitable acts away from the sport have made him one of the vital revered males within the sport. If that is the final season we get to get pleasure from him as a participant, then the time is now for the Nationwide media to acknowledge how nice he really is, and the way a lot we’ll miss him when he’s lastly gone.
