Those infamous Pirates trades: Cole dominates, McCutcheon finally earns a spot in playoffs



… and Chris Archer is a great replacement for Gerrit

Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutcheon should letters of thanks to Neil Huntingdon and Bob Nutting. Nutting was too cheap to keep them with the Pirates, and as a result, they both are experiencing something that they would never have done if they had stayed with the Pirates: An opportunity to play in the MLB playoffs and perhaps the World Series.

Cole was simply dominant for the Houston Astros in a 3-1 win over them in game two of the ALDS. Cole allowed just three hits to the Cleveland Indians and struck out 12 in seven innings, simply dominating them to raise their record to 2-0. They ultimately won the third game to advance to the AL finals against either the Red Sox or Yankees.

And, it appears that Cole learned from his experience in not being able to enter the NL series.

According to an MLB writer, John Perrotto, Cole vowed in 2015 that it would not happen again. In a tweet, the writer said,

After losing in the 2015 NL Wild Card game, Gerrit Cole said to me about an hour after the last out, "I'll learn from this and never let this happen in October again." Appears he did indeed learn his lesson. #Astros #Pirates #MLB

— John Perrotto (@JPerrotto) October 6, 2018

Whether Cole can continue against the top teams in the AL is a good question, but he has been a superb pickup for the Astros. He was 15-5 in 32 starts for Houston with a 2.88 ERA.

Nutting unloaded him for one reason: His salary. If an owner gets rid of someone who was considered a contender for the Cy Young Award, then he has sent a message to Pirates’ fans: We satisfied with mediocrity — or worse.

[Manager Cliff Hurdle deserves credit for winning 82 games with the talent he was given, as do the players for finishing above .500.]

Cutch

McCutcheon receives a great boost when he was traded from the San Francisco Giants to the New York Yankees in the midst of their playoff run. The Yankees needed help because of the exceptional play of the Red Sox and a wrist injury to Aaron Judge in July, one that has been slow to heal.

"We're getting a really good player, so I think that's exciting for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "I'm just looking to him getting here tomorrow and hopefully putting him in the lineup and seeing him help us. I think his reputation precedes him. This is as high character a person as we have in our game, and I know he'll fit well in our room."

The McCutcheon trade was also one predicated by finances. If it was simply part of the youth movement, then maybe Pirates fans could accept it. However, the Chris Archer trade destroyed that meme, sending two young, albeit slow to mature, prospects to the Marlins for a marginal pitcher who used to be good.

The Yankees need to rebound against the Sox, and perhaps they will. But, at least both Cole and Cutch have experienced something that would never have happened to them if they had stayed with the Bucs.

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