My thoughts on the Pirates' starting line-ups

A lot of people have been talking about the Pirates' starting line-ups this week. Here are my thoughts on the subject.

VS RHP

John Jaso - 1B
Andrew McCutchen - CF
Starling Marte - LF
Jung-Ho Kang - 3B
Josh Harrison - 2B
Gregory Polanco - RF
Francisco Cervelli - C
Jordy Mercer - SS
Pitcher

This is the line-up that Clint Hurdle has been going with during Spring Training and I think it's what he'll do for the regular season as well. Batting McCutchen second means he won't bat with two outs and nobody on as much as before and Marte's speed means that if Cutch or Jaso manage to get on opponents most likely won't be able to double him off. Kang is the best power threat on the team and Harrison and Polanco have shown the ability to drive in runs in clutch situations.

VS LHP

Josh Harrison - 2B
Andrew McCutchen - CF
Starling Marte - LF
Jung-Ho Kang - 3B
Francisco Cervelli - C
David Freese - 1B
Michael Morse - RF
Jordy Mercer - SS
Pitcher

I think Freese will push Morse out of the first base platoon, freeing him up to platoon with Polanco in right. Morse is a poor defender, but Hurdle is not stranger to defensive subs and Morse's bat vs lefties well makes up for the difference.

Jamie Dixon's leaving Pitt and that's okay

It seems like forever ago when Jamie Dixon wasn't coaching Pitt Basketball. Dixon was named the the Head coach of the Pitt Panthers in 2003 after spending four years as an assistant. Since taking over the program, Dixon compiled a 328-123 record and 11 NCAA tournament appearances in 13 years. Despite this success Dixon made the decision earlier this week to take over the head coaching job at his Alma Mater, TCU. TCU basketball is in a bad place, and just finished a 12-21 season.

So Dixon is a good coach who's had a fair amount off success and has been here for more than a decade and now he's leaving to go to a worse program, so why aren't more people sad to see him go?

The short answer is that Dixon has never had a lot of success in the NCAA tournament and is generally see as having underachieving teams. Dixon only ever made it to three Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight. Dixon also has never recruited more than two ESPN top 100 players in one year.

Dixon's win totals per year have also been on a downward trend ever since his first year.

In my opinion Jamie Dixon is a good, not great, basketball coach and there are other, better options out there (Talking about you Sean Miller). I think Pitt might be in for a rough couple of years going forward, but ultimately I think Athletic Director Scott Barnes will find the right man for the job.