Pirates are proving it, time for GM Cherington to do his job

The Pirates jumped into the second half of the season taking 2 out of 3 from the current best team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, at PNC Park.

The Pirates winning streak stopped at six on Sunday, dropping the final game of the series to Philly, but the team remains a game over .500 with the division rival St.
Louis Cardinals coming to PNC Park.

Right in the thick of the Wild Card hunt and the playoffs, it’s time for the Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington to start making moves to make this team better.

Yes, the patience the team had with Rowdy Tellez has paid off, but there are other players on the team that Joe Starkey says are just not working out.

“The fact that Martin Perez is slated to start Wednesday, is ridiculous,” said Starkey on “The Joe Show” Monday.

Perez started on Friday against the Phillies. He gave up six earned runs over 3.2 innings. Luckily the Pirates game back for a thrilling bottom of the 9 ^th victory.

Before Friday, the Pirates had lost the previous four games that Perez started.

The 33-year-old pitcher is 1-5 with a 5.61 ERA over 15 starts this season.

“I don’t want to see Perez in the rotation anymore, I’d rather see a bullpen game,” said Starkey.

Another player that Starkey doesn’t want to see on the major league roster is outfield Jack Suwinski.

The 25-year-old is batting .177 with nine home runs.

Connor Joe is another player that can’t be making regular starts.

Starkey says Joe batted .169 in June and is batting .185 this July.

“He’s not really playable right now,” said Starkey, who also mentioned Michael A. Taylor.

Starkey adds the team is playing better in July, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get better.

And, they can get better if Cherington can go out and find a couple bats.