4/8-4/13 Week in Pirates' Shifts

Date: April 8

Pitcher: Charlie Morton (RHP)

Batter: Anthony Rizzo (LHB)
Fielder: Pedro Alvarez (3B)
Situation: Bases Empty
Count: 0-2
Pitch Type: 77-MPH Curve

Remember Jordy Mercer played "second base" when Bucs faced John Baker last week? The Pirates let Pedro Alvarez play "second" when Anthony Rizzo is batting. So why there's a difference? I think they want to keep a natural shortstop in "shortstop" against a good hitter like Rizzo.

Date: April 11

Pitcher: Francisco Liriano (LHP)

Batter: Aramis Ramirez (RHB)
Fielder: Neil Walker (2B)
Situation: Bases Empty
Count: 3-2
Pitch Type: 86-MPH Change up

Date: April 13

Pitcher: Charlie Morton (RHP)

Batter: Logan Schafer (LHB)
Fielder: Jordy Mercer (SS)
Situation: Bases Empty
Count: 1-2
Pitch Type: 86-MPH Split-Change

This one is not an extreme defensive shift. In this case, Mercer showed good positioning. Spray Chart says that Logan Schafer doesn't use opposite field well.

Mercer was in double-play position, and Alvarez was in around the hole. 

Date: April 13

Pitcher: Justin Wilson (LHP)

Batter: Aramis Ramirez (RHB)
Fielder: Neil Walker (2B)
Situation: Bases Empty
Count: 0-0
Pitch Type: 95-MPH Four-seam fastball

Justin Wilson threw a perfectly located fastball, but Ramirez made a textbook hitting.

Aramis' face says it all.