Clint Hurdle made the right _ and perhaps even long overdue _ decision to move Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order for Friday's game with the New York Mets. It is the first start of his career in which he will be lower than fourth in the batting order.
It clearly needed to happen, as it is the best thing for both the Pirates and McCutchen.
That doesn't mean it was an easy decision for Hurdle. It wasn't. It isn't easy to tell a player of McCutchen's stature he no longer merits the lofty status he worked so hard to earn.
It isn't that Hurdle and the Pirates organization have lost faith in McCutchen; they have just run out of time. They can't wait any longer to see if he is going to regain his MVP form or anything close to it.
McCutchen has always been a class act and a team player, so it isn't a surprise he took the news well. He is also smart enough to understand he really doesn't have much of a choice.
He is hitting .203, has an on-base percentage of .274 and an OPS of .634. His batting average in the month of May is .163, and he is mired in a 2-for-22 slump.
He is nowhere near the Pirates' best hitter, and he has left too many men on base to merit the third spot in the order. Adam Bittner wrote the other day just how far he's fallen and when his decline began.
The numbers make this a no-brainer, but when it comes to a star player, there always have to be considerations beyond statistics.
Hurdle said he has had good conversations about the move with McCutchen over the last couple of days. He talked to McCutchen about how the move could help him get going at the plate.
"We are just trying to change the whole environment for what is going on with him," Hurdle said. "He has been very receptive to it. He has always been a man that wants to perform and do well for his team. He is willing to sit down and listen to advice and have a conversation."
Although McCutchen hasn't hit well, he is still the team's best available outfielder, and that's why he still needs to play every day. There isn't really a close second among defensive outfielders on the team right now.
McCutchen understands he is running out of time, though, at least here in Pittsburgh. The Pirates tried to trade him in the offseason, and given his salary ($14.2 million this year) and contract status (he will be a free agent after next season), he is a candidate to be traded in July.
His trade value, though, won't be very high if he doesn't start hitting. If he doesn't have much trade value, the Pirates might have to keep him around for the rest of the season. And with Starling Marte coming back from a suspension in July, it is entirely possible McCutchen could finish the season as a bench player.
That's getting way ahead of things, but it is clear McCutchen understands he needs to make the most of this opportunity. He is "cool with" the move and believes it will help him because there is a little less pressure lower in the lineup.
"I understand how this can help me get things going, so I wasn't opposed to it all," McCutchen said. "I'm looking forward to it, and I am kind of excited about it. This will give me a little breather. The three-hole can be a spot where you feel like you can produce and deliver. I have had plenty of opportunities the last few series and maybe I've put a little added pressure on me to do more."
McCutchen said it is a "battle with himself," and he has at times tried too hard to make things happen. That is common for a star who sees his status slipping away, and it doesn't necessarily mean he won't ever be able to return to the three-hole again.
He hopes the move to the six-hole is temporary, but he isn't going to put a timetable on it. He just wants to continue to work to get better. The Pirates certainly are hoping that approach works, because McCutchen is a valuable asset _ regardless of whether he's a player for them or the centerpiece of a trade.
"I believe the talent is still there," Hurdle said. "Our team plays its best when Andrew plays good baseball. He doesn't need to be anything more than the best Andrew he can be this year."
