McCutchen's first AB kicks off big first inning

Andrew McCutchen has been major league ready for a while. The Pirates prospect just needed the right opportunity, and a little bit of luck, to take his rightful position in centerfield at PNC Park. The shocking trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves yesterday provided that opportunity and sprinkle of luck. In his first major league at-bat, McCutchen singled up the middle after falling 0-2 in the count against the Mets Mike Pelfrey. He also got a chance to show his blistering speed on the basepaths, going first to third on a Nyjer Morgan hit. The Pirates eventually tallied 6 hits and 4 runs in McCutchen's first inning in Pittsburgh.

A few thoughts on Nate McLouth -- I really hate to see Nate McLouth go and on top of that going the way of Bream... BREAM!!! Nate wasn't a great player but he was the type of player that you loved to watch and root for. He could do a bit of everything: hit, run, field. He worked himself into a major league starter, All-Star, and Gold Glover. Nate also was a class act, nice guy, and really seemed to be at home in the small-market that is Pittsburgh. McLouth's hair made him look California, but he grew up in a small town in Michigan and acted the part of a humble, low-key, Midwesterner. He also seemed to understand the pain of being a Pirates fan. I heard him say in an off-season interview that he knew the pain of losing, he has been a Detroit Lions fan his whole life. McLouth came up through the Pirates organization and I really thought that he could be around when the Bucs finally achieve a winning season again.

Ramblings on McCutchen-related matters -- McCutchen dawned his #22 Pirates uniform for the first time at PNC Park this afternoon. I like it! That's the number that I always asked to wear while in little league, buddy-league basketball, what have you. Why? Well... when I was 8, 9, 10 years old, Will Clark was my favorite player. I wasn't a San Francisco Giants fan, I just liked Will Clark. Since Will "The Thrill" went to Mississippi State, I even started this weird obsession of following players from there: Jeff Brantley, Rafael Palmeiro, Paul Maholm, Jonathon Papelbon also went there but I couldn't care less about him. When I was looking at grad schools, I came within a hair of going to Mississippi State.

Another thing that I'm thinking about related to McCutchen in Pittsburgh is the speed that he and Nyjer Morgan bring to the top of the lineup. It's really something special. If both or either of those guys get on in the first inning, it can really disrupt the opposing pitcher and result in those much coveted early runs. Although I think M&M would be more effective hitting 1 and 2 in the lineup, I'm wondering when Doumit comes back, if John Russell would consider doing the Tony La Russa thing again and bat the pitcher eighth while moving Morgan to the ninth spot.

As you can imagine there are a lot of thoughts out there about the McLouth trade:
[Bucs Dugout]
[Raise the Jolly Roger]
[WHYGAVS]
[MLB Fanhouse]
[Mondesi's House]
[Hyzdu Headquarters]
[The Green Weenie]
[North Side Notch]

PBC Blog has a nice pic of McLouth's banner coming down.