OnlyBucs

If Cutch is still playing well when Marte returns I would leave him in centerfield and put Marte in left. He deserves to stay in centerfield.

6864653E373E363B3C23390E0 wrote: If Cutch is still playing well when Marte returns I would leave him in centerfield and put Marte in left. He deserves to stay in centerfield.
Yes sir. Do not mess with him at all!

755855444352450506370 wrote: Who knows what all goes into all of it.  Just look at what happened to Steve Blass.  Cutch has for years batted third and been one of the best players in baseball.  For a number of those years, the Pirates were perennial losers.  He continued to hit well when the Pirates made the playoffs.  He has traditionally started slowly and then lit it up when the weather got warmer.  Part of me wonders over last year and this year, whether Cutch was trying to hit three run homers every at bat to try to carry the team.  He was the face of the team and expectations were very high and when he and the team struggled, I think he started to try to do too much.  I think moving him down in the lineup was a very literal way of showing him that the team did not expect him to carry the team.  I think that, in conjunction, with the work he was doing to not pull everything helped.  Then when he started hitting he regained his confidence.  Confidence is a huge thing.  Pitchers were pitching against him with confidence but now that he has his confidence there is more fear in how they approach him and I think that leads to more mistakes. 
I agree completely. Trying to do too much, pressure to be the guy who carries the team, developing bad habits, unwittingly getting away from what had made him a great hitter, loss of confidence. Moving him down in the order was the best thing for him. 
I would move him up to #5 maybe just see how that goes and if he continues move him to 3rd again. Take your time though he is absolutely tearing up jack now and it would be nice to get him higher in the order for more ABs.

I wouldn't mess with it whatsoever

42707C7C685A79707D787770110 wrote: I wouldn't mess with it whatsoever


Yup. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And he absolutely stays in center when Marte returns.

5F57546375507778160 wrote: I wouldn't mess with it whatsoever


Yup.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  And he absolutely stays in center when Marte returns.


I would wait for Cutch to say he is ready,

McCutchen might not like that "pressure". Move him to 7th and watch him even do more.

Let's move Cutch down to 8th so he's even less stressed out about hitting.

The way Cutch is hitting at this time, I think that the Bucs should not entertain any idea of trading him. I totally agreed with the trading of a Melancon at the deadline last season, but if Cutch is still hitting like he has been in late July you do not trade the player who is one of the teams best offensive players. I would consider picking up the team option for next season.

262A2B7079707875726D77400 wrote: The way Cutch is hitting at this time, I think that the Bucs should not entertain any idea of trading him. I totally agreed with the trading of a Melancon at the deadline last season, but if Cutch is still hitting like he has been in late July you do not trade the player who is one of the teams best offensive players. I would consider picking up the team option for next season.


yeah, if he is anywhere near he was in 2015 they need to pick up option for next year, he would be bargain.