Mar 26, 2019 3 min read

If.

It’s one of the smallest words in the English language made with two of the thinnest letters.

But the word has huge implications for the Pittsburgh Pirates and how successful they can be in this Major League Baseball season that begins Thursday in Cincinnati.

There are a lot of things to like about this team. But there also are areas that are concerns.

So the 2019 version will be successful – and by successful, I mean above .500 and a threat to win the division title – if:

• Erik Gonzalez is the answer at shortstop. Jordy Mercer is in Detroit and Gonzalez was acquired in a trade with Cleveland. Gonzalez has never held the spot for the Indians above the minors but is expected to do so for the Pirates. He has a better glove and more range than Mercer but not more power. What happens if he hits below .200 through June?
• Right fielder Gregory Polanco finally blossoms. Polanco is a 30-30 talent trapped in a 20-10 body. He is working his way back from an injury and could miss some time early but the Pirates need him to have a breakout power season. He’s the prototypical power hitter and needs to play like one soon.
• Josh Bell shakes the sophomore slump. Is the first baseman a 26-homer, 90-RBI guy of 2017 or the 12-home run, 62-RBI of last season? Bell was mostly the cleanup hitter last season and the Pirates suffered for it, ranking 27th in productivity from that spot. Bell has a power hitter’s body, 6-4 and 240, but is more of a line-drive hitter. At 26, he’s still young but this is a crucial year for him.
• Pitcher Chris Archer pitches as well as everyone seems to believe he can. When Archer came in a trade from Tampa Bay last year, Pittsburgh fans were giddy, expecting Archer to soar. He didn’t. In 10 starts, he went 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA, very average. More worrisome is Archer has not matched his breakout 2015 season: 12-13, 3.23 ERA, 252 strikeouts in 212 innings. His ERA has been above 4.00 the past three seasons while his strikeout total has been steady. Archer is the No. 2 starter in the rotation. It’s time to pitch like it.
• Someone produces in the leadoff spot. The Pirates used left fielder Corey Dickerson, second baseman Adam Frazier and centerfielder Starling Marte there and managed a collective .257 batting average and .701 OPS, 22nd in the league. Frazier appears the most likely leadoff hitter because Dickerson has better power potential. But this is a spot that needs improved.
• Finally, third baseman Jung Ho Kang returns to top form. Kang was on his way to a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter when his career was derailed by reported alcohol problems after the 2016 season. He appears headed in the right direction, showing his old power form and winning the third base job from Colin Moran. Kang reportedly gave up alcohol that led to three DUI and visa problems and could be
• ready for a breakout season. The Pirates are keeping their fingers crossed.

If the majority of these issues are resolved, the Pirates should win 86 games and be in the division race for most of the season.

Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com