{"id":70263,"date":"2024-04-10T07:00:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T11:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=70263"},"modified":"2024-04-09T22:21:19","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T02:21:19","slug":"pirates-another-role-bednar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/04\/10\/pirates-another-role-bednar\/","title":{"rendered":"All-Star Closer Continues To Struggle, Needs Another Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

After blowing three saves in four opportunities, the Pittsburgh Pirates should consider another role for closer David Bednar<\/a> for now. Bednar, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, is struggling early in the 2024 season. After blowing the save against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, the popular local product from Mars (the Pittsburgh suburb, not the planet) was booed off the field by the home crowd for perhaps the first time.<\/p>\n

All-Star Closer Continues To Struggle, Needs Another Role<\/h2>\n

Rough Start to the Season for Bednar<\/h3>\n

Bednar\u2019s three blown saves so far in 2024 equal his total for all of 2023. He was bothered by lat tightness in the spring and pitched just two innings in the exhibition games. He was deemed unavailable for the Opening Day game in Miami against the Marlins. When a save opportunity arose in the bottom of the 12th, manager Derek Shelton<\/a> turned to young Jose Hernandez<\/a> to nail down the victory. In the fourth game of the season, Bednar was called upon in the ninth inning to protect a 7-6 lead. He surrendered a game-tying homer to Miami\u2019s Nick Gordon<\/a> in a game the Pirates would eventually win in 10 innings.<\/p>\n

Bednar earned a save in Washington last Thursday. However, on Saturday, at home against the Baltimore Orioles, the right-hander blew another save in the ninth inning. This time, he was protecting a 3-2 lead when he allowed two one-out singles and uncorked a wild pitch. The tying run would score on a fielder\u2019s choice. The Pirates won that game, too, in 11 innings. By this point, no harm, no foul.<\/p>\n

A Most Demoralizing Loss For The Pirates<\/h3>\n

However, the result against the Tigers on Tuesday was different. It\u2019s become evident the Pirates must find another role for Bednar. The Pirates lost 5-3, and Bednar wasted the best start of the season by a Pirates pitcher. Mart\u00ecn P\u00e8rez<\/a> pitched like he was in the proverbial rocking chair. The veteran lefty completed eight innings, during which he surrendered one run, six hits, and no walks. Shelton turned the game over to Bednar for the ninth due to P\u00e8rez\u2019s pitch count.<\/p>\n

At once, Bednar had no command whatsoever. There was a walk, three singles, two hit batters (by curveballs), and four runs before he was removed. Whether he was throwing his four-seamer, splitter, or curve, none found the strike zone. Several pitches missed the strike zone by large margins. It was like watching Steve Blass<\/a> when he lost his ability to throw strikes in 1973. Bednar recorded just one out; his ERA now stands at an unsightly 12.46.<\/p>\n

The Next Step For The Pirates and Bednar<\/h3>\n

After the game, before Bednar could address the media, Rowdy Tellez<\/a> stepped up and defended his teammate. He pointed out that Bednar was a two-time All-Star and said the Pirates had to play better as a team. Once he was able to take the floor, Bednar proclaimed himself healthy. Thus, the issue behind his ineffectiveness must be the lack of work in the spring.
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