Statistics are an important part of baseball, and so players are constantly being evaluated, judged, measured and scrutinized. In July, all the numbers are brought front and center by two events: the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and the trade deadline. Cory and Alan consider the Pirates’ roster in that context.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ship began to sink shortly after the last recording of Pirate Revolution, a Titletahn podcast. Hosts Cory Humes and Alan Smodic return to their microphones today, and in doing so, hope to bail out a team that’s struggled through their early schedule in 2010.

Hosts Cory Humes and Alan Smodic go around the diamond and discuss players’ performances and managerial tendencies through the Pirates’ opening series against the Dodgers. And, as is often the case, the focus turns toward the future, as the 2010 season will be spent as an extended tryout for what’s certain to be a competitive 2011 team.

Opening Day is less than three weeks away, and hosts Cory Humes and Alan Smodic begin to wonder who’ll take the hill for the Pirates against the Dodgers on April 5. In this episode of Pirate Revolution, starting pitchers at the major and minor-league levels are reviewed.

Ryan Doumit enters 2010 as the go-to guy behind the dish, but how long will he remain in black and gold? If Doumit does get dealt, Jason Jaramillo will presumably inherit the starting catcher’s job; will he be ready? Pittsburgh native Neil Walker is ready to don the tools of ignorance again, too.

From the tweeting machine Joel Hanrahan to recently acquired closer Octavio Dotel, to grizzled veteran Brendan Donnelly and up-and-comer Evan Meek, the number of bullpen options the Pirates have in 2010 is greatly improved over 2009.

In Andy LaRoche, Pedro Alvarez, Jeff Clement, Neil Walker, Steve Pearce and Garrett Jones, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a number of interesting corner infield options for 2010 and beyond.