Denis Poroy\/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com <\/p>\n
The demise of Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has been greatly exaggerated. <\/p>\n
At least thats the way Cutch is making it seem this summer. <\/p>\n
As the calendar flips to August, the 30-year-old mainstay is on an extended tear thats helped turn around an abysmal season for himself and the team. <\/p>\n
McCutchen put a bow on July by slugging three home runs against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. In the months of June and July, McCutchen is batting .367 (65-for-177) with 14 homers, 42 runs batted in 11 doubles and 44 runs scored. <\/p>\n
The resurgence is a welcome sight for Pirates fans beginning to worry about their center fielders future. McCutchen struggled throughout the 2016 campaign, ending a streak of five straight All-Star selections that included the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player award three other top-five finishes. <\/p>\n
McCutchen ended last year with the worst slash line of his big-league career in all three categories .256\/.336\/.430. That kind of underwhelming performance at the plate then carried into the 2017 season and concern mounted. After an 0-for-5 day against the Atlanta Braves on May 23, McCutchens average dipped down to .200 and he had only six home runs and 20 RBI through 45 games. <\/p>\n
The slow start added fuel to burning trade rumors that predicted the nine-year veteran didnt have much longer in black and gold. <\/p>\n
Fast-forward two-plus months and the slash line is up to a McCutchen-like .292\/.385\/.535. The average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage are all team-highs and hes also Pittsburghs top home run hitter (22), run producer (66 RBI) and run scorer (68). <\/p>\n
Wins took a little longer to catch up. After falling to a season-worst nine games under .500 (37-46) on July 3, the Bucs have won 14 of 22 and enter an eight-game homestand at 51-54. Pittsburgh remains a long-shot to reach its fourth postseason in five years, but the Pirates are within 5 1\/2 games of the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs and 8 1\/2 games of the second wild card berth, currently held by the Colorado Rockies. <\/p>\n
The non-waiver trade deadline passed at 4 p.m., Monday afternoon and McCutchen remains in a Pirates uniform. That could still change, but Cutch is proving hes got a lot of high-level baseball left to play. <\/p>\n
Eric Horchy is a staff writer withOutsidePitchMLB.com. You can follow and interact with him on Twitter:@EricHorchy <\/p>\n
2017Andrew McCutchenBaseballBuccosBucsmajor league baseballMLBMLB StandingsNational LeagueNL CentralOutsidePitchMLBPittsburgh PiratesPNC Parkregular seasonSports <\/p>\n
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Pittsburgh Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen's lengthy tear - OutsidePitchMLB<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Denis Poroy\/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com The demise of Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has been greatly exaggerated. At least thats the way Cutch is making it seem this summer. Continue reading