McTeammates

One thing that is synonymous with St Patrick's Day is McDonald's Shamrock shake.

The 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates had more members with a surname that began with Mc__ than any other team I have seen before.  

Above is my Pirates country wooden sign I got signed during Spring Training 2012.  Among the names on the sign,are former All-Stars: Andrew McCutchen, Josh Harrison, Pedro Alvarez, Jason Grilli, Starling Marte, Nate McLouth, and Evan Meek.

Also on the sign is Casey McGehee

 and Relief Pitcher Daniel McCutchen

Not on the sign, but eligible to be on it because he played for the 2012 Pirates is Catcher Michael McKenry, Utility Infielder John McDonald, Starting Pitcher James McDonald, and Pitcher Kyle McPherson. 

That's 8 Mcs

That other guy

With the Pirates complete gutting of their best players over the past three seasons (Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen, Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, Jameson Taillon, Starling Marte, Joe Musgrove, and Corey Dickerson) it is clear the team is rebuilding for the future.  

The 2020 Pirates reminded me a lot of the 2010 Pirates in that they were the worse team in baseball and had traded their best players just a few seasons before.

With the rebuild of the 2009-2011 seasons there were players that normally wouldn't have been given a chance in the majors.  One such player was "the other McCutchen".

Daniel McCutchen was part of the return package the Pirates got from the Yankees (along with Jeff Karstens and Jose Tabata) for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady in 2008.  Daniel McCutchen,was drafted in the 13th round of the 2006 MLB draft by the Yankees after failing to sign with the Cardinals, Yankees, and Devil Rays in previous years of being drafted. 

Daniel joined the Pirates minor league affiliate, Indianapolis Indians (AAA).  He pitched to a 4.69ERA and 7.7K/9 in 48 innings in 2008.  He would repeat AAA in 2009 and pitched to much better results, earning a call up to the majors.  He lead the International League in victories in 2009.

Topps was using Daniel for a lot of their products in 2010 and 2011.

Daniel made his MLB debut on August 31, 2009 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He would go on to start six games for the Pirates, going 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 36 innings.

He would make the team's Opening Day roster in 2010 in the long relief/spot starter role. 

On August 8th 2010, Daniel did something that no other Pirates pitcher has done since.  He stole a base. 

I found an article from 2013 that dives deep into pitchers stealing bases.  It was available on SB Nation and can be viewed here.

I don't have a huge Daniel McCutchen, but do have a few autographs of the former Pirates pitcher.  

Included is a card with Daniel's name, but pictures Andrew on the front.

Cardboard Cameos #6: No Relation!

Daniel McCutchen may be best remembered in his Pirates career as being the losing pitcher of the 19 inning Jerry Meals game from July 26th 2011.  In the game, McCutchen threw 92 pitches in 5.1 innings of relief.

What a train wreck the Pirates season became after that game.

Way before No Relation pitched this game he was in the 2009 TriStar Projections set.

Well sort of.

The card actually features Andrew McCutchen on the front, not Daniel.  This marks another Cutch Cardboard Cameo.

Fun Trivia Fact
Doc McJames who played from 1895-1901 was born James Mc Cutchen James.  He was the only other player in MLB history to play with a born name McCutchen.

Daniel and Andrew were teammates beginning in 2009 through 2012.