I’ll Take “Cutch” on my Team Any Day

What a week Andrew McCutchen had.

“The Son of God died for our sins so that we may have the opportunity to be in His kingdom one day,” Andrew McCutchen

The center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates went 7-21 with six hits and five home runs in only seven days. He drove in nine RBIs and posted a .286 average.

On Sunday in San Diego, he blasted three home runs and went 3-3 at the plate. This was the third time the veteran outfielder had a multi-homer game. He is definitely in the zone.

He has had a star-studded career thus far. He has been selected to five All-Star teams. In 2013, he won the National League MVP Award, and in 2015, he received the Roberto Clemente Award. The latter is an honor given to the most humanitarian person in the MLB. It was a double honor because Clemente is a legend in Pittsburgh.

With all that production, he is still front and center in the trade talks. He is 30 and coming off his worst season offensively. He also had an un-Cutch-like defensive year in 2016 and was moved from center to right field at the start of this season.

“Keeping His commandments is important. We should always try to hold them up and be true to Him in everything we do.” Andrew McCutchen

He had been a mainstay in center field since 2009, but the Pirates opted to try Sterling Marte in the middle instead.

He was not asked but told to move positions.

It didn’t sit well with McCutchen, who has helped lead the Pirates out of the basement over the past few years.

“At first, I was upset and didn’t want to move,” he told me. “But after a little bit, I realized I was just being selfish.”

It’s tough to be moved from a position you always played and replaced with someone younger. But he did it. “Cutch” as he is called, realized the organization needed him to move for the betterment of the team.

“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:26

But soon, Marte was suspended for 80 days by the MLB for using performance enhancing drugs. “Cutch” was moved back to his old stomping grounds at center field. And it was announced in early July, he will keep his position when Marte returns to the team.

Now “Cutch” – the long-time face of the franchise – might be wearing a different uniform soon.

I hope not. I enjoyed meeting him recently and talking with him. His attitude is top notch, and he has his life in perspective.

“The Son of God died for our sins so that we may have the opportunity to be in His kingdom one day,” Andrew McCutchen

Just like he did what the Pirates asked him to do, he does the same for God.

“Keeping His commandments is important,” he told me. “We should always try to hold them up and be true to Him in everything we do.”

He loves being a Pirate but knows his role as a “man of God” is more important.

“The Son of God died for our sins so that we may have an opportunity to be in His kingdom one day,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

He’s just like you and me. He has good days on the job and bad ones too. But his message stays the same no matter what position he is playing.

“The biggest challenge for anyone is sin,” he said. “You just got know how to handle it and prepare yourself to deal with the temptations and challenges.”

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

I certainly will be watching the next few days to see if “Cutch” stays in Pittsburgh. If he is shipped off to another team, I’ll be excited about his new opportunity.

Whether you like him or not, he plays by the rules. He adjusted to being switched to a different position, then he got it back. He didn’t sit around and pout. He didn’t like it, but he showed he was willing to help his team.

That’s a great quality to have.

Being adaptable is essential to success in the workplace. But not if you want to be a successful Christian. Just like “Cutch” said, you have to know how to handle temptations and sin when it appears in front of you.

“Cutch” has it covered on both ends. He is willing to help his team, but he is not willing to compromise his convictions. a good lesson learned. Be flexible when it comes to the job, but be stubborn when it comes to your beliefs.

I’ll take a man like “Cutch” on my team any day.

Are you willing to put your ego aside and help your team? Or are you facing some sort of temptation? How do you handle it? Are you going to perform in the clutch like “Cutch?”