Huntington said the Pirates’ in-house metrics that evaluate defensive performance showed Nyjer Morgan, in his first season as a starter, to be the top fielding left fielder in the major leagues.

Well, that piqued my curiosity, so I did some surfing to www.fangraphs com to take a look at their UZR leaders. UZR isn’t a symbol for an airport in the Ukraine but stands for Ultimate Zone Rating, which measure the runs a fielder saves over an average defender at his position.

It turns out Morgan not only has been the best defensive left fielder in the majors through the first two months of the season but the best defender at ANY position with 11.8 runs saved. Second on the list is Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre, the player once invented by Jim Tracy, at 9.3.

Morgan is nearly lapping the rest of the left fielders as the Los Angeles Angels’ Juan Rivera is second with a 4.7 mark.

Ironically, UZR claims center fielder Nate McLouth, who won a National League Gold Glove for fielding excellence last season, is the weak link in the Pirates’ outfield. He ranks 13th among in the majors at his position at minus-0.9.

In yet another surprise, the Pirates’ Brandon Moss is second among major-league right fielders with a 7.4 mark, just behind Texas’ Nelson Cruz at 7.6.

The numbers make it clear the Pirates should flip-flop Morgan and McLouth. However, it is easier said than done because it’s much like the situation with the New York Yankees in 2004 when they acquired Alex Rodriguez in a trade from Texas.

Everyone knew Rodriguez was a better defensive shortstop than incumbent Derek Jeter. However, Jeter was the team captain and part of Yankee lore, so Rodriguez moved over to third base.

McLouth’s stature in the game certainly does compare to Jeter. However, he is a reigning Gold Glove winner and the emerging face of the franchise.

Therefore, it complicates a decision that the numbers say should be easy to make.