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Lowly Pirates aim for improvement
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen, left, and Neil Walker wait to hit before a spring training baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Bradenton, Fla., Saturday, March 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Associated Press
Pittsburgh
They are the afterthought in a city of winners. Ready or not, the Pittsburgh Pirates are about to play ball.
After a record 18 straight losing seasons, expectations for the Pirates hardly compare to those for the Steelers or Penguins. Whenever people talk about the pro sports teams in Pittsburgh, there’s always a derogatory ’and’ before the Pirates are mentioned.
They haven’t had a winning season since Barry Bonds left town after leading the team to three straight NLCS appearances from 1990-92.
But the Pirates have a have a new manager — Clint Hurdle — and some promising young players — Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker and Jose Tabata.
That, at the least, has to be reason for some excitement. Well, it was enough to lure one free agent to Pittsburgh.
“I dare anyone to have three conversations with Clint Hurdle and not believe this team is going to turn it around,” said outfielder Matt Diaz, who left Atlanta and signed a two-year, $4.25 million deal. “Talking to him convinced me this is the place where I wanted to be.”
Still, the Pirates need a six-game improvement just to avoid losing 100 games again. The players trust Hurdle will help them turn things around.
“They love the enthusiasm,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “They do their research. They talk to other people who have been around him. They know what he is, the energy he brings and the expectations he’s going to set for this club. I think the energy would have been here regardless, but Clint certainly takes it to another level.”
Hurdle led the Rockies to the NL pennant in 2007 and was the hitting coach for the AL champion Rangers last season. He’s a player-friendly manager with infectious enthusiasm and a positive approach.
“He’s not going to throw a single strike, hit a home run, steal a base, make an error. He’s not going to play the game,” owner Bob Nutting said. “At the same time, setting that level of expectation is critical. Knowing that the organization is not going to accept underperformance is critical. Having an experienced leader who has been there before, who has led a young team, who’s been there as a player, coach and manager … bringing that level of leadership and enthusiasm will help the team live up to its full potential.”
Hurdle’s job won’t be easy. The Pirates lost 105 games last year. They were last in pitching, second from the bottom in hitting and tied for the major league lead in errors last season. The team’s woeful performance cost manager John Russell his job after three years and 299 losses.
Hurdle inherits more talent than Russell had when he started. Led by the four youngsters who will hit in the top five in the batting order, the offense could be exciting.
Tabata will hit leadoff, Walker bats second and McCutchen is third. Veteran Lyle Overbay will start the season as the cleanup hitter after having a strong spring. Alvarez is behind him.
McCutchen might be the key to the lineup. He batted mostly leadoff last season, but fits the criteria for a No. 3 hitter.
“He has the attributes you’re looking for,” Huntington said. “He can be disciplined, he can be patient, he can drive the ball to the gaps, he can hit it out of the ballpark, he can come up with the big RBI. The added element he brings is stolen bases. At times last year, you’re hesitant to run with a three-hole hitter in front of a four-hole hitter. But one of Andrew’s many strengths is his ability to steal a base. We need to make sure we continue to have him run.”
McCutchen is ready to take on more of a leadership role, too.
“Last year and the year before, it was all about getting my feet wet and settling in with the team,” he said. “I feel like I do have a little more say now. I’m able to address the team if I feel a certain way about something. I feel I have the respect of everyone.”
McCutchen and the rest of the offense will have to be productive because the Pirates aren’t going to win too many low-scoring games. None of Pittsburgh’s starters has ever won more than 12 games in a season. Kevin Correia, a 12-game winner with San Diego in 2009, will be followed in the rotation by Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, Charlie Morton and James McDonald.