Bucs Optimistic They Can Erase The Memories of 2000
New Manager, New Ballpark, Healthy Pitchers Breed Positive Attitude
By John E. Sacco

A new manager, new ballpark, new uniforms and a new attitude. Those are the rallying points for the 2001 Pittsburgh Pirates.

While they spent the offseason expressing excitement and optimism, the Pirates can only hope they are not the same old Bucs this year. Pittsburgh has endured eight consecutive losing seasons. The Pirates were awful in 2001, much worse than anyone could have predicted.

The prospects for a ninth straight losing season seem much more realistic than the prospects of reaching .500.

Do not try to tell that to manager Lloyd McClendon, who has set a serious tone since replacing Gene Lamont Oct. 23. McClendon's approach is basic: work hard, play hard, don't beat yourself and execute the fundamentals of the game - something the Pirates have been woeful at the past several years.

"We've got to get to the point where getting base hits isn't the only thing that can win games for us," McClendon said. "Base running is important. Fielding and catching the ball and throwing to the right bases is a must. The only way to get better is to go out and be repetitive with it every day. It's important to concentrate on all those areas."

Without a doubt, the Pirates have been a flawed team in recent seasons, lacking in concentration and focus defensively and running the bases. McClendon promises things will be different in 2001, partly due to many changes.

Pittsburgh will open PNC Park April 9 against the Cincinnati Reds. That in itself represents a new era of Pirates baseball. With All-Stars Brian Giles and Jason Kendall locked up for several years, it seems the franchise has some stability and leadership it has sorely lacked. But those two cannot turn things around by themselves.

The Pirates fate largely rests with a pitching staff that has underachieved in the past few seasons. Kris Benson enters his third season as the Pirates ace. Much has been expected of the talented right hander and in his first two seasons he has shown flashes of greatness. Benson needs to find the consistency the best starting pitchers in the game possess.

Behind Benson are a bundle of question marks. Jason Schmidt and Francisco Cordova are coming off shoulder and elbow surgeries, respectively. Both missed a lot of the 2000 season. Todd Ritchie, a surprise in 1999 with 15 wins, slid back last season - looking more like the journeyman he was when he came here than the outstanding pitcher of two seasons ago. The fifth spot is likely to go to the winner of a spring training battle between incumbent Jimmy Anderson and Bronson Arroyo. Anderson seems to hold the edge as he gained a lot of experience in 2000 and is the lone lefty among the Pirates six starting pitching candidates.

The bullpen likely will consist of lefties Terry Mulholland, signed as a free agent, and Scott Sauerbeck and righties Jose Silva and Rich Loiselle with Mike Williams serving as the closer. Anderson or Arroyo could find themselves in the bullpen. Righty Josias Manzanillo, who impressed in 2000, and lefty Dan Serafini could also make the team. Two candidates to keep an eye on this spring are righty Chris Spurling, acquired from the New York Yankees for Luis Sojo last summer and 40-year-old Billy Taylor, a non-roster invitee.

Benson believes the Pirates have the makings of a very good staff if everyone is healthy.

"We all have to come together,' Benson said. "Last year, we gave up too many runs. And if we did pitch well, we didn't get any run support. We never clicked for a long period of time.

"I think some of it is the simple fact of positive thinking. We have a good core of players. Our No. 1 priority is winning. You see a future. What we have speaks well for the players and team. It was just a bad year last year. I think we're starting anew. Hopefully, we'll all stay healthy and do a good job of helping the franchise come back."

McClendon entered spring training proclaiming only three players with starting positions including Kendall, Giles and free agent signee Derek Bell. Giles - the only Pirate ever to hit above .300 with more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI for two consecutive seasons - will play left and Bell will play right.

For those thinking Bell would be a good platoon with John Vander Wal, think again.

The right-handed hitting Bell batted just .156 versus lefties with just four extra-base hits (all doubles) and five RBI in 109 at bats. Conversely, Bell hit .293 versus righties with 27 doubles, 18 home runs and 64 RBI in 437 at bats.

It would appear that Adrian Brown, coming off a fine season, should be the centerfielder. Aramis Ramirez will be given every opportunity to be the third baseman.

The real competition will be in the middle infield where shortstop Pat Mears and second baseman Warren Morris, the incumbents, will face challenges from veteran Mike Benjamin, Enrique Wilson, acquired from Cleveland last year, and Jack Wilson, a slick fielding shortstop acquired from St. Louis in 2000. Even Abraham Nunez can't be totally discounted.

The other battle, while unspoken, could be at first base. Kevin Young and Vander Wal are a perfect offensive complement in a platoon. Both are below average fielders. Young has complained of knee troubles in the past and could benefit from the increased time off.

Emil Brown, out of minor league options, could stick as the fifth outfielder, and reserve catcher Keith Osik has a roster spot. Veterans John Wehner, Reggie Jefferson, Thomas Howard and Adam Hyzdu could all be competing for the last available bench spot.

"The key to our success is everyone being on the same page and try to create a family atmosphere," Giles said. "We didn't have that last year.

"There was a lot going on last year. First off, it was the question whether Jason could come back from his ankle injury and then it became a question of whether our manager would stay or go. Everything was whacked.

"We have an opportunity to win here. A lot has to go right. Pitching and defense win championships."

That's exactly what McClendon is after: pitching and defense and a championship.

While not many think that is possible, Pittsburgh's new skipper won't concede a thing.

"The addition of Schmidt and Cordova to the staff will be a big help," McClendon said. "If they could get 10 to 12 victories each, that in itself would be a big boost for us.

"We're very excited about the possibilities of what can happen this year."