Major League Baseball
PITTSBURGH PIRATES PREVIEW
By Jim Lachimia

Don't let 67-95 fool you. That's Jim Tracy's message.

That was the Pirates' record in his first season as manager here, and also the exact same mark the team compiled under Lloyd McClendon and Pete Mackanin in 2005. A nightmarish 30-60 mark prior to the All-Star break sabotaged any chance for success in 2006, but the 37-35 second half record was markedly better.

"I would strongly disagree with anyone who says we didn't make any progress because our record was the same as it was the year before," Tracy said. "We still have a lot of work to do together, and we still need to improve ourselves, but our players know what it feels like to win now."

Well, it would certainly be a great summer around here if the caliber of baseball being played over at PNC Park prevents sports columnists and talk show hosts from writing and uttering those three ugly little words that none of us want to hear: "same old Pirates."

We all know how long it's been since the Bucs have finished above the .500-mark, so let's not dwell. Let's take the stance that this year will be different, and the team will post that long awaited winning season.

Of course, any premise needs some good supporting arguments - so here are a few to consider.

Adding Something To Nothing

During a Pirates' media luncheon in January, Jason Bay made an interesting point regarding the acquisition of slugging first baseman Adam LaRoche.

"Usually when you get a new bat in the line-up, you're replacing someone in that position who had X-amount of numbers," the Pirates' sensible All-Star leftfielder said. "You're taking the new guy's numbers and comparing them to the old guy's numbers.

"Not to take anything away from the guys who were in Adam's spot last year, but we're almost adding what he does from a little more than zero. We're not just going to get a little more production from his spot, we're going to get a lot more production."

Here's what Bay means: In 2006, the guys who started the most games at first base were Sean Casey, Craig Wilson, Ryan Doumit and Xavier Nady. Casey was injured too often to resemble his former self. Wilson had one of his customary hot streaks in April, and then was very ordinary before being traded. "Intriguing" is the word Pirates' insiders use to refer to Doumit's bat, but what it hasn't been yet is productive. And although Nady hit .300 after being acquired from the New York Mets, he produced only three home runs and 23 RBI in 55 games.

In place of that the Pirates have LaRoche, who batted .285 with 32 homers and 90 RBI for the Atlanta Braves last year. Plus he now resides in a ballpark that begs big left-handed hitters like him to take a poke at its short right-field porch - and he's a fine defender.

So Bay is right. LaRoche isn't just going to be a plus; he's going to be a HUGE plus.

Demanding More From Each Other

Jack Wilson's little "we need more from you" message to Jose Castillo ruffled a few feathers, but was intended to help not hurt, and maybe it wasn't such a bad thing. Managers are comfortable with veteran players policing themselves, or at least helping to reinforce what's acceptable and unacceptable on and off the field.

And that's what happened.

During an interview, Wilson expressed hope that a teammate he believes is dripping with talent and hasn't reached his potential yet improves his work ethic and level of consistency. The fact so many people were startled to hear what he said is the reason that players often give stock answers instead of being open and honest.

Wilson baring his feelings about Castillo is a sign that Pirates' players are demanding more of each other than they have in the past, and that's a good thing. It means they sense they can accomplish something together, but they also know they need everyone to perform at his absolute best in order to make that happen.

As Tracy said: "You have to have a stronger sense of urgency if you're going to accomplish something in the major leagues. If you don't think that's the best path for you, then maybe this isn't the best place for you."

Those comments weren't made during a conversation about Castillo, but you sure could plug his name in there. Couldn't you?

No More Wishing And Hoping

The Pirates enter 2007 with far fewer questions marks and much better personnel than they had prior to the 2006 campaign.

At the start of last season, there were too many aging veterans and unproven youngsters slated for key roles.

Those lists included: Doumit and Humberto Cota behind the plate, Joe Randa at third base, Chris Duffy in center field, Jeromy Burnitz in right field, and starting pitchers Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Paul Maholm.

This season, Tracy feels good about having second-year man Ronny Paulino at catcher, National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez at third (or maybe second), and Nady in right field. Duffy's problems seem to be behind him. Plus there's reason to believe the young starting pitchers will have greater success, having had a large helping of major league experience last season, and the chance to become familiar with pitching coach Jim Colborn's teachings.

"Before we were banking on guys that had limited experience doing great things, and now that everyone has experience, we know what to expect," Bay said. "Not to harp on it, but in the second half of last year, everyone kind of fell into their roles and understood it.

"Now we're going into this year with that experience, not HOPING that guys are going to do certain things."

It also bodes well that the Pirates have brought in players such as LaRoche and Nady, who are on their way up, not on their way down. Their best days are still ahead of them, which is reassuring.

The organization has been criticized for signing too many veteran free agents in recent years. On a winning team that kind of player is considered a valuable missing piece of the puzzle. On a losing team, he's viewed as some old guy blocking a young guy's path.

Even though some of the veterans who have been with Pittsburgh lately have performed well-closer Jose Mesa and outfielder Reggie Sanders are good examples-it does feel better not having to bring in "end of the line" guys and keep your fingers crossed that they still have something left. The problem with that is, for every Mesa and Sanders you get, there's usually a Burnitz or Chris Stynes situation.

As general manager Dave Littlefield sometimes says: "Generally, hope is a bad strategy." Fortunately, this year the strategy is more reality-based.