BUTLER TWP - Mike Gonzalez's best friend in baseball might be Brandon Lyon - and he doesn't even know him.

The left-handed relief pitcher was in the process of climbing the ladder in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization when he was traded for Lyon, a Boston Red Sox pitcher, on July 22, 2003.

"I was devastated, so depressed," Gonzalez said. "I wasn't ready to go to another organization. I was being moved around all over the place."

But when Lyon arrived in Pittsburgh, it was discovered he had a bad arm. The Pirates structured another trade with the Red Sox nine days later, dealing pitchers Lyon and Jeff Suppan for infielder Freddy Sanchez and Gonzalez.

Gonzalez pitched for five teams in 2003 - Lynchburg, Altoona, Pawtucket, Nashville and the Pirates - but was happy to be back.

"I felt comfortable here (in the Pirate organization). I was making progress," he said.

Now Gonzalez, 26, is coming off one of the most effective seasons of any non-closing relief pitcher in baseball. He joined the Pirate caravan this winter and was among the players attending a recent luncheon at Butler County Community College.

"He put together some tremendous numbers," Pirate manager Lloyd McClendon said. "If (closer) Jose Mesa stumbles, he and Salomon Torres would be candidates to step into that role."

Gonzalez was 3-1 with a 1.25 earned run average in 47 games and 43

innings pitched last year. He struck out 55 and walked only six.

A member of the Topps Major League All-Rookie Team, Gonzalez ranked third among National League relievers in strikeouts per nine innings with 11.4, trailing only Brad Lidge of Houston and Eric Gagne of Los Angeles.

He ranked second among NL relievers in fewest walks per nine innings (1.25), trailing only Philadelphia's Billy Wagner.

And he was almost lost in what would have been an ill-fated trade.

"It's funny how those things work out," Pirate general manager Dave Littlefield said. "Sometimes it's the moves you don't make that help the most … We were fortunate to get him back."

But Gonzalez did not find success right away. In eight innings with the Pirates late in 2003, he was touched up for four home runs and had a 7.56 ERA.

He was sent to Nashville very early in spring training last year.

"I was an early cut," Gonzalez admitted. "That just made me more determined to get back. I was going to force them to call me up."

He did exactly that, striking out 33 in his first 18 innings pitched with Nashville. The Pirates called Gonzalez up for good June 2 when Brian Boehringer was placed on the disabled list.

Boehringer never pitched for the Pirates again. Gonzalez made himself a fixture with the Bucs.

"It was the same mind-set," Gonzalez said. "The determination that got me here was gonna keep me here. I rely on my fastball and I had to throw it for strikes.

"If I start walking people, I'm going back down (to Class AAA). I still feel that way. That's enough motivation not to do it."

Gonzalez had a couple of rough spots last season. He blew two saves within a week in June, coughing up a grand slam to Cincinnati's Wily Mo Pena after allowing a ninth-inning unearned run to Seattle.

He didn't allow a run in seven straight appearances after the grand slam.

"You look for how pitchers respond to those things," McClendon said. "The adversity made him tougher.

"Mike Gonzalez definitely has a closer's mentality."