Bucs in sunny mood after 1st workout
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pittsburgh Pirates had what they hope was the first of many sunny days this summer.
Under cloudless skies and in 75-degree heat, pitchers and catchers had their first spring training workout. Thirteen pitchers threw off mounds during the three-hour session and players took part in an array of conditioning and fundamental drills.
The brightest spot was a seamless 10 minutes of throwing from Sean Burnett, a highly touted left-hander trying to come back from two arm surgeries that forced him to miss last season. He is considered a long shot to crack the rotation, but only because the Pirates feel he might first need time in the minors.
"I feel great," Burnett said. "I consider myself to be in this battle, for sure."
Two relievers, Roberto Hernandez and Giovanni Carrara, did not report. Hernandez was dealing with family matters and is expected next week. Carrara was having visa problems trying to leave his native Venezuela.
Otherwise, the staff and players were optimistic for a team that has gone 13 years without a winning season.
"This is going to be a good team, and I think a lot of people here feel that way," reliever Salomon Torres said. "I don't know if we're going to win the World Series, although that would be nice for the city. But I think we're going to be much better."
"No question, this is a better team," shortstop Jack Wilson. "I see us as being on the way up."
New manager Jim Tracy is in his first season after five with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"The allure, for me, was, No. 1, the stability of the front office," Tracy said. "The other thing was looking at a group of players I'd managed against the past couple of years and realizing there's some terrific young talent here and asking myself the question 'Why can't it be better than it has been?'"
More than once, Tracy stepped in during a bunting exercise, took the bat out of the batter's hands and displayed proper technique.
"I'm pleased," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "I've had a chance to work with Jim Tracy quite a bit in the past and have seen his style and approach to teaching, his attention to detail."
Notes:
Outfielders Chris Duffy and Jody Gerut, who were injured at the end of last season, participated in all batting and fielding drills. … Pete Mackanin, the Pirates' interim manager after Lloyd McClendon was fired in September, was named the Cincinnati Reds' advance scout. Mackanin had been assigned to be manager of the Pirates' rookie-league team in Bradenton. Littlefield said there is no immediate replacement for the Bradenton job.
