BUTLER TWP — So what can Andrew McCutchen do for an encore?

Finish it off.

The Pirates’ 26-year-old center fielder is coming off the type of season that hasn’t been seen around Pittsburgh since the likes of Barry Bonds, Dave Parker and Roberto Clemente.

McCutchen hit .327 with 31 home runs, 96 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 2012. He won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award. He finished third in the National League MVP voting.

But the Bucs’ failure to finish above .500 and in the playoffs bother him more than his statistics satisfy him.

“We know we have to finish the deal,” McCutchen said during a recent visit to Butler. “I didn’t produce over the last couple of months like I had been.

“Performing at a high level in baseball over 162 games is extremely difficult. I didn’t expect to hit .370 all year, but I do want to become more consistent.”

He’s not apologizing for his overall production, however.

“Even though we didn’t finish well, you have to look at the entire body of work ... hitting .327 isn’t bad,” McCutchen said, smiling.

McCutchen was National League Player of the Month in June and July. He was leading the major leagues with a .362 batting average at the all-star break — the first Pirate to lead all of baseball in hitting at the break since Matty Alou in 1968.

“It’s like being an author and you write a great book, a best-seller,” McCutchen said. “Naturally, you want to write another great book, then another one after that.

“It’s just hard to produce at that level all of the time.”

McCutchen has hit in the leadoff position for the Pirates. He’s hit in the No.’s 2 and 3 holes as well.

“What number I am in the batting order, I don’t care, as long as it’s the same spot in the order all season,” he said. “You have a different approach at the plate depending on what spot you’re hitting in.

“I’d like to keep the same approach all year, whatever it is.”

One area McCutchen is determined to improve upon in 2013 is stolen bases. He swiped 20 last season, but got caught 12 times.

“My focus last off-season was on getting more consistent at bats and improving my numbers offensively,” he said. “This off-season, I’m working on my base running.

“I want to read the pitchers better, get better leads and better jumps. I’m not going to have my legs forever, so while they’re here, I might as well use them. I’d love to swipe 30, 40, maybe even 50 bags next season.”

McCutchen believes in the Pirates’ overall progression over the past two years as much as he believes in himself.

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have signed here. I wouldn’t be staying here,” he said.

McCutchen signed a six-year, $51.5 million contract last year, sacrificing millions of potential free agent dollars.

He said he likes the acquisitions of Travis Snider and Gaby Sanchez from last year, along with the potential ceiling of players like Pedro Alvarez and Starling Marte.

“It’s scary what Marte is capable of doing up here once he gets acclimated to the big leagues,” McCutchen said.

“I love the Russell Martin signing. He will make us stronger behind the plate and I’m looking forward to playing on the same field as him. Overall, we’re only going to get better. We’re growing together and we’re learning how to win.”