Spring training | Pittsburgh Pirates optimistic to start quick this season
BRADENTON -- It was a forgettable two months around the Steel City.
Pittsburgh's boys of summer left their Bradenton spring home with optimism of continuing their playoff-contending ways.
But that outlook was nearly dashed when May came to a close in 2015.
A slow start left the Pirates playing catch-up for their postseason dreams. The team was just a touch above .500 at 26-24 when May 31 came to a close, and the Bucs were a distant seven games behind division-leading St. Louis.
But something did click with the Pirates advancing to the playoffs for a third straight season.
"It wasn't good, (but) it was just a matter of time before we knew that we were going to be going," shortstop Jordy Mercer said. "It just happened to be a lot of people at once were struggling, but we turned it around and end up having a hell of a year. ... Ninety-eight wins is nothing too shabby. We're very proud of that."
Mercer was among those who started slowly. He hit .192 in the first two months, which did not include any home runs and only four multi-hit games.
This season, Mercer doesn't have to worry about competing for a job in the spring. It's the first time he's had one secured entering camp.
"It allows yourself to work on things and not so much worry about the results," he said.
Second baseman Josh Harrison said the team has more
defined roles this year in camp.
For example, Harrison was the club's starting third baseman on opening day last season, but his experience as a super utility guy lent itself to moving around the diamond if needed.
That's not the case this year. And while the spring isn't a results-oriented time, it's still about preparation to start the season off on the right foot, which was lacking in 2015.
"These stats don't count and we all know that, but pick anybody out here, we all want to get hits," Harrison said. "Even if these stats don't count, you still want to be in a spot to where, 'OK, I'm seeing the ball well. I'm putting these swings on the ball.'"
Harrison hit .265 between April and May last season, while star center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who battled through an injury last spring, was stuck below .200 until heating up in May.
"I think it's not about how you start, but how you finish," first baseman John Jaso said.
And that was certainly true for the Pirates in 2015. Before June 1: 4.16 runs scored on average. After the first two months: 4.36 runs scored on average.
They fell as much as nine games behind in the National League Central Division, never surpassed the Cardinals in that race and were forced into the winner-take-all wild-card game for a third straight year.
But despite the slow beginning, the club did attain 98 wins before exiting in the wild card against a red-hot pitcher for a second consecutive season.
So to help with a quick, more urgent start to avoid the wild card game and capture the franchise's first division championship since 1992, there's a motto floating around camp.
"The little saying we have, 'All of all of us,' and it's like if people aren't doing something, there's guys behind him to pick him up," Jaso said. "That's kind of the theme of baseball is you can't build a championship around one guy."
That also means a new look to the Pirates' lineup once opening day rolls around. McCutchen, a driving force in the offense, has hit from the No. 2 spot this spring, which is a wrinkle that could translate into more chances to do damage during the season.
"I think growing up in Little League and all that stuff, you think the three-hole is the best hitter and where the guy's supposed to be," Mercer said. "I think it's a little twist to it and it's going to be different and allow him to get more plate appearances."
Split-squad game
In addition to the game at McKechnie on Saturday, the Pirates played the Twins in Fort Myers and lost that game 3-0. Kyle Lobstein went four innings, giving up two runs on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Cory Luebke pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one hit.
Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017 and via email at jdill@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Spring training | Pittsburgh Pirates optimistic to start quick this season ."