Saturday, March 01, 2025, 8:08PM |  29°
MENU
Advertisement
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle
1
MORE

Clint Hurdle: 'The place is going to explode when we win it all'

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Clint Hurdle: 'The place is going to explode when we win it all'

BRADENTON, Fla. — This winter, the Pirates have been called tankers. And they’ve been called plenty worse by many fans. When preseason projections are made, the Pirates typically aren’t included among the contenders.

Somebody forgot to tell manager Clint Hurdle.

“I’ve seen some wonderful things happen in this game,” Hurdle said. “More often than not, nobody writes the script.”

Advertisement

After the first pitchers and catchers workout at Pirate City, Hurdle comfortably fielded questions about the Pirates’ 2018 chances, echoing what the front office has said since the team traded outfielder Andrew McCutchen and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole: Don’t count this team out.

Starling Marte, playing for Leones del Escogido, scores in the second inning against Águilas Cibaeñas Dec. 5, 2017, at Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (
Elizabeth Bloom
Starling Marte on his drug suspension: 'I’ve learned a huge lesson'

“The wave that we’ve talked about in the past hit the beach over the winter,” Hurdle said. “The wave hit the beach. And there’s actually another wave coming.”

Hurdle said he has had conversations with “just about every player” since the Cole and McCutchen trades, which he doesn’t want to dwell on.

“We’re focused on the people that are here,” Hurdle said. “We’re honoring the past through those men, the efforts they put in. Now, it’s time to move forward. It’s not fair to the men that are here to continue to talk about Gerrit not being here or Andrew not being here.”

Advertisement

Instead, Hurdle was eager to talk about some of the new players he will work with now. He received a positive scouting report on Colin Moran from third-base coach Joey Cora, whose brother, Alex, was the Houston Astros bench coach last year and now manages the Boston Red Sox. Hurdle gave the strongest indication yet that Moran will be the primary third baseman in 2018.

“We want to give him that opportunity to come in and take hold of it,” he said.

And there was no need for tea leaves on Joe Musgrove, who had more success in the Astros bullpen than he did in the rotation: “We’d like to plug him in the rotation and let him run with it.”

The left-field spot was somewhat murkier. Sean Rodriguez, Adam Frazier and Jordan Luplow are “the three top guys to look at,” followed by newcomer Daniel Nava and, in certain scenarios, Jose Osuna, whom Hurdle prefers at third base.

In this Aug. 21, 2017 file photo, the Pirates' Sean Rodriguez heads home after hitting a home run against the Dodgers in the second inning of a game at PNC Park.
Bill Brink
Sean Rodriguez saw the Pirate' trades coming. He's moving forward anyway

A three- to four-man left-field platoon might not be what Pirates fans envisioned as the ideal way to fill the outfield hole left by McCutchen, but, in Hurdle’s view, there’s more to a roster than what meets the eye. As he noted, their core was essentially the same in 2016 and 2017 as it was in their three-year postseason run. The current team, he said, “can’t wait for the opportunity to go out and play.”

“The place is going to explode when we win it all,” Hurdle said. “The place is going to explode. I still believe that. I look for the opportunity to stay and be a part of that. That’s unwavering belief.”

NOTE — Daniel Hudson did not throw his scheduled bullpen session because he sprained his right ankle while jogging.

Elizabeth Bloom: ebloom@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1750 and Twitter: @BloomPG.

First Published: February 14, 2018, 7:38 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (18) throws a pass over Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) during the second half in the quarterfinals of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif.
1
sports
Regardless of starter, Steelers poring over NFL combine for potential late-round QB
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) reacts near teammate linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) after sacking Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Baltimore.
2
sports
Steelers position analysis: T.J. Watt open to changing his role, but the Steelers have to help him
President Donald Trump, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington.
3
news
VP Vance attacks last year's Pa. visit by Zelenskyy in contentious White House meeting
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) against West Virginia in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz.
4
sports
Steelers NFL draft big board: Best fits at wide receiver
Law enforcement respond to the scene of a shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
5
news
UPMC hospital shooting puts focus on violence health care workers see 'at an increased rate'
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle  (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story