PENGUINS SEND COLE TO SENATORS, REAVES TO GOLDEN KNIGHTS TO COMPLETE BRASSARD TRADE

By: Jared Clinton

http://www.thehockeynews.com/

February 23, 2018

After hitting a snag when trying to acquire Derick Brassard from the Senators, the Pittsburgh Penguins have reworked the deal to pry the 30-year-old center from Ottawa.

Whoever said making a trade was easy?

Earlier this afternoon, it appeared the Pittsburgh Penguins had acquired Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators for Ian Cole, Filip Gustavsson and a first-round pick — with later reports indicating a third team, the Vegas Golden Knights, were involved. But shortly thereafter it was reported by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos that the deal had been vetoed by the NHL. After going back to the drawing board, though, the three teams were able top meet the league’s requirements and managed to complete one of the most complicated swaps in recent history.

In the deal, the Penguins acquired Brassard, prospect Vince Dunn and a 2018 third-round pick from the Senators, as well as prospect Tobias Lindberg from the Golden Knights. The Senators landed Cole, Gustavsson, a 2018 first-round pick and a 2019 third-round pick from the Penguins. Meanwhile, Ryan Reaves and a fourth-round pick are heading to the Golden Knights. If that’s not confusing enough, Vegas, who first received Brassard from Ottawa, retained 40 percent of his contract before sending him along to Pittsburgh.

And now that the dust has settled on the deal, we can break it down.

For the Penguins, who have been looking to solidify the middle of the ice since the start of the season, landing Brassard would appear to be exactly what they need and makes a Pittsburgh team that is already beginning to heat up all the more dangerous just as the playoffs approach. 

Pittsburgh had a front row seat to watch what Brassard can provide a team last season, as well. In the Eastern Conference final against the Penguins, Brassard put up a goal and two points. He was one of the Senators’ most effective players all post-season, too, registering four goals and 11 points in 19 games. He also possesses a strong playoff track record beyond last season. Since 2012-13, when he made his first playoff appearance as a member of the New York Rangers, Brassard has 22 goals and 55 points in 78 games, and he made a trip to the finals as a Blueshirt in 2014. That makes him a great fit on a team driving for an unthinkable third-straight Stanley Cup in the salary cap era.

By adding Brassard, a legitimate top-six center, to the mix, the Penguins now possess one of the deepest stables of centers in the league. He’s a 20-goal threat with 50-point potential that would be a solid second-line pivot on most contending teams, but Brassard will almost assuredly play third-line minutes in Pittsburgh behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, effectively giving the Penguins a three-headed monster at center that will be a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches. The deal also shuffles Riley Sheahan down to a fourth-line role, which should be a much better fit.

The victory here for the Penguins goes beyond simply bringing Brassard aboard, though. While they had to give up a first-, third- and fourth-round pick, Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford was able to swing the deal without giving up any of his key roster players. Notably, he was able to retain the likes of Conor Sheary, Jake Guentzel and his stable of secondary scorers, meaning he was able to add offense without subtracting anything from his attack. Likewise, he made the move without surrendering a top prospect such as Daniel Sprong. This isn't a pure rental, either. Brassard has the remainder of the season and one more year remaining on his five-year, $25-million contract, making him an asset to the Penguins beyond this season. But the cap hit will be lessened as, with Vegas’ salary retention, Pittsburgh will only be on the hook for $3 million next season.

That said, in order to make the deal work financially, the Penguins still needed to shed salary. That’s where Cole and Ryan Reaves come in.

Despite being a key cog on the blueline when Pittsburgh's defense was bruised and battered during last season's playoffs, Cole was a bottom-pairing hand for the Penguins whose average ice time was less than that of Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, Justin Schultz and Olli Maatta. And with additional rearguards such as Matt Hunwick and Jamie Oleksiak, Cole — with his $2.1-million cap hit — was expendable. And that Cole is on an expiring contract makes him a worthwhile pickup for the Senators if they’re in a full-on sell mode. By bringing in a potential rental, Ottawa now has another piece they can flip at the deadline to recoup more assets as they shed salary and look to rebuild a younger, cheaper team. Rest assured, that is the goal here.

In addition, adding the three draft selections gives Ottawa more opportunities to restock the cupboard at the upcoming draft. It also protects against the Senators losing their first-round pick in the off chance they manage to play their way out of a top-10 selection. (Ottawa’s own first-round pick is top-10 protected, but was included in the trade for Matt Duchene.) As for Gustavsson, he was rated as one of Pittsburgh's five-best prospects heading into the season and is undoubtedly the top goaltending prospect in Ottawa now.

That leaves the Golden Knights. Bringing in Reaves won’t do much to supplement the offense, but it will allow Vegas to add a depth piece up front and his $1.125 million salary will come off the books at season’s end. Retaining the salary of Brassard also allowed Vegas to bring in a fourth-round pick, which now gives GM George McPhee seven selections to work with at the upcoming draft. 

The question now for the Senators is who's next? Cole instantly moves into the running to be the next player dealt by Ottawa, but no matter who comes next, it appears the Senators’ fire sale is only just beginning.

Want more in-depth features and expert analysis on the game you love? Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

Crosby gets Dapper Dan hat trick

Becomes just the fourth person to win "Sportsman of the Year" three times

by Michelle Crechiolo @PensInsideScoop / Penguins Team Reporter

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/crosby-gets-dapper-dan-hat-trick/c-296220028

February 21, 2018

Mario Lemieux. Roberto Clemente. Danny Murtagh.

And now, Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins captain joined that group of Pittsburgh sports legends as just the fourth person to be named the Dapper Dan "Sportsman of the Year" three times in the 82-year history of the dinner and sports auction, which took place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Wednesday. Crosby also earned the honor in 2006 and '07.

"It means a lot to join that company," Crosby said. "I remember how honored I was when I heard about the charity and my first time going and seeing the turnout there. You can find out pretty quickly when you're new to the city how big sports are here. I think it means a lot to join that company."

Crosby first came to Pittsburgh over 12 years ago, a couple of months after the Penguins won the NHL Draft Lottery on July 22, 2005, and with it, the right to select him first overall just more than a week later.

Everyone in the city remembers where they were and what their reaction was when they realized that the course of Penguins history - and Pittsburgh sports history in general - was changed forever. And everybody's expectations have been absolutely blown away in the time since.

Crosby saved the franchise for a second time after Lemieux had done the same a couple of decades earlier. He was the person they built the team around, the person they built a new arena because of and the person who built new generations of hockey players and fans. As a player and a person, the Penguins quite literally hit the lottery with Crosby.

"You couldn't mold out of clay a better representative for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and for Mario Lemieux and his legacy," Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said. "I think Sid has been an exemplary player, definitely, on the ice. But he has also been a model citizen off the ice. He's the embodiment of what you hope you can get in sports, either as a management member of a team, an owner of a team or as a fan."

During Morehouse's introductory speech, he referenced a conversation he had with Dan Rooney the first time Crosby won the award, where the legendary Steelers chairman expressed that exact sentiment.

"He was only 19 the first time he won Sportsman of the Year in 2006 and he was on his way to becoming the youngest player in NHL history to win a scoring title," Morehouse said. "That night, another winner, Dan Rooney, took me aside and said 'I really like that kid of yours.' And he said, 'I sure wish he was a football player.' He went on to tell me he was so impressed with Sid and his manners and how down-to-earth he was, not even talking about how great of a hockey player and athlete he was."

For athletes like Lemieux and Clemente, their legacies will live forever and go far beyond what they accomplished on the ice or the baseball field. Not just because they were two of the best to ever play their respective sports, but because of what they have done to be good role models and the class displayed while doing it.

Crosby is well on his way to doing the same, because as he continues to be the best in the world and leave his mark on Pittsburgh both on and off the ice, what stands out is just the humbleness and the humility with which he does it - despite the microscope he's under and the responsibilities and expectations that are placed on him.

"I just can't say enough about the type of person that he is," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's a great person, he's a great teammate. His work ethic is unmatched by anyone I've ever been around in sports. And I mean that sincerely. He's so conscientious. For a guy that's as accomplished as he is, he has a certain level of humility to him that I think is inspiring."

Pittsburgh has always been known for being hard-working and blue collar, even as the city's industrial sector has shifted from steel to technology. Character and work ethic are two important values to the people here, and those are the two qualities that have set Crosby apart in addition to his talent.

"His demeanor and his personality, you don't know that he's a superstar, he doesn't act like he's a superstar," said Bernie Hanchak, a longtime Penguins season ticket holder. "He epitomizes what Pittsburgh is all about. If you're humble, if you're real, if you work hard, the city will love you. If he ran for mayor tomorrow, it would be a landslide. He is Pittsburgh. His imprint is all over the city and the NHL."

That's incredibly important to Crosby, who's followed the example of his former landlord Lemieux and done everything he can to make his adopted city proud. As he said in his speech, it's been an honor and a privilege for him to play here in Pittsburgh.

"It's really important," he said. "This has been home for 13 years and you try to represent the city well with the way you play and that side of things, but I also want to give back to a place that's been so good to me as well. So there's a lot of different ways to do that, but what's always your goal - and probably any athlete will tell you - is just to do as much as you can, given the opportunity that you have to give back."

Most people don't see what Crosby does on a daily basis, which, as Morehouse said, is "by design. He's doing it in a natural way, he's not trying to get attention for things." But what does stand out to most people when they think of Crosby's impact on Pittsburgh has been his Little Penguins Learn to Play Program, which is now entering its 10th season.

"One of the first things Sid did when he came to Pittsburgh was he came to us and said he wanted to find a way for kids who couldn't afford to play hockey to be able to play hockey," Morehouse said. "So that's when we came up with Sidney Crosby's Little Penguins Learn to Play program, where Sid donates his money out of his pocket along with the Penguins, at the time Reebok and now Adidas, and Dick's Sporting Goods. And we combined to buy free equipment for kids."

This year, they gave away 2,000 sets of head-to-toe equipment, meaning countless kids who wouldn't have been exposed to the sport have now gotten an opportunity to try it out.

"And Pittsburgh, as a result, has led the U.S. in participation in the 10-and-under age group, which our target is 5-to-7 year olds," Morehouse said. "It's been an extraordinary effort, it's his because he came to us and asked us to try to pull something together for him."

Dennis Hottel has been a season ticket holder since 1988. He remembers the years in the early 2000s after Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr retired where the Penguins didn't make the playoffs and attendance, youth hockey participation and overall interest plummeted.

"When Sidney arrived in '05, those things all picked up," he said. "All you have to do is look at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex up in Cranberry just to see. And Sidney is directly responsible by starting that Little Penguins Learn to Play. Let's just say that he's a Pittsburgh icon. I'm very proud to be a fan and be able to watch him. All the memories he's brought to us as fans, they're golden. I just treasure him."

"Before he came, there were no young kids playing," Hanchak added. "Now, my granddaughters are 4 and 6 and they know who Sidney Crosby is. It's incredible."

Hottel and Hanchak know how fortunate they are to live in a town nicknamed "the City of Champions," with 16 combined titles between their three professional sports teams. For them, Crosby is in the same class as Lemieux and Clemente because of his humbleness, humility, and talent, and they couldn't feel more fortunate.

"The amount of Hall of Fame, best in class athletes that have played in Pittsburgh - baseball, basketball, football, golf, track, almost everything - is just unprecedented, especially for a city this size," Morehouse said. "So for Sid to join the likes of Roberto Clemente, Mario Lemieux and Danny Murtagh as a recipient of this award three times, is an extraordinary honor considering all the other people who have gotten it."

As Morehouse concluded his speech, he finished with another anecdote from the extraordinary man that was the late Dan Rooney.

"All of these things he's done on the ice, his commitment to Pittsburgh, there's one thing that will always stand out to me that best describes Sidney, and it's a compliment Mr. Rooney paid him when he was here," Morehouse said. "He said he's a true Pittsburgher. And anyone who knows Mr. Rooney knows there's no better compliment."

One name stands out as best trade target for Penguins

By Mark Madden

http://triblive.com/sports/

February 20, 2018

Michael Grabner (Photo by Matt Kincaid/Getty Images)

Trades offer no guarantees.

Witness 2013, when then-Penguins GM Ray Shero added a host of big-name deadline acquisitions (Jarome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen, Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray) to an already powerful team, and the result was being swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference final.

There's never a good reason to make a bad trade.

Paying over the odds for a coveted target might seem a good idea given a chance to win a third straight Stanley Cup, a feat not done since 1982.

But the Penguins' Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin window should be open two or three more years. Cups can be won in 2019 and 2020, too. That chance shouldn't be sabotaged in the name of chasing history. Three Stanley Cups in four years is pretty good, too.

So, as Monday's NHL trade deadline approaches, Penguins fans should want GM Jim Rutherford to make a good trade if one is available and no trade if a good one isn't.

The Penguins, as constituted, have a legitimate shot at a third consecutive championship, all the more so because of a few recent developments:

• Riley Sheahan is playing better. Not great, but perhaps good enough. Upgrading at third-line center doesn't seem as urgent.

• Rookie winger Zach Aston-Reese (four goals in eight games) has shown enough in a short sample to inspire belief that he can stick in the NHL, thus providing options and depth.

• Ian Cole's return to the lineup (and, apparently, Coach Mike Sullivan's good graces) has combined with Jamie Oleksiak's arrival from Dallas and subsequent ascension to coalesce the defense into a strong unit.

• Tristan Jarry is no Marc-Andre Fleury. But he's a good enough No. 2 goaltender that the Penguins don't need a veteran backup.

So, if Rutherford does make a trade, let it be for the best player available and at an affordable cost.

The fringe centers widely discussed hold little interest.

Bringing back Matt Cullen from Minnesota would improve the center position — on the fourth line.

Sheahan's stats are better than Cullen's (and Max Domi's, and Mark Letestu's, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau's and Tomas Plekanec's). Sheahan is doing fine, though he doesn't give Phil Kessel enough help five-on-five.

Ottawa center Derick Brassard would be a big upgrade: He's got 17 goals and 18 assists in 56 games. He plays both ends hard, as evidenced by being just minus-2 on the Senators, who have allowed the NHL's second-most goals. Brassard could legit skate on a line with Kessel.

But Ottawa wants a high price for Brassard, who is signed through next season. Brassard carries a $5 million cap hit. The Senators would have to eat part of that to facilitate a swap with the Penguins.

Ottawa would likely want a first-round pick, prospect Daniel Sprong and winger Conor Sheary. (Or a reasonable facsimile of that package.) Perhaps the price will drop. But that's too much.

So turn your attention to Michael Grabner. He's the best player available.

The New York Rangers winger has blazing speed. The Penguins have the best forecheck in the league. Grabner would make it overwhelming. Why not bolster your biggest strength? The NHL is a speed league. The Penguins have the most. Grabner would give them even more.

Grabner is an excellent penalty killer. He has 25 goals in 59 games despite averaging just 15 minutes of ice. Grabner has seven empty-net goals. Those count, too, and that seemingly easy task is problematic for the Penguins.

Dating back to the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Grabner has 50 goals at even-strength. That's second-most in the NHL. Through Monday he's tied with St. Louis' Vladimir Tarasenko and trails only Toronto's Auston Matthews (57).

Sullivan likes to put Crosby, Kessel and Malkin on different lines. Imagine the forechecking of Grabner, Carl Hagelin and Bryan Rust divided among three lines. Imagine Grabner's speed (and not Dominik Simon) on Crosby's wing.

Grabner is signed through season's end. His cap hit is $1.65 million. He might cost just one of the components Ottawa wants for Brassard.

Don't overestimate the impact of third-line center. Nick Bonino had 18 points in the 2016 playoffs. But he only had seven points in last year's postseason. Four Penguins defensemen had more.

Get Grabner, not Brassard, and add a minimal upgrade at center, too.

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

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Jameson Taillon's turn to be Pirates' ace

By Kevin Gorman

http://triblive.com/sports/

February 20, 2018

(Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review)

BRADENTON, Fla. — Jameson Taillon has always been projected to pitch at the top of the rotation and has embraced those expectations since becoming the No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 MLB Draft.

“I've always enjoyed expectations, and I've dealt with it since I was in high school, so I feel like I'm pretty well-suited for it,” Taillon said. “Every time I got pushed up a level in the minor leagues, I performed well. Every time people were looking at me to save the bullpen in a game or pitch deep into a game, I enjoy that kind of pressure. It brings out the best in me.”

The Pirates are counting on Taillon's ascension to staff ace to do the same, and his wait is almost over.

Taillon's timing was sidetracked by surgeries, first for Tommy John and then for testicular cancer. They were obstacles he couldn't control, so he treated them as learning experiences in his maturation that made him mentally tougher.

Now, with Gerrit Cole gone in a trade to the Houston Astros, it's Taillon's turn to anchor the pitching staff in the way both “Jamo” and the Pirates always envisioned.

“The buttons on my shirt want to pop off because I'm proud of him and what he's gone through,” Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage said.

“That's been Jamo's M.O., but the service time prevented him from doing that, and he knew that. He was well aware of it. Now that he sees how things are and how things are going right now, it's good.”

Quietly, Taillon is going about his business to prepare himself — but he's doing it in a way so he's not all alone.

Taillon is taking on a leadership role on a young but talented pitching staff that is bonding by eating breakfast together every morning at Pirate City.

“I don't see myself above anybody or below. We're all on the same page,” Taillon said. “Part of me is excited to step up and take the reins, but another part of me is like, ‘I better not get ahead of myself, keep working and establish myself more.'

“I'd be honored to step up and take on that role, but I need to perform well and do what I'm capable of — and I'm confident I will.”

Taillon is borrowing a page from his predecessor after serving an apprenticeship of sorts under Cole the past two seasons. They would play catch and stretch together every day, and Taillon watched how Cole took care of his body to throw a 200-inning season.

That's Taillon's primary goal, to prove that he can be a 30-game starter and workhorse whose durability matches his talent.

“Watching Gerrit pitch, it was like every time he took the mound he was so prepared,” Taillon said. “A fiery competitor, but every time he went out there you knew he was the most prepared guy on the field that day. ...

“I feel ready to do what I'm asked. I'll go about it in my own way, but I learned a lot from him.”

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle sees “opportunities for growth” in Taillon, seeing someone who followed a structured routine that involves drinking green smoothies, taking turmeric shots and using wearable technology but also creativity.

“There were times when it was just about, you make the calls back there and I'm just going to follow the game plan,” Hurdle said. “Then there were times during the season where he started getting more creative as he started to gain more experience to use the ability to pitch without his best stuff, the ability to pitch with a pitch removed for whatever reason. He's shown all of those things going forward.

“We like him a lot,” Hurdle added, “and there's a ton of reasons to like him a lot.”

So the Pirates refuse to put a ceiling on Taillon, who was 8-7 with a 4.44 ERA last season in 25 starts and 133 2⁄3 innings despite undergoing testicular cancer surgery May 8 and not being reinstated until June 12.

That's why Taillon is focused not on statistical goals but rather making all of his starts.

“As a starting pitcher, your biggest goal would be to make your starts, post up every time your name is called for your team,” Taillon said. “That's No. 1 for me, but I've learned to be careful with setting numerical goals. Last year, my goal would have been to make all my starts, but that wasn't really under my control.

“I'm not going to write anything on paper.”

But the Bucs can pencil Taillon in as ace.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.comor via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

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Filling the Ryan Shazier void at ILB begins with free agency for Steelers

By Jeremy Fowler

http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/

February 20, 2018

Avery Williamson (USA Today Sports)

PITTSBURGH -- That the Steelers' need to improve the teeth of their defense is no secret. The team was left scrambling late in the season when linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a severe spinal injury Dec. 4. Pittsburgh signed veteran Sean Spence for run defense and brought in L.J. Fort for passing downs.

This is not a sustainable model for a team that gave up 801 rushing yards in its final six games.

To be sure, the Steelers can't adequately replace Shazier, whose range sideline-to-sideline is among the league's best from the inside linebacker spot. But the team can formulate a plan to aid starter Vince Williams, the only proven commodity on the inside.

The draft is the best option to find a player who fits today's linebacking style of chasing down ball carriers with elite speed; think Atlanta's Deion Jones, Tampa Bay's Kwon Alexander and others. A pair of projected first-rounders from the SEC, Alabama's Rashaan Evans and Georgia's Roquan Smith, have the lateral quickness necessary for this role.

But inside linebacker is an easy position to rebuild in the short term because free-agency options are largely affordable. There will be plenty of available players who aren't game-changers but would mark improvement.

Among recent free-agent ILB signings for modest prices:

Kevin Minter: $4.25 million in 2017 ($2.1 million guaranteed)

Zach Brown: $2.3 million in 2017 ($700,000 guaranteed)

NaVorro Bowman: $2.6 million in 2017 ($120,000 guaranteed, via Oakland after the 49ers released him)

Demario Davis: $2.25 million in 2017 ($100,000 guaranteed)

Those final three players combined for 389 tackles last season -- or $18,380 per tackle. All four are free agents once again.

The Steelers can find good players who shouldn't stretch them financially. Tennessee's Avery Williamson is 25 and recorded three sacks with 92 tackles last season. Buffalo's Preston Brown led the league in tackles and hasn't missed a game in four seasons. Denver's Todd Davis, who played on a $2.746 million restricted tender, was considered one of the leaders of the Broncos' defense.

The Steelers won't likely get a major star at this position, but they can certainly get production. Even a Pittsburgh team that prefers drafting and extending most of its key players is bracing for a potential addition.

"Obviously with Ryan [Shazier]'s injury and his situation, we understand that," general manager Kevin Colbert said. "We knew we would have to deal with it after the season. Tyler [Matakevich]'s certainly in the mix. That gives you an option. And again, we will continue to look at other options in free agency and the draft as well."

If the Miami Dolphins want to save $5.475 million against the cap by cuttingLawrence Timmons, perhaps a Steelers reunion is in order.

Pirates' Josh Bell shoots toward stardom

By Kevin Gorman

http://triblive.com/sports/

February 19, 2018

(Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review)

BRADENTON, Fla. — By the time the Pirates officially opened spring training Monday, Josh Bell already was well into his daily routine at Pirate City.

Bell has been here for weeks, long before other veteran positions reported and even before the pitchers and catchers arrived.

Quietly, Bell is going about his business with the intention to improve upon a season in which he set an NL record for most home runs (26) by a switch-hitting rookie and finished third in NL rookie of the year voting.

"To each their own," Bell said. "A lot of guys have more comfortability in their late-slated slot than I have in years past, so I try to shake the cobwebs off early. Some guys don't need that. Some guys can roll out of bed and be ready for games. I just want to make sure."

Don't think for a second that Bell's work ethic has gone unnoticed by the Pirates' front office and coaching staff, who are as impressed by his dedication and drive as they are by his immense talent.

"Josh is one of the young, potential leaders of this group," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "He had a great rookie season, and instead of taking a deep breath and saying, 'I've got this thing figure out,' he wants to go to the next level.

"He wants to get that much better defensively at first base and wants to become that much more of a dangerous hitter in the batter's box. We've worked to get him back to the hitter that he's capable of being with the power that he has, and he's got a chance to be a really good player for a long time."

Perhaps the Pirates' best since a guy they called Pops.

Bell, 25, is a candidate to become the Pirates' first All-Star first baseman since Jason Thompson, who hit 31 home runs with 101 RBIs in 1982. But Bell has the potential to be the club's best first baseman/cleanup hitter since the late, great Willie Stargell.

That would have been a stretch to say at this time last year. Bell underwent surgery on his left knee last February, and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said the club "had to pump the air brakes a couple times" on Bell during spring training.

"It was a challenge," Hurdle said.

Bell still wasn't 100 percent at the start of the season, and it showed at the plate: He hit .138 through the first 10 games, didn't cross the Mendoza Line until the 14th game but finished with a .255 average and 90 RBIs.

That motivated Bell to get a head start this spring, so he attended mini-camp last month and has been working out at Pirate City since Feb. 4. He has adjusted to the team's schedule and got a head start his routine.

"Especially the start I had last year, it's not something I'm proud of," Bell said. "Getting on the field and getting comfortable hopefully lays the foundation for a good start."

Where Bell went into last season as an unproven player in the field and in the batting order, the Pirates now know they are set at both first base and the cleanup spot.

They are counting on him to be a cornerstone in the foundation of their future, possibly the next face of their franchise now that Andrew McCutchen is gone.

That Bell is avoiding such hyperbole is a sign of his maturity. So is his early arrival and understanding of how to prepare. Bell has shown leadership by bonding with third baseman Colin Moran, prompting Huntington to say, "If we get those two to do what they're capable of, we're going to have a chance to have a lot of fun on those corners for years."

The best part? Bell is a work in progress.

"There's still room for growth," All-Star second baseman Josh Harrison said. "You can definitely see the promise there, as long as he keeps at it. And, knowing him, I know he will."

Like someone shooting toward stardom.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

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Clint Hurdle's return to Pirates motivated by title

By Kevin Gorman

http://triblive.com/sports/

February 14, 2018

(Chris Horner/Tribune-Review)

BRADENTON, Fla. — Clint Hurdle declared a new era for the Pirates on Wednesday, promising to own the present and create a future that will include a World Series championship.

Seriously.

The Pirates manager maintains unbridled optimism — or, as he calls it, unwavering belief — despite the franchise dealing away its ace (Gerrit Cole) and face (Andrew McCutchen) last month.

"Yeah, there's always going to be churn in the game and turnover," Hurdle said. "Fortunate to have been here for seven years, know the organization, know the players, know the city, know the fan base, humble to be a part of it.

"The place is going to explode when we win it all. The place is going to explode. I still believe that. I look forward to the opportunity to stand and be a part of that."

That was Hurdle's motivation to return for an eighth season, and why he signed a four-year contract extension through 2022.

From the outside looking in, it seems like self-inflicted torture, one that requires not unwavering belief but rather the willing suspension of disbelief.

Hurdle must crazy, right?

But he has the sense of purpose and pedigree to tackle a major makeover: Hurdle led the Colorado Rockies from 67 wins in 2005 to the '07 World Series. He took over the Pirates following a 57-win season in 2010 and led them to postseason berths from 2013-15.

"I love my job," Hurdle said. "So, to stay and be able to be a small part of this thing, which I believe is going to move forward and we're going to push through it and we're going to win and we're going to head further than we did in the past.

"A world championship is why you tee this thing up every spring. And the belief in that clubhouse also excites me, and the belief in the conversations I had over the winter excites me. That's why I chose to stay."

Pirates veteran Sean Rodriguez called Hurdle "one of the key pieces of the foundation in bringing this organization to that winning atmosphere again," and believes his return was important because of his winning philosophy and the sense of continuity it creates.

"It would have been a pretty big blow if he would have gone, too," Rodriguez said. "The fact that we've still got the same captain pointing the ship in the direction we need to go definitely helps tremendously."

Hurdle still speaks with the confidence of the manager who averaged 93 wins over three seasons, not the one who followed it with 78- and 75-win seasons the past two years.

"When you come in here and talk about winning, you get more eye rolls than you do people that lock into you," he said. "It excites me. I know the organization, and I know the fan base. The fan base is real and it's significant. I love the opportunity our men have to play on the North Shore in front of that fan base in that ballpark, and to watch the men continue to grow."

So, Hurdle wants to stop talking about Cutch and Cole but instead Josh Harrison, Starling Marte, Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco and pitchers Jameson Taillon, Ivan Nova and Felipe Rivero.

"I get excited from their excitement. I pick up energy from their energy," Hurdle said. "My job is to walk in the door and be a thermostat, not a thermometer, to help establish the climate in the room and not just report on it."

If that sounds like a hard sell to fans who feel betrayed by ownership and the front office for trading Cutch and Cole, Hurdle knows the only thing he can do to convince them otherwise is win.

He's promising not just a competitive team or a playoff- caliber team but delivering the first World Series championship since 1979.

"Our fans need to feel what our fans need to feel. They're human beings, and they'll work through it in their own time and their own way," Hurdle said. "I honor our fans. I will tell them how excited I am to manage this club and the excitement in this room is real and the skill set is real and we're going to go out and do everything we can to represent the name on the front of the jersey to bring a World Series championship to the city of Pittsburgh. That's what I will tell them."

What Hurdle can't tell them is a delivery date, as the Pirates' present appears focused on the future.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

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