Pirates usher a sight to behold

PNC Park usher Phil Coyne, shown in a 2008 file photo, worked Game 7 during the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field between the Pirates and Yankees.

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Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Freelance Columnist Joe Starkey can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7848

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By Joe Starkey 
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
http://triblive.com/sports/
Published: Saturday, August 10, 2013, 7:54 p.m. 

Those eyes saw Pie Traynor play third base. They saw the 1927 New York Yankees in person. They watched Babe Ruth hit the final three home runs of his career — Nos. 712, 713 and 714 — on May 25, 1935, at Forbes Field.

Those eyes have seen it all.

They belong to Phil Coyne, a 95-year-old Pirates usher, and they sparkle with life as he greets you one morning at an Oakland coffee shop. They require no artificial enhancement, incredibly, despite logging upwards of 35,000 working days.

Coyne does not need glasses or contacts to read a newspaper. He does not need them to escort fans to their seats in Sections 26 and 27 along the third-base line at PNC Park. And he won't need them to lead you on a walking tour of the site of old Forbes Field.

“I'll take you to what was,” Coyne says, “and what ain't no more.”

Those eyes saw …

• A time when the Cathedral of Learning did not exist and Forbes Avenue was a two-way street through Oakland.

“Streetcars both ways,” Coyne says as he squints from across the street in front of Carnegie Museum. “Nine out of 10 players used to take the streetcars to games.”

“Which hospital were you born in?” you ask.

“I don't think they had hospitals then,” jokes Coyne, who arrived on April 27, 1918, into a home on Swinburne Street, one of eight children of Irish immigrants.

“Born in the house then?” you ask.

“Everybody was,” he says.

• The legendary '27 Yankees' sweep the Pirates in the World Series.

• Kids sitting in trees behind the outfield wall, hoping to catch home runs.

• The days when ushers were handed three quarters for a day's work.

Coyne officially began ushering in the mid-1930s, though he remembers doing the job unofficially — along with a lot of other teenagers — before that.

His decades-long, full-time job was as a machinist. He never married.

• Mickey Mantle, Mel Ott, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Lloyd and Paul Waner and Honus Wagner, to name a handful, though Coyne only saw Wagner as a coach.

“He would be all dressed up, sitting next to the dugout.”

• The majestic Forbes Field entrance. In fact, Coyne can see it now. We are standing at the spot, between the Barco Law Building and Posvar Hall along South Boquet Street.

“Right across the street was one of the famous bars: The Home Plate Café,” he says. “The curb lines all around are still the same.”

• Opposing players relax on the front porch of the Schenley Hotel — later converted into Pitt's student-union building — at night. All games were played during the day until 1940.

• Bill Mazeroski's famous home run to win the 1960 World Series. Coyne was working behind the Yankees dugout.

“Part of our job was to keep people off the field,” he recalls. “We didn't even try.”

• Fans lug ice-filled garbage cans into Forbes Field. At one time it was legal to bring beer, so groups would set a stocked garbage can at the end of their aisle. And go to it often.

• The liberation of Naples from the Germans in World War II. Coyne's job was to fire artillery guns. Drafted into the Army in May 1941, he served until 1945.

“Just part of life in those days,” he says.

• Roberto Clemente patrol right field like a Greek god.

You ask Coyne to close his eyes, in front of the preserved section of the right-field wall — still covered in ivy — and picture Clemente at work.

He smiles.

“I see the basket catches, the throws,” he says. “Everybody stood on their base when Clemente caught it. Nobody tried to go from second to third.”

• The Immaculate Reception. Coyne also has ushered at Steelers games since the 1930s. On that particular day, he was working the fourth level of Three Rivers Stadium.

The secret to Coyne's longevity?

“Two Oreos and a glass of milk before bed,” he says, laughing. “That's my baby bottle.”

Coyne lives with younger brother Billy, the last of his living siblings. The people are what keep him coming back to games. He loves the fans and the organization, having struck up a nice relationship with Pirates president (and fellow Irishman) Frank Coonelly.

Retirement is not on the radar.

“When I see you in the football stadium for a baseball game,” Coyne says, “it'll be time to leave.”

In the meantime, the long-stumbling Pirates are playoff-bound.

There is much yet for those eyes to see.

Joe Starkey co-hosts a show from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays on 93.7 FM. Reach him atjraystarkey@gmail.com.

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Clint Hurdle's sizzling Pittsburgh Pirates descend on Denver

By Troy E. Renck
The Denver Post

August 9, 2013

PITTSBURGH — The cab driver judges sports by fares, and the Pirates, he admitted, have been bad for business. "It's been a lot different this summer," he said. "But people still aren't sure they can trust them."

History assaults the senses at PNC Park, from the archways that create memories of Forbes Field to the statue of Willie Stargell outside the stadium. But nowhere is it embraced more than in the office of Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

A framed 1979 "We Are Family" towel sits on the floor, Pirates caps decorate the shelves and to the right of Hurdle is a beautiful framed picture of Roberto Clemente. Hurdle guided the Rockies to their only World Series appearance, in 2007, and in his second act as boss, he has the Pirates on the verge of something special.

Pittsburgh begins a three-game series Friday night at Coors Field, entering the final stretch run to the team's first winning season and first playoff berth since 1992. Barry Bonds was on that Pirates club. Yeah, it's been a long time.

And, worse, fans were teased the past two seasons when the Pirates started well and played the second half at a combined 39 games under .500. But those clubs didn't pitch and play defense like this group of Patch-eyes.

"It wasn't by accident. It was the blueprint when I got here," Hurdle said. "I don't know any organization that doesn't preach it. You might get taken in a different direction because of the personnel you have. In Colorado, at the time being, our talent was on the other side of the ball. Then going to Texas (as a hitting coach), I saw it again. Offensively here we are just trying to connect the dots. Our guys have bought into pitching and defense. They really get it, that those things can show up every day."

In Hurdle's finest season with the Rockies, they produced their best glove work in franchise history. In Pittsburgh, the pitching has been eye-opening good. The Pirates have a 3.07 ERA, the best in baseball. Their rotation ranks first at 3.22. Friday at Coors Field, they will roll out left-hander Francisco Liriano, the first Pirates starter since Dock Ellis in 1971 to post an ERA under 2.25 in his first 16 starts, followed by A.J. Burnett, who mauled the Rockies last Sunday, and Jeff Locke, an unlikely all-star.

"It's been great to be on a team where we pitch so well," catcher Russell Martin said. "We keep it simple. Just play the game the right way. There's no drama. We always feel like we are in every game."

Veteran shortstop Clint Barmes has a good perspective of the Rockies, the Pirates and Hurdle. Barmes was a member of the Rockies' last two playoff teams and has played for Hurdle in nine of his 11 big-league seasons.

"He's still the same. He's in charge," Barmes said. "He brings energy every day."

Talk to those who follow the Pirates closely, and they believe Hurdle trusts his coaching staff more this year. Pitching coach Ray Searage is drawing raves for his work. Hurdle also has evolved. He uses more defensive metrics for positioning and employs a bold strategy with his bullpen, preferring not to pitch relievers on back-to-back days. With the Rockies, he shied away from pitching relievers on three consecutive days.

His careful maneuvering of the chess pieces has been fascinating. Pittsburgh relievers have pitched the fifth-most innings but remain among the most effective, limiting opponents to a .218 batting average.

Former Golden High School star Mark Melancon has transitioned seamlessly into Pittsburgh's closer — ex-Rockie Jason Grilli, an all-star, is out with a strained forearm — by posting an 0.83 ERA with seven saves in 54-plus innings.

Pittsburgh (70-44) is plenty comfortable beating opponents by one run, owning a baseball-best 23 victories in that category.

"They are hot, confident," Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said of the Pirates. "They've got it going on right now."

One thing hasn't changed since the Rockies dismissed Hurdle in May 2009. He remains a voracious reader. Books scatter his desk, including works from Colin Powell and Rod Olson. A certain work is hard to miss: "One Word That Will Change Your Life."

For that Pirates, the answer is simple: playoffs.

"It's been a good year," Barmes said. "Everyone is contributing. Now we have to finish."

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294, trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck

Postseason's greeting

Not that it's been a long time, but the Pirates haven't been in the playoffs since Barry Bonds' last season in Pittsburgh and Bill Cowher's first year as head coach of the Steelers. The Pirates haven't had a winning record since. Here are baseball's longest active playoff droughts:

Kansas City Royals — 1985

Pittsburgh Pirates — 1992

Toronto Blue Jays — 1993

Seattle Mariners — 2001

Miami Marlins — 2003

---

LOOKING AHEAD: PITTSBURGH AT COLORADO

Pirates' Francisco Liriano (12-4, 2.02 ERA) at Rockies' Jorge De La Rosa (10-6, 3.31)
6:40 p.m. Friday, ROOT; 850 AM

Team owner Dick Monfort said last week the Rockies plan to exercise their club option on Jorge De La Rosa's $11 million contract for next season. He has been one of the bright spots in what has become a dismal season, but he has been hit hard in his past two starts. The Braves battered the left-hander for eight runs (five earned) and 10 hits in five innings. Pittsburgh produced three runs and six hits in four innings. De La Rosa has been struggling with a bruised left thumb, but he hasn't been sharp of late. Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano baffled the Rockies at PNC Park, blanking them for seven innings and allowing only two hits in a 5-2 victory last week. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

Upcoming pitching matchups

Saturday: Pirates' A.J. Burnett (5-7, 2.73 ERA) at Rockies' Juan Nicasio (6-6, 5.05), 6:10 p.m., ROOT

Sunday: Pirates' Jeff Locke (9-3, 2.47) at Rockies' Chad Bettis (0-1, 6.30), 2:10 p.m., ROOT

Monday: Padres' Edinson Volquez (8-9, 5.44) at Rockies' Jhoulys Chacin (10-5, 3.40), 6:40 p.m., ROOT

Middlemen quietly take their cut

Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage talks with reliever Justin Wilson and catcher Tony Sanchez on the mound Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, against the Marlins at PNC Park.

About Dejan Kovacevic

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Sports Columnist Dejan Kovacevic can be reached via e-mail

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By Dejan Kovacevic 
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
http://triblive.com/sports
Published: Thursday, August 8, 2013, 10:57 p.m.

Baseball, even at its most magical, is always more mosaic than masterpiece.

Sure, it can have that singular defining moment. It can have Russell Martin drilling that ball into the third-base chalk for his astounding fourth walk-off hit of the summer. It can have Martin's fellow Pirates storming the field to slap his helmet and skip around like schoolkids. It can have those players stride collectively off the PNC Park grass to a leaping, roaring Thursday matinee crowd of 33,646.

But that moment, and all of this team's nine walk-off wins, nine extra-inning wins and 28 comeback wins, none of those take place in isolation.

Rather, they take place on a stage that's being set time and time again by the best middle relief corps in baseball.

Yes, middle.

“About time,” closer Mark Melancon playfully admonished as I informed of the day's column topic. “All those guys do is make all of this happen. People talk about our closers, whether it's me or Jason Grilli. The way we see it, we've got four or five closers on this team. And when they do their jobs, we know our other guys will come through.”

Eventually, anyway. The offense remains the lagging passenger in this otherwise pristine 70-44 scenario, and that might not change, for all we can see. Even with the 9-2 homestand that was completed Thursday, the Pirates averaged just 4.3 runs per game.

But if it seemed like most of those hits were memorable, I'll say it again: The middle relief made it happen. They took the baton when the starter sputtered. They passed it on to Melancon or did whatever was necessary for those late innings to matter.

Let's put it another way: If Justin Wilson doesn't get out of an eighth-inning jam with what Clint Hurdle later called Wilson's “biggest pitch of the season,” Martin never makes it off the bench.

Rewind for yourself ...

The Pirates had overcome early outfield hiccups and Gerrit Cole's five-inning, four-run line to rally for a 4-4 tie in the seventh. After Cole left, Jeanmar Gomez kept things cool in the 82 degree heat by putting up two scoreless innings.

Wilson followed with two quick outs in the eighth, but a single and two walks loaded the bases. That prompted a visit from pitching coach Ray Searage and catcher Tony Sanchez.

Wilson's version of the exchange: “Ray just wanted me to settle down.”

Sanchez's somewhat more colorful version: “Ray told him, ‘Just get this guy out! That's enough! Get him out!”

In a tone that a rookie could never muster?

“Oh, no, I can talk to Justin that way,” he said. “That's all I was thinking, too, trust me.”

Wilson brought the heat, nothing but 96 to 97 mph from that point onward. And after ball one was followed by a mock cheer for strike one, Wilson eventually got Jeff Mathis to pop up.

Game over, right?

“I know that's how I felt coming off the mound, and that's how I think we all feel with the way this team battles,” Wilson said.

Melancon and Jared Hughes both put up a zero, and both wound up being little more than a couple of the bodies mobbing Martin.

Not everyone forgot.

“Those guys ... they're a luxury a lot of teams don't have,” Cole said. “I feel bad. I kind of hung 'em out there to dry there.”

Been going on all year:

• Tony Watson, maybe the most underappreciated performer on the roster, has been scored upon three times in his past 23 appearances. His versatility has done the most to make up for Grilli's loss.

• Wilson, a recently converted starter who found an extra few mph as a result, has been scored upon twice in his past 14 appearances.

• Vin Mazzaro, who could walk Grant Street at lunchtime without being recognized — by his own family — has been scored upon once in his past 10 appearances, including a harrowing escape Wednesday.

• Bryan Morris, steady sinker in tow, has been scored upon once in his past 11 appearances.

Get the picture?

If not, consider that Epic Collapse II last summer began with the crumbling of the middlemen, partly because of the trade of Brad Lincoln — not nearly as big a deal now as then — and partly because Watson, Jared Hughes and others wore down.

Not this time, they insist. And they've got the birth certificates to back it, not one of them older than 28.

“I think the difference this year is that we've all had enough experience in the majors, but we're also strong enough to know we can keep it going,” Morris said. “I don't see any reason for that to change.”

Nor for the brushstrokes that finish it off.

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Martin pinch-single in 10th, Pirates beat Marlins

The Associated Press 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/pit

August 8, 2013

Russell Martin hits the game-winning RBI single in the tenth inning against the Miami Marlins on August 8, 2013 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

(Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- For 20 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn't win. Now, it seems they cannot lose.

Russell Martin's pinch-hit single with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Pirates over the Miami Marlins 5-4 Thursday for their fifth straight win.

Martin delivered his fourth game-ending hit at PNC Park this year for the NL Central leaders.

The Pirates swept the three-game series and improved to 70-44, the best record in the majors. Miami lost a 4-0 lead and fell for the fifth time in a row.

''We're like the Miami Heat,'' Pittsburgh star center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. ''We play better in the second half of games.''

Pittsburgh has had 20 consecutive losing seasons, a major North American professional sports record.

''It's been so much fun,'' Pirates second baseman Neil Walker said. ''It seems like it's somebody different every day that's been the hero.''

Josh Harrison opened the 10th with a single off Steve Ames (0-1) and took second on Clint Barmes' sacrifice bunt. After Jose Tabata bounced out and Starling Marte was intentionally walked, Martin batted for Jared Hughes (2-2) and grounded a single down the left-field line.

''I like those situations,'' Martin said. ''Some people would say they are pressure situations, but I don't look at it that way. There is a heightened focus for me when the game is on the line and I feel more relaxed because of it. I feel I perform better with the game on the line.''

It was the Pirates' 28th comeback win.

''It's just our mindset,'' Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. ''Offensively, we know we've got some work to do and areas to improve on, but we're long on guts. We keep playing to the end and grinding out at-bats. We've shown the resolve to play out some big opportunities.''

Walker had three hits and two RBIs for Pittsburgh and Marte had two hits. McCutchen was scratched from the starting lineup because of discomfort in his right shoulder, but singled as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

Marlins rookie Christian Yelich had three hits, including his first major league homer.

Starters Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole each lasted only five innings, and neither touted rookie was sharp.

Fernandez gave up two runs and five hits for Miami while walking four and striking out five. He had a combined 27 strikeouts in his previous two starts.

''Honestly I was nervous really from about the second inning on because I knew he didn't have his great stuff and you could see he was really having to work hard out there to throw strikes and get ahead of hitters,'' Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.

''Not that they hit him hard - because they didn't - but you could just see he was having to throw a lot of pitches to finish guys and they did a good job of that, of kind of battling him,'' he said.

Cole allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He is winless in seven starts since winning the first four starts of his career.

Four Pirates relievers then combined for five scoreless innings.

''It's a real luxury to have the type of bullpen we have,'' Cole said. ''I feel bad because I hung them out to dry but they did a great job.''

The Pirates tied the score at 4 in the seventh on sacrifice flies by Walker and pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez. They had drawn within 4-2 in the fifth on consecutive RBI singles by Walker and Pedro Alvarez.

Miami built a 4-0 lead by scoring twice in the first and fifth innings. Giancarlo Stanton drove in the game's first run with a double and scored on Placido Polanco's single, then Yelich hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

''You've had a few at bats now and you know you're waiting for it to come,'' Yelich said, ''but it's one of those things that you can't force it and start pressing for it because if you do that it can take you out of your game and it snowballs on you real quick. It was nice to get that first one but it would have felt a little better if we could have come up with a W.''

NOTES: Pittsburgh leads the major leagues with 41 home wins and Miami's 17 are the fewest. ... Miami 2B Donovan Solano was not in the lineup for the first time since July 23 and rookie CF Jake Marisnick was also rested. ... Both teams open three-game road series on Friday night with Miami visiting Atlanta and Pittsburgh playing at Colorado. RHP Justin Turner (3-3, 2.68) will start for the Marlins against RHP Brandon Beachy (0-0, 9.00). Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (12-4, 2.04) will face LHP Jorge De La Rosa (10-6, 3.31).

Pirates win 4th straight, 4-2 over Marlins

By CHRIS ADAMSKI (Associated Press)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/pit

August 8, 2013

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton (4-3, 3.88 ERA) throws against the Miami Marlins in the first inning on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A classic sinkerballer, Charlie Morton has gotten out of countless jams by inducing a ground ball.

On Wednesday, one turned his entire outing around.

Morton shook off a shaky beginning to retire his final 11 batters over seven strong innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates maintained the best record in the majors with a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Morton (4-3) beat Miami for the second time in an 11-day span despite allowing six hits over his first three-plus innings.

''He's got pitches to get outs and to get on a roll,'' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ''We've seen it in the past. The challenge in front of Charlie is consistency.''

The Marlins had a single during each of the first three innings against Morton, and they took a 2-0 lead when they opened the fourth inning with three consecutive hits. Donovan Solano drove inGiancarlo Stanton with a bloop single over Neil Walker's head for the game's first run.

But conceding Miami's second run was a trade-off Morton and the Pirates were willing to make. Logan Morrison scored when Adeiny Hechavarria followed by grounding into a double play.

''He's capable of getting two outs with one pitch with somebody on base more than anyone we have,'' Hurdle said. ''I do think that did give him a boost of confidence going into the rest of the game.''

Morton did not allow any of the remaining hitters he faced to reach base.

''Initially, I give up two runs, and I don't want to give up runs,'' Morton said. ''I don't want to put anything on the shoulders of anyone else - I want to do my job. So when I don't and I give up runs, that's frustrating. But I have trust and faith in the guys in this clubhouse; they've been amazing all year. It's a lot of fun to watch.''

Morton, who also had an RBI single, did not walk a batter and had five strikeouts in allowing two runs on six hits. Justin Wilson pitched a perfect eighth, and Mark Melancon was aided by Walker's catch on Stanton's line drive in earning his seventh save.

Second baseman Walker went to his right to stab a ball that was heading up the middle, then in one motion quickly threw to first to double up Ed Lucas.

Andrew McCutchen homered for the Pirates (69-44), who have won four straight and are a season-high 25 games over .500.

Christian Yelich had two hits for Miami, which has lost four in a row and scored eight runs in that span.

''We've had some good at-bats but we're not stringing them together,'' Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. ''We're piecing together one run here or one run there. Believe me, it's very frustrating. I know our guys our frustrated. You've got to keep plugging along and hopefully have that day where we string a bunch of hits together.''

The go-ahead run came sprinting home in the Pittsburgh fifth whenTom Koehler's pitch to Starling Marte almost struck Marte in the face as he squared around to bunt on a safety squeeze.

Marte went down hard, and as the ball went to the backstop he jumped up to get out of the way as Jordy Mercer ran in from third.

That was one of two wild pitches by Koehler (3-7), who also hit a batter and allowed four hits and a walk in five innings. The rookie was the losing pitcher the previous time Morton beat Miami less than two weeks prior.

''I'm still a little aggravated about the fifth, to allow two runs and make the team fight back,'' Koehler said. ''You've got to be able to shut it down, slam the door there. You give them a chance and they're going to capitalize on it. They didn't necessarily score their two runs as much as I gave them to them.''

With one out and no one on in the fourth, McCutchen took a 3-1 pitch to right-center for his 16th home run, the second homer allowed by Koehler in his past seven starts.

McCutchen added an infield single in the eighth, and Pedro Alvarez followed with a sacrifice fly to pad the Pirates' lead. McCutchen, who is batting .359 at home this season, has a streak of five straight multihit games.

NOTES: The start of the game was delayed by rain for 36 minutes. ... Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez, on the disabled list since June 11 because of left forearm tightness, threw off a mound for the first time in his rehabilitation Tuesday. ... The Marlins have lost five straight at PNC Park, dating to last season. ... Two of the top rookie starters in the National League will pitch the series finale Thursday - Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.69) and Miami's Jose Fernandez (8-5, 2.54). They faced each other July 28 at Marlins Park, when Fernandez had 13 strikeouts in a 3-2 victory.

Cutch for MVP ... and much more

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen celebrates with Jordy Mercer and Neil Walker after defeating the Marlins, 4-2, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at PNC Park.

About Dejan Kovacevic

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Sports Columnist Dejan Kovacevic can be reached via e-mail

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By Dejan Kovacevic 
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
http://triblive.com/sports
Published: Wednesday, August 7, 2013, 11:00 p.m.

A powerful case can be made through advanced analysis that Andrew McCutchen is pulling away from the pack to be National League MVP. Add up an array of offensive and defensive stats into the catch-all metric Wins Above Replacement, and the race looks like this:

1. Carlos Gomez, Brewers, 6.1 WAR

2. McCutchen, 5.9

3. David Wright, Mets, 5.6

4. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks, 5.2

5. Joey Votto, Reds, 5.1

In other words, it's no race at all at the moment.

Forget Gomez. He plays for a Milwaukee team that was rancid even before Ryan Braun's steroids suspension. Besides, most of Gomez's value would be hidden from voters more schooled in, say, RBI than WAR.

Wright's Mets are in the same category, and the fair-or-not truth about all MVP candidates on lousy teams is that they'd better be head-and-shoulders above those on winning teams. Even with Goldschmidt and Votto both on contenders, neither has risen above individually. Votto has the best shot at surging into a serious MVP duel, but it hasn't happened yet.

Don't overthink this: The MVP is in Cutch's clutches unless he drops it.

Not that he's inclined to discuss the matter.

“I did that last year, and it didn't turn out so well,” McCutchen said Wednesday at PNC Park before his 16th home run helped the Pirates past the Marlins, 4-2. And he had a fair point: Both he and the team plunged in the second half. “The way I look at it, all of that stuff will take care of itself at the end of the season. I'm just going to keep going.”

OK, since he won't say it, I will: It would be remarkable if it plays out per the script.

Half the reason for that, I'd say, is the place McCutchen would take in the 127-year-old Pittsburgh Baseball Club's pantheon. Only five Pirates have been MVP: Dick Groat (1960), Roberto Clemente (1966), Dave Parker (1978), Willie Stargell (1979, tied with the Cardinals' Keith Hernandez) and Skinny Barry Bonds (1990, '92). It should be noted the current form of the award — voted upon by the Baseball Writers Association of America — wasn't born until 1931 and that Paul Waner won an MVP “citation” in 1927. It also should be noted Honus Wagner, the greatest player in franchise history, would have piled up so many MVPs in the early 1900s the honor probably would be named for the Dutchman today.

But it's the other half of the reason that gets me because a McCutchen MVP would be unlike anything the above esteemed gentlemen achieved.

He changed the franchise.

There's a lot of credit being tossed around, all deserved. Without Clint Hurdle's steady hand or A.J. Burnett's fire or Francisco Liriano's filth or Russell Martin's smarts or Starling Marte's energy, this summer's team might not look different than past summers.

But McCutchen's been here all along. He was drafted in 2005 under Dave Littlefield when that alone used to be the kiss of death. A couple of years later upon being cut in spring training, he was livid when looking around a Bradenton clubhouse littered with lesser talent and told me, “I should be here.” In 2010, he was one of the few to hold his head high through a 105-loss disaster, and I recall what he said one September night in Miami: “You just have to keep playing, keep getting better. The rest's out of your control.”

That's Cutch. Rise above.

And now that the rest is finally under control, it's clear he never stopped getting better.

People wanted home runs?

He put out 31 last year, is on pace for 25 this year.

Stolen bases?

How's 24 for 29 after another easy one Wednesday?

Better defense?

One Gold Glove should soon be followed by another.

“The thing about Andrew,” Hurdle was saying Wednesday, “is that he's never satisfied.”

Oh, and people wanted a winner? Yeah, you've got that, too, and through a jagged path no other individual associated with the Pirates has walked.

Waner's MVP came two years after the Pirates won the 1925 World Series. Groat's came the same year as the next crown. Clemente's came six years later. Parker and Stargell were part of a decade-long power. Bonds was part of a three-time division champ.

No disrespect, but none of them really changed anything.

McCutchen is not only burnishing his own legacy but also healing the battered brand of an entire institution.

Be sure he grasps that, too.

“It takes more than just me to turn a team around. I'm just trying to do my part,” McCutchen said. “But yeah, being in this organization for so long, drafted by the Pirates, you can definitely appreciate what's happening now a little more than others can.”

The voters can show their appreciation this fall.

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Is Jarvis Jones the next in line of great Steelers linebackers?

By Don Banks

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl

August 5, 2013

The Steelers are hoping Jarvis Jones (top), the No. 17 overall pick, can fill the void left by James Harrison. (Getty Images)

LATROBE, Pa. -- History says the Pittsburgh Steelers know outside linebackers. How to find them. How to develop them. How to turn them loose to wreak havoc on the rest of the NFL.

It's not just a position of impact in Pittsburgh's defense. It's a legacy. A marquee-level launching pad that has helped cement the play-making reputations for such Steel City luminaries as Jack Ham, Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene, Jason Gildon, Joey Porter and most recently, James Harrison.

So it's quite the position to be in as an NFL rookie, if your name is Jarvis Jones, and you're the highest drafted outside linebacker in Steelers team history (No. 17 overall). No pressure there, kid, just go out there and earn your place in the pantheon. And right away would be nice.

"Oh, yeah, outside linebacker is huge here,'' said seventh-year veteran Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, between practices at Pittsburgh's training camp at scenic St. Vincent College. "You can make a name for yourself for a long time if you can get it done. And he [Jones] has a chance.''

Jones, the disruptive force who churned out a bevy of big plays at Georgia the past two seasons (24 sacks overall, a nation-leading 24.5 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles in 2012), has a chance all right. He has a chance, and some would say a great chance, to become the first Pittsburgh rookie to start at outside linebacker since Ham began his Hall of Fame career by doing so in 1971. It's not the Steelers way to anoint any rookie, so Jones still has to score a clear-cut victory in his preseason battle with fourth-year veteran James Worilds for the right to replace the departed and well-decorated Harrison at right outside linebacker.

But keep in mind the reality of Jones' lofty draft slot, and the fact the Steelers have shown no apparent interest in talking contract extension with Worilds, who is entering the final season of his rookie deal. Pittsburgh has been patient with Worilds, a second-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2010, but he has totaled just 10 sacks in his three NFL seasons, and has yet to prove he can cut it full-time at rush linebacker, the glamor spot of the Dick LeBeau-coached Steelers defense.

Jones, meanwhile, is off to an impressive start in his first Steelers camp, showing good instincts and feel for the game, doing a fair J.J. Watt impersonation with several batted down passes, and flashing the speed, athleticism and strength it takes to collapse the pocket and stand out in pass rush drills. The day I visited Steelers camp, Jones was particularly impressive in the "backs on backers'' drill, where linebackers take turns blitzing a quarterback, while a stationary running back or tight end is tasked with blitz pickup duties. Jones won almost all of his battles, earning some notice from both teammates and coaches.

"He's very explosive and has a nice motor on him,'' Timmons said. "The guy has it all. He's a very sharp kid, and if he can pull it together, I'm sure he's going to be where he wants to be.''

Initially, when the draft scouting season opened, the Steelers never dreamed Jones would be where he is now, wearing black and gold and working to earn a spot in their lineup. Pittsburgh didn't even burn one of its 60 scouting combine interviews on Jones, figuring it would be a waste of time since Jones would come off the board long before No. 17.

But a diagnosis of cervical spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal column in his neck) that Jones received in 2009 while playing for Southern Cal -- he later transferred to Georgia after USC would not allow him to play -- re-emerged as an issue this spring and impacted his draft stock. When Jones also posted a relatively "slow'' 40 time at his pro day (in the 4.9 range), the two-time All-America pick was suddenly in play in the teens of the first round.

The Steelers were convinced they had themselves a steal. Unable to get Harrison, 35, to agree to a reduced salary cap figure after an injury-shortened season in 2012, Pittsburgh released its top pass rusher and went shopping for a younger, healthier and cheaper replacement. Of the multiple issues that combined to render the Steelers an 8-8 non-playoff qualifier last season, the mediocre pass rush (just 37 sacks, tied for 15th most overall) was fairly glaring. As recently as 2010, the Steelers led the league with 48 sacks. So Pittsburgh clearly craves the style of mayhem Jones was known for creating in college.

"There's nothing better that I could imagine than getting this opportunity to play here, and be coached by [Dick] LeBeau, who's in the Hall of Fame and knows what it takes to be great,'' Jones said. "He knows what a great outside linebacker looks like, and he's coached some of the best. Being a rookie, I'm just sitting back, asking a lot of questions and trying to absorb it all and add to my game.''

The Steelers say the best thing about Jones' game is that it might be ready-made for the NFL. Pittsburgh has had a habit over the years of drafting undersized 4-3 defensive ends and transforming them into outside linebackers in the 3-4 formation it has so successfully fielded since 1982. But those transitions always took time, as the Steelers drained the players' defensive end instincts and taught them how to think, move and react in space, as outside linebackers must do.

No such learning curve is needed for Jones, who played 3-4 rush linebacker at Georgia. His coverage responsibilities for the Bulldogs weren't extensive, but dropping isn't a new skill he must master, and that key distinction should enable him to start making an impact early.

"The difference between him and some others that we've acquired since I've been here is we're asking him to do a job that we saw him do in college,'' Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's not a convert, and I think there's an advantage from that perspective. There's going to be more young men you can say that about moving forward, because of the evolution of the 3-4 defense in college football.

"This is really the first one that I've personally had a chance to deal with, and you see the background being an advantage for him, having played on two feet in college. Just in him having an outside linebacker's perspective on the game, as opposed to playing with your hand in the dirt.''

Jones, too, believes being a "pure'' linebacker in college will hasten his transition to the Steelers' starting lineup, but after having doubt cast on his football career by the stenosis diagnosis, he is taking nothing for granted. He knows Worilds, who is only 25 and playing for his next contract somewhere, will not just step aside and make way for his ascent.

"I've got to earn this, and that's how it's supposed to be, absolutely,'' Jones said. "It doesn't matter where you were drafted to a certain extent. I'm just working and waiting for my opportunity, taking the humble approach, and be ready when my opportunity comes.

"Our linebackers as a whole, we're going to get after it. We've got playmakers and the linebackers always lead this defense. Over the history of this Steelers defense, it's been near the top for many years. I know the names. It's an honor, truly an honor to play this position for this team and I want to take on that challenge.''

Rest assured, the challenge of being the Steelers' Next Big Thing at outside linebacker will be issued to Jones. If not at the very start of his rookie season, then soon enough. In Pittsburgh, where the past is so revered and ever-present, Steelers fans are eager to embrace Jones as the future.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130805/jarvis-jones-pittsburgh-steelers-linebacker/#ixzz2bHOrnL3T

Harrison homers, Pirates slip by Marlins 4-3

By WILL GRAVES (AP Sports Writer)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/pit

August 6, 2013

The Pirates' Josh Harrison, top right, is greeted by teammates as he crosses home plate after hitting a walk-off solo home run during the ninth inning in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. / AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The last time Josh Harrison hit a walk-off homer, he was a high school senior in Cincinnati. The game was played in front of a few dozen people on a spring afternoon. Still the only homer of his prep career remains ingrained in Harrison's memory.

Now it's got company.

The Pittsburgh Pirates utility infielder sent a fastball from Miami reliever Mike Dunn into the first row of seats in right-center leading off the ninth, the improbable homer lifting the Pirates to a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night.

''I knew it had a chance,'' Harrison said after his second home run of the season. ''I knew it wasn't caught off the bat. I was running watching (Giancarlo) Stanton's reaction. I knew he wasn't going to catch it. I saw him pull up and it didn't kick back, I knew it was gone.''

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle sent Harrison out to leadoff the inning modestly hoping Harrison could find a way to get on base. Instead, Harrison provided another signature moment in a season that is starting to stockpile them for the first-place Pirates.

A marvelous diving grab by centerfielder Andrew McCutchen with two on in the seventh saved two runs and reliever Vin Mazzaro narrowly escaped a bases-loaded jam moments when a liner from Jeff Mathis landed inches foul. Mathis eventually flied to left on a night Miami left 11 runners on base.

Minutes later Harrison was getting the creampie to the face treatment.

''Those are little things that happen that make you go 'Yeah, something's going on,''' Hurdle said. ''There's no doubt the more feel good you get, the more you feel good.''

The NL Central-leading Pirates have won three straight to move a season-high 24 games over .500 (68-44).

Dunn (2-3) bailed Chad Qualls after Qualls loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. He struck out Pedro Alvarez and got Russell Martin to hit into a double play but couldn't get the best of Harrison, a bench player who has spent most of the season shuttling between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis.

''Initially, I didn't think it was high enough to go out but it carried and it was a home run,'' Dunn said. ''It was a good job on his part.''

Bryan Morris (5-4) pitched a perfect top of the ninth for the victory. Neil Walker had three hits for the Pirates. McCutchen had two hits, including a two-run double, for Pittsburgh.

Donovan Solano went 3 for 5 for the Marlins but baseball's lowest scoring team left runners on base in six of the first seven innings.

''We couldn't get that hit to give us a little breathing room,'' Miami manager Mike Redmond said.

Pittsburgh's Jeff Locke has been one of baseball's biggest surprises, the 25-year-old soaring from fringe starter to All-Star. He's had trouble working deep into games since returning from his trip to New York for the midsummer classic, and for a while it appeared he was headed for another early exit after lasting just four innings against St. Louis in his last start.

Miami turned three singles - none of them sharply hit - into a run in the second then added two more in the third behind four straight singles to start the inning. The Marlins, however, couldn't pile on and Locke eventually settled down. The left-hander allowed three runs on nine hits in 5 2-3 innings, walking three and striking out four as his ERA ticked up to 2.47.

''There are lessons to be learned for him,'' Hurdle said of Locke. ''He's always got to be the predator and the aggressor. We're into August. We're into September. Everybody that gets that ball, you've got to be throwing aggressive punches off the mound with intent and conviction.''

Locke left two runners on in the sixth. He also left with a no decision as Mazzaro retired Ed Lucas with two runners on to end the inning.

Henderson Alvarez handcuffed the Pirates in their previous meeting, limiting Pittsburgh to just two hits in six innings of a victory two weeks ago. The Pirates, however, briefly figured him out in the third. McCutchen doubled off the wall to drive in two runs and Pedro Alvarez followed with his first triple of the year to tie it.

The Pirates never threatened against the Miami starter again, and Alvarez left after seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out six while not issuing a walk.

That left it up to the bullpens and Pittsburgh's ''Shark Tank'' continued its dominance. Mazzaro survived the seventh and the Marlins went meekly in the eighth or ninth before Harrison stepped to the plate.

''I've never been around a group of guys that fights this hard the entire game,'' Locke said. ''We load the bases in the eighth and Pedro comes up and we don't score and you see who comes up with nobody on and walks off. It's funny how the game works like that.''

NOTES: Hurdle said LHP Francisco Liriano deserves to be in the NL Cy Young conversation. Liriano is 12-4 with a 2.02 ERA in 16 starts and was named the NL Player of the Week after picking up two victories between July 29-Aug. 4 ... The series continues on Wednesday when Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton (3-3, 4.07 ERA) faces Tom Koehler (3-6, 4.34). Morton gave up five runs in six innings of a loss to St. Louis in his previous start. Koehler pitched six shutout innings against the Mets in a win last Thursday.