Notebook: McCutchen puts pressure on Pirates’ Duffy to produce
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Pirates right-hander Ian Snell has pitched six hitless innings in his last two appearances, including three innings Wednesday against the Red Sox. He retired 16 batters in a row until walking a batter against Boston. It’s added up to a strong start to Snell’s spring.
“I came in 15 pounds heavier and stronger than last year, and my development’s way ahead of what I thought it would be,” Snell said. “I feel stronger than I have been in a long time.”
Manager Jim Tracy has yet to designate Snell or left-hander Zach Duke as his opening day starter April 2 in Houston. Snell only wishes that game was being played Thursday or Friday.
“I’m ready, I’m ready to go after it,” he said.
Snell said his performance to date isn’t a carryover from his 14-win season of a year ago, when he developed into the Pirates’ most reliable starting pitcher. This spring, he has a 2.45 ERA with three runs and four hits allowed, 13 strikeouts and three walks in 11 innings.
“I feel more comfortable with Trace and the coaching staff and where they see me being,” Snell said. “I see where this team is going and I’m on board with those guys. Any time a manager expects so much from you, you want to live up to expectations.”
There is additional incentive, too.
“We want to prove we’re going to be a winning team, not just a team to be pushed over again any more,” he said. “It’s not going to happen no more.”
DON’T LOOK BACK, SOMEBODY MIGHT BE GAINING ON YOU: Chris Duffy can be excused for looking over his shoulder this spring.
Duffy is coming off an eventful 2006 season in which he began and ended it as the Pirates’ starting center fielder but spent a month in exile after initially refusing a demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis. He is all but certain to begin this season as the leadoff hitter and center fielder, but knows what will happen if he doesn’t produce.
Especially with Andrew McCutchen playing only two hours away from Pittsburgh at Double-A Altoona.
McCutchen, the franchise’s top position player prospect, has played only 20 games about the Class A level but there is some sentiment within the organization that he could be major league ready by the end of the season.
“I think about it all the time. I look at the lineup they have right now, which I think is going to be pretty strong, and … I’ll be honest with you, I believe I can add to that,” McCutchen said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
How soon that happens could depend on Duffy, who was hitting .169 on Aug. 9 last season but ended with a .255 average by hitting .315 in his final 45 games. He was 26-of-27 in stolen base attempts.
If Duffy plays the way he did the second half of last season, when he got on base regularly as the leadoff hitter and played excellent defense, the Pirates won’t feel as pressured to promote McCutchen. But should Duffy stumble as he did early last season, and McCutchen continue his rapid progression, it’s not a certainty Duffy will be the center fielder all season.
Duffy was 0-for-3 Wednesday against the Red Sox, lowering his spring average to .179.
BACK AT SECOND: Jose Castillo has spent most of the spring at third base, but made his second start in six days at second base Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Jose Bautista, Castillo’s competition for the third baseman’s job, started at third.
Freddy Sanchez, who has spent most of camp at second, still isn’t ready to play after injuring a knee ligament March 6. Sanchez anticipates playing again later this week.
NO LONGER KING OF SPRING: Brad Eldred’s home run pace has slowed considerably.
Eldred homered four times in his first 12 plate appearances, but has since failed to homer in 17 at-bats. He was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Wednesday against the Red Sox and is 11-for-29 (.379) with four homers, five RBIs and 12 strikeouts this spring.
Neil Walker, the former first-round draft pick who is being converted from catcher to third base, homered Wednesday for the second game in a row. He hit a two-run homer in his only at-bat Monday against the Indians while batting left-handed, then hit a solo homer while batting right-handed in his first at-bat Wednesday. He went 2-for-2 against the Red Sox to raise his average to.471.
NOTES: Right-hander Jonah Bayliss (sore quadriceps) is expected to pitch Thursday in one of the two games against the Reds. He threw 20 pitches Tuesday in a minor league game at Pirate City, his first game-type appearance this spring. … The Pirates and Reds play a day-night doubleheader, with the afternoon game in Bradenton and the evening game in Sarasota. Paul Maholm starts the afternoon game and Shawn Chacon the night game.