Pirates Notes

It's Back to Basics in Summer Training

By Paul Ladewski

POSTED: July 17, 2010

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PITTSBURGH -- Pirates manager John Russell is adamant that his team spent sufficient time on fundamentals in spring training, but the numbers suggest something different.

At the start of play on Saturday, the team ranked in the bottom third in virtually every defense-related category among major league teams -- 27th in errors (67), 23rd in passed balls (seven) and 19th wild pitches (33).

But there's one number that stands out more the others. The team is 30th and last in opponent stolen base percentage, as it was successful only 16 percent of the time.

Now Russell is equally insistent that his team will get it right eventually even if takes what amounts to summer training the rest of the season.

"We'll spend time on it now," he said. "We can't wait until spring training. It has been a big emphasis since Day One. (Pitching coach) Joe (Kerrigan) has got a holding-runners program. The biggest thing is to change mentalities and what the guys do on the mound and being aware that there are runners on base.

Russell cited Jeff Karstens and rookie Brad Lincoln as pitchers that made strides in that area this season.

"We've really pushed it now, and we'll continue to push it," Russell said. "It always will be an emphasis for as long as I'm here. We've got to make sure that we get better at holding runners and throwing runners out. "

As a former major league catcher, Russell realized that run defense was a tandem effort. He said Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo were partly to blame for the inability to contain it.

"Ryan has been erratic," Russell said. "He had some opportunities to throw some guys out and missed. Sometimes he doesn't have a chance. If we can get Ryan to get a little bit shorter with his footwork, then we can slow it down. He has a little bit of a longer release, and he has worked hard to try to get it shorter."

HERE AT LAST: Rookie Erik Kratz batted seventh in the order in his major league debut against the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

"I won't have time to be nervous," the 30-year-old catcher said. "Before I come to bat, I'll be able to lock in and do something that's familiar to me behind the plate."

Kratz was among the final roster cuts in spring training, and he believed the experience would benefit his ability to handle pitchers on the staff.

"I talked with a most of these guys and caught them in spring training and the minor leagues, so I'm familiar with them already," he said. "That gives me an edge. They didn't bring me here to get my feet wet for a few days."

Normally, Doumit would take Sunday off, but with Astros ace Roy Oswalt scheduled to pitch that day, Bud Norris represented a better matchup for the newcomer.

"When guys get called up, I try to get them in (the line-up) quickly," Russell said. "I don't want them to sit around too long before they get their first taste of it, especially if they're position players. I want him to get out there and let him get a feel for it."

The Telford, Pa., native had no shortage of support, as his wife, two children, parents, an aunt and uncle were among those in attendance.

ONE MORE STEP: Now that Pedro Alvarez, Brad Lincoln, Jose Tabata and Neil Walker have arrived in the major leagues, the next challenge is to fulfill the potential that got them there to large extent.

"Basically, the guys took somebody's spots," Russell said. "They created the opportunity to get here, and now the (next step) is to stay here and be that kind of player. The commitment has to continue."

Russell and his staff cautioned the younger players that, if they expected to play regularly in the future, it would take the required work ethic and results to do so.

"That's a big part of it don't take it for granted," he said. "When they're here, they have to get everything they can out of it. Experience will continue to make them better, but each day they come (to the ballpark), they have to be ready and do what they need to day and make sure that, for nine innings, they'll leave it all on the field."

And what did Russell see thus far?

"They've responded pretty well," he said. "They're into it."

NEXT . . .: Oswalt (6-10) will oppose Paul Maholm (5-7) in the final game of the series on Sunday (1:35 p.m., FSN, WPGB-FM).

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