BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates and their fans aren't the only ones who have endured an interminable wait for Bobby Bradley to justify his status as a first-round draft pick.

		Pirates Notebook: Pitchers battered again

"I've been waiting, too," he said.

But after three surgeries and four seasons abbreviated or wiped out by injuries, after being passed up by others on the path to the major leagues, Bradley had what for him would be considered a breakthrough this week. At the very least, it was a psychological breakthrough.

On Monday, he was asked to warm up late in a game against the Blue Jays even though there was no intention of using him in a game.

"I didn't want him to think about his arm, or his mechanics, or having to establish anything," bullpen coach Bruce Tanner said. "I didn't want him thinking about anything but heating up quickly and getting the adrenaline going. Medically, there's nothing wrong. His surgery was a long time ago. There comes a time when you have to let it rip. He finally turned it loose."

Bradley said that was the best his arm felt since his elbow was first sprained in 2000, the year he was selected to play in the Futures All-Star game and was rated the second-best prospect in the Pirates' minor-league system.

Then yesterday, in a "B" game against Duquesne University, Bradley entered the game in the fifth inning and retired all six batters he faced. He struck out four, and scouts were impressed with the movement on his fastball and the bite of his curve.

"I finally aired it out, and I felt great. I brought it all out to the mound," said Bradley, the Pirates' first pick in 1999. "I didn't think about anything. I didn't even notice if a batter was in the box. I was just throwing to the glove."

This is Bradley's sixth season in the system, and he's just now rising above Class A while pitchers drafted in later years -- high school teammate Sean Burnett, John VanBenschoten and Bryan Bullington -- have been on much faster tracks.

Bradley has not appeared in an exhibition this spring against major-league hitters. But he's only 23 and remains a prospect. If only he can stay healthy and display some of the potential that prompted the Pirates to keep him around.

"This year is about getting the swagger back," Bradley said. "It's just a different mind-set. I have to prove myself. It doesn't matter if it's the [New York] Yankees or Manatee Community College or Duquesne. If you throw strikes and can impress these guys, that's the important part."

Bradley's medical history is a long one. After hurting his elbow in 2000, he was bothered by elbow pain throughout the next season and made just nine starts before having reconstructive elbow surgery in October. He missed the 2002 season, pitching in the instructional league. Last year, he had tendinitis in his right shoulder in May and went on the disabled list. In five years, he has 42 starts and a 13-7 record.

In addition, there are those in the organization who have doubted his maturity and makeup. It just makes him more determined to prove the skeptics wrong.

Even if the steps taken this week are small ones, Bradley is making an impression.

"I think that's the best I've seen him throw," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said yesterday.

Now, it's a question of Bradley mastering the command of his pitches, which will be his mission when he begins the season at Class AA Altoona.

"He seems to be healthy," McClendon said. "The most important thing is for him to stay healthy and have a full season and try to catch up. He's been behind because of the injuries."

The Pirates also don't want him thinking about what any other pitcher is doing, and Bradley knows his future is in his hands.

"I have to worry about myself. I'll get there," Bradley said. "I want to get to the big leagues. I know I have the ability. I know I have the stuff. I need to pitch for a year. I'm going to let it all out."