Keith Srakocic, Associated Press Joe Randa figures to give the Pirates a steadier glove at third base -- just one position where an upgrade is expected in the field. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Pirates Notebook: Fifth starter might come from a trade with Atlanta Spring Scorecard: 3/26/06

BRADENTON, Fla. -- There was much talk during the days leading to the start of spring training about how well the Pirates had done upgrading their offense.

There was some talk, too, about how good their bullpen could be.

And there was talk about the starting rotation and its potential.

But hardly anybody considered the Pirates' defense.

Maybe because of where it ranked in the National League last season. The Pirates, with a .981 fielding percentage, tied with Colorado for 14th in the league. Their error total of 117 was third-highest in the league.

But some people started to look at the Pirates' defense after manager Jim Tracy began complimenting it throughout spring training.

"I firmly believe that we're going to catch the ball and we're going to make some special plays periodically," Tracy said.

Tracy's players picked up on that.

They looked first at shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Jose Castillo, among the best double play combinations in baseball. That duo helped the Pirates turn 193 double plays last season. Only the gifted St. Louis Cardinals (196) turned more.

They remembered how Chris Duffy played center field last season. How Jason Bay played left field.

They began to notice that new third baseman Joe Randa is no slouch. That Sean Casey can handle himself pretty well around first base. That Jeromy Burnitz isn't bad at all in right field.

And this feeling began to grow.

"I think this could be one of the best defenses in baseball -- especially up the middle," said Casey, a former Cincinnati Reds player. "I just think it's going to be a great defense.

"You don't get any better than Castillo and Wilson up the middle. When we played these guys, they'd take at least a hit away from you a series. A ball would up the middle and Wilson is flailing his arms, his elbows, his rear end, firing you out from his knees."

"I think the sky's the limit for our team defensively," Duffy said. "To be a good team defensively, you have to be strong up the middle. That's where it starts.

"[Catchers Ryan] Doumit and [Humberto] Cota are going to be the catalysts. And then Castillo and Jack, those names speak for themselves. I pride myself on defense. Bay's really good in left. Burnitz is really good in right. Casey takes pride in everything he does. Same with Randa. I really don't believe there's a flaw in our defense."

"Our defense could be the best in the league -- by far," Wilson said. "You look at our outfield. You look at our infield. I can't think of another team that has a better chance of being a good defensive club with what we have going on up the middle.

"What Jason does in left field is pretty special. Burnitz is a solid defender. Our corners are solid. If I'm a pitcher, I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now."

Speaking of which ...

"It's outstanding," Zach Duke said. "You look up the middle. You've got Jack. You've got Castillo. Then Duffy in center. I don't think it gets better anywhere in baseball. Joe Randa's a very solid player at third. Sean Casey plays well at first base. We really do have a good defense."

Especially for a sinker ball pitcher like Duke.

"I can just trust that I can throw my sinker and just let them hit it anywhere," Duke said. "It's not going to get through. It's something that's very comforting, and I'm very glad to be able to be a part of it."

In turn, Duke and the rest of the pitchers will be a large part of this.

"Our defense is going to be as good as our pitching," Randa said. "I'm a big believer that if your pitchers throw strikes and they're consistent with hitting their spots, it makes it a lot easier for the defense to make the plays -- to position themselves and be on the balls of their feet.

"To me, it works hand in hand. The more the pitchers are consistent, the more we're going to be consistent."

And that might be a trouble spot -- because the Pirates at this point have a pretty young starting rotation.

"It's very difficult for young players -- pitchers and position players -- to be consistent because there are a lot of unknowns," Randa said. "I think they have a very good chance to be consistent, but young guys make mistakes. That's why they don't have track records yet. They're going to have ups and downs.

"You have a lot of guys here who have never failed, and failure in the big leagues happens to everybody. This game humbles you really fast. I think they have the mentality to handle it, but in the middle of the season there will be a little bit more pressure this year than there was in August and September of last year.

"I saw it in Kansas City. There were a lot of young pitchers there the last couple years I was there and a lot of those guys aren't pitching in the big leagues anymore. They came to the big leagues and they weren't ready and they got hit around and they went back to Triple A and their confidence had been set back, although I think our guys are a step ahead of that with their confidence and their makeup."

If they are, then this defense should play well. And that should be a key to how close this team comes to achieving a .500 season.

"I'm excited," Duffy said. "You know we're going to hit home runs and we'll have good games [offensively] with 10 runs or more. But I think primarily we'll be fundamental team -- move runners over -- and I think what's going to make the difference for us is defense. It will keep us out of big innings."

If the pitchers hold up their end.

"If I'm a pitcher and I'm paying close attention, I'm certainly not going to be afraid to attack somebody's bat," Tracy said. "I want the ball in play -- because they're going to make plays."