Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Here amid the Red Sox Nation, a two-hour drive away, I offer an extra Q in the mix ...

Q: Thanks for the article on Neil Walker. We are all very proud of the accomplishments this young man has attained in his career, not only at Pine-Richland High School but with the Pirates organization, as well.

After reading your article Monday, my first thought was: Does the Pirates' management realize Neil has been playing baseball year-round?

As soon as he was drafted, he was sent to Florida for rookie ball, then to Class A, then to Arizona for fall ball, then to Florida for developmental ball, then spring training, then Altoona, then Indianapolis, then Mexico ... when does the kid have a chance to rest?

Short of Cal Ripken, how many major-leaguers play 162 games? Don't they have a rest period sometime during the season?

Granted, Neil realizes the need for conditioning, but to make an entire article out of it without mentioning all of the ball he has played the last two years isn't fair to the young man and his fan base.

Clair Altemus, athletic director, Pine-Richland School District

KOVACEVIC: That is a fair point, Mr. Altemus, certainly as it relates to all the makeup work that Walker had to do after his wrist surgery. But the fact remains that Walker does have to find a way to put it all together and sustain it. An enormous factor in baseball is stamina, as I am sure you know, and that is where the Pirates' new management is putting its focus with him.

If Walker is being asked to do any more than the typical elite prospect -- and that includes his time under previous management -- that would be news to me. He did carry extra pressure last year, no question, because of the position switch. But I noted that, just as I noted the additional difficulty of being told about that position switch so soon before spring training.

Yours was not the only negative feedback I got to that piece, it should be noted. Some readers thought that either I or the people quoted or both were too hard on Walker. Speaking only for myself, I will note that I also was careful to mention that Steve Pearce wore down in his magnificent 2007, just as I pointed out the various shortcomings of Andrew McCutchen's year.

Just because these players are prospects does not put them off limits to reasonable and fair reporting.

Q: Dejan, now that we have seen a pattern of inexcusable mistakes -- dropped fly balls, balls getting by outfielders, etc. -- what are the chances that some of the accountability we have been hearing so much about will become evident?

On the one hand, it would seem unrealistic or unfair to implement the accountability during spring training games but, on the other hand, what better time to make the statement and get people acclimated to the new accountability plan?

Nate Hughes of Upper St. Clair

KOVACEVIC: Couple points first, Nate ...

One, those fly balls dropping next to guys happens an awful lot here. The sky is very high in the early afternoon, the sun very bright, and those balls get lost left and right.

Two, you left off your list the catchers pretty much letting runners steal bases at will. And the pitchers are no less responsible, in some cases.

You are correct, Nate, that spring exhibitions make for a curious setting to ream guys out. But, as was the case with drills in February, players are hearing about their mistakes, from what I understand. And that is especially true if the mistake is strategic, one that could be repeated if not addressed. Physical mistakes happen.

Q: What else can we be angry about? I've got one ...

Maybe Damaso Marte can get over his fever and take the mound sometime this spring. How long might he be out when the team breaks camp and heads north with the weather still chilly up here?

Perhaps it's time to tough it out, Damaso. You do fill a pretty important role for our beloved ballclub.

Dale Onstott of Hartford, Ohio

KOVACEVIC: We are crossing the line into the manufactured anger, right?

Kind of difficult to challenge a reliever to tough it out when his 419 appearances since 2002 rank seventh among all major-league pitchers in that span. Sure, a lot of those are one-out appearances, but the guy definitely takes the ball.

Also, not playing doctor here, but Marte looked like death when he showed up with pitchers and catchers. Lost some weight, too. But he was still putting on his uniform to do off-the-field exercises -- which, upon further reflection, was a little strange -- and is scheduled to have his first game action tomorrow.

Come on. We can do better. Real anger, people!

Thing No. 76 that makes Pittsburgh great, courtesy of a Senate resolution this month, as published below in its entirety thanks to a link from Michael Ferson of Chicago:

Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Naming of Pittsburgh as the culmination of the Forbes Campaign across Pennsylvania and the significance this event played in the making of America, in the settlement of the continent, and in spreading the ideals of freedom and democracy throughout the world.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 13, 2008

Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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RESOLUTION

Whereas the Forks of the Ohio at today's Pittsburgh should forever be remembered as the place where an army of British and Colonial soldiers took control of Fort Duquesne from the French, a turning point in the French and Indian War, the first world war;

Whereas the British victory in the French and Indian War sowed the seeds of Colonial discontent with British rule, beginning the chain of events that led to the American Revolution;

Whereas the British Army under the leadership of General John Forbes built the first road across the Allegheny Mountains, thus securing the Gateway to the West for British and later American settlement;

Whereas General Forbes and Colonel George Washington named the location Pittsburgh , in honor of William Pitt the Elder;

Whereas Fort Pitt provided a safe haven for peoples from around the world to follow in Forbes' and Washington's footsteps to travel to Pittsburgh to settle the continent and to pioneer advancements in industry, science, technology, education, the environment, and the arts;

Whereas Pittsburgh went on to become the Crucible of the Industrial Revolution, producing glass, steel, and aluminum that have a place in every skyline in the United States, and perfecting the technologies that made it possible for alternating current to illuminate the Nation;

Whereas the people of the Pittsburgh region pioneered modern philanthropy, implemented the first smoke control regulation, developed the polio vaccine, and conquered rejection of transplanted organs, improving countless lives worldwide;

Whereas Pittsburgh is today a global leader in such emerging fields as materials science, regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, electro-optics, robotics, data storage, computer science, and commercial nuclear power;

Whereas Pittsburgh is home to more than 100 multi-billion dollar global corporations that improve the lives of people around the world;

Whereas Pittsburgh provides a high quality of life to its residents, offering unparalleled arts and cultural opportunities for a city of its size;

Whereas, in 2007 and in 1985, Pittsburgh was named America's Most Livable City, the only city in the United States to earn that honor twice;

Whereas Pittsburgh is commemorating its naming and its impact on the world with Pittsburgh 250, a year-long celebration involving communities in 14 Pennsylvania counties, parts of 7 States, and the District of Columbia;

Whereas Pittsburgh 250 has connected Washington, DC to Pittsburgh by supporting the completion of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, the longest hiking and biking trail east of the Mississippi and the most accessible great trail experience in the world, providing an important new outdoor recreational asset to the people of the Mid-Atlantic United States; and

Whereas Pittsburgh has accomplished all of these things with an unparalleled history of public and private partnership: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) recognizes the 250th anniversary of the Naming of Pittsburgh, known as a significant event in United States history;

(2) recognizes that Pittsburgh 250 is organizing the commemoration on behalf of 14 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania;

(3) encourages participation for all Americans to learn how the Forbes Campaign, the opening of the Gateway to the West, the industrialization of America, and the environmental transformation of Pittsburgh helped to make America; and

(4) commends the contributions of those who have followed trails to Pittsburgh for 250 years to shape the world we live in and the Nation we have become.

Until tomorrow, Wilbur Miller of Silver Spring, Md., predictably comes through with our plea for someone to cite any managers currently in the Hall of Fame who clearly are less qualified than Danny Murtaugh.

From Wilbur ...

The Hall of Fame lists 18 inductees as managers. I'd say there are two who clearly were less qualified than Murtaugh.

Bucky Harris: He had a lifetime losing record and, in 29 years, had only three finishes above third place and nine above fifth.

Wilbert Robinson: He got in mainly on sentiment. His lifetime record was exactly one game over .500, and he had only three really good teams in 19 years. He never won a World Series.

Ned Hanlon and Tommy Lasorda certainly weren't any more qualified than Murtaugh, and Bill McKechnie arguably wasn't ...

First published on March 5, 2008 at 12:00 am