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Tuesday, March 20, 2001

By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates tried to say all the politically correct stuff about their weekend jaunt to Mexico City, but some couldn't quite pull it off yesterday.

"All in all, I guess it was a good experience," Jason Kendall said. "I think it was good for the people of Mexico to see American baseball, but I didn't have much fun. I have to be honest. That's the one thing I'm going to be.

"I lost five pounds. All I had was [bottled] water. I crushed Taco Bell when we got back [late Sunday night]. I felt good hitting before I went. Now I don't. If we have to go back sometime, I'm going to catch the flu -- before we go.

	Bob Dvorchak is on assignment.

"If you want something positive for a quote, ask somebody else."

How about Pat Meares? The shortstop caught, uh, the flu soon after arriving in Mexico City.

"I had a hamburger for lunch on Saturday and threw up," he said. "I didn't eat anything until [Sunday] night -- a turkey sandwich. I lost eight pounds, and I didn't play at all. It wasn't very fun."

"Everybody who had a hamburger from room service [got sick]," Mike Benjamin said. "But after that, it wasn't bad. I was just afraid to eat anything. And I was petrified of water touching my mouth.

"The flight home seemed about eight hours. Everybody kept checking their watches. Somebody said, 'There's an hour left.' We said, 'That can't be possible!' "

Some guys did eat, though.

"We went over there looking to eat some Spanish food, and we pretty much ate hamburgers and pasta," Brian Giles said. "The in-room dining menu didn't have enchiladas or burritos. I was frustrated."

On the other hand ...

"I thought it was fine," said Jose Silva, who was born in Mexico. "The food was good. There were a couple restaurants around the hotel that were very good."

"I thought the trip was enjoyable," Kevin Young said. "It was an experience. You've just got to find the positives from it. Everybody came back in relatively good health.

"And to share baseball in another country is good for the game. It got the Pirates some more exposure. Anything to promote the game, you know."

"Having had the opportunity to go to Mexico and play in front of the fanaticals down there, it was a pleasure," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "We enjoyed ourselves. It was good for baseball. I hope we have the opportunity to go back sometime."

A good break

The rainout of the game against Texas yesterday didn't cause the Pirates any problems with their pitchers.

"I don't think [a rainout] is devastating at this particular time in spring training," McClendon said. "We can make up the innings [at the minor-league complex] because they have games going on over there now. Earlier in the spring, this might have been a problem.

"And [the rainout] probably is a blessing in disguise. The guys are tired, and now we'll have two days for them to recuperate."

The Pirates are off today.

Going with 12

McClendon said it appears more likely the Pirates will begin the season with 12 pitchers.

"It's probably 60-40 that I'm leaning toward 12," he said. "We begin the season with six straight games. Usually, you have one day off anyway in the first week."

Taking it slow

Jason Schmidt, slowed by a rib cage injury the last week, played some soft catch yesterday, the first time he has thrown in seven days.

"I don't feel [the rib] just walking around, but we're taking it nice and easy, real slow," he said. "I'm told if I pull it again, it could be a five-week thing."

As it is, Schmidt probably won't pitch in a game for the Pirates until about May 1.

He knows Jack

McClendon said yesterday he wants to settle the Pirates' middle infield situation by the end of this week.

The most likely scenario is that rookie Jack Wilson will be the shortstop, with Meares shifting to second base.

"Jack has personality, and we need that," McClendon said. "He's what I call a dirt-rat. He has a passion for the game. I think the other players feed off that.

"And it's kind of comforting when the ball's hit to him -- almost like a Mike Benjamin. When a ball's hit to Mike Benjamin, you can think about doing something else. You don't worry."

Impressed with Brown

Outfielder Emil Brown, who's out of minor-league options and could be lost on waivers if the Pirates try to send him to Nashville, has been the subject of some trade rumors.

One has him going to Colorado for pitcher Masato Yoshii. Another has him going to Seattle for pitcher Brett Tomko.

Meanwhile, Brown continues to impress the Pirates' brass.

"In Mexico City, he played like Willie Mays," McClendon said. "If he plays like that consistently, the sky's the limit. He's learning he has to bring [his best] every day, and the staff has been on him pretty good about that. I hope he's turned the corner."

Former Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke, in town to work with the outfielders for 10 days, is impressed with Brown.

"He might have the most ability of anybody in this camp," Van Slyke said. "He throws the baseball as well as -- or better than -- anybody I've seen in 20 years.

"But you have to be a consistently good thrower and player. I don't know if his [work] habits are going to allow him to do that. I can't -- and Bill Virdon can't -- emphasize enough that your work habits translate into your success or failure in the outfield."