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Tuesday, March 27, 2001

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

BRADENTON, Fla. -- After much speculation, Lloyd McClendon officially named Jack Wilson as the starting shortstop yesterday.

	Jack Wilson "My job here is to play defense. Anything I hit is pretty much a bonus." (Peter Diana, Post-Gazette)

"He gives us the best opportunity to win," said McClendon, who managed Wilson, 23, in the California and Arizona leagues the past two falls. "He has a lot of moxie. He's a tough kid, with a lot of personality. More than anything, he has the ability to bounce back when he makes mistakes. I've been impressed with that. I'm not naive. He's going to make his share of mistakes, just like anybody else who comes to the big leagues. He's mentally tough. He's capable of handling that position."

Wilson has committed five errors this spring, including a routine grounder that went between his legs in the first Grapefruit League game March 1. But he has bounced back without being overwhelmed, and has hit .255 in 18 games.

He and Pat Meares, last year's shortstop who is now starting at second, have formed a smooth double-play combination in the nine games they have played together. They turned two double plays in a 6-1 victory against the Phillies yesterday.

"I think this kid can play the game," McClendon said. "If he can hit .230 or .240 and plays solid defense, I'll be extremely happy."

Wilson, who takes a lot of good-natured ribbing for his boyish looks, said his heart was pounding when he got the word.

"This is a real shock," said Wilson, acquired last year from the Cardinals for Jason Christiansen. "It hasn't really hit me yet. It's kind of like a dream state. You think of this moment all your life. You've been chasing a dream for so long, when it finally comes, it's like, 'What do I do with it?' "

Wilson said he learned a lot in his first major-league camp, like how quickly the ball jumps off the bat of major-league hitters. Although he struggled at times, he said he would rather get the errors out of the way before the season starts.

"Hopefully, that's out of my system. That's good to get it out of your system in spring training. My job here is to play defense. Anything I hit is pretty much a bonus. I'm going to try to save runs, try to save pitchers from throwing too many pitches, just have fun, dive around and get dirty," Wilson said.

"The biggest test is yet to come. It's great making the team, but I'm not really satisfied yet. I want to go out play good, play hard, prove to everybody I belong here and make a contribution to this team."

One thing that will change quickly is his mode of transportation. He plans to trade in his Ford Ranger with the 88,000 miles on it to buy a new Ford Expedition.

Anderson impresses

Jimmy Anderson pitched six shutout innings and singled in a run to earn his second win of the spring, and Brian Giles hit a three-run home run in the third inning as the Pirates evened their spring record to 12-12-1 with a 6-1 victory against the Phillies.

The Pirates got a scare in the sixth inning when Jason Michaels pounded a line drive up the middle. Anderson stuck his glove up in self defense, then chased the ball down to record the out. The Pirates' coaches, fearful of even more injuries, ran out immediately to check on him.

"Mac came out said, 'You all right?' I said, yeah, it hit my glove. He said, 'Whew.' Then he told me to catch it next time," Anderson said.

"The line drive scared the hell out of me. I don't know how he got his glove on it," McClendon said. Then he smiled: "I was disappointed he didn't catch it."

Anderson, who is scheduled to pitch the exhibition game at PNC Park Saturday, surrendered just three hits. He struck out one and walked two.

"It's not like the real one," Anderson said. "But it would be an honor to get out there and throw the first pitch, try to get ready for the season. With the new stadium and all the fans, it should be a good time."

McClendon said pitching coach Spin Williams made adjustments in Anderson's delivery that made him more effective in his past two starts.

"He's been consistent in the strike zone. If he does that, he can be a very effective pitcher," McClendon said.

Terry Mulholland, Scott Sauerbeck and Mike Williams each pitched an inning for the Pirates.

Jason Kendall had two hits, including an RBI double in the first inning.

Pirates, Phillies on edge

Anderson received a warning after he plunked Gary Bennett on an 0-2 count in the second inning. The incident came after Philadelphia starter Randy Wolf hit Pirates leadoff hitter Emil Brown on a 1-2 count.

"I'm just trying to come inside and get the guy off the plate. He was kind of diving. It was a pretty weak call if you ask me. If you can't throw inside, it's kind of ridiculous," Anderson said.

The game proceeded without incident, but some chippiness was apparent after the two teams played their third game in four days.

On Friday, the second of two pitches thrown by an injured Rich Loiselle sailed behind the Phillies' Brian Hunter.

Then on Sunday, Philadelphia pitcher Bruce Chen threw a pitch behind Kevin Young.

Manager Larry Bowa said there was no retaliation intended. "Chen's been wild all spring. I don't think you do that stuff in spring training," Bowa said.

But McClendon wasn't so sure.

"Put this in the paper. If they think Rich Loiselle threw behind Brian Hunter on purpose, then they're ignorant. That's just stupid. [Loiselle] was hurt. If they want a war, they'll get a war, and I'll lead the charge myself," McClendon said before yesterday's game. "If I find out they threw behind Kevin Young on purpose, they'll answer. You can take it to the bank. I don't care who likes it."

Tough ending

Some ill-feelings might have carried over from the weird ending of Sunday's game, which ended in a 6-6 tie when the Pirates ran out of pitchers. Erik Plantenberg reached his limit of 25 pitches in walking five batters and forcing home two runs. The game was called off with the bases loaded and no outs.

"We tried to explain the situation. We certainly weren't going to let [Plantenberg] get hurt," McClendon said. "If they wanted the game that bad, we'd forfeit."

Plantenberg, 32, pitched in the major leagues with Seattle and Philadelphia. Signed as a minor-league free agent in January, he was on loan from minor-league camp and might be finished as a pitcher.