One of the greatest freedoms in this country, manager Clint Hurdle likes to say, is the freedom to change your mind.
Two days after declaring Josh Bell unprepared to bat cleanup, Hurdle wrote Bell into the fourth spot in the Pirates lineup Thursday for a series finale against the Washington Nationals. The difference, Hurdle said, is Gregory Polanco, the regular cleanup hitter, went on the disabled list and David Freese, who batted fourth Tuesday and Wednesday, got a day off Thursday.
Bell went walked and hit his ninth home run this season, his fourth in six games. The homer, he said, gave him a little confidence in the cleanup role. Bell, who primarily batted third in the minors, said he expects pitchers will approach him a little differently as the cleanup hitter.
“I feel like that comes with it,” Bell said. “But at the same time it also comes with the situation you're put in. ... I’ve been swinging the bat all right of late, so I feel like guys are going to approach me differently anyway. We'll see after the first couple at-bats.”
Though he continues to be subbed out late in games for defensive reasons, Bell, a converted outfielder, has shown improvement at first base. He has one error so far this season and a Defensive Runs Saved total of two. He made two fine plays in Wednesday’s game. Bell said he has “much more respect” now for roles infielders and catchers play on defense.
As for his defensive improvement, Bell said he’s simply become more comfortable.
“When balls are hit that way, there’s not that gasp,” he said. “It's more, OK, I’ve been here before.”
When asked whether folks outside the organization sometimes don’t understand how difficult it is to play first base, Hurdle laughed and replied, “If you’re truly a Pittsburgh Pirates fan and you haven't picked up on that in the last seven years, shame on you. We’ve lived it here.”
Buried treasure
Outfielder Danny Ortiz recorded his first major league hit with a single Thursday. … Pirates president Frank Coonelly is a member of Major League Baseball’s restructured competition committee, according to MLB.com. The committee will be “charged with studying all aspects of the game and advising the Commissioner and Club Owners on on-field matters,” according to a league statement.
The Pirates and Nationals conclude their series with a 12:35 p.m. game Thursday at PNC Park.
NATIONALS
1. Trea Turner SS
2. Brian Goodwin (L) LF
3. Bryce Harper (L) RF
4. Anthony Rendon 3B
5. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
6. Matt Wieters (S) C
7. Adam Lind (L) 1B
8. Michael A. Taylor CF
9. Tanner Roark RHP
PIRATES
1. Adam Frazier (L) LF
2. Josh Harrison 3B
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Josh Bell (S) 1B
5. John Jaso (L) RF
6. Jordy Mercer SS
7. Alen Hanson (S) 2B
8. Chris Stewart C
9. Tyler Glasnow (L) RHP
Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-gazette.com and Twitter @stephenjnesbitt.
First Published: May 18, 2017, 2:54 p.m.
