Spring training: LaRoche focuses on Pirates first
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Pirates third basemen Pedro Alvarez and Andy LaRoche.
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- To understand what makes Andy LaRoche tick, follow this sequence of logic ...
He is the Pirates' third baseman.
He would love to remain exactly that.
He knows Pedro Alvarez, the franchise's top prospect in years, is a third baseman.
He knows Alvarez almost surely will arrive in Pittsburgh this summer.
And he is helping Alvarez, above and beyond, to prepare for exactly that.
"Andy's a great person, an outstanding person," Alvarez said Monday at his McKechnie Field stall. "It started last year when I was new here, and he took me under his wing. He taught me to be a good clubhouse guy, how to be there for your teammates. Out on the field, he gave me pointers on the mental, the physical parts of the game .. anything at all, he's shared it with me."
Game: Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m., McKechnie Field, Bradenton, Fla. RHP Kevin Hart vs. LHP Nate Robertson. Other pitchers: D.J. Carrasco, Vinnie Chulk, Brendan Donnelly, Evan Meek.
Radio: Fox Sports Radio 970.
Camp roster: 53 players, including 28 pitchers, five catchers, 11 infielders, nine outfielders.
Injuries: RHP Octavio Dotel (oblique), RHP Joel Hanrahan (elbow), SS Ronny Cedeno (hand).
Opener: 19 days until the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park.
Alvarez smiled and looked over at LaRoche sitting by his stall.
"It's funny, we've never played in a real game together, but I feel like he's my teammate."
Thing is, these two will be teammates soon. And, assuming each achieves up to expectations, there will not be room in the infield for both.
The Pirates had strong reservations about whether Alvarez could stay at third base in the majors, given his thick frame. But his elite training regimen this winter, as well as sound fielding and a strong, accurate arm have rendered such reservations negligible, if not entirely nonexistent.
First Published March 17, 2010 12:00 am
