Despite the snowfall, it is Opening Day for the 2013 Major League Baseball season. While the last two seasons are well documented — they’ll forever be known as the Collapse Part 1 and the Collapse Part 2 — the Pirates are focused on this year only. After a longer than usual Spring Training in Bradenton, Fl., the Pirates are back to Pittsburgh and are set to take on the Cubs for a three-game set.
While the season is a marathon, not a sprint, Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle didn’t want to take away the meaning of Opening Day and encouraged his players to enjoy it.
“As I shared with the players, embrace the day. It’s Opening Day. It’s a unique time and it’s a special time,” said Hurdle. “Why fast forward it? But we do need to get after it. After today, we will probably breathe a sigh of relief like *whew* that one is under our belt, so let’s go play 161.”
While most of the players on the Pirates have been here before, the Opening Day jitters are something that just don’t go away.
“I’m one of those guys that if I don’t have jitters then something is wrong. I woke up, had a lot of nervous energy this morning and was excited,” said Pirates reliever Tony Watson. “It’s Opening Day in the big leagues. It’s every kid’s dream. To be able to be here is special and I’m humbled to be here. I can’t wait to get out there.”
New Pirates closer Jason Grilli is excited to take the field. After his up-and-down journey throughout his career, Grilli has earned his spot as the new ninth-inning man this season after the team traded Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox.
“I’m just excited about the season altogether,” said Grilli. “I’ve always taken the ball when the manager has given it to me and have looked to get three outs. I’m just excited.”
The Pirates are no strangers to Opening Day success or starting off quickly the last couple of years. With all of the focus on Opening Day, the players are careful to remember that the season is a long one.
“We just have to take it day by day. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose, we just have to focus on today and what’s ahead of us,” said third baseman Pedro Alvarez.
“I think it’s the same as every other Opening Day. I know it’s the big leagues and the top level, but it’s just that feeling of unknown that every team and every player has,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said about his first Opening Day as a starter. “These are the games that go on the bubblegum card that really count. Everyone is excited. The Houston Astros are the best team in baseball right now, so we have to go perform.”
While it’s a new season for the Pirates, will it be a repeat of the previous two? Let’s remember that the Pirates were 16 games over .500 entering September, but ended up finishing under .500 for the 20th consecutive season.
At what point of the season would you feel comfortable that the Pirates would finish over .500? 20 games over? 25 games? 30 games over with 32 left to play? I think it’s safe to say that most fans, regardless of the Pirates record, won’t be fully confident until the Pirates get the elusive 81st and 82nd victory.
The Pirates, however, have reasons for you to believe in them.
“We’ve learned and we’ve grown up a lot. There’s guys in this clubhouse that have been here the past two years and everyone has learned it’s a 162 game season,” Watson said. “We’ve learned how to treat our bodies and how to mentally, as well as physically, prepare for each day. Our goal every night is to go out there and try to win every game.”
“We lay it on the line and what happens happens. We wash it away and go back out there the next day. We’ve learned from the past two years, I think, and we are ready to go out there for 2013.”
Grilli said that the team is optimistic about its chances in the upcoming season.
“Every year is a new season. Everyone is optimistic that we have the chance to go to the playoffs and the World Series. You don’t work all off-season and just say, ‘Oh, I’m just here to show up and play a pickup game.’ This is Major League Baseball,” Grill said. “This is a men’s game and we’re out to win. We need the fans’ support.”
“I can tell you that everyone in here worked his tail off. We have a good group here from the prospects to the veterans who have experience under their belts.”
Regardless of what happens today, baseball is back and the city couldn’t be more excited. Just remember, as Grilli said, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
“This is a long race. We aren’t going to get too high on our high horse or too low on our low horse,” Grilli said. “We’re just going to ride it out.”
Photo Credits: US Presswire
