Article by Gino Ferretti for Pittsburgh Sporting News
No Red Bull, no Miller Lite, no Mountain Dew. Pirates fans needed nothing to jolt themselves out of their seats, and into the sea of cheers that spread around PNC Park for Gregory Polanco, last night. They got all the energy they needed when he glided across the infield diamond, toward right field for the first time. They’ll always remember their first taste of El Coffee.
The Pirates got to debut their big bazooka on Military Appreciation Night.
How fitting.
Local weathermen called for a slight chance of rain. And although the skies teased, you got a feeling that even the powers that be didn’t want to rain on this parade.
With the strangling months of anticipation, and the aggravating hurry-up-and-wait, seeing Gregory Polanco for five at bats last night almost seemed unfair. Somehow, you wished he could keep whipping that bat through pitches until the last light that hovered over the ball yard, burned down to a faint flicker. Polanco got his first hit in his second at bat when he ripped a one strike fastball into left field.
If you wanted to see a sample of what to expect from the superstar, you saw it. If you wanted to hear a fastball hit his bat on the sweet spot echoing that sharp pop, you heard it. If you expected a 5-5, 4 RBI night, you don’t understand the value of a treat.
Treats are so enticing because they’re not consistently given or seen. They come in spurts. At unexpected moments in lifetimes. Only every 75 years can you see Haley’s Comet. There hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner in horse racing in 36 years. A five-tool player with exceptional plate discipline, and bat speed as fast as blink, is just as uncommon of a sight.
But with elation must come resolve. Polanco must be allowed room to grow without any short sighted critique. With only one game under his belt, it’s too early to hold him to any hasty conclusion. Expectations may be high, but they cannot be impractical. While you saw promise in one at bat, there were four others that hinted to just how raw he still is. He should have caught Anthony Rizzo’s double to deep right field. But that will come with learning to track balls in that tricky part of the field. The opportunities he will have to star will be more plentiful with each chance he is given to shine. For now, it’s nice for Pirates fans to savor the moment. It’s nice for them to finally cherish Gregory Polanco in black and yellow.
Sitting in PNC Park and gazing out at the Clemente Bridge against the city skyline is the best view in baseball from any seat. But last night the view in right field collected all the awe.
And nothing beats a glimpse of good things to come.
After Polanco’s first major league hit, Andrew McCutchen drove a line drive deep to center field. Polanco, taking no risk, ran like hell from first to home, not even looking back to see the ball drift over the wall and into the Pirates bullpen.
As McCutchen crossed home plate he smiled at an awaiting Polanco, and flashed the universal hand motion for slow down.
In a way, it was McCutchen telling the rookie to take it easy, to take it all in, and above all, enjoy it.
Because there’s no rush now. The future is the present.
