McCutchen's health a big concern for Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates play in the nicest of the "new" ballparks. After two decades of losing and hopelessness, they've made the playoffs for two straight seasons.
The challenge now will be to keep it going as a perennial power leads the way and a sleeping giant begins to awaken in the National League Central.
In the last few years, the NL Central has emerged as one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. The Cardinals figure to be the favorites again this year while the Cubs are finally flexing their big-market muscles. That could pose some problems for the Pirates.
Here are some questions that have arisen from the Pittsburgh spring-training base in Bradenton, Florida:
What's up with Cutch?
Center fielder Andrew McCutchen is one of the best and most exciting players around. But reports from Florida sound more like injury updates coming from the Pittsburgh Penguins. That's because McCutchen has been hobbled this spring with a "lower-body discomfort."
Over the weekend, the Pittsburgh media reported McCutchen's left leg was wrapped in ice from mid-thigh to ankle, with most of it concentrated near his knee.
Even so, the Pirates are putting on their bravest face, saying McCutchen should be ready by Opening Day. McCutchen won the NL MVP award in 2013 and was third in the voting last year, when he put up a line of .314/.410/.542 with 25 homers and 83 RBI.
He entered Monday having played only five games this spring, going 2-for-12.
Will the Bucs miss Martin?
Catcher Russell Martin left the Pirates for the Toronto Blue Jays via free agency this off-season.
As of now, Francisco Cervelli is the Bucs' No. 1 catcher after serving seven years as a backup for the Yankees. Noting Cervelli's history of injuries, the Pirates would like to hold him to 100 starts this season. He's considered a good defensive catcher, and he entered Monday having hit a pair of homers this spring. He'll have to go some to replace Martin.
How about the rotation?
Lefty Francisco Liriano will get the April 6 start against the Reds, making him the first Pirates pitcher to start on consecutive Opening Days since Oliver Perez in 2005 and 2006.
"This is a gifted pitcher," manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh media. "This is a guy we believe heavily in that's been an anchor in our rotation. When he's been healthy, he's been arguably as good as anybody in the National League the last two years."
The Pirates expect Gerrit Cole to grow into the role of ace. A.J. Burnett is back with the Pirates after a disastrous season in Philadelphia, where he led the league in losses last year with 18.
Charlie Morton may be late in starting the season as he recovers from surgery to repair his labrum last fall. Former White Sox pitcher Clayton Richard is battling to make the team as a nonroster invitee to spring training.
How good is Hurdle?
Pretty good, it seems. He is entering his fifth year in Pittsburgh, and no manager has enjoyed this much success there since Jim Leyland.
According to Baseball Prospectus: "Hurdle has accepted, among other advanced concepts, defensive shifts and strict platoons. But those tastes don't mean there isn't an old-school flavor to his approach. Hit-and-runs - frowned upon by some due to their risky nature and the position they put the hitter in - were a go-to play last season for the Pirates, who led the majors by more than 15 attempts."
Hurdle led the Rockies to the 2007 World Series. If he can get the Pirates over the next hurdle, so to speak, he'll cement a reputation as one of the game's best.
• Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.