Touch 'Em All: Hurdle wants Bucs to pitch inside more

Well, that was a magical first half of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Buccos got a glimpse of first back in July, before fading (something they usually do in, oh, April or May). At least their fans have the yellowing clipping of the midsummer standings (or is it a screen-shot these days?) to show to future generations who don't believe it can be done.

No so fast, though. Good times may still be in the offing for the future. Tough-nut Clint Hurdle is still the manager, and something tells us he won't be taking the Iron City's baseball status quo without a fight.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the skipper is calling out his pitchers as timid souls who hesitate to pitch inside.

"They've got to have the desire to improve that part of their game," he said. "It's about taking ownership of your career. It's about taking ownership of your role on the team. It's about taking ownership of protecting your own players."

This after the team's best hitters, Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen, were both plunked: Tabata on Aug. 25 in St. Louis and McCutchen on Friday against the Chicago Cubs. McCutchen has been hit nine times this season.

Hurdle's had enough, but short of getting on the mound himself, there seems little he can do.

"We have conversations about it that, unfortunately, fall on deaf ears," he said. "If you can't notice that your [teammates] are getting jackknifed, shame on you. The coaching staff notices it. And, fortunately, I'm in a position to make notes about things that aren't getting done."

(Looks like Ross Ohlendorf can see what's coming for those who don't follow Hurdle's way. On Saturday, with one on and one out in the first inning, the righthander got the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez in the waist and bounced one off Carlos Pena's foot. Then again, it may have been more ineptitude than attitude: It loaded the bases, though the Pirates escaped the jam.)

Those who remember former Phillie Bobby Abreu's leisurely strolls in right field at the Vet might be surprised to find he shares a major-league record with Willie Mays, who is as famous for his basket catch of Vic Wertz's long drive in the 1954 World Series as anything he did at the plate.

But when Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia gave Abreu the day off against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, that ended any chance the Pride of Venezuela had of playing in 150 or more games for a 14th consecutive season, and he will remain tied with the Say Hey Kid for the major-league record in that category.