Lambo shows enough to be part of Pirates’ plan
BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew Lambo looks back on last year’s spring training as a learning experience, albeit a painful one.
The Pirates expected Lambo would be the left-handed hitting half of a first base platoon with Gaby Sanchez.
They felt Lambo was ready to blossom into a power threat after hitting a combined .282 with 32 home runs with Class AA Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis in 120 games, then adding his first major league home run on the last day of the regular season.
However, Lambo failed so miserably in the exhibition games that he wound up getting beat out by journeyman Travis Ishikawa, an afterthought going into camp, and being optioned to Indianapolis.
Before April was over, the Pirates had released Ishikawa and traded with the New York Mets for Ike Davis. Davis hit just 10 home runs in 131 games while Ishikawa belted the pennant-winning home run for the San Francisco Giants against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.
“I was so disappointed in myself,” Lambo said. “I let a great opportunity slip away. I put too much pressure on myself.”
Lambo spent last spring learning how to play first base after being primarily an outfielder during his seven-year professional career. He pressed to show he could play first and, in turn, pressed even more when he stepped into the batter’s box.
“I tried to hit a home run every time up,” he said. “I got away from just focusing on making hard contact.”
Lambo, 26, made it back to the major leagues in August and hit .256 in 21 games. He showed enough promise to put himself back into the Pirates’ plans, at least as a backup first baseman and corner outfielder.
The Pirates traded outfielder Travis Snider, a second-half hero last year in their push to a second straight postseason appearance, to the Baltimore Orioles in January in order to give Lambo a clear shot to a spot on the opening day roster.
Lambo, for his part, is just trying to take advantage of his second chance.
“It’s different this time,” Lambo said. “I feel a lot more comfortable at first base now. I am a lot more relaxed in the field and at the plate.”