Pirates notebook: Harrison enjoys game in the cold
PITTSBURGH — It was cold but Josh Harrison liked it.
The Pirates second baseman enjoyed playing in what some may describe as not being “baseball weather.”
“It is baseball weather because we had to play in it,” Harrison said. “If it wasn’t baseball weather the game would have been cancelled. It’s fun because it’s a test of mental toughness. This was not the coldest game I’ve played in.”
The Cincinnati product was up to the task defensively when he teamed up with shortstop Jordy Mercer for a tremendous double play in the eighth inning and Atlanta threatening. The play was key in Pittsburgh earning a 5-4 victory on Friday’s Opening Day at PNC Park.
“I feel like any time I get the ball to Jordy with enough space to get the throw off we’ve got a chance,” Harrison said. “As I dove and got that, I knew if I got it quick enough, he would be able to adjust his body to get off a good throw. I really feel like we feed off each other as a collective group.”
The paid attendance was announced at 36,484 for a sellout, but due to the horrible conditions, the stadium was probably at 60 percent capacity, but that didn’t stop the fans in attendance from cheering on their team despite the miserable conditions when the home team took the lead.
The temperature at first pitch was 37 degrees. The 2016 Home Opener against St. Louis was 39 degrees. The 2007 opener was also 37 degrees against the Cardinals but felt like 29.
Pregame festivities
The voice of the Pirates, Greg Brown, served as emcee for the Opening Day festivities. Bob Friend was honored as a member of the Pittsburgh alumni with chairman Bob Nutting presenting him with a recognition for his contributions to the organization and community.
The team also honored Starling Marte with the presentation of his 2016 Rawlings Gold Glove Award by former Pirate Gold Glove outfielder Andy Van Slyke and Rawlings representative Chuck Russell. Van Slyke took a moment to address the crowd.
Sally McGrady, Chairwoman of the PNC Foundation, threw out the honorary first pitch. McGrady was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy” in last month’s Inside Philanthropy.
A moment of silence was held for longtime Pirates media relations employee Sally O’Leary; long-time Major League Baseball executive Katy Feeney, and Canonsburg police officer Scott Bashioum, all of whom passed away in the last year. Bashioum, who was killed in a line-of-duty ambush responding to a domestic dispute, is survived by his wife and four children, who were in attendance. Bashioum’s four children threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Local recording artist Gabby Barrett performed “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner.”
All individuals associated with each team and the players were announced before the game, which is something that doesn’t get old for Harrison.
“It does get the adrenaline pumping because the crowd is cheering and pumped up,” Harrison said. “It is not something that happens every game, but really Opening Day is no different than Game 130.”
Home sweet home
Pittsburgh’s victory was its fourth home-opening victory in a row. The Pirates opened the MLB season last year with a 4-1 win over St. Louis. The Bucs downed Detroit, 5-4, in the 2015 Home Opener, and defeated the Chicago Cubs, 1-0, to open the 2014 season when Pittsburgh native Neil Walker deliver a walk-off home run in the 10th inning.
Freese needs one more
David Freese’s fifth-inning home run puts him at 799 career hits. The Bucs’ third baseman, who was the NLCS and World Series MVP in 2011 while with the St. Louis Cardinals, played in 141 games last season with 71 starts at third base and 34 at first base. Freese is likely to get more playing time at the hot corner if Jung Ho Kang can’t obtain a visa to enter the United States due to DUI charges in his native South Korea.
Best in baseball
The Pirates’ bullpen has produced the most saves (296) and the second-best ERA (3.20) among Major League teams since 2011, trailing only Kansas City (3.19). Pittsburgh added another save on Friday when Tony Watson locked it down in the ninth inning.
Century mark in sight
The next walk-off win by the Pirates will be the 100th in PNC Park history. Walker’s walk-off homer off of the Cubs’ Carlos Villanueva on March 31, 2014, was the last time the team walked-off in an opener.
12 returning players
Twelve of last year’s Bucs returned in Friday’s home opener. Only Phil Gosselin and Daniel Hudson are new to the team, compared to nine last season. The average age of the current roster is 28.2, compared to 29.6 in 2016, 28.4 in 2015, 28.3 in 2014, 28.6 in 2013, 28.4 in 2012, 27.6 in 2011 and 28.3 in 2010. Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, Allen Hanson and Trevor Williams make up the four rookies on the team. Chris Stewart is the team’s oldest player (35) and Glasnow (23) is the youngest.
“It was a cool experience, especially when I was standing on second with the bases loaded, the snow was coming down and the stadium erupts and getting into every pitch,” Bell said. “To feel the stadium erupt when (David) Freese and (Francisco) Cervelli hit those homers, and feeling the dugout, as well as the stadium erupt when JHay (Harrison) and (Jordy) Mercer turn that double player is a cool experience and I’m happy to get the win.
“I was just trying to have good at-bats, try to compete up there. I feel like I did my job there. I felt like as a team we competed against the Red Sox, and it’s cool to be on the winning side of things at home. I feel good about transitioning to first base if I continue to work my tail off and get better every day.”