Major League Baseball

Hurdle has pesky Pirates in NL Central contention

Published Jul. 7, 2011 9:14 p.m. ET

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One by one, a seemingly endless train of reporters filed into first-year Pirates manager Clint Hurdle's office on Wednesday. The limited seating quickly exhausted, media members that numbered more than two dozen stood two-deep around the perimeter of the suddenly cramped space.

Last season, the afternoon media session for a midweek game against a last-place opponent like Houston might have drawn no more than a handful in this town where the Steelers rule and the Penguins are a marquee attraction.

But it seems like everybody wants to hear what Hurdle has to say these days. And why shouldn't they? After all, his surprising Pirates are the feel-good story of the National League.

A year after enduring 105 losses to extend its North American major professional sports record of consecutive losing seasons to 18, Pittsburgh is one win away from assuring itself its first winning record at the All-Star break since 1992.

Perennially an afterthought for virtually an entire generation, these pesky Pirates were only 1 1-2 games behind the National League Central lead, as play began on Thursday.

''There's been a mindset change in this clubhouse and in this organization,'' second baseman Neil Walker said. ''I think it's a lot of guys, but Clint Hurdle has come in here and instilled confidence in every single one of us.''

In stark contrast to insipid predecessor John Russell, Hurdle is at his best with an audience. He cracks jokes and churns out colloquialisms.

Standing 6 foot, 3 inches and weighing about 200 pounds with a booming voice, the instant Hurdle walks through the door, there's no questioning who commands the room.

''Oh, no doubt, you hear him when he's in the building,'' centerfielder Andrew McCutchen said. ''But that's what he brings. And he's brought it every single day as far as being positive and just being behind us.''

Hurdle takes an almost-parental approach to his players. Comforting them, being there when needed, defending them unwaveringly against outsiders, you name it. But he's also not afraid to bring down the hammer on a player when he makes a mental error or steps out of line.

''He has a good balance: To get on you when you're wrong, and to pat you on your back when you're right,'' infielder Brandon Wood said. ''When you're wrong, he's going to let you know about it. You're not going to be in the doghouse for a week. But he's going to let you know.

''He gets it off his chest, and it's nice to know he's going to be honest and up front, and just be a guy who's going to encourage you all the way to the end.''

Perhaps no one knows both ends of that this season better than McCutchen, the team's best everyday position player who's been the centerpiece of the most recent incarnation of Pirates' rebuilding efforts.

McCutchen was disciplined by Hurdle in May - left out of the following day's lineup - for not running out a ball in the dirt after he had struck out swinging.

But McCutchen also has been at the center of the caring, stick-up-for-my-guys side of Hurdle. When McCutchen was a surprising omission from consideration for an All-star roster spot last weekend, Hurdle publicly criticized all those involved for the decision.

''That shows one way that he's supportive and he's behind us,'' McCutchen said. ''It feels good to be able to hear what he had to say and to have that support by saying what he had to say and not really caring (about repercussions).

''He would not only do that just for me, he'd do that for the whole team. And the coaching staff, the trainers - he'd do it for anybody.

''That's the person he is.''

On numerous occasions in recent weeks, Hurdle has spoken of the ''joy'' this season has brought him. The American League-champion Texas Rangers' hitting coach last season, after being fired midway through his eighth season as manager of the Colorado Rockies in 2009, Hurdle said after a recent victory, ''I've had a lot of different teams, but this team is an absolute blast to manage.''

His players know not to cross him, but they've grown to like him - and not just because the long-woeful Pirates are (not-so-coincidentally) finally winning.

It's easy to gain the players' respect when you repeat mantras such as this: ''My job is to accept responsibility when things don't go well, and push it back in the room out there (the players' clubhouse) when things go well.''

Perhaps just as important, is that's he's the public face of a franchise that's had more than its share of public-relations gaffes in recent years. Hurdle has endeared himself to the fans in western Pennsylvania.

Active in charitable causes and seen as affable when approached in public, Hurdle has repeatedly gone out of his way to make a point of saying how much he's enjoyed Pittsburgh.

''The players understand who they're playing for - the city of Pittsburgh,'' Hurdle said. ''It's a blue-collar mentality. It's something I've always felt coming in. People work hard for their money, and they want an effort.

''They don't want excuses, and I think we've got a team this year that's hopefully given them that.''

With little roster turnover from last season's majors-worst team, little was expected of these Pirates. But they are contending in the Central, and they seem well on their way to breaking that losing-season curse.

And they've done it all amid obstacles.

In fact, four regulars - Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Doumit, Chris Snyder and Jose Tabata - are injured. And the team's marquee free-agent signing on offense, first baseman Lyle Overbay, hasn't performed to expectations, as he has just six home runs to go with a .238 average.

But Hurdle has allowed these Pirates to believe.

''He's brought a new attitude,'' said starting pitcher Jeff Karstens, who is a surprising 7-4 with a 2.55 ERA this season.

''Last year was last year. Everybody in here's buying into this and buying into each other. And that starts with Clint.''

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