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PITTSBURGH — A lot was product of the Pirates’ surprising 20-8 begin to the 2023 season, once they held sole possession of first place within the Nationwide League come Could 1.
Andrew McCutchen was part of it, and he doesn’t really feel it was a fluke. However one other spectacular juncture of the season arguably instructed him much more about what could be to return in 2024.
McCutchen’s season ended on Sept. 4 when he sustained a partial tear of his left Achilles in opposition to the Brewers. By that time within the season, the Pirates had accomplished trades of different veteran gamers, together with key contributors like Carlos Santana and Wealthy Hill. That they had additionally lengthy handled the consequences of season-ending accidents to Oneil Cruz and Vince Velasquez.
But, the workforce rattled off a 13-11 report from Sept. 4 by way of the tip of the season whereas going through a gauntlet of playoff-contending groups. The Bucs took two of three from the Brewers, two of three from the Cubs and two of three from the Reds. The Cincinnati collection offered arguably the sport of the yr, because the Pirates erased a 9-0 deficit to win, 13-12.
What did it inform McCutchen?
“This can be a good ballclub,” McCutchen mentioned on Saturday at PiratesFest, “and that’s what I noticed after I was simply sitting again watching. I’m like, ‘Man, that is why I’m right here. Because of this I got here again. That is what I see.’”
The late-season run strengthened a perception McCutchen has about some MLB groups: There’s a distinction between a nasty workforce and “a superb workforce that places itself in a nasty scenario.” The Pirates fell into that second group, as they struggled by way of the center a part of the season to regain the shape they confirmed within the first month.
“It’s simply discovering your self, understanding who you might be as a workforce, going on the market and producing and placing it on the sector,” McCutchen mentioned. “When you try this — you recognize who you might be and also you go on the market and also you play that method — man, the sky’s the restrict for us.”
The Pirates added 14 extra wins in 2023 than they’d in ‘22 whereas nonetheless anchored by a largely younger, up-and-coming roster. By the tip of the season, it was one of many youngest in MLB. However it nonetheless held its personal and confirmed contending groups a glimpse of how quickly Pittsburgh might be on that stage.
Nonetheless, McCutchen hopes that grit and drive from September offers the Pirates even loftier expectations in 2024. He noticed the way in which the workforce didn’t make excuses about its youth, accidents, total report or anything. So there ought to be no excuses this time round, both.
“I need a championship,” McCutchen mentioned. “The playoffs could be nice. Being .500 could be nice. However the final objective is that. We’ve got to go searching and take a look at one another. We’ve got to consider in that course of.”
And who says it might’t be the Pirates? Have a look at what the D-backs did in 2023, knocking off the Brewers, the Dodgers and the Phillies to succeed in the World Collection after being the final workforce to make the postseason within the Nationwide League. McCutchen pointed to them for example of what’s doable.
“Generally we are able to lose sight of that due to the identify on the again, or the stature, the homers,” McCutchen mentioned. “On the finish of the day, baseball is baseball. For those who play it the proper method, you’ll have a superb probability of success. If we are able to try this, preserve that and be constant in it, we’ll set ourselves as much as do what we wish to do.”
