EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

	PITTSBURGH PIRATES
	2000 Spring Training Schedule
	2000 Regular Season Schedule

1999 Record: 78-83 (3rd, NL Central, 18.5 GB)

1999 Payroll: $23.7 (26th)

1999 Team Statistics (NL rank) Batting Avg. .259 (14th)         Opp. Average .263 (6th) Runs Scored 775 (12th) ERA 4.350 (6th) Home Runs 171 (10th) Fielding Pct. .976 (15th)

1999 Recap: The Pirates led the league in casualties, using the disabled list 23 times and amassing 1,490 days of DL time. If not for injuries to key players such as Jason Kendall, Pat Meares and Brian Giles, the small-market Pirates might have had their first winning season since 1992.

1999 Highlight: Brian Giles finally got 500 at-bats and cranked 39 home runs -- the most homers by a Pirate since Willie Stargell's 44 in 1973.

1999 Lowlight: The 4th of July was not a day to celebrate for the Pirates, as Jason Kendall suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in recent memory when he dislocated his ankle trying to beat out a bunt and was lost for the remainder of the season.

Manager: Gene Lamont (226-259 with Pittsburgh; 484-469 overall)

Coaches: Lloyd McClendon (hitting), ), Pete Vuckovich (pitching), Joe Jones (first base), Jack Lind (third base), Rick Renick (bench), Spin Williams (bullpen)

Camp Site: McKechnie Field, Bradenton, Fla.

Reporting Dates: Pitchers & catchers on Feb. 17; full squads on Feb. 22.

Additions OF Bruce Aven, OF Wil Cordero, INF Luis Sojo, RHP Mark Leiter

Subtractions: OF Brant Brown, RHP Brad Clontz, 3B Ed Sprague, C Joe Oliver

Spring Cleaning: The Pirates are a different team with Jason Kendall in the lineup -- both offensively and defensively. Kendall's rehab has been ahead of schedule all winter, but it remains to be seen if his ankle can handle the daily grind of squatting behind the plate and running the bases. After dealing Al Martin, the outfield takes on a different look with the newly acquired Wil Cordero in left, Brian Giles in center, and phenom Chad Hermansen in right. The starting pitching has been the backbone of this team since the rebuilding process began under owner Kevin McClatchy and GM Cam Bonifay.

Walking Wounded Most frequently disabled teams 1999 Team  DL trips  DL days  Pittsburgh  23  1,490  Anaheim  18  1,451  Tampa Bay  26  1,328  St. Louis  15  998  Boston  24  997  Milwaukee  14  983

A rotation of Kris Benson, Jason Schmidt, Todd Ritchie, Francisco Cordova and either Chris Peters or Jimmy Anderson should keep the Pirates in games. But is there a closer on this club? The emergence of a true closer would do wonders for a team that has employed a bullpen by committee essentially since Kent Tekulve left town. A healthy Jeff Wallace or Scott Sauerbeck could be the answer from the left side but who will be the man from the right? Mike Williams was brilliant for half a season before his elbow gave out while Rich Loiselle is coming off surgery. Jose Silva would be the end all solution if he can finally harness his great arm. He showed signs with 1.95 ERA in 22 relief innings last season. The acquisition of John Vander Wal and Luis Sojo improves the bench considerably, although how much Dale Sveum has left remains to be seen. If the scrappy Buccos can just stay healthy, they have a good chance at a winning season, which would get Gene Lamont a new contract and generate excitement heading into PNC Park next year.

Key Acquisition: Wil Cordero. Left field belongs to Wil Cordero, whose best position may be DH. The former infielder has no interest in playing third base, which puts added pressure on Aramis Ramirez to finally deliver.

The Future is Now: Aramis Ramirez will be the key to how the Pirates starting lineup plays out. He can hit a ton (.328-21-74 in Triple-A), but his glove is sieve-like (45 errors in 149 games). The alternatives to Ramirez are not particularly attractive -- Luis Sojo, Dale Sveum and Mike Benjamin.

Opportunity Knocks: Chad Hermanson, 22, has nothing left to prove in the minors after hitting 60 HR in AAA over the last two seasons. The Pirates opened up a spot in right field expecting Hermanson to produce right away and contend for Rookie of the Year honors.

Prospects to Watch: LHP Jimmy Anderson, RHP Bronson Arroyo, OF Chad Hermanson, 3B Aramis Ramirez, C Rico Washington

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