Brian Giles is a superstar, but the naked truth is: The rest of this team stinks

By Jeff Pearlman

Giles generates plenty of power and locker room levity, but the state of the Pirates is no joking matter.  Chuck Solomon ENEMY LINES An opposing team's scout sizes up the Pirates "You talk about working 24/7? G.M. Dave Littlefield is going to have to work 48/14 to resurrect this club. This is an expansion team. It's awful. The best indicator is that the first two guys in the rotation are Kip Wells and Jimmy Anderson . What do they have, 20 career wins combined?... Sean Lowe is a responsible starter, and Dave Williams is O.K., but the bullpen? Yech. Mike Williams is a decent setup guy, but on this club he's the closer. ... The infield, with Kevin Young , Pokey Reese , Jack Wilson and Aramis Ramirez , is below average. If all the stars align and everybody has a career year, it can be functional. ... Ramirez had a breakout year, but he has to do it again to establish himself. Reese has to get back to his decent years, Wilson doesn't hit, and Young doesn't produce as a first baseman. ... Brian Giles is a first-division player, but how many pitches is he going to see? If you pitch around Ramirez and Giles, the Pirates aren't going to score any runs. ... As for the rest of the outfield, Adrian Brown is a good defensive player, Armando Rios is still hurt from blowing out his knee and Derek Bell is awful. He may be done. ... The surprise in their camp was Rob Mackowiak , who's a John Vander Wal-type of player. ... Jason Kendall has leadership skills, and he can hit a little, but no way in hell is he a $10 million-a-year player. The load is on his shoulders, and he's not that kind of player. He also has to pick it up defensively."

On the next to last day of 2001 spring training, rain poured down on Bradenton, Fla., postponing that afternoon's game between the Pirates and the visiting Yankees. For Pittsburgh it was yet another spirit-dampening moment in a year that would be full of them -- a National League-high 100 losses, 17 players on the disabled list, the firing of general manager Cam Bonifay. Heck, Opening Day hadn't arrived, and already three of rookie manager Lloyd McClendon's starting pitchers were injured. The mood was grim.

Later that afternoon, as many of the Pirates took BP, leftfielder Brian Giles stripped off all his clothing and asked a teammate to tape a 24, Giles's number, onto his bare back. Clad only in his socks and shoes, Giles stepped stone-faced into the cage. The eruption of laughter could be heard back in Pittsburgh.

It was a not-so-subtle message from baseball's most unheralded superstar to his teammates: Yeah, we stink, but we can still have fun. "Nudity is how I deal with things when there are a lot of problems," says Giles, laughing. "When times are bad, you have to do something to snap everyone out of it."

Although the punchless Pirates never did snap out of it -- they finished under .500 for a franchise-record ninth consecutive season -- the last man to blame is Giles, who has emerged as Pittsburgh's brightest light since Barry Bonds skipped town a decade ago. Last year Giles joined Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell to become only the third Pirate to hit 30 homers in three straight seasons. He also tied Dave Parker's club record for total bases by a lefthanded hitter (340) and struck out only 67 times, tying Gary Sheffield for the lowest total among major leaguers with at least 35 homers and 90 RBIs.

"If Brian played in New York or Los Angeles, he'd be a superstar of the greatest magnitude," says reliever Mike Fetters. "He might be anonymous among spectators, but if you're a pitcher in this league, you know who Brian Giles is."

"He's one of the top 10 outfielders in the majors," adds McClendon, "and he's also one of the wackiest s.o.b.'s you'll ever meet."

Last June, upon being ejected from a game against Milwaukee, McClendon yanked first base from the ground and took it with him into the clubhouse. The next day Giles taped a picture of McClendon to the base, placed the bag in his own locker and surrounded it with candles to complete the makeshift shrine. It fit in perfectly next to the miniature singing turkey and deer already residing there. "In this sport, with all the games, you have to remain upbeat," says Giles. "A clubhouse that's quiet and down is a clubhouse that's not winning."

Unfortunately for Giles, Pittsburgh's clubhouse could be Studio 54 and the Pirates still wouldn't have much of a chance. When Bonifay was let go last June, he left behind a legacy -- with the notable exception of obtaining Giles from the Indians in 1999 for reliever Ricardo Rincon -- of horrific trades, ghastly free-agent signings and a $48 million payroll burdened by ridiculous guarantees. Bonifay will long be remembered as the man who, before last season, signed eccentric outfielder Derek Bell to a two-year, $9 million deal (with a $5 million option for 2003). Bell, first baseman Kevin Young and shortstop Pat Meares will cost Pittsburgh $24 million over the next two seasons, which means new general manager Dave Littlefield can do little except acquire journeymen and hope for help from the farm system.

Giles will hear none of it. "We've used all the excuses," he says. "Our new stadium last year, young talent, injuries, a tough division. Now we have to go out and win."

The Buc-naked star smiles. No matter what, he'll have fun trying.

Issue date: March 25, 2002