Indians look for third straight winning season in '07

One has to look well beyond the numbers to get a feel for just how far the Pittsburgh Pirates came in 2006. It was the second consecutive 67-95 season for the Bucs -- their 14th straight sub-.500 campaign overall -- but it was how the club finished that has raised hopes for 2007 and beyond.

Pittsburgh was 30-60 before the All-Star break in 2006, but went 37-35 the rest of the way. That was the club's first winning record after the break since 1992 -- the last time the Pirates finished above .500.

Jim Leyland guided Pittsburgh to three straight National League East Division titles from 1990-92 -- winning 95 games in '90, 98 in '91 and 96 in '92. Outfielder Barry Bonds was the star of those teams.

Those were the days the Pirates desperately yearn to return to. After all these years, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, and many acknowledge that light shines from Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Indians envisioned a return to glory when they signed a working agreement with the Pirates (beginning in 2005), and the Pittsburgh organization delivered with back-to-back winning seasons at the Triple-A level. Many of the young players who are helping the Pirates turn the corner came through Indianapolis.

"I think the foundation is certainly more stable at this point," says Indians Manager Trent Jewett, who is back for his third season with the Tribe and 16th year as an instructor in the Pirates organization. "I think there is direction and a deeper, younger talent pool."

LOOKING BACK
After four consecutive losing seasons as a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate, Indianapolis finished 78-66 in 2005, secured a wild-card berth in the playoffs and upset the Buffalo Bisons in the first round before falling to the Toledo Mud Hens in the International League Governors' Cup Finals.

The Indians came back with another solid season in 2006, finishing 76-66 before losing a one-game playoff at Toledo for the West Division title and the right to advance to postseason play.

The 2006 Indians spent 119 days in first place or tied for the West Division's top spot. The Tribe was never more than two games out of first, and that was very early in the season -- April 20 and 21. From July 15 until the end of the season, Indianapolis was out of first place only four days -- July 22, Aug. 18, Aug. 25 and Sept. 3.

The Indians defeated the Louisville Bats on the road, 5-1, on the last day of the regular season (Sept. 4), while Toledo lost to Columbus, thus forcing a one-game playoff (Sept. 5) for the West Division crown.

Left-hander Shane Youman helped lift the Tribe into the playoff with a masterful performance on the final day of the regular season, limiting the Bats to one run on two hits over six innings. Vic Butler's two-run single was the key hit during a three-run seventh that snapped a 1-1 tie.

Youman was 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA over his last four starts and 4-0 with a 4.04 ERA in eight outings after being promoted from Double-A Altoona (Pa.). The southpaw avoided a loss in his last 21 appearances of the season, finishing with an 11-2 record and 2.29 ERA between the two levels.

Right-hander Colby Lewis (6-7, 3.96) carried the Mud Hens past the Indians 4-0 in the one-game playoff, blanking the Tribe on four hits over seven innings. Mike Hessman and Ryan Ludwig homered for Toledo during a three-run third inning.

Toledo went on to upset South Division champion Charlotte (79-62) in the first round, then defeated wild card winner Rochester (79-64) in the league championship series. Rochester upset North Division champion Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (84-58) in the first round.

Catcher Carlos Maldonado (.283, 6 HR, 47 RBI) was the Tribe's Most Valuable Player. He was also the best fielding catcher in the IL with just three errors in 729 chances (.996).

Defense was a staple for Indianapolis as it led the league in team fielding percentage (.982). The Indians collected 74 errorless games during the campaign, going 43-31 in those contests.

Outfielder Adam Boeve (.269, 6 HR, 37 RBI) was the club's Rookie of the Year. He was also 24-of-29 in the stolen base department. The Tribe led the league in thefts with 180.

Yurendell de Caster (.273, 11 HR, 51 RBI), the Tribe's Most Valuable Player in 2005, was the club's Most Versatile Player, seeing time at first, second and third base as well as the outfield. "We have to find each player's best avenue to the big leagues, and we feel like his best avenue is his versatility," Jewett adds.

Chris Richard led Indianapolis in dingers (17) and RBI (67), while right-hander Scott Strickland (5-2, 2.09 ERA, 5 saves) was the club's Relief Pitcher of the Year.

THE 2007 TRIBE
Power-hitting first baseman Brad Eldred is a player to keep an eye on this season. A broken left thumb cost the 6-foot-5, 275-pound slugger all but the first three weeks of last season. He had three homers and 10 RBI in 18 games for the Indians before going down.

Eldred clobbered 40 roundtrippers in 2005 - 13 in Altoona, 15 in Indianapolis and 12 in Pittsburgh. He belted 38 in 2004 - 21 in Lynchburg (Va.) and 17 in Altoona.

Eldred will likely start the season in Indianapolis after the Pirates acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Atlanta Braves in January. The long-ball hitter appears to be at the crossroads of his career with Pittsburgh.

"There's no doubt it's a big year for him," Jewett says. "He needs to grow. He needs to get back on the fast track and make up for all the things he missed last year. It's going to be a process with very few kinks in it. You have to weigh that against the player's approach and our concern of him trying to do too much too quickly. It's a fine line we're going to walk."

Buttler and fellow outfielder Rajai Davis are two players who saw quality time with Indianapolis in 2006 and figure in the Tribe's plans for 2007. Butler batted .316 with seven stolen bases in 20 games for the Tribe after batting .292 with 21 thefts in Altoona. Davis hit .283 with a team-high 45 steals in 100 Triple-A games.

Shortstop Brian Bixler also looms in the mix after batting .303 in Lynchburg and .301 in Altoona.

Pitching should be a strong point from the top to the bottom of the Pirates organization.

"The pitching certainly looks good to me," Jewett says. "It's important we don't make any mistakes because there is depth. We don't want to do things we may regret later on. It's important to pay attention, especially to the little things. We have to pick quality pitchers and quality people. There are important decisions to be made. It's a matter of paying attention."

Depending on what happens in Pittsburgh, the starting rotation could feature Youman, left-hander Sean Burnett and right-handers Bryan Bullington, John Van Benschoten and Marty McLeary - all of whom have pitched for Indianapolis in the past two seasons.

Burnett, the Pirates No. 1 pick (19th overall) in 2000, was 8-11 with a 5.16 ERA for the Tribe last season - this after missing all of the 2005 campaign following Tommy John surgery.

Bullington, an Indiana native who was the Pirates No. 1 pick (first overall) in 2002, was 9-5 with a 3.38 ERA for the Indians in 2005, but missed all of 2006 following Tommy John surgery. He was Indiana's Mr. Baseball in 1999 out of Madison High School before moving on to Ball State University where he became one of the most decorated pitchers in Mid-American Conference history.

Van Benschoten, the Pirates No. 1 pick (eighth overall) in 2001, missed all of 2005 and most of 2006 following surgeries to both shoulders. He was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three games for the Indians last season.

McLeary was 3-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 35 games, which included 13 starts.

Highly regarded relievers who figure in the equation are right-handers Jonah Bayliss, Josh Sharpless and Brian Rogers - all of whom saw time with the Indians in 2006.

Bayliss was 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 23 saves in 46 appearances. Sharpless was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 23 games. Rogers, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in a July 31 trade for first baseman Sean Casey, was 1-1 with a 1.08 ERA in seven outings for the Tribe.

DOWN THE ROAD
Outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who appears to be on the fast track to the big leagues, heads the list of coming attractions. The Pirates' No. 1 selection (11th overall) in 2005, McCutchen batted .291 with 14 HR and 62 RBI in 114 High-A games a season ago, and .308 with three HR and 12 RBI in 20 Double-A tilts.

The fleet-footed 20-year-old is considered a five-tool player, who can hit for average and power in addition to throwing and running with the best around.

"McCutchen is, unquestionably, a very talented young man who is on the fast track," Jewett says. "But you've got to walk a fine line here ... between rushing him and showing patience with him. At some point, he's going to be a tremendous player, but there are growth opportunities you don't want him to miss out on."

McCutchen is considered Pittsburgh's top prospect, according to Baseball America. Entering the season, he was scheduled to be joined by four other top-10 prospects at the Double-A level.

Switch-hitter Neil Walker, the Pirates' No. 1 pick (11th overall) in 2004, will be making the transition from catcher to third base this season. He batted .284 in 72 games for Lynchburg last season and is widely considered one of the best all-around athletes in the organization.

"When Walker stands in the batter's box, he looks like a grown man," Jewett says. "But you've got to remember he's only 21 years old."

First baseman Steven Pearce, outfielder Brad Corley and right-hander Todd Redmond are other top-10 prospects in the mix with McCutchen and Walker, who are projected to start in Altoona.

Pearce batted .265 with 14 homers and 60 RBI in 90 games for Lynchburg after hitting 12 dingers in 38 games for Hickory (N.C.). Corley batted .281 with 16 homers and 100 RBI at the Low-A level. Redmond was 13-6 with a 2.75 ERA with 148 strikeouts in 160 1/3 innings in 27 Low-A starts.

Outfielder Nyjer Morgan, infielder Javier Guzman and left-handers Josh Shortslef and David Davidson are other highly-regarded prospects who could make it to Indianapolis before the end of the season.

Morgan batted .303 with 38 stolen bases in 61 games for Lynchburg and .306 with 21 stolen bases in 56 games for Altoona. Guzman registered a .292 average at the Double-A level.

Davidson was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 56 innings in 27 games for Hickory and 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 10 contests for Altoona. Shortslef was 6-2 with a 4.45 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings in 12 starts for Altoona.

THE PITTSBURGH-INDY CONNECTION
A big key to the Pirates' turnaround has been their starting pitching, and four of their projected starters for this season came through Indianapolis.

Left-hander Zach Duke leads the parade. He was 10-15 with a 4.47 ERA last season -- his first full season in the big leagues. In 2005, he went 12-3 with a 2.92 ERA in Indianapolis and 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA in Pittsburgh.

Right-hander Ian Snell, who was an Indianapolis teammate of Duke in 2005, had a breakthrough season for the Pirates last season, going 14-11 with a 4.74 ERA. He was 11-4 with a 3.70 ERA for the Indians in 2005 and hurled the first single-pitcher nine-inning no-hitter at Victory Field (May 15, a 4-0 win over the Norfolk Tides). It was the Tribe's first such gem since May 24, 1974, when Tom Carroll no-hit the Omaha Royals.

Left-hander Paul Maholm, the Pirates No. 1 pick (eighth overall) in 2003, was 8-10 with a 4.76 ERA for the Bucs last season. In 2005, he was 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA in Indianapolis and 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA in Pittsburgh.

Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, the Pirates' No. 2 selection in 2003, was 2-5 with a 3.79 ERA at Pittsburgh after going 6-5 with a 2.35 ERA at the Triple-A level.

The former Indians have good company in Pittsburgh with catchers Ronny Paulino and Ryan Doumit, who also made their marks at Victory Field.

Doumit, the Pirates' No. 2 pick in 1999, batted .345 in 51 games for the Indians in 2005, but was slowed by hamstring injuries in 2006 and limited to just 61 games. That opened the door for Paulino, who secured the starting nod with a .310 average. Paulino put himself in position for the promotion by hitting .315 at the Triple-A level in 2005.

Chris Duffy, who batted .308 at the Triple-A level in 2005, opened the season as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. Outfielder Nate McLouth, who batted .297 for the Indians in 2005, also looms in the mix.

NOTE: Copies of At Bat magazine can be purchased at the Hot Corner Gift Shop or game program stands throughout Victory Field.