More Alan Robinson

More Alan Robinson. Mac has some good lines:

"I feel good about this club," said Lloyd McClendon, who is in his fifth season as manager but was a Barry Bonds teammate when the Pirates last were winners. "I've told people it's the first time I don't feel like we've got an Abbott and Costello skit going - you know, who's on first and what's on second?"

After presiding over several spring training camps that seemed more like open tryouts, McClendon welcomes back each of last season's everyday regulars - except Kendall - and four of five starting pitchers.

The downside, of course, is this is nearly the same team that finished 72-89 last season, so far behind NL Central-winning St. Louis - 32 1/2 games - that Pittsburgh was virtually out of the division race by May.

"But this certainly is a good feeling," McClendon said. "This is my fifth year, but it's the first time I won't feel like a politician, having to sell this club."

Spoken like a true politician.

Robinson is factually wrong when he argues that the Pirates were eliminated from the division race by May. On May 1, they were 2 1/2 games out. Did he mean by the end of May? Six games out, and two games under .500. And we all remember how well they played in July, until Benson was dealt.

I think Robinson must have just made that up. And given that the returning players were all young and improving, the argument that "this was a 72-win team" doesn't strike me as thoughtful. Whatever. The lower the expectations, the less likely we'll be disappointed. Good work, Alan Robinson.