Not daunted by Stadium

NEW YORK -- The Pirates' trip to Yankee Stadium is their first since the 1960 World Series, but the team isn't intimidated by the largess of their surroundings -- and it surprises even them.
"I thought I would be (daunted)," shortstop Jack Wilson said. "But when I got here, it was pretty much, 'Hey, it's 90 feet to first base and you play a game in the Stadium, just like everywhere else.' It's got some cool history behind it, and it's cool to be a part of that."

Wilson said he reported early to the Stadium on Tuesday to take photos from the field for family and friends and to read the plaques in Monument Park. But nostalgia isn't the only motivation for Wilson. He's ready to take on a team that he called the best in the Majors -- on paper -- despite its mediocre record.

"I wish this was a lot more than three games," he said. "It's fun to soak it all in and play against the best. This is a great test for our team. We'll see how good we do against the best."

Even so, the Pirate shortstop -- and several teammates -- noted that the team travels to New York every year to play the Mets, so the city isn't quite foreign to them. Wilson said he regularly takes the subway to the ballpark while in New York.

"It's fun for me. It's different," he said. "I grew up in California, so the only subways we saw were sandwiches."

Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon had a more businesslike attitude toward the series.

"It's nice to go to these places and take in the history, but my job is to win games," he said. "We're not going there as tourists."

Managing past history: McClendon is matched up against Joe Torre for the first time in his managerial career, but it's not his first encounter with the Yankee skipper. Torre was at the helm of the Mets during McClendon's first Major League camp in 1981.

Though McClendon never made the Mets -- instead reaching the bigs with the Reds in 1987 -- Torre left an indelible impression on McClendon when the current Bucs manager was smacked on the wrist by teammate Rick Sweet's backswing during batting practice.

"I tell people the story all the time of how I broke my wrist and [Torre] walked me to the clubhouse -- holding my arm the whole way," said McClendon.

Torre had kind words for McClendon before Tuesday's series opener.

"They play hard, and I think that's a credit to their manager," Torre said. "Lloyd McClendon is a special young man."

But the Pirates manager won't let any rose-tinted glasses shade his managerial vision. He downplayed any sense of direct competition with Torre.

"Joe and I don't play against each other. It's our teams," McClendon said. "He sits in the dugout just like I do and hopes that they go out and perform."

Well Wilson: Wilson started Tuesday despite having a swollen and painful left forearm after being hit by a pitch Sunday. X-rays were negative, and Wilson wasn't concerned about the injury, saying he'd just have to play through it.

Gauging the pain, Wilson said: "It's medium, not as much as yesterday, and that's the important thing. It's getting better."

Reliever relief: McClendon wasn't worried about going to his bullpen after Sunday's 13-inning loss to the Devil Rays. He cited Monday's off day as a factor in his favor. He also noted that he felt the two innings Jose Mesa pitched were good for the closer, due to the reliever's recent lack of work.

On deck: The Pirates play the middle game of their three-game set at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Southpaw Mark Redman, who has allowed two runs in 15 innings during his last two starts, takes on New York right-hander Kevin Brown.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/