Tracy focused on culture of club

11/01/2005
Pirates manager Jim Tracy chatted with fans online about his offseason plans, challenges and strategy for 2006. He stressed the importance of changing the mind-set of the Pirates clubhouse to a team that understands how to win consistently.
Base_Ball_2: Other than the obvious changes in personnel that have or will happen, what changes do you think need to be made for the Pirates to be successful in the future, like on-field strategies for example?
Jim Tracy: First of all I think we have to establish a different culture in the clubhouse and from that we'll translate the idea of players understanding that there is a game within the game that we play each day. It involves little nuances like hitting a cutoff man, getting a bunt down, advancing a runner. When you look at the number of one-run games the Pirates were involved in, you need to learn how to win those. All those things above that we talked about are difference-makers in those kinds of games.
Brian_Dudiak: What are you most looking forward to with the Pirates?
Tracy: Re-establishing the credibility to an organization that has a very proud and storied history, and willingly look forward to the challenge of managing a ballclub that has had losing records for 13 consecutive years. Changing the mind-set, changing the culture.
wallach0029: I was wondering if Tim Wallach will be your new hitting coach? If not, why and who will act as hitting instructor?
Tracy: In all likelihood, Tim Wallach will not be the hitting instructor, although he is someone very high on our list. The geographics of the situation are not going to allow that to happen. As a result, the search is still ongoing in trying to fulfill all the parameters we are looking for in a hitting instructor for this group of Pittsburgh Pirates.
Base_Ball_3: Are you going to have much input on what players are brought in?
Tracy: I've been flattered already as to how much my opinion has been solicited and I look forward as we move on from day to day to interacting with Dave Littlefield, Doug Strange and the rest of the staff. I think that anytime you have that type of interaction between the field manager and the front office, positive results are going to occur.
autograph67: What is Chris Duffy's position going to be this season?
Tracy: We're hopeful that Chris is going to see a lot of time in center field and that he can gain a real good understanding as to what a great table setter he has the opportunity to become at the top of a lineup. Very similar to what I experienced in L.A. with the likes of Dave Roberts.
bucs05: I am a longtime Pirates fan from birth who used to live in Maryland. Will you be signing autographs after Spring Training games in Bradenton, Fla.?
Tracy: Yes. My opportunities to interact with fans at Spring Training are periods I look forward to. The fans are a huge part of our game and need to be treated accordingly.
Brian_Dudiak: What do you think is the best thing about this Pirates team?
Tracy: I think any successful situation at the Major League level begins with pitching and defense. When you look at the core of young starters that are here already (Oliver Perez, Kip Wells, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, etc.) and you look at the potential defensively in the middle of the field with Craig Wilson, Jose Castillo, Chris Duffy, Nate McLouth, it's a great foundation to begin from.
clevelandrocks48: What influenced you the most when you decided to take this job?
Tracy: The similarities of the abilities with some of the youth here in Pittsburgh in relation to where we started in Los Angeles back in 2001 when the likes of Paul Lo Duca, Eric Gagne, Dave Roberts, Alex Cora, Adrian Beltre to name a few, where pretty much unheard of at the time. There are a lot of similarities here.
Dave_John: What do you see as the biggest challenge to managing the Pirates?
Tracy: Once again, re-instilling the proper mind-set from the standpoint of what is necessary each and every day in going about your business to win. Understanding how to win on a regular basis and all the intangibles and sacrifices that have to be made to become a winner. That's the biggest challenge. We're young but in a lot of cases we are not young anymore. We've been playing for a while. To get beyond the point that we think because the organization spends this much on players, that is a built-in excuse to play at a level less than what should be expected from you every day.
tab: Jim, you have cited the importance of "small ball" techniques many times. With the type of team the Pirates are, is this the biggest key to success for the Pirates in 2006?
Tracy: It may not be the biggest key, but it certainly is one of the more important ones. For example, a team in our division, the Cardinals, who can hurt you with the long ball but is also a club that does a majority of their damage because they understand how to take runs and get runs when the opportunity presents itself by using every out of every game. That is a huge part of the success of a team as far as winning and losing is concerned.
rockmysocks35: Do you like the city Pittsburgh and do you hope to stay?
Tracy: Very much so. As a matter of fact I went to school about 115 miles from here and grew up 4 1/2 hours from here. I'd like to think that it will be a lengthy stay.
Base_Ball_2: Do you see the need of a power-hitting left-handed hitter, who can play first, third or right as the biggest need to acquire in the offseason?
Tracy: It's certainly something that we're looking at, not only from the standpoint of improving the club, but in the hope that it will help to enhance the capabilities and opportunities for Jason Bay, who is quickly becoming a very special player in our league.
rockmysocks35: I would just like to know some of the free agents that the Pirates are showing some interest to right now?
Tracy: We're talking right now about a number of different free agents. A mistake that gets made all the time, though, is getting too caught up with who the big-name free agents are and not wisely investing the dollars that you have. You can't put all of your eggs into one basket. You have to be very strategic with your opportunities in hopes of improving the club in more than just one area.
Brian_Dudiak: How much time do you think it will take to turn this team into a winning team?
Tracy: In hopes that we are going to have a very positive offseason from a personnel standpoint, and changing the culture and the mind-set of where the club has been for the last several years, and gaining an understanding of how to play winning baseball ... how many losing seasons do you need to have in a row before you get tired of it? Now we have to say enough is enough and we'd like think it could happen as early as 2006.
letsgobucs55: You have been criticized for playing the veterans more often than the young guys. Do you plan on continuing this trend with this very youthful Pirates team?
Tracy: You adjust to situations that you are confronted with. There were a number of veteran players in L.A. The situation in Pittsburgh is different. You have to be able to readjust your sights. The criticism I received in L.A. for playing a lot of veterans would make me wonder how Lo Duca, Gagne, Cesar Izturis, Cora or Jayson Werth arrived so quickly. They weren't all old. As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of similarities as to where I was at the beginning with the Dodgers and what I have accepted with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ben_Collins: Mr. Tracy, how will the team chemistry be affected now that you are the nucleus?
Tracy: We will focus on an unselfish approach and one in which you would like to feel comfortable that every player on your club will understand that from day-to-day you go to work to do whatever is necessary to score one more point than the other team.
buccoragg: Will your staff be able to straighten out Perez and Wells?
Tracy: Perez and Wells, in my opinion, are big keys in helping to turn this club around sooner rather than later. They have both shown the capability, having done it before, but still lack the necessary ingredients to figure out how to do it on a consistent regular basis. Jim Colborn's track record with success in these types of situations has been tremendous with the likes of Jeff Weaver, Gagne, Guillermo Mota, Giovanni Carrara, Matt Herges, and others.
jack2freddy: One dissimilarity is payroll. Do you think that this team could overcome the large margin of difference there?
Tracy: It's not how much you spend, it's how wisely you spend it.
Mike_Baldwin: Congratulations on your position with the Pirates. How do you see the closer's role working out in 2006?
Tracy: To designate the closer for 2006 on Nov. 1 would be unfair, but it would be safe to say that we are steering the direction to have Mike Gonzalez involved in some type of late-inning situation because of the great stuff that he possesses. Consistency in the strike zone will go a long way in determining how far back into the game we will send Gonzalez. Some of that will be up to him.
Base_Ball_3: Do you think you will upgrade the bullpen?
Tracy: Addressing the bullpen situation is something we will have to take a good look at over this winter in order to improve this team immediately for 2006.
vgsailor: Do you feel that Ryan Doumit can be an everyday catcher?
Tracy: You would like to think that Ryan Doumit eventually could become a front-line catcher at the Major League level. He has a great throwing arm. He switch hits and has power from both sides of the plate. Relationships that are developed between Ryan and the rest of the pitching staff are vitally important to the success or failure of a Major League Baseball team.
cansecorulz512: Assuming you go with a seven-man bullpen, how many lefties do you see in the bullpen if Gonzalez is designated as the closer?
Tracy: In any bullpen scenario, the optimum situation is to have two quality left-handed relievers if you have the luxury to do so. If you're going to make it look right, but have a better right-handed arm, and especially a right-handed pitcher who can get left-handed hitters out because of one pitch they possess, you go with what gives you the best chance to win. The ability to make pitches and get hitters out in the latter third of the game is of utmost importance to your success.
tom_cunkle: Will Chad Tracy be on the Pirates radar screen in the next draft?
Tracy: Hey Cunk. You'll have to ask Ed Creech about Bump Merriweather and the rest of the amateur scouting group whether that has a possibility of happening or not.
Josh_Bonifay: How is Rob Flippo doing? Will he be coming with you to the Pirates?
Tracy: He is doing just fine. In all likelihood he will remain as the bullpen catcher with the Dodgers, according to the latest conversation I had with him a week or so ago.
rockmysocks35: Do you think the Pirates will have any potential to go farther than the regular season this year?
Tracy: I think the Pirates should be thinking along the lines of being a better club in 2006 and beyond. The goal is to make them a better team, a championship-caliber team.
bmac09: Hey Jim what do you think about the talented group of young starting pitchers the Pirates have developed?
Tracy: This group has a strong chance of being a huge foundational piece to this ballclub. They have a chance to do some very special things together as a group. One of the ways you go about accomplishing that is surrounding them sufficiently with people who can catch the ball. Great pitching staffs end up developing from one, ability and two, great defensive players around them.
daleberra4: Could Zach Duke eventually evolve into a 20-game winner?
Tracy: I don't think there's any question that Zach possesses the capabilities of becoming a 20-game winner. He has great stuff. He competes at a high level and he likes to finish what he starts. Those things in themselves are the ingredients that make consistent 20-game winners.
mattykaz: Longtime Pirates fan and getting very tired of the losing seasons, the poor coaching and the bonehead moves. I would like to know your plans on locking up players that will play one position for most of the year, or are you just going to shuffle?
Tracy: Stability is one of the keys to success. Flexibility over the course of a nine-inning game helps to create additional opportunities for you to win. Having a core group of guys to build around, I think, is a vital element to the consistent success of any Major League team and something we are striving for here in Pittsburgh.
42951: Are there any current Pirates that you would put on the untouchable list as far as trades are considered?
Tracy: When you are looking to improve a club to the level and extent that we are here, I don't think any player is untouchable. I think you would talk about any player. Nobody is untouchable in the right deal.
bucfan: The Pirates had to be close to the lead in the number of runners left on base this past year. How do you address that problem?
Tracy: Situational hitting is one of the big keys toward the success or failure of a season. Maximizing the number of outs that you have available during the course of a game (27 outs) is the key to understanding how to play winning baseball on a regular basis. Grounding out to short early in the game with a man on third and the infield playing back isn't necessarily a bad thing.
lambtwo: Do you see any home-field advantages to PNC Park that you can capitalize on?
Tracy: When you really establish yourself in your own ballpark, no opponent should feel comfortable coming in to play you. This is another area that the ballclub needs to gain a better understanding of and perform at a much higher level.
ccoverdaleesq: Will you miss any of the players from Los Angeles?
Tracy: I miss any and all of my players, but in some point of time situations dictate that a change in venue is necessary. Relationships and feelings toward one another that are built leading up to that point in time are what is most important. This game has a bad habit of going full circle.

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