Afternoon notes

Friday, 15 February 2013 17:07

Written by Bill Brink

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates took part in the first full-squad workout this afternoon absent only two players: Brandon Inge, a non-roster invitee who is on his way, and Stolmy Pimentel, who is trying to fight visa issues to leave the Dominican Republic.

Clint Hurdle said he was not concerned with Neil Walker's lower back. Walker had a herniated disc in late August last season that ended his year early.

""His back is not an issue," Hurdle said.

The Pirates sent staffers to the IMG Academy here, where Walker trained this offseason, to keep abreast of Walker's health. Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez also worked out at IMG.

Hurdle said the Pirates keep tabs on the offseason training of all their players, and that's something I encountered in various forms in research for a story about player development. The St. Louis Cardinals put their workouts on a Web site accessible from an iPhone and have increased contact with their players so a sore hip or a stiff elbow doesn't sneak up on the trainers.

***Asked if the Pirates had a slogan for this year's spring training, like "Finish" last season, Hurdle said, "We don't have anything that we're printing up and handing out."

Wouldn't shock me if A.J. Burnett eventually had something to print up and hand out.

***Asked about Jason Grilli in the closer's role, Hurdle said, among other oft-discussed qualities that made Grilli a good fit, that "Sometimes you've just got to bet on the man."

***At the meeting that opened camp this morning, the Pirates staff discussed expectations for the season and the need to "attack" the year.