The Bucs aren’t broke for now, so don’t fix them

Before the regular season began, Pittsburgh Pirates C.E.O. and Managing General Partner… Before the regular season began, Pittsburgh Pirates C.E.O. and Managing General Partner Kevin McClatchy strolled up and down the aisles of McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., during one the franchise’s early spring training games.

Dozens of eager fans approached the 10th year owner, expressing their excitement for the club in the upcoming season and noticing a different aura around the team that hadn’t resurfaced in Pittsburgh since it left with Barry Bonds in 1992.

Although the talk may have been about the changes first-year manager Jim Tracy and his staff would bring, the Pirates and their fans are finding out now that the key to Pittsburgh’s success is exactly the opposite.

If Tracy wants to change the Pirates now, he’s crazy.

Before traveling to Colorado on Monday, the team had just completed a 7-3 home stand in which they took six of seven games from division foes Milwaukee and Houston, including a four-game sweep of the Brewers — a series in which the Pirates scored a total of 36 runs.

The much-needed power in the lineup was largely attributed to the return of first baseman Sean Casey. With Casey batting third, the Pirates can hit Jason Bay in the clean-up spot, bumping everybody in the lineup down. As a result, the Pirates have Freddy Sanchez batting sixth with Jose Castillo behind him in the seven-hole.

As of Monday, Sanchez owned the National League’s second-best batting average at .345. And as for Castillo, well, he only earned the National League’s Player of the Week award with a .478 average and 15 runs batted in last week. Castillo also just finished a streak of five consecutive games with a home run.

Yes, Sanchez and Castillo are batting sixth and seventh for the Pirates with second and third numbers.

No, you’re not dreaming.

And if Sanchez and Castillo’s recent emergence wasn’t too much for the Pirates already, Bay was just named National League Player of the Month — an award that hasn’t been won by any Pirate since Bonds.

Noticing a trend?

Bay won the NL Player of the Week twice in consecutive weeks during May, and belted 12 homers while hitting .321 and driving in 35 runs during the month’s 27 games. Bay was also the role model for Castillo’s home run streak, completing his six-game home run streak just before Castillo began his.

And consistent offense doesn’t just affect the game from the plate, but from the mound as well. Pittsburgh’s young rotation can finally become confident enough to throw their best stuff knowing they’re going to have runs behind them.

Currently, Ian Snell is the only starter with a winning record heading into his start at Colorado on Monday, and no starting pitcher has an earned run average less than four. However, Snell has won his last three starts and Duke his last two.

Kip Wells is also expected to return to the starting rotation in the near future after having surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm. Wells will bring some experience back to the Pirates who have four starters under the age of 26.

So Tracy right now is doing the right thing. He’s letting his players do their own managing and sticking with a lineup that works. He recently announced that Sanchez will keep starting despite Joe Randa’s return from the disabled list — real tough one, Jim.

And by observing and not forcing, Tracy can effectively learn the changes he and general manager Dave Littlefield need to make in the off-season.

For instance, either Jeromy Burnitz or Craig Wilson shouldn’t return to the Pirates next year. Burnitz makes $6 million and Wilson just more than $3 million. That’s about $9 million of a $47 million salary cap wasted on right field. Something’s got to give, and it will most likely be the underachieving Burnitz.

Well, it should be.

I don’t want to play manager, because there’s a reason why I’m not one. However, it should be simple to Tracy why the Pirates have been succeeding lately. Go with what’s been working, and don’t over-manage.

I believe the adage is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Baseball is no exception.