Pirates Have High Expectations For 2014
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The wait is over. Opening Day is here and expectations are high for the Pittsburgh Pirates after making the playoffs last season.
"Opening Day is all about renewal and we could use a little renewal after the winter we had here in Pittsburgh and what a glorious day it is," Pirates President Frank Coonelly said.
Watch Frank Coonelly's Full Interview:
There was a day recently where it was the promotions and not the baseball that brought fans to PNC Park.
But, that's not the case anymore.
"What we like to say is that somebody might come for the promotion, but we think they are going to come back because of the play on the field and the players. And the other thing it does - with so many great guys in that clubhouse it gives us a lot of options -- different guys we can feature on these items," Brian Chiera said.
Players like Pittsburgh's Neil Walker.
"It's great to be part of this organization obviously, but our main goal is to get to the World Series and bring home a title for Pittsburgh. It all starts today," Walker said.
Russell Martin says after more than a decade in professional baseball, Opening Day is still as good as it gets.
"I get anxious, I get nervous before the game until the game starts and then it's an excitement. You think you are nervous until the game starts and then you are like 'Yes, finally,'" Martin said.
Martin is one of the players the Pirates have added to the mix to push for a championship.
"We've been pushing from day one to bring more talent into this organization. We've been focusing on the draft -- focusing on international, focusing on impactful trades that will bring more talent in and you started to see that two years ago and last year," Bob Nutting said.
Watch Bob Nutting's Full Interview:
"We have a confident group and we all build off each other and we know what we are capable of and we are ready to show it," Josh Harrison said.
The voice of the Pirates, Greg Brown, joined the KDKA Morning News with Larry Richert and John Shumway to give his last reflections on 2013 and to look forward to 2014 on Opening Day.
"Every year I look forward to [Opening Day]," he said. "To me, there is nothing like it."
Greg Brown
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