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Hurdle: Alvarez Needs To "Figure It Out With That Bat"

PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan)- Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle joined Bob Pompeani Saturday at PirateFest on Saturday.

They discussed Pedro Alvarez making the switch to first base.

"Pedro needs to figure it out with that bat, get in that batter's box. He's shown us back-to-back 30 home run seasons. He's showed us a 100 RBI season. So it's a guy that I believe is hungry," Hurdle said. "Putting him at one spot, even though he's got to learn it, hopefully that will quiet some things down for him offensively."

The Pirates traded with the Phillies for left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo during the Winter Meetings.

"I think this park is going to be more forgiving for him, but he's got that slow heartbeat. He's really been tough on left-handers as well as right-handers, so he's not just a specialist," Hurdle said.

Pompeani asked about the National League Central, but Hurdle said the team has to focus on getting better.

"Our goal is to win the division. We've done the wild card thing twice. It's really fun when you win it, the season comes to an abrupt halt when you don't. So we need to win the division to get in that five game playoff to move forward," Hurdle said.

Pompeani asked Hurdle what the word "elite" means to him.

"Elite for me, it's kind of what the Cardinals have become. Twelve out of 15 years they've been in the postseason," Hurdle said. "We're in the right lane. Back-to-back seasons in the playoffs, after 20 consecutive losing seasons, we've made a shift. There's been a shift in a lot of things. The culture, the environment, the skill and the caliber of the play that's going on."

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