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Pirates Gear Up To Leave Sunny Fla. And Face Snowy Pittsburgh

BRADENTON, Fla. (KDKA) -- It may be sunny and beautiful in Florida today, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are keeping a close eye on the fresh blanket of snow that has fallen on PNC Park.

"I'm not looking forward to that cold snowy weather," says pitcher James McDonald.

Catcher Michael McHenry adds, "What is snow? I don't know what snow is right now I don't want to think about snow, the only thing I want to see that is white is that baseball."

Pirates from a bit further north take it all in stride, like Closer Jason Grilli, "I'm from Syracuse, New York, I like it, so have the field shoveled and ready and we'll play ball."

There is no doubt the Pirates come home to open the season hopeful to end the 20-year losing streak.

"I think it gets tiresome talking about it and hearing about it, obviously none of us have been here for the last 20 years," said Pirates second basemen Neil Walker.

These Pirates were still in pre-school or elementary school when the losing streak started and they only take ownership of the last two seasons.

"I mean we all have a chip on our shoulder about last season," says McHenry. "We learned from it, we're going to grow as individuals but we have to move forward and do this thing one day at a time."

First baseman Garrett Jones says these Pirates believe in each other.

"We want to be that team to have a winning season and turns the things around and get the Pittsburgh pirates back in the winning tradition," he said.

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