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Hinske Happy For Shot With Pirates

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 6, 2009

BRADENTON – Considering the state of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have endured 16 consecutive losing seasons, this likely will be the year that Eric Hinske's run of World Series appearances comes to an end. But he's still out there doing what he does best.

For proof, look no further than Hinske being forced to sit out of games for another week or so after he bruised a muscle in his rib cage running into a wall in the Pirates' first Grapefruit League game. True to form, even as he acknowledged that it hurts to cough and even breathe, one of the unsung heroes of the Rays' remarkable 2008 season already was chafing at not being allowed to play.

That's Hinske, though. He's truly happy only when he's on the field and he hopes to carve out as much playing time as he can with the perpetually rebuilding Pirates. After signing a one-year deal for $1.5 million (with a chance to earn $1 million more in incentives), Hinske stands to be Pittsburgh's fourth outfielder and primary backup at first and third base. Those roles should garner him a couple of starts a week, and with the transition to the National League he should have a shot to pinch-hit every day.

"This is a pretty good fit for me, a good spot," Hinske said. "I think I'm going to get a lot of playing time here."

He said the Pittsburgh clubhouse reminds him of Tampa Bay's in that it is populated by "young dudes, good guys," and he has reluctantly accepted his new reality: At age 31, he'll be counted upon once again to provide the elusive "veteran presence" in the clubhouse just as he did last year.

"It's unreal," Hinske said with a laugh. "I've got that role now. When you first break in you don't think you'll ever have that tag, but I definitely have that tag."

It isn't such a bad thing, though. Evan Longoria this spring has repeatedly cited the positive influence Hinske had on him last season, and their friendship continues. They got together for a steak dinner in Sarasota a week or so ago. Plus, as Hinske noted, there always seems to be a market for mentor-type players like his Rays counterpart last season, Cliff Floyd, who signed a one-year deal with the Padres over the winter.

Hinske said he never engaged in serious talks with the Rays about returning this season because he understood they were looking for right-handed hitters (and ended up getting them in Pat Burrell and Gabe Kapler).

Does Hinske think he and Floyd will be missed in the Rays' clubhouse this season?

"You'd like to think so," he said. "I think we definitely had a big part in what went on there last year. You hope you feel missed, for sure, but they're a group of young, talented guys that have got a lot of good years ahead of them."

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