BRADENTON, Fla. _ While bolting back toward the warning track Saturday night chasing the baseball Andrew McCutchen had just banged between him and center fielder Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco seethed. McCutchen's late two-run double provided insurance in Team USA's 6-3 quarterfinals win that eliminated the Dominican Republic from the World Baseball Classic.
After the game, Polanco packed in the Petco Park clubhouse and watched highlights on TV. The anguish of elimination had started to fade by the time he saw the replay of McCutchen's swing.
"After that, I was so happy for him," Polanco said.
Before leaving San Diego, Polanco saw McCutchen and Josh Harrison in the hotel lobby Sunday morning and wished them good luck. Polanco and Marte _ two-thirds of the Pirates' newly aligned outfield _ reported to spring training camp Tuesday and resumed regular-season prep.
Polanco said he feels "very comfortable" at the plate right now, and there's little question it's true. He was 11 for 19 (.619) with two doubles and a home run in five games for the Dominican. On Sunday, general manager Neal Huntington remarked, "It looks like he's ready."
Polanco, 25, took advantage of the veteran-packed Dominican roster, getting pointers in the batting cages from Robinson Cano and Jose Bautista. They noticed Polanco had trouble handling the inside fastball. Cano and Bautista placed a pitched screen along the heart of home plate and fed Polanco soft toss inside. Don't hit the net, they said. Shorten your swing, but don't pull the ball.
"They are good for something," Polanco said, laughing. "It worked, for sure."
Polanco saw extra playing time while Marte was hobbled by an ankle sprain. Marte played in three of his team's six tournament games and hit 3 for 12 with a double and a home run. The Dominican athletic trainers communicated with the Pirates, Huntington said, and Marte is not expected to miss time. Marte said he is ready to play full games.
"I was away for a few days, but thank God I was able to bounce back," Marte said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. "I feel very equipped and prepared."
The bright spot of Marte's tournament was when the United States and Dominican met in pool play March 11. A berserk, sellout crowd at Marlins Park witnessed the Dominican rally from five runs down to win, 7-5. Marte was 3 for 4 with a double and a line-drive homer off Andrew Miler.
Polanco didn't play that night. He may have been more nervous than those who did. He kept reminding himself to stay calm. He drank water and dumped more on his head.
"It was an unbelievable game," Polanco said. "... It's not just like the playoffs. It's like World Series games. Every game is important. You never want to leave. You want to keep playing."
The electric atmosphere in Miami caught Polanco by surprise.
"You go to a restaurant, you see Dominicans," he said. "You're walking in the street, you see Dominicans. Fans everywhere (saying), 'Oh, Polanco, let's take a picture!' It was something that had never, never, never happened to me before."
The notion that playing in the WBC, rather than ho-hum spring training games, could be to the players' detriment didn't make sense to Polanco. He felt he had faced some of the world's best pitchers, put in plenty of work in left field and is more ready than ever for opening day.
"The season is coming, and I know it's going to be something that prepares me," he said.
Marte and Polanco did not play in the Pirates' spring training game Tuesday. After a team off day Wednesday, both are scheduled to return to the Pirates lineup Thursday against Boston.
Marte, a National League Gold Glove left fielder the past two seasons, said he is not concerned the Pirates outfielders will have too little time to adjust to their new positions _ Polanco in left, Marte in center, McCutchen in right. This will be their third full season playing together.
"Being able to participate prior to the WBC with the other two and being able to play with Polanco at the WBC, we had some really good reads," Marte said. "Overall, I believe we have great chemistry already. I don't think there's anything to be concerned about."
