APRIL 6, 1969:
NL PREVIEW: PIRATES by Charles Feeney (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
PITTSBURGH - After two straight sixth-place finishes, the Pirates have dipped into the youth bag in hope of making a respectable showing in 1969.
Manager Larry Shepard is banking on a combination of rookies and veterans to mold the Bucs into a winner.
The veteran nucleus remains Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Matty Alou, Bill Mazeroski and Gene Alley.
But the health of Clemente and Alley is a big question mark as the season approaches.
Alley, the veteran shortstop, has had aches in his right shoulder for the past 20 months. He was placed on the disabled list as the season opener approached.
Clemente, four-time National League bat champ, played the 1968 season with a damaged right shoulder. He hurt it in a fall in his home just before
reporting to the Bucs' 1968 camp.
Now the right shoulder is better but Clemente has a sore left shoulder. He hurt it making a futile attempt for a diving catch in an exhibition game against the Red Sox on March 14.
Clemente has been on the rubbing table in the trainer's room more than he has been on the field this spring. He was sent home to Puerto Rico to rest and may not be ready for the season opener.
The kids have been a delight for Shepard, who is working on a one-year contract and knows the performance of the team will determine how long he remains as field boss.
Bob Robertson, Al Oliver, Richie Hebner and Manny Sanguillen stuck with the team and at least two of them will become regulars.
Freddie Patek, a 5-foot-5 shortstop with good speed, will be Alley's replacment at short until the veteran says he is ready to play.
Robertson, a power-hitting rookie from Mount Savage, Md. will play "somewhere," according to Shepard.
Robertson's best position is first base. But Oliver had a good spring and he could wind up at first, with Robertson moving to third base.
Hebner is a 21-year-old, left-handed hitting third baseman who is short on experience. He has played only 200 pro games. He batted .276 at Columbus last year and has a big future.
Sanguillen looms as the backup catcher to Jerry May, who batted .219 is 137 games last season.
"Some day Sanguillen may be the No. 1 catcher," Shepard says, "but I plan to open with May."
Shepard's pitching staff is cluttered with "ifs" and with inexperience.
Steve Blass, a surprise 18-game winner last year, and veteran Bob Veale, 13-14 in 1968, form the one-two punch.
Sherpard lists sophomores Bob Moose, 8-12 with a fine 2.74 ERA last year, and Dock Ellis, 6-5 a year ago, as his No. 3 and No. 4 starters.
And what about Jim Bunning?
This onetime big winner for the Phillies and Tigers slipped to 4-14 as a Pirate in an injury-riddled year. Bunning, according to Shepard, had to prove himself again in spring training.
In the exhibitions, the 37-year-old righthander seemed to be proving himself well.
Ronnie Kline, the old Senator with an assortment of pitches - some illegal - heads the bullpen. Kline was a Buc surprise last season after being obtained from the Twins. Now 37, he was 12-5.
Bruce Dal Canton figures to help as a middle-inning reliever and, if Moose or Ellis flop, Dal Canton will move into the starting rotation.
The Pirates, entered in the National League's Eastern Division, figure at best as a third-place club. The Cards and Cubs stand out ahead of them.
ROBERTO CLEMENTE