BRADENTON, Fla. -- Francisco Liriano smiled when I mentioned the 2013 National League Wild Card game.
"That's one of the best games I remember in my career," he said. "It's a good memory."
Liriano etched his name into Pirates' lore that night at PNC Park. The left-hander held the Reds to one run in seven innings as the Pirates won in their first postseason game since 1992.
Adding to the legend was that Liriano admitted the following spring that had experienced flu-like symptoms the morning of the wild card and required IV fluids just to feel well enough to pitch.
Much has changed since that night when the Pirates punctuated the end of an era of 20 consecutive losing seasons, the longest stretch of sub.-500 finishes in major professional sports history. The Pirates got back to the postseason in 2014 and 2015 but didn't make it past the wild-card game. Liriano was traded to the Blue Jays during the 2016 season in what was essentially a $13.6 million salary dump. The Pirates haven't been back to the playoffs since.
They figure to face a tough task in their attempt to get there this year as they play in the rugged National League Central with the Brewers, Cubs and Cardinals, as well as the much-improved Reds. It is against that backdrop that Liriano will try to recapture the magic he had with the Pirates from 2013-15, when he was a combined 35-25 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 86 starts.
Liriano returned to Pirate City for the first time in three years Monday when pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. The Pirates signed him to a minor-league contract last week.
Since that three-year run, Liriano has gone 19-32 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 96 games, including 73 starts. He was just 5-12 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.49 WHIP last season in 27 games, including 26 starts, with the Tigers.
No team was willing to sign the 35-year-old to a major-league contract as a free agent in the offseason. When Liriano realized he was going to have to go to spring training with someone on a minor-league deal, the Pirates were the easy choice.
"I decided to come back here because I've got good memories," Liriano said. "It was a good three years, there are good coaches here, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to get back here and try to get back to where I was before when I pitched for the Pirates. I just had a good time in Pittsburgh."
Liriano will likely have a different role this time because the Pirates see him more as a reliever than a starter at this stage of his career.
Despite his struggles in 2018, he did fare well the first time through the batting order as he held opponents to a .221/.316/.319 line in 234 plate appearances. Liriano also was tough on left-handers as they hit just .170/.255/.261 in 98 plate appearances.
"I think I can do both," Liriano said when asked about starting or relieving. "Whatever they need. I'm just ready for anything. Whatever it takes. We'll see what happens. I feel good about being here and trying to make the team."
Just two pitchers remain with the Pirates from the time Liriano was traded -- Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl, who will miss this season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
"There a lot of young guys here now," Liriano said.
Indeed, there are. The Pirates are hoping that Liriano could provide some veteran influence if he makes the team.
"I think I can help a lot in that way," Liriano said. "One of the reasons they wanted me is because we've got a lot of young Dominicans and Latin players here. I can try to help them do the right thing, tell them how important it is to do everything you can to help the team win ballgames and also try to be a better person each day."
There is no questioning that the quiet Liriano is a good person, He has pitched in the major leagues for 13 seasons without causing any problems.
The big question is if he can still get major-league hitters out. That will be determined once the exhibition games begin Feb. 22.
MORE FROM REPORTING DAY
• Gregory Polanco began the second week of his throwing program, playing catch from 80 feet.
Polanco underwent surgery of his left shoulder in October to repair a torn labrum. Polanco is expected to be out anytime from mid-April to mid-June, though he is optimistic about returning closer to April than June.
"It's getting better and stronger every week, I'm making good progress," Polanco said. "I have to be patient and not rush it. I feel good. The shoulder gets a little tired when I throw but that is to be expected."
• Chris Archer and Joe Musgrove won't have any restrictions when pitchers and catchers begin their workouts Wednesday and say they won't be on a restricted pitch count when the regular season begins. Both had abdominal surgery in the offseason.
"I'm healthy," Archer said. "It's not an issue."
Said Musgrove: "I feel great and I'm ready to go."
• The Pirates are doing something different this spring when it comes to locker assignments in the clubhouse, Instead of the 40-man roster players being on one side of the room and the non-roster invitees on the other, they are interspersed.
• All pitchers and catchers will undergo physical examinations tomorrow morning. The rest of the squad is scheduled to report Sunday and begin working out the following day, though many of the players are already here.
____________________
Want our latest content at your fingertips? Download the FREE app today:
