BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle hasn't settled on a lineup yet, but he has a few ideas.
He knows shortstop Jordy Mercer will hit eighth. The pitcher will bat ninth, albeit not when the Bucs begin the season with a designated hitter in Detroit on March 29. And Hurdle said he has first baseman Josh Bell "anchored" in the cleanup spot, where he spent most of his solid rookie season.
That's just fine with Bell, who has batted fourth in every game he's played this spring.