Andrew McCutchen: 'Of Course They're Not Going To Talk About Us'
BRADENTON (93-7 The Fan) – Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen took a break from his Spring Training workouts and sat down with "The Fan Morning Show" at McKechnie Field on Tuesday, with the Pirates' Grapefruit League opener against the Tigers just a few hours away.
McCutchen said he isn't too worked up about all the hype surrounding the Cubs and Cardinals entering this season, because he's used to seeing his team coming to Spring Training flying under the radar.
"That's cool," McCutchen said. "We can't control what other people say or think. We've just got to go out and do our jobs...they have new things coming in, and new guys coming in, so of course they're going to be hyped. We're not too big on bringing a big-name guy in with the Pirates, so of course they're not going to talk about us. They're just going to pretty much say what they have to say, and then we've got to go out and do our thing."
McCutchen admitted that it was difficult seeing longtime teammate Neil Walker dealt to the Mets, though he understands that there's nothing he can do about it.
"It was a tough blow for me and Walker," McCutchen said. "I've been with him since Double-A, all the way through on out since 2007 in Double-A. That was tough because I grew up with him, and we together saw the change. So that was tough, but it's the game of baseball. The game is a business, and we still have to go out, and we've got to play our game. Sometimes it may be hard to accept those things, but at the same time, that's the way that the game is."
As always, McCutchen was effusive in his praise for Pittsburgh, explaining that it's an easy place to play in.
"It's such a close-knit city," McCutchen said. "It's good to feel like you're home. It's a home away from home, that's the way I look at it...it's not overbearing, and that's great. People for the most part don't bother you. They respect your privacy, and that's just great. That's the people of Pittsburgh. That's what they're all about...it's a good market to be in...if you want to feel comfortable at a place, Pittsburgh's a place to be."
McCutchen said that he embraces his role as the face of the Pirates and one of the faces in baseball, and loves to create once-in-a-lifetime moments for fans (like he did for a couple of young fans in Los Angeles last season).
"That definitely has to do with my upbringing, how I came up," McCutchen said. "Just to appreciate the thing, to remember that you were once a kid like that kid...you're not always going to be able to sign an autograph. You're not always going to be able to interact with people. But for the most part, I try to make a subconscious effort to go out, to be able to do that, because I know people appreciate it, and I do it because I love doing it. There's nothing like it, to be able to interact with people, for them to get to know you. That could last with them a lifetime. I just love being a part of it."
That being said, though, McCutchen understands that maintaining his performance takes precedence over maintaining his popularity.
"You've got to remember what's important, what's most important," McCutchen said. "If I need to work out, I need to work out, and if there's something that came up, it's like, alright, well I need to take care of myself, getting myself prepared on the field - and everything around and off the field, I'll get to that. You can't be the yes man all the time...you've just got to know how to juggle."
The full interview can be heard here:
"The Fan Morning Show" will be broadcasting live from Spring Training in Bradenton all week long.
The Pirates open Grapefruit League play on Tuesday with a matchup against the Tigers in Lakeland, with coverage on 93-7 The Fan beginning at 1 p.m.