It does not figure to be a big deal when Jim Tracy returns to Pittsburgh on Friday night for the first time since he was fired as the Pirates' manager following the 2007 season.
Tracy will come to town with Colorado, where he is in his first season as the bench coach for manager Clint Hurdle. Tracy spent last season out of baseball, collecting the remaining $1.2 million on the last year of his contract with the Pirates. He had a disastrous two-year stint in which he compiled a 135-189 record. Eleven players still on the Pirates roster played for Tracy, and most seem indifferent to his return. The majority weren't even aware he is on the Rockies' staff.
"I think half of the people in this clubhouse don't even know Jim Tracy or that he managed here," center fielder Nate McLouth said. "A lot has changed since he managed here. We're a different team now. We have different management and a different direction."
McLouth said he likely wouldn't visit with his former manager.
"There is really no reason to go talk to him," McLouth said. "He's on the other team now."
CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 1: The Pirates missed their chance to sweep the three-game series. They had 12 hits Thursday but managed only one run as they left 10 runners on base, grounded into three double plays and had only one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Freddy Sanchez had three hits, and Nyjer Morgan added two hits and a pair of walks. Jeff Karstens (1-2) took the loss, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings.
