Manager Clint Hurdle spent part of his off day this week tinkering with the Pirates lineup.
He came up with one change no manager before him ever has: Ike Davis in the two-hole.
"His comment was funny. He said, 'I always felt like I could hit second,' " said Hurdle. "I think he wanted to say nobody was crazy enough to ever do it. Nobody ever did."
The Pirates will.
Hurdle tried to roll out a lineup Tuesday with Jose Tabata leading off, followed by Davis batting second, Andrew McCutchen hitting third, and Pedro Alvarez batting cleanup.
Hurdle said Wednesday -- after consecutive rainouts against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards -- that he plans to "roll with it" moving forward in a doubleheader starting at 4:05 p.m. today and beyond.
Sliding Davis up in the order is as much about setting the table for McCutchen, said Hurdle, as it is about putting together the lineup to go right-left-right-left.
Tabata and McCutchen bat right-handed, and Davis and Alvarez left-handed.
"I like the on-base [percentage]. He'll take a walk. He can drive a runner in from first," Hurdle said. "I like the way the lineup sets up. There's protection, especially against any team with two left-handed relievers.
"Now if they want to go left on Ike, McCutchen is behind him. If they want to go left for Ike, McCutchen and Pedro, so be it. They've got to get through McCutchen."
Davis generally has been a middle-of-the-order batter because of his power and was hitting sixth in the order for the Pirates since being acquired in a trade with the New York Mets.
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