TSN: Clint Hurdle confident Pirates can take punch and bounce back

and still end up looking like Pittsburgh Fritzie Zivic.

Pittsburgh probably won’t make the playoffs considering their current standing, but how they play over these final seven or so weeks will tell a lot about their clubhouse and could go a long way into next season’s outlook. Finish strong and it’s plenty of momentum for 2012. Finish meek and a deflated feeling is inevitable.

“This is an opportunity to have a great learning experience for all of us, especially for our team as we go forward,” Hurdle said. “And it’s a chance for our organization to understand the humility and balance that comes with rebuilding an organization and taking steps forward. There’s going to be some steps back as well.

“It’s important how you handle both, not just one. We’ve already shown some growth on how to handle success. Now we have to learn how to challenge ourselves when we’re dealing with failure. Too much good has happened in four months. The challenge now is not to cover up and hope they’ll punch themselves out. People don’t punch themselves out in the major leagues. You have to fire some punches back. That’s where we are.”