"Asked by a fan Saturday at PirateFest why he opted to decline Ronny Cedeno's $3 million option and sign Clint Barmes to a two-year, $10.5 million deal, general manager Neal Huntington said Barmes was a more complete player.

Clint Hurdle gave a bolder answer: The manager told fans he was "passionate" about the Pirates making a change at shortstop.

Hurdle likened it to what happens when he and his wife go out to eat. If he asks her at the end of the meal how it was and she says it was OK, they don't return to that restaurant.

"At the end of the year, Ronny was OK," Hurdle said. "I expect more out of my shortstop than Ronny could bring.""