Dickerson at leadoff? Hey, why not at this point?

NEW YORK -- "Different look. Different energy."

That's how Clint Hurdle began his reply Friday afternoon at Citi Field when asked why he'd placed Corey Dickerson atop the Pirates' lineup -- a season first, though hardly a career first as he'd hit there extensively for the Rays -- for the evening's meeting with the Mets. But the manager might as well have been speaking hopefully about anything related to this team at this stage of a fast-sinking summer.

But back to Dickerson, whose 57 games at leadoff for Tampa Bay in 2017 saw him slash .285/.328/.530 with 15 home runs and 31 RBIs.

"He's been in a good place swinging the bat," Hurdle continued, referring to Dickerson reaching safely in his past…