SEATTLE -- Starling Marte is a special athlete.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and anyone else familiar with the Pittsburgh outfielder knows this, and they especially know it this year, since Marte is on pace to put up the best batting average, OPS and stolen-base totals of a career that already saw him earn a Gold Glove last year. Marte, 27, entered Wednesday's series finale with the Mariners batting .325 with six home runs, 30 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and an OPS of .853. He's also tied for the Major League lead with nine outfield assists.
Hurdle shared with reporters the inkling that Marte might occasionally be using that athleticism and defensive ability in a way that only the best outfielders even dare trying: by pretending to struggle while fielding base hits in order to fake out baserunners and nail them when they try to take an extra bag.