Kovacevic: Don’t understate Pirates’ confidence, very real contention

"They believe they are in the hunt," Clint Hurdle was beaming on this steaming Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, "and they continue to fight.”

No one could argue it.

Check that: No one should argue it.

Forget whatever anyone on the outside -- myself included -- expected when pitchers and catchers reported to Bradenton. Forget all those lopsided losses. Forget all 24 different players to appear on Major League Baseball's injury list. Heck, go the distance and forget Dovydas Neverauskas and all the other Neverauskases brought up for the big-league slaughter.

Forget everything but this: Two. Point. Five.

That's the Maddon-be-damned separation:

That's it. Two. Point. Five.

We're past the point where…