Five spring training notes: The word for this staff is 'smother'

Oscar Marin talks with reporters at Pirate City.BRADENTON, Fla. -- When talking to Oscar Marin this offseason, one of the things he said this pitching staff was still searching for was their "identity."

After spending time together as a group at Pirate City, the pitching coach has an idea for what that identity is.

"When someone comes in to play the Pittsburgh Pirates, they’re going to smother you in the zone," Marin said. "That’s something we’ve been talking about a ton. Some of the acquisitions that we’ve made have those mentalities and some of the changes that have happened with guys that we already have, that’s what they’re trending toward."

The rotation and staff certainly do look poised…