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PITTSBURGH -- Gerrit Cole sat on a stool in the cramped locker room at the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league complex in Bradenton, Fla., in late February and thought for a moment. What, exactly, does the burly right-hander love so much about baseball? Sure, the money is great. The potential fame too. Yet for the player considered one of the cornerstones of a franchise rebuilding itself from the ground up, the pull is much more primitive. "I just like to just beat somebody," Cole said. "Kick somebodys (butt) really. Thats what I like doing and thats what Im good at." Time to prove it. The 22-year-old will make his major league debut on Tuesday night when the Pirates host the San Francisco Giants, a moment a lifetime in the making for a player considered "cant miss" since the first time he pulled on a glove as a kid growing up in Southern California. To be honest, its a moment Cole hoped would happen a little sooner. The top pick in the 2011 draft sprinted through Pittsburghs farm system, needing just 26 starts to move from Class A Bradenton to Triple-A Indianapolis last summer. Yet when the Pirates decided to send him to minor league camp halfway through spring training for more seasoning, Coles frustration was palpable. Sorry, but 6-foot-4, 240-pound pound guys who can regularly pump 99 mph fastballs by overmatched hitters are used to getting their way. There would be no pouting, however. At least not outwardly. Cole bit his lip and went to work. "As disappointed as he was, he jumped into this with both feet," Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor said. "He asked a lot of questions." Not one of them was "when do I get out of here?" That doesnt mean Cole didnt think it, even as Pittsburghs best start in more than 20 years quelled the drumbeat for his arrival. This is the same player, after all, who would constantly challenge his teammates to anything and everything while playing at Lutheran Orange High in Orange, Calif., a half-hour southeast of Los Angeles. Long toss. Batting practice. It didnt matter. Coles drive to prove himself was relentless. "Gerrit is one of the most competitive people Ive ever coached," said Mike Grahovac, who coached Cole at Lutheran Orange and is now the head coach at Concordia (Calif.) University. "He doesnt like to lose at anything. Thats a good quality to have. You give him the baseball and he gets on the mound, he is a fiery guy. Thats what you want." And something the Pirates desperately need. While trade acquisitions A.J. Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez have given the Pirates a much-needed influx of competency and grit at the top of the rotation, they are entering the twilight of their careers. Cole and 2010 second-overall pick Jameson Taillon are the future. Coles run will begin against the defending World Series champions and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who knows a thing or two about handling the role of "phenom." Its a tag Cole has lived with his entire life, which gives Treanor confidence his project wont be overcome by the stage when he walks onto the mound at PNC Park for the first time as a big-leaguer. Cole rarely looked intimidated during his time in Indianapolis this spring, going 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and ending his run with 14 consecutive scoreless innings. Despite his electric stuff, Cole had just 47 strikeouts in 68 innings, proof that hes making the necessary step from thrower to pitcher. "We tweaked the delivery a little bit and I think over the last 4-5 starts, I think youre starting to see the guy everybodys been looking for," Treanor said. One that could be a difference maker almost immediately for a team searching for its first playoff berth since 1992. Pittsburghs hot start means Cole wont be called on to help salvage the season. And by waiting until mid-June, the Pirates kept Cole from becoming arbitration eligible until 2016, meaning theres plenty of time for him to settle in and get comfortable. The guys hell be throwing to are certainly anxious to get a longer look. Cole impressed Pittsburgh catcher Russell Martin during spring training and Martin hasnt seen anything over the last couple months to dissuade him from thinking Cole is ready. "He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders," Martin said. "He has that type of mentality where its not going to be a long learning process for him. He is ready to go and compete right now." Thats all the Pirates ask, figuring the relaxed atmosphere in the clubhouse will take care of the rest. Despite the spotlight that follows him wherever he goes, Cole has shown an ability to fit in. When Indianapolis held a "kangaroo court" at the end of the season, the first player targeted was Cole. His infraction? The $4 million bonus he earned for signing with the Pirates. The fine? A whopping 10 bucks. "The max fine is $5 but we doubled it for him," Treanor said. "It was classic. I dont think he was expecting it, but he was laughing the whole time." That smile will likely be gone by the time Cole bounds out of the dugout on Tuesday night, replaced by the intensity that the Pirates hope will one day make him one of the premier starters in the game. Just not yet. All they need now is some help. "Hes not the saviour for Pittsburgh," Grahovac said. "Hes got to be part of the team. Hes got to help that team win." . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. OXFORD, Miss. -- Kamryn Pettway ran for a career-high 236 yards and a touchdown, Sean White threw for 247 yards and No. 15 Auburn beat Mississippi 40-29 on Saturday night.Ole Miss Chad Kelly threw for a school-record 465 yards, beating Archie Mannings previous mark of 436 yards set in 1969. Kelly also threw three touchdown passes and one interception.But the Rebels couldnt keep up with Auburn, which finished with 554 total yards. The Tigers once again gave a heavy workload to Pettway, a sophomore who responded by smashing through the Ole Miss defense with his 240-pound body time after time.The offensive line did a good job, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. But he also just ran over some people.Auburn (6-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) won its fifth straight. Ole Miss (3-5, 1-4) lost its third in a row.It was an entertaining, back-and-forth game that featured plenty of offense -- especially in the first half. Ole Miss took a 22-20 lead into the locker room.Ole Miss had its chances in the second half, but once again blew a halftime lead. The Rebels have five losses this season despite never trailing at the break.The backbreaker for Ole Miss was midway through the fourth quarter when a wide-open Evan Engram dropped what would have almost certainly been a go-ahead touchdown. On the very next play, Kelly threw his only interception of the night and Auburn returned it to the Ole Miss 25.Three plays later, Kerryon Johnson scored on a 3-yard toouchdown run and Auburn stretched its lead to 40-29.ddddddddddddWe battled toe to toe for most of the game, Freeze said. But for whatever reason, in this game you have years where the margin of error for a team is just so small and one or two plays makes such a huge impact.GREAT KICKERSAuburns offense got a big assist from kicker Daniel Carlson, who made all four of his field goal attempts, including a crucial one from 47 yards in the fourth quarter that gave the Tigers a 33-29 lead.Hes the best kicker in the country, Malzahn said. Really made some pressure kicks.Ole Miss Gary Wunderlich was nearly as good. He made all three of his field goals, including one that was a career-high 49 yards.THE TAKEAWAYAuburn: The Tigers continued their impressive run despite looking a little shaky on defense. Auburns running game has been absolutely dominant and the Tigers now have three winnable games against Vanderbilt, Georgia and Alabama A&M before what could be a very interesting Iron Bowl showdown against Alabama.Ole Miss: The Rebels season continues to turn sour. Two months ago, Ole Miss thought it might have a chance to win the SECs Western Division. Now the Rebels might struggle to qualify for a bowl game.UP NEXTAuburn: The Tigers host Vanderbilt next weekend.Ole Miss: The Rebels host Georgia Southern next weekend. ' ' '
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