It is interesting that the Pirates’ rotation now packs two pitchers whose resumes include 200-strikeout seasons: A.J. Burnett (203 in 2002, 231 in 2008) and Erik Bedard (221 in 2007).

That matches the number the Bucs have had in their entire history>: Bob Veale, who did it four times between 1964-1969, and Oliver Perez (2004).

A reader of Pirates.com recently wondered whether they’d ever had two pitchers hit 200 strikeouts in the same season.

Heck, not even in the same quarter century. …

In case you’re dying to know, no — no individual or organization has approached Andrew McCutchen, whose dreadlocks put Jose Reyes’ to hirsute shame, about cutting his hair in the name of charity. …

Put this on your bulletin board: The highest-ranked Pirates starting pitcher in a poll conducted by a website of its bloggers in Bedard, at No. 59. …

And stick this one right next to it: Eric Byrnes, participating on the MLB Network’s Hot Stove show, picked the Washington Nationals to win the 2012 World Series. …

Then, again, do you suppose, had there been an Internet and cable television at the time, we would have heard a bunch of people in February picking the Mets to win the 1969 World Series? …

Quote of the Day:

“Focus more on your desire than your doubt — and the dream will take on itself. You may be surprised at how easily this happens. Your doubts are not as powerful as your desires — unless you make them.” (Marcia Wieder)

Two days before the official reporting date, all but three Pirates players are in camp. Everyone but Gorkys Hernandez, Anderson Hernandez and Gustavo Nunez. This is a great sign, considering the opportunity for returning players and the 17 new players in camp to get to know each other. … 

Alex Presley reminds me a lot of Chad Curtis, the former Angels-Yankees outfielder who always seemed ready to run through a wall. Physically, that is — although those who have already seen him play a lot more than I have say he is also a play-alike. …

Yes, that black-and-gold tote on my shoulder is a souveinr from the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh — the 1974 All-Star Game, at Three Rivers Stadium. …

What is it with the Bucs and the name-game? As if having seven of the total of 18 McNames in the Majors weren’t enough — Hurdle and Barmes are two only two Clints currently in the Majors and, as often pointed out already, Andrew and Daniel are the only two players named McCutchen in big-league history. …

Today’s Quote of the Day:

• “One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.”

Bonus QOTD (courtesy Clint Hurdle):

• “If you aim for nothing, you’re going to hit it every time.”

Politicians are often satirized for forgetting today what had happened yesterday — but Kent Tekulve is giving one presidential hopeful props for perfect recollection of an event more than 20 years ago.

A report and video of Republican candidate Rick Santorum’s run-in with Tekulve while on the Congressional campaign trail in 1990 has been gaining a lot of Internet steam.

In it, Santorum talks about an episode of door-to-door campaigning in an Upper St. Clair neighborhood when, in consecutive stops, a dog urinates on his leg then his knocks on the adjacent house are answered by the Pirates reliever.

“Mr. Tekulve, I’m so excited to meet you,” Santorum recalls saying — while the tall reliever’s eyes are fixed on the large stain on his pants.

“True, every word of it,” Tekulve said following Tuesday’s workout at Pirate City. “Accurate to the final detail. But that dog died a long time a go, so we’ve lost one element of the story.” …

While driving to camp this morning, heard on the radio a traffic advisory for Alligator Alley. Here’s my advisory: Stay away from any alley that has alligators. …

Just saw the ranking of the Majors’ Top 35 starting pitchers by some online “experts.” A guy who has never thrown a big-league pitch (Yu Darvish) is No. 23, but there are no Pirates on the list. Okay …

If you’re looking for a good investment, perhaps you should put your dough into a gym in Los Angeles. There can’t be too many of them because Albert Pujols and Yu Darvish just happened to bump into each other in one.

Quote of the Day:

“Life is too short to waste. Dreams are fulfilled only through action, not through endless planning to take action.”

Pittsburgh pitchers are divided into four groups for their work routines, and first-timer A.J. Burnett on Monday was quickly lumped with other starters in Group C. Others in that work detail include Kevin Correia, Jeff Karstens and Charlie Morton.

Different catchers are assigned to handle pitchers throwing sides and — shocker! — Burnett was paired with Rod Barajas, the first on-field reunion of the ’08 batterymates with the Blue Jays. …

Morton’s bullpen session confirmed manager Clint Hurdle’s early impressions of the right-hander’s rebound from hip surgery in October: “He continues to knock down every challenge. He’s probably ahead of schedule, so we’ve mapped out a new schedule for him. He feels good, is in a good place for February with his mechanics and his arm strength.” … 

All of Hurdle’s prior experience with Burnett has been as a foe, most directly in 2010, a season the Bucs skipper spent as the batting coach of the Texas Rangers.

“I tried to put together a program to challenge him multiple times,” Hurdle recalled.

Hurdle must be hoping opposing batting coaches now will have as much difficulty with that as he did: In three starts that season against the Rangers, Burnett had 17 strikeouts in 18 innings while allowing five earned runs, an ERA of 2.50. …

The message on Burnett’s wristband: “Be unstoppable!” …

Burnett, on the reasons behind his outstanding 2008 season, when he went 18-10 for Toronto: “Probably (Barajas), blocking all those curveballs in the dirt. He’s probably one of the finest catchers I’ve ever thrown to. He’s a hard worker, keeps you on track. I’m looking forward to working with him again.” …

Quote of the Day:

• “It’s not the hours you put into your work that counts — it’s the work you put into the hours.”

Please, everyone, stop harping on the Pirates’ “low payroll.” It has run its course as an interesting topic. We get it: the Bucs aren’t on a level paying field with the Yankees and Cardinals of the baseball world.

We also get this: The 2008 Rays made it to a World Series with a payroll of $43.8 million — 29th among the 30 MLB teams.

It’s not what you spend, people — it’s on who you spend it, and how much heart they bring to the table.

Today’s first workout for pitchers & catchers proceeded as scheduled once mid-morning showers gave way to sunshine. Only absentees: Chris Resop (stomach flu) and Ramon Cabrera (missed flight connection).

Attention, BSOML (best-shape-of-my-life) fans: 35-year-old Jason Grilli reports he’s in the best shape of his life following an offseason of intense workouts, including running drills in a sand pit.

Some people were surprised to see Erik Bedard wearing a brace on his left knee during a recent sideline session. Routine, apparently. “Wore it all last season,” Bedard said. You just didn’t see it under his uniform pants, unlike the shorts popular “off-hours” in Spring Training.

Bedard, conversely, seemed genuinely surprised to learn he has a considerable following among Canadians. A sizable number are fans of Bedard, a native of Navan in Ontario, wherever his big-league travels take him.

Bedard is not plugged into the online social network community, thus was unaware of his following. But it’s only natural: The lefty pitched for Team Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

I will relay a motivational quote that appears on the Pirates’ daily workout schedule, for all the players to see as they hit the fields. … The Camp Quote of the Day:

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” (Credit: Lou Holtz)

BRADENTON — Quiet day in Pirates camp, as rest of pitchers and catchers check in while gearing up for Sunday’s first formal workout for batterymen. The pre-workout routine includes physicals — which can be anything but routine, as the Yankees and Hideki Okajima found out.

Sunday is expected to also bring the first A.J. Burnett sighting — although he may not be able to dive right in even after his physical. Such timing would be extremely odd, but there have been multiple reports that Commissioner Bud Selig would rubber-stamp the trade — required, since the Yankees are packaging Burnett with 20 times the $1 million trigger for needed approval — only after a successful physical.

Burnett’s durability is often cited as a trait that most appealed to, and is most needed, by the Pirates. True, good or bad, he’s been out there close to 200 innings every season. But, although the Pirates have not had a 200-inning pitcher for a couple of years — Zach Duke was the last, with 213 in 2009 — it’s not like more recent Bucs rotations have been made of tissue.

In fact, last season all five starters logged 154-plus innings. Do you know how many other Major League teams could make the same claim? Three, and two of them were in the playoffs (Rangers, Brewers, plus Mets).

Paul Maholm is out of that equation, obviously, but the team is convinced Erik Bedard will match or surpass his 162 1/3 innings.

Bedard will be one of the pitchers throwing a bullpen on Sunday. Won’t be his first; been in camp for a couple of weeks already, and will stretch out from the prior 25-pitch sessions he has already thrown.

In their last 10 games of 2011 — including the Division Series against the Tigers — the Yankees got only two wins out of their starters. Guess who had both of them? (Hint: Initials are A.J.)

How cool is it to case Pirate City and stroll among areas named for the chaperones of my childhood? Clemente and Stargell fields, the Mazeroski diamond, the Law, Friend, Face bullpens.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Bottom-line: Neal Huntington opted to decline Paul Maholm’s $9.75 million option for 2012; Pirates now have vets Erik Bedard and A.J. Burnett for a combined $9.5 million.

You don’t have to be a financial expert to like those numbers…

Can Burnett star in a remake of the Kurt Russell “classic,” Escape From New York? He could reprise a role already played by Javier Vazquez, Carl Pavano, Ian Kennedy, Ted Lilly, etc., etc….

Not to imply that the Bucs can’t wait to get going, but a full week before their Feb. 24 reporting date — and even that, remember, is a week before the MLB mandatory reporting date — position players are overrunning the Pirate City clubhouse.

Already spotted in camp: Three-quarters of the potential starting infield (Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker, Casey McGehee) and outfielders Starling Marte and Jose Tabata). …

Pitchers formally check in and have their physicals on Saturday, but many have been working out long enough to have gone through numerous reps. …

No one is happier to be in Bradenton than Erik Bedard. Because Bradenton is not in Arizona — Bedard’s Spring Training home the last four years, with the Mariners. The lefty won’t miss the dry heat — no sweat, no break on pitches, nothing to slow down hard-hit balls.

“Numbers get ugly there,” said Bedard, a Florida guy with the Orioles prior to his trade to Seattle. “It wasn’t too bad for veterans like me, but for a young pitcher trying to make an impression … very tough.” …

Gerrit Cole is finding his first few days in a big-league camp “definitely interesting.” The No. 1 is on a weird schedule: Pitch for UCLA, take four months off, pitch a little in the Arizona Fall League, take four more months off … which brings us to now, as he truly embarks on his pro career. …

Yankees Universe … Red Sox Nation … Cardinals Country … Pirate City? That’s it? Yeah, that’s going to change. …

Wish kept a log of this offseason’s “expected” reports, so could’ve come up with a Credibility Index. “Fielder expected to sign with Rangers,” “Marlins expected to sign Cespedes,” “Chocolate expected to reduce weight,” and the like. Maybe next winter. …

Simply cannot believe that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo actually said this about Bryce Harper: “He wants to go into the Hall of Fame with a Washington Nationals hat on.” Couldn’t he at least wait until he had a Triple-A at-bat before making reservations in Cooperstown? …

The Pirates’ ongoing talks with the Yankees regarding right-hander A.J. Burnett are inspiring the cynicism of a lot of Bucs fans. Many don’t get the interest.

What could be behind it? Or, who: Rod Barajas.

The best of Burnett’s 13 Major League seasons, by a longshot, came in 2008. He won 18 games, five more than in any other seasons. He led the American League with 231 strikeouts. He logged 221 1/3 innings. All career highs.

Guess who was his “designated catcher” with the Blue Jays that season?

Yep, Mr. Barajas, the Bucs’ new receiver.

In 10 starts with Gregg Zaun as his batterymate, Burnett was 4-4 with an ERA of 6.05.

In 24 starts with Barajas behind the plate, Burnett was 14-6 with an ERA of 3.27.

This information can be critical, given Burnett’s well-known history for catcher-dependence. He performs better in a comfort zone, in which his relationship with a trusted catcher is paramount. A.J.’s acrimonious relationship with Jorge Posada undermined his performance with the Yankees, everyone recognizes that.

You know that Neal Huntington had to consult Barajas before getting into this — and that the Pittsburgh GM had to like what he heard.

• Even if the Pirates and Yankees work out all the details of the trade that would bring right-hander A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh, the deal isn’t likely be announced until Monday. With so much cash involved in the transaction, it would require the obligatory approval of the Commissioner’s Office.
• Bring on Burnett: Love the upside of this likely move. Returning to the NL after a six-year AL misadventure can only help him. Through his first seven seasons with the Marlins, Burnett had a career ERA of 3.73 — a figure he never reached in any single season with the Blue Jays or the Yankees.
• Yet, Burnett could be a big weapon during Interleague Play. He has a lifetime record of 27-19 against the Pirates’ 2012 AL foes (Tigers, Royals, Orioles, Twins and Indians).
• Burnett (2009 Yankees) would double the number of players on the Pirates’ roster with World Series rings (Rod Barajas, ’01 Diamondbacks).
• Speaking of Barajas, the last Pirates catcher to hit as many homers (17) as he has averaged the last three seasons was … Jim Pagliaroni, in 1965!
• Pirates manager Clint Hurdle says “It’s hard to read a lot into Spring Training performances,” and that’s a good thing to keep in mind as camps open and when Grapefruit League play begins. Last spring, both eventual World Series participants had losing exhibition records (Cardinals 14-16, Rangers 13-16) while the best record was the Royals’ 20-10.
• I may be missing something, but why do so many people assume the guy bumped from the Pirates’ rotation by Burnett would be Jeff Karstens? Yes, he already has considerable bullpen experience. But Karstens did a lot of the heavy lifting while the Bucs were making their move last season, going undefeated in eight starts from June 3 through July 15, with a 1.26 ERA and .193 opponents average.
• When did Flavor Flav become the Waldo of sporting events? He and his bling-bling have been popping up everywhere, from Indianapolis to Broadway to Las Vegas.

Two takeaways from having Edwin Jackson spurn both one-year and three-year offers from the Pirates to agree to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Nationals:

• 1. Agent Scott Boras apparently feels that the Nats will be a better team than the Bucs, thus a better forum for Jackson to inflate his value for re-entering the free-agent market next winter.
• 2. Boras feels Jackson therefore will eventually land a long-term deal for more than the $30 million the Pirates were willing to consider.

I’d take both of those bets with Boras.

Yes, the Nationals made more high-profile moves this winter (the acquisition of and ensuing extension for Gio Gonzalez) and pack higher-profile prospects (Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg). But that won’t translate into a better record than that of the Bucs.

Sure, partly because Pittsburgh will play more games against a weaker division. That wouldn’t have been noted with an asterisk next to Jackson’s won-loss record. Bottom-line, Jackson could’ve had a superior statement season with the Bucs. By the way — he has one win in 10 career starts against NL East clubs (excluding Washington) and six wins in 21 starts against NL Central teams (excluding Pittsburgh).

Deferring Jackson’s bigger payday to post-2012 is an even riskier move. He could be swallowed up by a market that might include the likes of Matt Cain, Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels.

As for a pair of other veteran righties frequently tied to the Pirates …

Roy Oswalt is balancing so many factors — geography, salary, role — he could get to the point of having to reconsider the Pirates.

A.J. Burnett is a classic low-risk, potentially high-return option. But the Pirates do not have any motive to make a move now. Demand for the Yankees righty is low. If midway through Spring Training the Bucs feel a need to look for reinforcements, Burnett will still be available.