BRADENTON, Fla. (KDKA/AP) - Pirates manager Clint Hurdle remains optimistic as his team prepares for opening day, trying to improve from a major league-low 57 wins in 2010.

After 18 consecutive losing seasons and 299 losses over the past three years, Hurdle says brighter days are ahead. Even if he can't promise when.

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't posted a winning record since Barry Bonds carried them in 1992, and their enthusiastic new manager doesn't pretend to have all the answers for ending the longest stretch of futility in North American sports history.

"Every man that's come in here before me for the last 18 years, I have no doubt in my mind was coming with great intentions, trying to make a difference," said Hurdle

"Sometimes it's timing. A lot of times it is talent. ... Right now, I think we've got a good combination of a lot of things coming together at the right time," the 53-year-old manager said.

The Pirates have averaged 97 losses per season since 2005, yet a strong nucleus of young talent that includes center fielder Andrew McCutchen, second baseman Neil Walker and third baseman Pedro Alvarez is a basis for real hope.

"They needed somebody to come in and be committed, roll their sleeves up, get some dirt in their spikes and put in a full day's effort," he said. "Pittsburgh's a blue-collar town, and it needs somebody with a blue-collar mentality. At least I know I have that. I'm not afraid to work, and I'm not afraid of a challenge."

At the first full-squad spring training workout Hurdle spoke about trust, accountability and the type of dedication it would take to change a culture of losing. The players liked what they heard.

"His attitude and the passion for the game that he's brought to this clubhouse has definitely uplifted it. There's no doubt about that," said Walker, who hit .296 in 110 games last season.

"His ability to instill confidence in his players, especially as a younger team, it's something that's very important for this organization. I think him doing that is going to affect us — not down the road, but right now and moving forward."

The 24-year-old McCutchen is embracing Hurdle too, saying he has a commanding presence in the clubhouse, easy to talk to and listens to his players.

Walker, like McCutchen, believes despite losing 105 games last season that the Pirates are headed in the right direction.

On the opening day of camp, Hurdle implored the players to "set our bar on a championship level" and work each day toward the goal of becoming winners

"There will be a group of men that turns us around here. It'll happen. So why can't we? Why can't we be the start?" the manager said.

"How long will it take? That's the one thing I'm not going to get caught up in. The people who judge the job I do, I can't control that," Hurdle said. "But what I can push forward is the message, I can push forward practice, I can push forward the intent and the focus, and I believe my doing that will get the results."

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