Former baseball shortstop and current Pirates hitting coach Jay Bell turns 47 today. During my time as a baseball fan-and a Pirate fan-45 years and counting shortstop has not been a strong position for the Pirates. I would rank Bell as the best shortstop the Pirates have had during that time period. Bell played for the Pirates from 1989 until 1996. Bell was a very solid all around player for the Pirates. He started his career in Cleveland where he hit a home run off of future hall of famer Bert Blyleven [who he had been traded for from the Minnesota Twins organization} in his first at bat-the first pitch he ever saw in the major leagues. He never quite caught on with the Indians. The Pirates got him for shortstop Felix “The Cat” Fermin. After leaving the Pirates Bell would have some of his better years. His 1999 season kind of sticks out. A guy who was a singles-doubles hitter who was an expert bunter became a power hitter. The most home runs he had ever hit was 21, but in 1999 he smacked 38 while driving in 112. Overall his career stats as a Indian/Pirate/Royal/Diamondback and Met- 195 home runs, 860 RBI with a career batting average of .265. He retired after the 2003 season. Jay Bell made two All-Star teams during his career and won a World Series while with Arizona. I always thought Bell was manager material. This year he was named hitting coach [and manager in waiting when Clint Hurdle gets fired in July 2013?} for the Pirates.