Gregory Polanco's postgame routine had him still standing at his locker stall in the Pirates' clubhouse more than an hour after the final out Wednesday. Not even an off-day following a 3-2 win over the Reds at PNC Park in this late-summer slog was going to stop him from working late into the night.
"I feel great," Polanco told DKPittsburghSports.com after driving in his 81st run of the season hours earlier. "I want to play every game we have left. No matter what."
Following almost every game, Polanco stretches and works out with Starling Marte before jumping in the cold tub. His extensive recovery program was given to him by the team in the final days of an injury-shortened season last September, and Polanco's stuck with it ever since, through his ugly May and July resurgence.
Polanco, no longer bothered by a troublesome hamstring, has emerged as the run producer for this offense. He leads the team in home runs with a career-high 23 and 81 RBIs, while starting 120 games, including 24 straight. A mention of those accomplishments brought a smile to his face, yet the 26-year-old wants so much more.
"This only means I have to keep going," he continued. "I have to keep this up and get better. It's not over. I have to keep trusting in myself and believing in myself."
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