"We think he still has something left in the tank," said manager Lloyd McClendon, who said Mesa looks as fit as he has been in a long time. "It's a matter of him getting his mojo back."

Mesa's biggest problem last year, when he saved 24 games in 28 opportunities, was his control. During his first bullpen session in Pirates camp, he refused to leave the mound when his time was up until he threw his last pitch for a strike. In that session, bullpen coach Bruce Tanner spotted a couple of mechanical things that could be the reason why Mesa's fastball was sailing up in the zone and why hitters could get a good read of the ball coming out of his hand.

"He still has a power arm. For someone his age, that's unique," Tanner said.

Mesa lists the keys for sticking with the Pirates as staying healthy, staying in shape and working hard when he gets the chance. And he wants to forget last year, when he lost his job to Mike Williams and Phillies manager Larry Bowa rarely used him in September. If he had finished 55 games, he would have been paid $5.5 million this season. As it was, he finished 47 and was released.

"They didn't give me the opportunity. They were playing with my mind too much and lost confidence in me. When the manager loses confidence in you, there's nothing you can do," Mesa said. "It was tough. I don't blame them. Today you're here. Tomorrow you don't know where you're going to be."

Mesa said it was easy to select the Pirates because they offered him a chance to close instead of setting up. The Pirates still have a roster spot open and are pursuing free-agent Ugueth Urbina, but it may not be until mid-March or later until they find out if he will sign.

Mesa's best years may have been with the Indians during the '90s, when he'll always be remembered in Cleveland for blowing a save in the seventh game of the World Series. But in his mind, Mesa thinks he can pitch for two or three more years.

"I'd like to do it a couple more years. I think I have a lot left in my tank, no question about it. I'm just going to give it everything I have and go forward," Mesa said.

Mesa entered camp with something of a reputation. But at dinner last week, Mike Williams told pitching coach Spin Williams that he'll love Mesa's work ethic and professionalism.

The word also was that Mesa didn't talk to the media and that he got into a shouting and shoving match with a Philadelphia reporter last year. But when asked to do an interview yesterday, Mesa was approachable and pleasant. Is Mesa turning over a new leaf?

"I've always talked to the press. The thing is, some places I've been they ripped me off. I decided not to talk to the people who are doing it," Mesa said. "Sometimes you get mad and don't want to talk, so you tell them that we can talk tomorrow and then they get mad. If you blow a save, I'm the kind of guy who takes that personally. I don't like to talk after I blow a save. The next day, when your mind's fresh, we can talk about it."

For now, he's focused on getting that roster spot and helping a team in transition. A save rate of 80 percent, something in the range of a solid place-kicker, would go a long way to filling a void for the Pirates.

"We can't listen to what they say in the paper," Mesa said. "Look at the Marlins last year. Nobody said they had a shot to beat the Yankees, but they did. It's crazy. This game's a funny game."