Jul 04 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 2:48 p.m. Saturday
MIAMI -- Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh, the Pirates' Indian-born pitchers, made their professional debuts this afternoon for Bradenton of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, each working an inning of relief against the New York Yankees' affiliate.
Patel, the right-hander, pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout, and needed just nine pitches, seven of which were strikes.
Singh, the left-hander, allowed a run on three hits with a strikeout. He needed 20 pitches.
> Full article
PHOTO of Singh: Million Dollar Blog
Jul 04 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 2:10 p.m. Saturday
MIAMI -- Four hours to first pitch ...
Game: Pirates vs. Florida Marlins, 6:10 p.m., Land Shark Stadium.
Pitching: LHP Zach Duke vs. LHP Andrew Miller.
First-pitch forecast: 88 degrees, maybe a storm. Who knows here?
Radio: WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pirates' lineup:
- McCutchen, CF
- Wilson, SS
- Young, RF
- Adam LaRoche, 1B
- Jones, LF
- Andy LaRoche, 3B
- Diaz, C
- Vazquez, 2B
- Duke, P
Marlins' lineup:
- Bonficacio, 3B
- Hermida, LF
- Ramirez, SS
- Cantu, 1B
- Uggla, 2B
- Ross, CF
- Paulino, C
- Carroll, RF
- Miller, P
UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: A pic to get things started ...
Not a headline one sees often while following this team about the country.
2:25 p.m.: Some minor moves: Three players were promoted from Class AA Altoona to Class AAA Indianapolis: outfielder Jonel Pacheco anc catchers Milver Reyes and Miguel Perez. Infielder Ray Chang was promtoed from Class A Lynchburg to Altoona. ... Also, Ryan Doumit went 0 for 5 with a strikeout in his second and final game with Bradenton of the Gulf Coast League. Next stop is Indianapolis.
2:43 p.m.: Obviously, no Freddy Sanchez again. This certainly has to do with his back tightening yesterday, but I will update later.
4:02 p.m.: Sanchez explained that his back still is not really loose, reiterating that it happened while getting out of a cab yesterday. Sure sounds like he will not play tomorrow, either. He felt no pull, more of a spasm. "It's a tough time to be out right now because we're right there in our division," Sanchez said. ... The length of Doumit's stay in Indianapolis will be based on how he looks to evaluators more than numbers, John Russell said. "We'll have people there watching him, seeing how he swings," Russell said. The default mode remains that Doumit would return after the All-Star break, but Doumit is aiming to make it sooner, perhaps in Philadelphia next weekend.
4:08 p.m.: Matt Capps finds some quiet time by sitting in the Pirates' dugout along with the Florida grounds crew. Told that his picture was about to be taken for a shot at pure stardom (being in the blog), he lit up.
Jul 04 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 12:40 a.m. Saturday
MIAMI -- The modern thinking among baseball's youngest and brightest is that small sample sizes are perilous. It is not revolutionary, obviously, but the wealth of statistical knowledge available these days strengthens the case all the more.
Not so for those on the field. Not nearly as much, anyway.
When they like what they see, they want to see more of it. Until they do not like it, then do not want to see any more of it.
And so it is, in the positive sense, right now with John Russell and Garrett Jones. As you can read below in the Notebook, he spoke with such strong tones about Jones that it would be easy to forget that Jones had played two games to that point, going 0 for 4 in one and looking like a terror the next by nearly hitting for the cycle and thumping the ball all over the diamond. At one point, Russell paused and said, "I don't want to put too much pressure on him."
Well, there it is.
Jones has been a decent, though not spectacular hitter in the minors, and he legitimately was blocked in Minnesota. It will be interesting to see how he pans out. At the same time, whether it was his performance Thursday or something the coaching staff saw and liked in his technique or even something statistical, it would seem there is little question that the day-to-day world of managers vs. the long-term views of any front office coexist only in parallel dimensions.
Linkage to the general coverage ...
> Game story: Pirates 7, Marlins 4. Charlie Morton has some pretty dynamic stuff, and this, really, was the first time he put it all together. Check what Bob Walk and Jack Wilson have to say.
> Audio: Morton, on the subject of the night.
> Notebook: The story behind Paul Maholm's minor ailments. Also here are updates on Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Doumit.
> Opinion: Bob Smizik calls Sanchez an easy choice for All-Star.
And from other realms ...
> Video highlights: Clips from last night's game on MLB.com. One is a 44-second package of Morton pitches.
> The opponent: The Marlins, as covered by the Palm Beach Post.
> The Royals, as expected, signed a top Nicaraguan prospect whom the Pirates had followed and developed for two years. Orlando Estevez, a good man who frequents McKechnie Field in the spring, is Kansas City's Latin supervisor and the scout credited with the signing.
> The Washington Observer-Reporter dissects Wilson's comments this week.
> The Pirates and Rays do joint charity work in Bradenton.
Jul 04 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 12:39 a.m. Saturday
MIAMI -- Roundup of the Pirates' affiliates yesterday ...
INDIANAPOLIS (37-43) lost at Louisville, 1-0. LHP Tom Gorzelanny (3-2, 2.87), pictured at right, pitched a complete game and allowed one unearned run and five hits in eight innings. He struck out five, walked none and threw 59 of 89 pitches for strikes. SS Brian Bixler (.242) went 2 for 4 with a double. Box score
ALTOONA (28-53) lost at Reading, 4-3. LHP Kyle Bloom (1-4, 3.78) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. RF Jose Tabata (.273) went 3 for 5 with a double and walk. 3B Pedro Alvarez (.143) returned after missing three games to knee tendinitis and went 1 for 3 with a double and two strikeouts. CF Gorkys Hernandez (.288) went 0 for 6 with two strikeouts. Box score
LYNCHBURG (47-31) lost to Winston-Salem, 5-1. RHP Matt McSwain (7-4, 3.07) allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings. 1B Matt Hague (.312) went 3 for 4 with a double. Box score
WEST VIRGINIA (33-45) won at Lake County, 12-1. RHP Brian Leach (2-0, 1.86) pitched six scoreless innings and allowed two hits. C Tony Sanchez (.357) went 3 for 5 with a double and RBI. LF Quincy Latimore (.260) hit his seventh home run, a three-run shot, and went 2 for 6 with a double and four RBIs. Box score
STATE COLLEGE (7-8) beat Auburn, 11-3. RHP Maurice Bankston (1-0, 3.12) allowed two runs, one earned, and six hits in five innings. 1B Kyle Morgan (.237) hit his first home run and went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs. Box score
BRADENTON (1-5) split a doubleheader with the Blue Jays, losing, 3-0, and winning, 5-2. In the first game, RHP Gerardo Esparza (0-0, ) pitched four scoreless, hitless innings. C Ryan Doumit (.000) began his rehabilitation stint by going 0 for 2 and catching Esparza's four innings, plus one. In the second game, RHP Edgar Gutierrez (0-0, 3.38) allowed two runs and six hits in four innings. Game 1 box score, Game 2 box score
Jul 03 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 10:10 p.m. Friday
MIAMI -- There had been questions about Charlie Morton, long before he became the Pirates' most immediate return in the Nate McLouth trade.
Chief among them:
1. Was he mentally tough enough?
2. Could he translate all that terrific stuff into success at the top level?
It was only one game, this 7-4 flattening of first-place Florida tonight at Land Shark Stadium that included rare home runs from Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez, but perhaps it began Morton's process of answering the above.
Emphatically.
> Full article
> Box score
PHOTO of Morton, with Fourth of July cap: Alan Diaz/Associated Press
Jul 03 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 7:58 p.m. Friday
MIAMI -- This just happened about five minutes ago ...
Feel free to use this, in light of all the delays and the clogged regular thread, for more on the game. Or not. It's up to you. I just work here.
Jul 03 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 2:10 p.m. Friday
MIAMI -- Four hours to first pitch ...
Game: Pirates vs. Florida Marlins, 6:10 p.m., Land Shark Stadium.
Pitching: RHP Charlie Morton vs. RHP Chris Volstad.
First-pitch forecast: 85 degrees, maybe a storm.
TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pirates' lineup:
- McCutchen, CF
- Wilson, SS
- Moss, RF
- Adam LaRoche, 1B
- Jones, LF
- Andy LaRoche, 3B
- Vazquez, 2B
- Jaramillo, C
- Morton, P
Marlins' lineup:
- Coghlan, LF
- Bonifacio, 3B
- Ramirez, SS
- Cantu, 1B
- Hermida, RF
- Uggla, 2B
- Ross, CF
- Baker, C
- Volstad, P
UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: Ryan Doumit began his rehabilitation stint with Bradenton of the Gulf Coast League this afternoon and went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, walk and flyout. He also caught five innings. ... The real news there, of course, is that Bradenton actually played a game after having five in a row rained out. ... More later. Still no lineups. And hey, no potshots at the blank lists. Makes things easier when I plug them in from the PDA.
2:35 p.m.: Oh, for those who did not see my really detailed mention of this on Twitter earlier in the day: The Pirates and Twins are not discussing Freddy Sanchez. There is, in fact, nothing active on the Sanchez front.
3:51 p.m.: It is a good day to be Garrett Jones. In addition to again seeing his name in the lineup, John Russell did not exactly hold back in assessing the early impression he has made. "I'm getting excited about our lineup, to be honest with you, and that has a lot to do with Garrett," Russell said. "Once we get Doumit back, and he's on his way, I think it's going to be interesting." Of Jones specifically, Russell added, "He could be one of those guys who just hasn't been given the opportunity. We think he looks really good, and we're looking forward to seeing more." ... Jones, told of the nature of Russell's remarks, smiled. "That's great, obviously. It's a great chance for me, and I'm just looking forward to doing whatever I can to help the team win." ... It is obscenely hot here, so most of the players are working out indoors. Russell did his daily regimen outside and appeared to regret it. ... I asked Russell about some of the lineup tinkering, and he hesitated a bit before replying, "Yeah, I guess you could call it tinkering. We moved Jack up there to see what he could do and have done some other things. Let's see what we have."
3:57 p.m.: Sanchez is a late scratch to some tightness in his right lower back. He felt it getting out of the cab here outside the ballpark. He is day to day. That puts Ramon Vazquez in his place at second and moves Brandon Moss up to third in the order. The rest of the lineup stayed intact.
4:18 p.m.: Couple of terrible pictures for the day ...
At some point in the history of South Florida, someone walked into this place and said, "Hey, this would be a great place to play baseball!"
While the Marlins roast outside, the Pirates take indoor BP next to what looks like a pile of peat moss or something. Andrew McCutchen is taking the hack there, watched, left to right, by Jeff Salazar, Steve Pearce and Andy LaRoche. Not pictured is Moss behind my right shoulder, mocking my near-tragic lack of photography skill.
6:01 p.m.: Yet another rain-free rain delay. The Marlins just announced this one will wait until after an imminent storm passes through. These things never take long down here.
6:16 p.m.: Not a drop of rain has fallen, but a new start time of 6:40 was just announced. Apparently, it will take them that long to dry off the dry field.
7:21 p.m.: Yet another delay, the fourth in two days. Actual rain falling this time. The Pirates lead, 4-0, on home runs by Moss and Vazquez.
7:46 p.m.: The new re-restart time is 8:05. Charlie Morton did go down to the pen to get warm -- a third time -- so he will take the ball back.
Jul 03 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 12:40 a.m. Friday
Andrew McCutchen has made two high throws to home in the past week, each costing the Pirates a run, with the one yesterday especially expensive.
In each case, McCutchen looked -- to the untrained eye, meaning mine -- as if he were performing in the shot put rather than throwing a baseball, so I asked outfield instructor Gary Varsho if he had any issues with McCutchen's technique. He was adamant that technique was not at all the issue but, rather, that McCutchen is hurrying his throws and, thus, simply misfiring.
McCutchen very much agreed on all counts.
Linkage to the general coverage ...
> Game story: Mets 9, Pirates 8. Adam LaRoche used his bat to back up his words for the Mets a month ago, but it fell apart in the 10th. Oh, and be sure to check the ending mention about Garrett Jones, who looked very much like what was seen much of the spring.
> Audio: Adam LaRoche, on respect from the Mets.
> Opinion: Bob Smizik asks why Paul Maholm is pitching so poorly. One possibility he does not cite -- but I mentioned in a Notebook this week -- is that Maholm has been troubled by a groin issue much of the past two, three weeks.
> Notebook: Miguel Angel Sano's signing apparently will take a bit. That, and the strange case of the player who was tossed without saying a word.
And from other realms ...
> Video highlights: Clips from yesterday's game on MLB.com, including LaRoche's home run that was one of the Pirates' most clutch hits all summer. Check the game story for the rarity of doing something like that against K-Rod.
> The opponent: The Mets, as told by the New York Daily News.
> Looking ahead: The Marlins, as covered by the Palm Beach Post.
> A full recap of international signings from Baseball America's Ben Badler.
> Catcher Erik Kratz and reliever Chris Bootcheck will represent Indianapolis in the International League's all-star game.
> Jason Bay becomes an American.
> Speaking of Canada, Jeff Blair, whom I have known for many years, pens this fine piece on what has become of the Expos in Washington.
Jul 03 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic | 12:39 a.m. Friday
Roundup of the Pirates' affiliates yesterday ...
INDIANAPOLIS (37-42) was swept in a doubleheader at Louisville, 2-1 and 3-2. In the first game, RHP Eric Hacker (2-2, 4.55) allowed two runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. LHP Donnie Veal (3.55) pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts. In the second game, RHP Jeremy Powell (4-4, 4.31) allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. For the day, SS Luis Cruz (.259) went 3 for 6. Game 1 box score, Game 2 box score
ALTOONA (28-52) won at Reading, 4-3. RHP Tyler Herron (0-1, 2.66) allowed one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. RF Jose Tabata (.260) hit his second home run and went 1 for 4. CF Gorkys Hernandez (.294) hit hits first home run and went 1 for 4. 3B Pedro Alvarez (.120) missed a fourth game to knee tendinitis. Box score
LYNCHBURG (47-30) lost at Winston-Salem, 11-10. LHP Justin Wilson (3-5, 6.75) allowed five runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. RF Jamie Romak (.292), pictured at right, hit his second and third home runs and went 1B Matt Hague (.304) hit his fourth home run and went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. 2B Chase D'Arnaud (.281) went 3 for 5 with a triple, two doubles, two RBIs and a steal. He also committed two errors in his first game this season at second base. Box score
WEST VIRGINIA (32-45) lost at Lake County, 4-1. RHP Rafael Del Los Santos (0-1, 6.17) pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed three hits. RHP Duke Welker (0-9, 5.56), moved out of the rotation, allowed four runs in two innings of relief. Box score
STATE COLLEGE (6-8) beat Auburn, 4-3. RHP Kyle McPherson (0-1, 4.60) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. RF David Rubinstein (.308) went 3 for 5 with a double and RBI. Box score
BRADENTON (0-4) and the Blue Jays were rained out, marking five consecutive games Bradenton has had rained out.
Jul 02 2009
By Colin Dunlap | 5:37 p.m. Thursday
The Pirates frittered away an early five-run lead, tied on Adam LaRoche's two-run home run in the ninth inning, but then Ryan Church's RBI single in the 10th -- and Andrew McCutchen's way-high throw home -- gave the New York Mets a 9-8 victory this afternoon before 14,321 at PNC Park.
The loss was the Pirates' fourth in five games.
They had a 5-0 lead after three innings, scoring three times in the second and twice more in the third --- but starter Paul Maholm let it slip away.
> Full article
> Box score
PHOTO of Andy LaRoche in the rain: Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
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