By Chuck Finder | 8:51 a.m. Saturday
BRADENTON, Fla. -- A New York Yankees split squad will send a crew here and keep another back at the former Legends Field, which prompts the question: Could Alex Rodriguez stay behind in Tampa and his hip come to McKechnie Field? Well, in this addled mind, it raises that kind of question, anyway.
The Yanks deigned to travel Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, a Mark Texeira earning more than some third-world countries and Jorge Posada, which is their opening four of a starting lineup that's otherwise mundane. Although no better team should have a catcher named Kevin Cash. If only he had a batterymate with a name like the Pirates' radio network's engineer: Mel Check.
And, just because the thought crossed my addled mind, a shout out to Don Money, manager of the Class AAA Nashville Sounds. A Money manager. Nice.
Oh, heck, while I'm thinkin' of it, a shout out to Eddie Money, too. 
The Pirates lineup du jour:
Nyjer Morgan, LF
Freddy Sanchez, 2B
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Ryan Doumit, C
Adam LaRoche, 1B
Cloutin' Craig Monroe, DH
Jeff Salazar, RF (earning a start after his game-winning, three-run homer in the top of the ninth Friday at the Phillies. . . he started at least one other game, against the Red Sox on Monday when he struck out twice and had a remarkable four walks)
Neil Walker, 3B
Jack Wilson, SS
Other notes: Pitcher Phil Dumatrait, rested after live batting-practice pitching caused soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder, has resumed throwing and is scheduled for 120-foot tosses today, shorter tosses tomorrow and a brief mound session Monday. "I had some pretty good soreness, so they shut me down for, like, four, five days," he said. . . . Geoff Miller of San Diego, who bills himself as the Mental Skills coach for the Pirates organization, is meeting with the pitching staff as this gets typed. And Leslie Bonci of UPMC starts today a five-day stop with the club to assist with their dietary and nutritional needs. So the Pirates' minds and stomachs should be sharp for the Yankees, eh?
UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: First, a correction from the original lineup card -- Nate McLouth is starting in center field and batting third, not Andrew McCutchen.
Second, some injury news -- Corner outfielder/infielder Eric Hinske (ribs) today took full batting practice and defensive work for the first time since last playing Feb. 26, and second baseman Shelby Ford (wrist) returned to take only a handful of grounders in infield drills. For Ford, his injury was expected to prevent him from any such work today and tomorrow as well, though he remains hampered by the malady. Hinske reported "no pain," and added that the plan calls for him to return to the lineup as a designated hitter Monday against Tampa or Tuesday at the Yankees. "I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow, go through everything out there," Hinske said. He added that he may well get sent to Pirate City's minor-league camp to work "a bunch of innings, get some at-bats. I'm close" to returning in full.
UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: An ejection double play, home plate umpire Rob Healey to second base umpire Jerry Crawford just ejected Freddy Sanchez, for arguing a questionable called third strike in the fifth inning, and Manager John Russell, for arguing over that. Healey's strike zone has seemed to drift a bit (hey, it's spring training, we all need the work). Sanchez, who made sure to say something to first base umpire Bill Welke on his way back to the clubhouse, and Russell both got lusty applause from the crowd as they exited down the foul line.
Here's the live box score.
Posted
Mar 14 2009, 08:48 AM
by
Chuck Finder
Filed under: Andrew McCutchen, Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit, Freddy Sanchez, Adam LaRoche, John Russell, Phil Dumatrait, Nyjer Morgan, Jack Wilson, Neil Walker, Shelby Ford