Bucs deal Redman to Mets

11/28/2005
PITTSBURGH -- Outfielder Tike Redman's 10-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates came to an end on Monday when he was dealt to the New York Mets for cash.
The Pirates also released outfielder Michael Restovich on Monday, and announced that Minor League pitcher Jeff Miller had been claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.
Redman, Restovich and Miller were all removed from Pittsburgh's 40-man roster on Nov. 18.
Redman was Pittsburgh's fifth-round choice in the 1996 First-Year Player Draft and the lone remaining member of the 2000 squad that closed Three Rivers Stadium. He became the Pirates' regular center fielder after batting .330 during the final two months of the 2003 season and led the National League in hits during that stretch.
However, by the middle of last season, Redman had fallen out of favor with team management due to his inconsistent defensive play. He lost his starting job to rookie Chris Duffy and was limited mostly to pinch-hitting duties down the stretch. Redman finished the year with a .251 batting average, two home runs and 26 RBIs in 135 games.
In five seasons with the Pirates, Redman batted .272 with 15 home runs, 101 RBIs, 144 runs and 33 stolen bases in 392 games.
Restovich saw only limited playing time with the Pirates in 2005, after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies on May 11. In 52 games with Pittsburgh, Restovich went 18-for-84 (.214) with two home runs and five RBIs.
Miller, who was selected by the Pirates in the 15th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, was 5-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 58 appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis last season.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates sell Redman to Mets

11/29/2005
Tike Redman, who had the longest tenure of any player in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization before being designated for assignment Nov. 18, officially left the organization Monday when his contract was sold to the New York Mets.
The 28-year-old outfielder was the Pirates' fifth-round draft pick in 1996 from Academy High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and made his major-league debut with them in 2000. Redman hit .277 with 15 homers, 101 RBIs and 33 steals in 392 games over all or parts of five seasons (2000-01, 2003-05).Redman began last season as the Pirates' starting center fielder and No. 3 hitter but rarely started in the second half after Chris Duffy was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis. Redman wound up hitting .251 in 135 games with two homers and 26 RBIs.Redman is also the answer to a trivia question as he was the last Pirate who had also called Three Rivers Stadium home. Three Rivers was torn down after the 2000 season.Ironically, Redman joins the Mets less than two months after they dropped his younger brother, Prentice Redman, off the 40-man roster. Prentice Redman recently signed with St. Louis as a minor-league free agent.The Pirates also released outfielder Michael Restovich on Monday and lost right-handed reliever Jeff Miller to San Francisco on a waiver claim. Both had been designated for assignment on Nov. 18 along with Redman and infielder Bobby Hill, who was traded to San Diego.Restovich, 26, hit a combined .235 with three homers and eight RBIs in 66 games with Colorado and the Pirates last season. Miller, 25, was 5-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 58 relief appearances for Indianapolis.

Source: http://www.timesonline.com/

Pirates add Manto to coaching staff

11/25/2005
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates moved one step closer to finalizing their big-league coaching staff on Friday by naming Jeff Manto hitting coach.
Manto, 41, joined the Pirates as a roving hitting instructor on Oct. 17, 2002, after managing Philadelphia's Class A Lakewood team in 2002 and serving as a coach with Lakewood in 2001. He played nine seasons in the Major Leagues from 1990-2000 with the Indians, Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Yankees and Rockies. In 289 Major League games, Manto batted .230 with 31 home runs and 97 RBIs.
Manto's only previous big league coaching experience came when he was added to the Pirates staff last September at the conclusion of the Minor League season.
"Jeff has done a real nice job for us since he has been here," said Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. "He's a very hard worker. He has an effervescent personality that is combined with the fact that he's had a lot of experience at a variety of levels. He understands the Major Leagues. But yet, particularly with a lot of young players that we have, he relates well to the group that we have."
Manto is the first member of new manager Jim Tracy's coaching staff to be promoted from within the organization. Although the Pirates had considered several external options, Manto's experience working with many of the Bucs' current young hitters while they were in the Minor Leagues gave him the edge in the hiring process.
"Jim Tracy and I talked about a lot of different candidates and talked to some different people," said Littlefield. "We certainly researched thoroughly in regards to people we had interest in. As we evaluated a variety of people we thought were out there and were available, we felt that ultimately Jeff was the best choice."
"He's worked with a lot of our hitters who have come through the Minor Leagues and been successful," Littlefield added. "That's something that did come into play. I think this is a guy who has a very bright future. He's very well-respected."
With the addition of Manto, the third base coach position is the last remaining vacancy on the Bucs' big-league coaching staff.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates grateful for chances to give back

11/23/2005
PITTSBURGH -- Contrary to their anything-but-charitable team nickname, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a longstanding tradition of involvement in philanthropic endeavors.
As the Pirates see it, their responsibility to the communities that they serve extends far beyond the walls of PNC Park.
"Giving back to the community is just as important to us as what we do on the field," said Pirates vice president of communications Patty Paytas.
Behind the scenes, and with little fanfare, the Pirates players and staff were once again extremely active in community service events and charities during the past year.
Among the many activities the Bucs contributed to were team-sponsored blood drives in association with the Central Blood Bank; the annual Opening Day food collection drive in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America; a "Gloves for Kids" player autograph session to raise money for baseball gloves to be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwestern PA; the Pirates Wives Organization's memorabilia auction to benefit the West Penn Allegheny Health Systems Burn Camp; the annual "Race for the Cure" breast cancer initiative; the Pirates/Dapper Dan Golf Classic to benefit the RBI youth baseball program through the Boys & Girls Clubs; the Pirates/Epilepsy Foundation "Family Fun Run" at PNC Park; the Annual African American Heritage Day Sports Luncheon; which featured guest speaker Sharon Robinson and benefited the Jackie Robinson Foundation; and the "Spirit of King" annual Martin Luther King event at the Kingsley Association.
"We have a terrific group of young players who are eager to be involved," said Paytas. "They come up with new events, like Jack Wilson's 'Bowling with the Bucs' event last season. It was a great first-time event, raised lots of money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and everyone who attended had a great time. We're looking forward to doing it again in 2006."
More than 150 people attended Wilson's "Bowling with the Bucs" charity bowling tournament on July 24. The event, which gave fans the opportunity to bowl with Pirates such as Wilson, Jason Bay, Sean Burnett, Jose Castillo, Humberto Cota, Ryan Doumit, Zach Duke, Josh Fogg, Mike Gonzalez, John Grabow, Rob Mackowiak, Brian Meadows, Oliver Perez, Tike Redman, Freddy Sanchez, Ryan Vogelsong, Daryle Ward, Kip Wells, Rick White and Dave Williams, raised more than $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"The bowling tournament was easy. Pretty much our whole team likes to bowl, and it's something we do in Spring Training," Wilson explained. "I've always wanted to get involved with kids, especially the Make-A-Wish foundation, where kids have some sort of disease or life-threatening illness. To be able to put money towards them to make one of their wishes come true is pretty special. It's a great situation to be in where you can help as many people as you can."
Wilson was the Pirates player who was most active in the community last season, and for his efforts he was selected as the local recipient of the 2005 Roberto Clemente Award. The award, named for the legendary Bucs right fielder who lost his life in 1972 while trying to deliver relief supplies to Nicaragua after that country was devastated by an earthquake, recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.
For the past three years, Wilson has served as the state spokesman for the Pennsylvania Anti-Tobacco Campaign. He appears on billboards and in radio and television ads that promote a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Wilson also is a supporter of a Junior Pirates Rookie Ball Program that provides young people aged 4-8 years old with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball in a non-competitive environment. With Wilson's financial help, each child also receives a cap and Pirates T-shirt as well as two tickets to a Pirates game on "Junior Pirates Night." Wilson also supports the club's other community efforts by visiting schools and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh on a regular basis.
Wilson served as the 2005 Honorary Chairman of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Hop-A-Thon. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to seeking cures for blood cancers. The Society supports five major programs: research, patient aid, public and professional education and community service.
Each year, the Pirates sponsor the Hop-A-Thon, part of the Lymphoma Society's School and Youth Program. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society invites schools in Western Pennsylvania to have their students join in the fight by participating in a "Hop for Leukemia & Lymphoma." This year's event, in which 257 schools participated, raised more than $200,000 with the top school raising $13,000. Wilson made a surprise visit to the winning school and then made a matching contribution in their honor.
"I've been fortunate to have some opportunities to help some kids," said Wilson. "That's where I usually put my concentration, as far as charities are concerned, because baseball is such a kids' sport. So many kids look up to ballplayers."
The Pirates' front office staff is also heavily involved in community service. For many years, the team has adopted local nursing homes as part of the Presents for Patients program. This past summer, team employees collected donations for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
"It's a high priority for our organization to be a strong community partner with the many nonprofit organizations throughout our area," said Pirates CEO and managing general partner Kevin McClatchy. "I encourage everyone in our organization, including our players and our front office staff, to get involved. We saw a tremendous example of this after the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Everyone at the Pirates contributed to the relief efforts in some way. I'm very proud of what we do in our community and am appreciative of our staff's contributions."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates announce 2006 Spring Training schedule

11/22/2005
The Pittsburgh Pirates will open their 2006 spring training schedule against the Washington Nationals on Thursday, March 2. The game is slated to begin at 1:05 p.m. and will be played at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. The Bucs open the home portion of their spring training schedule the following afternoon as they host the Nationals in a 1:05 affair at McKechnie Field, the southern home of the Pirates since 1969.
The official 33-game spring training package consists of 16 games in Bradenton and 17 games on the road in Florida. In addition, the Pirates will play Manatee Community College at McKechnie Field in a charity game on Wednesday, March 1 (12:05 p.m.). The home portion of the schedule is highlighted by visits from the Atlanta Braves (March 7), Boston Red Sox (March 11), New York Yankees (March 13) and Cleveland Indians (March 17).
The Pirates are also scheduled to play a "day-night" doubleheader on Wednesday, March 8 (a 1:05 game vs. Cincinnati in Sarasota and a 7:15 affair against the Yankees in Tampa) along with "split-squad" doubleheaders on Monday, March 13 (vs. Yankees/at Tigers) and Saturday, March 18 (vs. Reds/at Phillies).
Ticket prices for the Pirates' 2006 home exhibition schedule remain the same as last year: $11 for Box Seats, $10 for Reserved Seats and $6 for Reserved Bleacher Seats. Pittsburgh's spring training ticket prices have increased only two times in the past 13 years. For the third straight year, the Pirates' $11.00 Box Seat ticket will remain the lowest priced top-tier ticket in both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.
Individual game tickets will go on sale at the McKechnie Field box office on Saturday, January 21, at 9:00 a.m. Season and group ticket packages are on sale now and "Special Ticket Packages" will be available for purchase from January 14-18. Fans may contact the Pirates at (941) 747-3031, ext. 255 or (941) 748-4610 for additional ticketing information.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Reinforcing a foundation?

11/21/2005
Why did the Pirates use $18 million of their small payroll on one person (Jason Bay) when they could have spread it out and gotten a better team? -- Darius, Pittsburgh
Bay's deal is for four seasons, and it is loaded at the back end. He received a $1 million dollar bonus to go along with his $750,000 salary for 2006, so only $1.75 million will be counted against the approximately $50 million the Pirates intend to spend on payroll next season.
The Pirates, in all likelihood, will attempt to divide their additional resources this winter among several players rather than try to land one "big name" player at a salary of $8 million or more for 2006. One of the reasons that the team tried for so long to deal Jason Kendall was because his contract represented such a large percentage of the overall payroll.
Is there any chance of Brian Giles coming back? Although he was a negative clubhouse presence during his stay here, he'd be good for 40 home runs. -- Robert B., Patton, Pa.
This has been by far the most popular Mailbag question in recent weeks. This should come as no surprise given that Giles was the Bucs' top player during his time here and he is now available as a free agent.
Unfortunately for the multitude of Giles fans out there among the Pirates faithful, I don't believe there is any chance at all that he will return to the team.
Giles, a California native, told me on several occasions during his tenure with the Bucs that he would prefer to play close to home. He also preferred to play for a team with a chance to compete for a division title. He got his wish on both counts when he was dealt to the Padres in 2003.
Even if Giles wanted to return to the Pirates, I don't think it would be a great fit for the team at this point.
Giles will celebrate his 35th birthday on Jan. 21 and his numbers have been on the decline the past few seasons. Granted, PETCO Park's spacious dimensions obviously have affected his production. But Giles has also hit only 22 home runs on the road during the last two years.
Could he bounce back to be a .300-30-100 RBI guy again next year? Absolutely. But, at his age, would it be worth the Pirates' financial risk to offer him a salary of $6-8 million per year (he earned $25 million from 2003-05) for two or three seasons? Probably not.
Do you think Chris Duffy will be the regular center fielder next season? I was really impressed with him. He seems like a .300 or better hitter. I was also impressed with his defense. -- Ron S., New Castle, Pa.
Duffy would have to be considered the overwhelming favorite to win the starting job heading into Spring Training.
As you mentioned, Ron, Duffy showed the ability to hit at the big league level during his injury-shortened stint with the Bucs in July and August. He also played some of the most spectacular outfield defense we have seen in Pittsburgh since the days when Andy Van Slyke was patrolling the carpet at Three Rivers Stadium in the 1990's.
However, for as impressive as Duffy looked last season, he must still have a strong spring to earn the center field job on a full-time basis. With less than 40 games of big league experience under his belt, he's no lock for the job quite yet. Within the last five years, the Pirates have watched Adrian Brown and Tike Redman finish a season strong and then tail off considerably once being handed the Opening Day job in center field.
Do you know what the dates of the Pirates minicamp are? -- C.J. N., Houston
The Pirates minicamp, which was instituted by former manager Lloyd McClendon and pitching coach Spin Williams in 2001 as a way for the team to monitor the health of their pitchers, will continue under the Jim Tracy regime. This winter, the minicamp will be held in Bradenton, Fla. from January 10-15, 2006.
How much of the Pirates' solutions to their problems are going to have to come from players already on the roster improving their performance over last season's results? -- Dan F., Bremerton, Wash.
Great question, Dan.
While it's always fun for folks to speculate on which players the Pirates might be able to add this offseason in order to bolster the lineup and the pitching staff, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the bulk of the team's improvement must come from within. And on any team that loses 95 games, there is always room for improvement.
Beginning with the pitching staff, it is certainly within reason to expect better seasons from Oliver Perez and Kip Wells in 2006. Perez was one of the dominant starters in baseball in 2004, and Wells was the ace of the staff in 2003 while finishing 11th in the National League in ERA. They both obviously have the stuff to be winners in the big leagues.
Offensively, Craig Wilson should absolutely be able to contribute close to 30 home runs again next season if he can stay healthy. It can also be reasonably expected that Jack Wilson and Jose Castillo will be more productive in 2006.
Duffy, if he can improve his patience at the plate, could give the Pirates the legitimate leadoff hitter that they have been searching for since moving into PNC Park. Brad Eldred and Ryan Doumit could provide huge lifts for the offense if they can continue to develop into the type of power threats that they were in Triple-A last season before their promotions to Pittsburgh.
The good thing about a young team is that there is always room for development. The bad thing about a young team is that you are giving jobs to players without much of a big league track record, and they could just as easily take a step back instead of taking a step forward.
The Pirates believe they have the foundation of what could be a winning team in the near future, a foundation that they hope to be able to supplement with a few key additions here and there. But it will be the performances of the mostly young and inexperienced players already on the roster rather than those added this winter that will ultimately determine whether or not the Bucs will be successful in 2006.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates deal Hill to Padres

11/21/2005
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates traded infielder Bobby Hill to the San Diego Padres on Monday for a player to be named later.
Hill, 27, had been left off of the Pirates' 40-man roster Friday. The Pirates had 10 days to trade or release Hill after designating him for assignment.
"We felt like this made the most sense for us to be able to get something in return for Bobby," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield.
Hill hit .269 in 93 at-bats with Pittsburgh last season before being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 22. After batting .241 with five RBIs in 35 games with Indianapolis, Hill was not included among the Bucs' September callups.
In 2004, Hill was the Pirates' Opening Day starter at second base. He went on to hit .266 in 123 games while being used primarily off the bench as a pinch-hitter. His 16 pinch-hits that season fell three shy of tying a club record.
Hill was the last player remaining with the Pirates from a 2003 deal that sent third baseman Aramis Ramirez and outfielder Kenny Lofton to the Chicago Cubs.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Reinforcing a foundation?

11/21/2005
Why did the Pirates use $18 million of their small payroll on one person (Jason Bay) when they could have spread it out and gotten a better team? -- Darius, Pittsburgh
Bay's deal is for four seasons, and it is loaded at the back end. He received a $1 million dollar bonus to go along with his $750,000 salary for 2006, so only $1.75 million will be counted against the approximately $50 million the Pirates intend to spend on payroll next season.
The Pirates, in all likelihood, will attempt to divide their additional resources this winter among several players rather than try to land one "big name" player at a salary of $8 million or more for 2006. One of the reasons that the team tried for so long to deal Jason Kendall was because his contract represented such a large percentage of the overall payroll.
Is there any chance of Brian Giles coming back? Although he was a negative clubhouse presence during his stay here, he'd be good for 40 home runs. -- Robert B., Patton, Pa.
This has been by far the most popular Mailbag question in recent weeks. This should come as no surprise given that Giles was the Bucs' top player during his time here and he is now available as a free agent.
Unfortunately for the multitude of Giles fans out there among the Pirates faithful, I don't believe there is any chance at all that he will return to the team.
Giles, a California native, told me on several occasions during his tenure with the Bucs that he would prefer to play close to home. He also preferred to play for a team with a chance to compete for a division title. He got his wish on both counts when he was dealt to the Padres in 2003.
Even if Giles wanted to return to the Pirates, I don't think it would be a great fit for the team at this point.
Giles will celebrate his 35th birthday on Jan. 21 and his numbers have been on the decline the past few seasons. Granted, PETCO Park's spacious dimensions obviously have affected his production. But Giles has also hit only 22 home runs on the road during the last two years.
Could he bounce back to be a .300-30-100 RBI guy again next year? Absolutely. But, at his age, would it be worth the Pirates' financial risk to offer him a salary of $6-8 million per year (he earned $25 million from 2003-05) for two or three seasons? Probably not.
Do you think Chris Duffy will be the regular center fielder next season? I was really impressed with him. He seems like a .300 or better hitter. I was also impressed with his defense. -- Ron S., New Castle, Pa.
Duffy would have to be considered the overwhelming favorite to win the starting job heading into Spring Training.
As you mentioned, Ron, Duffy showed the ability to hit at the big league level during his injury-shortened stint with the Bucs in July and August. He also played some of the most spectacular outfield defense we have seen in Pittsburgh since the days when Andy Van Slyke was patrolling the carpet at Three Rivers Stadium in the 1990's.
However, for as impressive as Duffy looked last season, he must still have a strong spring to earn the center field job on a full-time basis. With less than 40 games of big league experience under his belt, he's no lock for the job quite yet. Within the last five years, the Pirates have watched Adrian Brown and Tike Redman finish a season strong and then tail off considerably once being handed the Opening Day job in center field.
Do you know what the dates of the Pirates minicamp are? -- C.J. N., Houston
The Pirates minicamp, which was instituted by former manager Lloyd McClendon and pitching coach Spin Williams in 2001 as a way for the team to monitor the health of their pitchers, will continue under the Jim Tracy regime. This winter, the minicamp will be held in Bradenton, Fla. from January 10-15, 2006.
How much of the Pirates' solutions to their problems are going to have to come from players already on the roster improving their performance over last season's results? -- Dan F., Bremerton, Wash.
Great question, Dan.
While it's always fun for folks to speculate on which players the Pirates might be able to add this offseason in order to bolster the lineup and the pitching staff, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the bulk of the team's improvement must come from within. And on any team that loses 95 games, there is always room for improvement.
Beginning with the pitching staff, it is certainly within reason to expect better seasons from Oliver Perez and Kip Wells in 2006. Perez was one of the dominant starters in baseball in 2004, and Wells was the ace of the staff in 2003 while finishing 11th in the National League in ERA. They both obviously have the stuff to be winners in the big leagues.
Offensively, Craig Wilson should absolutely be able to contribute close to 30 home runs again next season if he can stay healthy. It can also be reasonably expected that Jack Wilson and Jose Castillo will be more productive in 2006.
Duffy, if he can improve his patience at the plate, could give the Pirates the legitimate leadoff hitter that they have been searching for since moving into PNC Park. Brad Eldred and Ryan Doumit could provide huge lifts for the offense if they can continue to develop into the type of power threats that they were in Triple-A last season before their promotions to Pittsburgh.
The good thing about a young team is that there is always room for development. The bad thing about a young team is that you are giving jobs to players without much of a big league track record, and they could just as easily take a step back instead of taking a step forward.
The Pirates believe they have the foundation of what could be a winning team in the near future, a foundation that they hope to be able to supplement with a few key additions here and there. But it will be the performances of the mostly young and inexperienced players already on the roster rather than those added this winter that will ultimately determine whether or not the Bucs will be successful in 2006.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates announce 2006 Spring Training schedule

11/22/2005
The Pittsburgh Pirates will open their 2006 spring training schedule against the Washington Nationals on Thursday, March 2. The game is slated to begin at 1:05 p.m. and will be played at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. The Bucs open the home portion of their spring training schedule the following afternoon as they host the Nationals in a 1:05 affair at McKechnie Field, the southern home of the Pirates since 1969.
The official 33-game spring training package consists of 16 games in Bradenton and 17 games on the road in Florida. In addition, the Pirates will play Manatee Community College at McKechnie Field in a charity game on Wednesday, March 1 (12:05 p.m.). The home portion of the schedule is highlighted by visits from the Atlanta Braves (March 7), Boston Red Sox (March 11), New York Yankees (March 13) and Cleveland Indians (March 17).
The Pirates are also scheduled to play a "day-night" doubleheader on Wednesday, March 8 (a 1:05 game vs. Cincinnati in Sarasota and a 7:15 affair against the Yankees in Tampa) along with "split-squad" doubleheaders on Monday, March 13 (vs. Yankees/at Tigers) and Saturday, March 18 (vs. Reds/at Phillies).
Ticket prices for the Pirates' 2006 home exhibition schedule remain the same as last year: $11 for Box Seats, $10 for Reserved Seats and $6 for Reserved Bleacher Seats. Pittsburgh's spring training ticket prices have increased only two times in the past 13 years. For the third straight year, the Pirates' $11.00 Box Seat ticket will remain the lowest priced top-tier ticket in both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.
Individual game tickets will go on sale at the McKechnie Field box office on Saturday, January 21, at 9:00 a.m. Season and group ticket packages are on sale now and "Special Ticket Packages" will be available for purchase from January 14-18. Fans may contact the Pirates at (941) 747-3031, ext. 255 or (941) 748-4610 for additional ticketing information.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates grateful for chances to give back

11/23/2005
PITTSBURGH -- Contrary to their anything-but-charitable team nickname, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a longstanding tradition of involvement in philanthropic endeavors.
As the Pirates see it, their responsibility to the communities that they serve extends far beyond the walls of PNC Park.
"Giving back to the community is just as important to us as what we do on the field," said Pirates vice president of communications Patty Paytas.
Behind the scenes, and with little fanfare, the Pirates players and staff were once again extremely active in community service events and charities during the past year.
Among the many activities the Bucs contributed to were team-sponsored blood drives in association with the Central Blood Bank; the annual Opening Day food collection drive in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America; a "Gloves for Kids" player autograph session to raise money for baseball gloves to be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwestern PA; the Pirates Wives Organization's memorabilia auction to benefit the West Penn Allegheny Health Systems Burn Camp; the annual "Race for the Cure" breast cancer initiative; the Pirates/Dapper Dan Golf Classic to benefit the RBI youth baseball program through the Boys & Girls Clubs; the Pirates/Epilepsy Foundation "Family Fun Run" at PNC Park; the Annual African American Heritage Day Sports Luncheon; which featured guest speaker Sharon Robinson and benefited the Jackie Robinson Foundation; and the "Spirit of King" annual Martin Luther King event at the Kingsley Association.
"We have a terrific group of young players who are eager to be involved," said Paytas. "They come up with new events, like Jack Wilson's 'Bowling with the Bucs' event last season. It was a great first-time event, raised lots of money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and everyone who attended had a great time. We're looking forward to doing it again in 2006."
More than 150 people attended Wilson's "Bowling with the Bucs" charity bowling tournament on July 24. The event, which gave fans the opportunity to bowl with Pirates such as Wilson, Jason Bay, Sean Burnett, Jose Castillo, Humberto Cota, Ryan Doumit, Zach Duke, Josh Fogg, Mike Gonzalez, John Grabow, Rob Mackowiak, Brian Meadows, Oliver Perez, Tike Redman, Freddy Sanchez, Ryan Vogelsong, Daryle Ward, Kip Wells, Rick White and Dave Williams, raised more than $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"The bowling tournament was easy. Pretty much our whole team likes to bowl, and it's something we do in Spring Training," Wilson explained. "I've always wanted to get involved with kids, especially the Make-A-Wish foundation, where kids have some sort of disease or life-threatening illness. To be able to put money towards them to make one of their wishes come true is pretty special. It's a great situation to be in where you can help as many people as you can."
Wilson was the Pirates player who was most active in the community last season, and for his efforts he was selected as the local recipient of the 2005 Roberto Clemente Award. The award, named for the legendary Bucs right fielder who lost his life in 1972 while trying to deliver relief supplies to Nicaragua after that country was devastated by an earthquake, recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.
For the past three years, Wilson has served as the state spokesman for the Pennsylvania Anti-Tobacco Campaign. He appears on billboards and in radio and television ads that promote a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Wilson also is a supporter of a Junior Pirates Rookie Ball Program that provides young people aged 4-8 years old with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball in a non-competitive environment. With Wilson's financial help, each child also receives a cap and Pirates T-shirt as well as two tickets to a Pirates game on "Junior Pirates Night." Wilson also supports the club's other community efforts by visiting schools and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh on a regular basis.
Wilson served as the 2005 Honorary Chairman of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Hop-A-Thon. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to seeking cures for blood cancers. The Society supports five major programs: research, patient aid, public and professional education and community service.
Each year, the Pirates sponsor the Hop-A-Thon, part of the Lymphoma Society's School and Youth Program. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society invites schools in Western Pennsylvania to have their students join in the fight by participating in a "Hop for Leukemia & Lymphoma." This year's event, in which 257 schools participated, raised more than $200,000 with the top school raising $13,000. Wilson made a surprise visit to the winning school and then made a matching contribution in their honor.
"I've been fortunate to have some opportunities to help some kids," said Wilson. "That's where I usually put my concentration, as far as charities are concerned, because baseball is such a kids' sport. So many kids look up to ballplayers."
The Pirates' front office staff is also heavily involved in community service. For many years, the team has adopted local nursing homes as part of the Presents for Patients program. This past summer, team employees collected donations for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
"It's a high priority for our organization to be a strong community partner with the many nonprofit organizations throughout our area," said Pirates CEO and managing general partner Kevin McClatchy. "I encourage everyone in our organization, including our players and our front office staff, to get involved. We saw a tremendous example of this after the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Everyone at the Pirates contributed to the relief efforts in some way. I'm very proud of what we do in our community and am appreciative of our staff's contributions."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates add Manto to coaching staff

11/25/2005
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates moved one step closer to finalizing their big-league coaching staff on Friday by naming Jeff Manto hitting coach.
Manto, 41, joined the Pirates as a roving hitting instructor on Oct. 17, 2002, after managing Philadelphia's Class A Lakewood team in 2002 and serving as a coach with Lakewood in 2001. He played nine seasons in the Major Leagues from 1990-2000 with the Indians, Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Yankees and Rockies. In 289 Major League games, Manto batted .230 with 31 home runs and 97 RBIs.
Manto's only previous big league coaching experience came when he was added to the Pirates staff last September at the conclusion of the Minor League season.
"Jeff has done a real nice job for us since he has been here," said Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. "He's a very hard worker. He has an effervescent personality that is combined with the fact that he's had a lot of experience at a variety of levels. He understands the Major Leagues. But yet, particularly with a lot of young players that we have, he relates well to the group that we have."
Manto is the first member of new manager Jim Tracy's coaching staff to be promoted from within the organization. Although the Pirates had considered several external options, Manto's experience working with many of the Bucs' current young hitters while they were in the Minor Leagues gave him the edge in the hiring process.
"Jim Tracy and I talked about a lot of different candidates and talked to some different people," said Littlefield. "We certainly researched thoroughly in regards to people we had interest in. As we evaluated a variety of people we thought were out there and were available, we felt that ultimately Jeff was the best choice."
"He's worked with a lot of our hitters who have come through the Minor Leagues and been successful," Littlefield added. "That's something that did come into play. I think this is a guy who has a very bright future. He's very well-respected."
With the addition of Manto, the third base coach position is the last remaining vacancy on the Bucs' big-league coaching staff.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates have money to spend

11/09/2005
PITTSBURGH -- With holes to fill and additional financial resources at his disposal, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield will be a very busy man in the coming Hot Stove months.
After spending the better part of his first four years at the helm working his way out from under several burdensome long-term contracts, Littlefield now has a roster made up primarily of young players who are under the team's control at relatively modest costs. This, coupled with an influx of revenue as a result of revenue sharing and an attendance increase of nearly 240,000 fans from 2004 to 2005, has given Littlefield the financial flexibility he has coveted.
Although the Pirates' decision to increase payroll from the low $30 million range to around $50 million is still modest when compared to the likes of the big-spending New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and others, the extra money should allow Littlefield to address at least some of his needs on the big league roster this winter.
"We'll be able to investigate a lot more options," said Littlefield. "We have a lot more flexibility in that regard because of the combination of having more players at the Major League level that we think are better quality, and also with more dollars to spend. That gives us the potential to go in a lot of different directions. In the past, we've been a little limited with what we can do in both areas."
Littlefield's primary objective will be to add power to an offense that finished 12th in the National League in home runs and 14th in runs in 2005. With the exception of All-Star Jason Bay, no Pirates hitter had more than 12 home runs or 63 RBIs last season.
"We know, in general, that we need to strengthen the offense -- specifically looking at right field, first base and third base as the areas to strengthen," said Littlefield.
The Pirates have some internal power options at first base and right field with Brad Eldred, Craig Wilson and Jody Gerut. Eldred hit 40 home runs combined between the Major and Minor Leagues in 2005, Wilson led the Bucs with 29 home runs in 2004, and Gerut hit 22 long balls as a rookie with the Cleveland Indians in 2003. However, Eldred has shown a propensity to chase pitches out of the strike zone during his limited experience in the big leagues while Wilson and Gerut are coming off injury-filled 2005 seasons.
The Bucs' internal options at third base are less established. Freddy Sanchez, who began last season as a utility infielder, batted .291 in 132 games, but hit just five home runs with 35 RBIs in 453 at-bats. Ty Wigginton, the Bucs' Opening Day starter in 2005, was demoted to Triple-A in early June and saw infrequent playing time after being recalled in August. Jose Bautista hit .283 with 23 home runs and 90 RBIs at Double-A Altoona, but he has just a .190 average in 116 career big league at-bats.
While the 2005-06 free agent class is considered to be below average by most observers, there are players available who could make an impact on the Pittsburgh offense, including first basemen Paul Konerko, Kevin Millar and Tony Clark, outfielders Jeromy Burnitz, Brian Giles, Jacque Jones and Preston Wilson, and infielders Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller and Joe Randa.
Littlefield's most significant offseason moves, however, will likely come via trades. The Bucs have an abundance of left-handed starting pitching throughout the upper levels of the organization that should serve as enticing bargaining chips in potential deals with other pitching-starved clubs.
"We will be looking at trades," said Littlefield. "We think we've put ourselves in a pretty good position in that we've started to build some depth within the organization and we now have some dollars to use, where we haven't had as much in the past. Now, through some tough decisions and increased fan support, it has really helped us have some more resources this winter."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates hire Cuellar as bullpen coach

11/16/2005
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates continued the process of filling out their big league coaching staff Wednesday by adding Bobby Cuellar as the bullpen coach.
Cuellar, 53, was formerly a pitching coach with the Seattle Mariners (1995-96) and Montreal Expos (1997-2000). He spent the 2001 season as the bullpen coach with the Texas Rangers.
Cuellar also has extensive Minor League coaching experience. Following his brief big league career (four appearances with the Rangers in 1977), Cuellar spent 12 seasons in the Seattle Mariners farm system as a manager and coach. From 2002-05, he served as the pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins' Triple-A Rochester affiliate.
Cuellar worked with Pirates GM Dave Littlefield and manager Jim Tracy in the past when each was a member of the Expos organization in the late 1990's.
"I have a lot of respect for his work and the pride he takes in what he does," said Littlefield.
"Bobby is a guy who has a lot of experience as a Major League coach, including as a pitching coach. He relates well to players, he's shown an ability to see things and correct things, and he's a team player. In that role as a bullpen coach he'll work well with [pitching coach] Jim Colburn and Jim Tracy."
Cuellar is the fourth Pirates coach to be hired since Tracy took over as the manager in October, and each has past ties to the new Bucs skipper. Colburn, bench coach Jim Lett and first-base coach John Shelby were members of the Los Angeles coaching staff during Tracy's tenure as the Dodgers' manager.
"The most important thing is for [Tracy] to be able to get good people on board that he's comfortable with that can help our players get better," said Littlefield.
The Pirates hope to have their hitting coach and third-base coach vacancies filled within the next week.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates set 40-man roster

11/18/2005
The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have added the following players to their 40-man roster:
Yurendell DeCaster (INF) - Selected in minor league Rule 5 draft from Tampa Bay on 12/11/00...Originally signed by Devil Rays as a free agent on 8/2/96...Spent entire 2005 season with Indianapolis, where he made 28 appearances at third base, 25 at first base, 13 at second base and 58 in the outfield...Hit .280 with 11 home runs and 61 RBI...Led club in games played (122) and doubles (31)...Native of Curacao, was one of three players to hit three home runs in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, while playing with Team Netherlands.
Javier Guzman (INF) - Signed by Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent on 8/19/00...Split 2005 season between Lynchburg (A) and Altoona (AA) and batted .279 with eight home runs and 59 RBI in 137 games with the two clubs...Was named to Carolina League mid-season All-Star team...Led league with seven triples...Rated by Baseball America as having the "Best Infield Arm" in the Pittsburgh minor league system prior to the 2005 campaign.
Josh Sharpless (RHP) - Pittsburgh's 24th round selection in 2003 June draft...Beaver County (PA) native began 2005 season with Lynchburg (A) and went 3-0 with five saves and a 0.00 ERA in 17 relief appearances...Surrendered just one unearned run in 27.0 innings of work before being promoted to Double-A Altoona, where he went 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA (9.1ip/3er) in seven outings...Graduate of Freedom (PA) High School led North Coast Athletic Conference with 84 strikeouts during his senior season at Allegheny College...Has gone 11-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 90 professional appearances over the last three seasons.
Craig Stansberry (INF) - Pittsburgh's 5th round selection in 2003 June draft...Three-year pro who batted a combined .258 with 21 home runs and 86 RBI in 140 games between Lynchburg and Altoona in 2005...His 11 triples at the Double-A level ranked second among Eastern League leaders...Ranked first among all Pittsburgh farmhands in games played and third in RBI. ...Also made one appearance with Indianapolis during the International League Championship Series...Was a member of the 2003 NCAA champion Rice University baseball team.
The Pirates also announced today that they have designated for assignment pitcher Jeff Miller, infielder Bobby Hill and outfielders Tike Redman and Michael Restovich. In addition, the club reinstated pitchers Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten, along with infielder Jose Castillo and outfielder Chris Duffy from the 60-day disabled list.
The 40-man roster now contains 40 players (20 pitchers, 3 catchers, 10 infielders and 7 outfielders).


Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Bay agrees to four-year extension

11/17/2005
PITTSBURGH -- You could excuse Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay for being a little on the emotional side these days.
Less than a week after giving a tearjerker of a speech at his best friend's wedding, Bay found himself standing at a podium on Thursday at PNC Park discussing a four-year contract that will assure him of a lifetime's worth of financial security.
"This is one of the best days in my life, and I just want to say, 'Thank you,' " Bay said, his voice beginning to quiver a bit as he finished his admittedly unprepared address to the media.
It was almost as though the magnitude of his $18.25 million deal, with the possibility of another $750,000 in bonuses, had just begun to sink in.
"I still don't really fully comprehend it," Bay said afterward. "After a while, you kind of lose sight of the magnitude of it. It just becomes a business after a while, and you're talking like you're talking about Monopoly money."
Considering that Bay began his journey to the big leagues from a Trail, B.C. town without a high school baseball team, didn't get a sniff from Division I schools in the United States and had to fight his way through the Minor Leagues after being drafted in the 22nd round by the Montreal Expos, it's not surprising that the idea of being a highly-paid superstar athlete was still a bit overwhelming for the unassuming Canadian.
"Never did I ever think that something like this was going to happen," said Bay. "That makes it equally special. It's almost like getting called up to the big leagues again, because I never expected any of this."
Bay, 27, has emerged as the Pirates' top offensive player since being acquired from the San Diego Padres as part of the Brian Giles trade on Aug. 26, 2003. He batted .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in 2004 on his way to becoming the first Pirate and first Canadian-born player to be named the National League Rookie of the Year.
Bay followed that up last season by leading the Bucs with a .306 batting average, 44 doubles, 32 home runs, 101 RBIs, 110 runs and 21 stolen bases, while starting all 162 games. In doing so, he became the first player in team history to hit .300 with at least 30 home runs, 40 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 100 runs scored and 100 RBIs in the same season. He also ranked among the top 10 hitters in the National League in batting average, runs, doubles, hits (183), walks (95), multi-hit games (54), total bases (335), on-base percentage (.402) and slugging percentage (.559).
Bay, who had his contract renewed at $355,000 last season, would not have been arbitration eligible until next winter. However, in Bay, the Pirates see a player who could be the centerpiece of the franchise for years to come. And rather than roll the dice at the arbitrator's table for the next three years, the team offered Bay its longest contract since Jason Kendall signed a six-year, $60 million deal in 2000.
"We've gone through some tough times in the past as far as guys on multi-year contracts. This is one we feel very comfortable about," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield.
"Jason has done an outstanding job with us. He's been spectacular with what he has done since he's come to the big leagues. His offensive production has been excellent and has continued to improve after two years. We feel confident that this will continue throughout his career. We're certainly glad to have him on board and appreciate his commitment to accepting this contract."
The extension is the culmination of more than two months of negotiations between the team and Bay's agent, Joe Urbon. The Pirates had hoped to add a fifth year to the deal by including a team option for 2010, which will be Bay's first opportunity to test the free agent waters.
"We were certainly interested in a five-year deal, as long as that fifth year was guaranteed. But we weren't interested in a fifth year that was a team option," said Urbon. "That was really why this took as long as it did. We needed to be on the same page with regard to the structure. Once we got on the same page, the process went fairly quickly."
In addition to Bay's performance on the field, the Pirates have been impressed by his willingness to participate in local charities and other team-sponsored events. Pirates CEO and general managing partner Kevin McClatchy called Bay a "terrific ambassador" for Canada and the Bucs.
"In the 10 years I have been in this game, [Bay] is one of the most down-to-earth people, one of the most humble people that I have been around," said McClatchy. "He truly understands what his part needs to be for the team, but also for the community. I'm very excited that Jason is going to be with us for a number of years."
McClatchy viewed Bay's signing as a positive step for an organization that is trying to build a winner around its core of young talent.
"One thing that I've always said we have to do to be successful is to be able to keep our own players once we develop them," said McClatchy. "This is an instance where we have identified a key player in our organization for the future. We need to keep players like Jason Bay to be successful."
With his new contract in hand, Bay fully understands that he will now be looked upon as the focal point of the organization. The mild-mannered Bay, noting the pressures that he has had to overcome to make it to the big leagues, readily accepts that challenge.
"I'm open to that," said Bay. "I'm not the type of person who is going to say, 'I'm the face of the Pirates -- look at me.' But at the same time, I understand with certain obligations, there come responsibilities. I'm not going to shy away from that."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates finalize 40-man roster

11/19/2005
PITTSBURGH -- With the deadline for teams to submit their 40-man rosters fast approaching, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced a dozen personnel moves late Friday night.
Right-handed pitching prospect Josh Sharpless and Minor League infielders Yurendell De Caster, Craig Stansberry and Javier Guzman were added to Pittsburgh's 40-man roster. Pitchers Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten, both of whom missed all of last season due to injury, second baseman Jose Castillo and center fielder Chris Duffy were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.
To make room for the additions, center fielder Tike Redman, infielder Bobby Hill, outfielder Michael Restovich and Minor League pitcher Jeff Miller were designated for assignment.
"As you prioritize your roster, we felt that these players [Redman, Hill, Restovich and Miller] fit further down the roster," Littlefield said. "They have had some positive performances and helped the team from time to time. We just see, as we're continuing to fit better, the ability to put some players we think fit better on the roster."
Redman, who made his big-league debut with the Pirates in 2000 and was the team's Opening Day center fielder in 2004 and 2005, batted .251 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 135 games. Redman was relegated mostly to pinch-hitting duties with Duffy and Nate McLouth getting the bulk of the playing time in center field during the later stages of last season.
Hill, the last player remaining with the Pirates from the 2003 deal that sent Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs, hit .269 in 93 at-bats with Pittsburgh before being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 22. He was not among the team's September callups.
Restovich played only sparingly after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies on May 11. In 52 games with the Pirates, Restovich went 18-for-84 (.214) with two home runs and five RBIs.
The right-hander Miller was Pittsburgh's 15th-round selection in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He spent the entire 2005 season at Indianapolis, where he compiled a 5-7 mark and a 3.53 ERA in 58 appearances.
Sharpless, a native of Western Pennsylvania, was the Bucs' 24th-round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. The right-hander was 3-0 with five saves and a 0.00 ERA in 17 relief appearances with Lynchburg before being promoted to Altoona, where he continued his solid season by allowing three runs in 9 1/3 innings during his seven outings with the Curve.
De Caster, who was selected by the Pirates from Tampa Bay in the 2000 Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, batted .280 with 31 doubles, 11 home runs and 61 RBI with Indianapolis last season.
Stanberry, Pittsburgh's fifth-round pick in the 2003 draft, combined to hit .258 with 21 home runs and 86 RBI in 140 games while splitting his 2005 season between Lynchburg and Altoona.
Guzman, a non-drafted free agent who was signed by the Pirates in August 2000, batted .279 with eight homes runs and 59 RBIs in 137 combined games at Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona in 2005 Guzman named to Carolina League mid-season All-Star team in 2005 and was rated by Baseball America as having the best arm in the Bucs' farm system prior to last season.
The moves Friday gives the Pirates 40 players on their roster. In past seasons, the team had left openings on their 40-man roster in preparation for potential Hot Stove trades and free agent signings.
"We still have some flexibility with a variety of players," said Littlefield. "We'll always take that into account when we look at what options are available to us whether it be for trade of free agents."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Pirates send crew to Winter Leagues

11/18/2005
For several Pittsburgh Pirates prospects, the winter months are anything but an "off" season.
Hoping to solidify their chances to make the big league club next spring, several young Bucs have headed south to participate in the annual Winter Leagues in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
First baseman Brad Eldred and center fielder Chris Duffy, both of whom could be in Pittsburgh's Opening Day lineup in 2006, will be honing their crafts in Mexico with Mazatlan.
Eldred recently completed a stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .289 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs and fanned 22 times in 108 at-bats. The Pirates suggested to Eldred that he play in Mexico because he'd likely see more breaking-ball pitchers there than in the Dominican or Venezuelan leagues.
"The hope is he'll go to Mexico and he'll see some breaking balls down there because it's predominantly a breaking-ball league," said Pirates assistant general manager Doug Strange. "That will be good for him from an experience standpoint."
Duffy, who spent the final weeks of the 2005 season sidelined by hamstring and dehydration problems, is expected to report to Mazatlan during the first week of December.
Center field prospect Rajai Davis, a speedster whose promising season at Double-A Altoona ended prematurely when he broke his right hand in late August, has been given a clean bill of health. He will begin playing in Mexico with Guasave in early December.
Four Pirates prospects were expected to play ball this winter in the Dominican Republic, but two of them have already returned home.
Catcher Ryan Doumit spent two weeks with Escogido, where he went 7-for-26 with three RBIs before deciding to shut it down for the rest of the year due to fatigue. Outfielder Nate McLouth was 3-for-16 in five games with Aguilas before being sidelined by dehydration.
"It got to the point where [McLouth] was seen by a doctor and had to have an IV," said Strange. "Once you get that, it's tough to recover.
"And in Doumit's case, he played a full year and probably just felt like he was worn out and didn't want to risk not being in top shape when Spring Training comes around."
Catcher Ronny Paulino and third baseman Jose Bautista remain in the Dominican.
Paulino, who split the 2005 season between Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, is batting .297 with four doubles and six RBIs in 64 at-bats with Azucareros. Bautista, who was named the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 2005 after receiving limited playing time the previous season as a Rule 5 selection, is batting .189 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 53 at-bats with Licey.
"Bautista had a great year in Double-A. It's just a matter of him getting more at-bats and understanding how the pitchers are trying to get him out and what he is trying to do at the plate," said Strange. "It's just a maturing process you go through as a hitter. It's good for him."
Outfielder Michael Restovich, right-hander Ian Snell and infield prospect Yurendell DeCaster will participate in the Venezuelan winter league.
Restovich is attempting to make up for lost time after spending most of the 2005 season on the Pittsburgh bench. In 24 games with Magallanes, Restovich is hitting .356 with nine doubles, a triple, five home runs, 23 RBIs and a .655 slugging percentage.
"To his credit, [Restovich] went to Venezuela basically to play, get back in a groove and find his swing," said Strange. "He's playing very well down there, hitting home runs and driving in runs. He's taken the approach that he is going to go down there and prove that he can play, which is what you want."
Snell, who declined an assignment to the Arizona Fall League in October, reported earlier this week to Caribes, where he is expected to work as a starter.
"[Snell] just needs more repetitions to fine-tune his command and breaking ball. He needs to be able to throw different pitches in different counts and have an ability to stay down in the zone," said Strange.
Strange said that the team harbors no resentment toward Snell for the right-hander's decision not to participate in the AFL.
"All you can do as an organization is communicate with the players and let them know what it is you want them to do and why you want them to do it," said Strange. "They have the final say. All you can do is suggest what you think would be beneficial to them.
"The point is [Snell] is getting repetitions, and he's going down there to pitch, which is what we're looking for."
DeCaster, who spent the 2005 season with Indianapolis, has had an outstanding early showing with Caribes. In 93 at-bats, he's hitting .333 with 10 home runs and 19 RBIs.
"He's an intriguing player," said Strange. "He is versatile and can play different spots. He's had to grow up as a player and play under more control. He did a good job of that last year."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Eldred flexing muscle in AFL

10/28/2005
PITTSBURGH -- Every year, observers of the Arizona Fall League come across some guy on some team's roster and ask: "Does that guy really need to be here?"
This fall, Brad Eldred is "that guy" for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eldred's power numbers are on the rise while he's also managing to cut down on the prolific strikeout numbers he displayed during the regular season.
Here's how Eldred and the rest of the Pirates prospects fared with the Peoria Saguaros over the last seven days:
RF Adam Boeve -- Boeve saw limited action this week but made the most of what he had to work with. He collected hits in three of the four games he appeared in, including a 2-for-3 night in the second game of a doubleheader against the Mesa Solar Sox on Oct. 25.
LHP Michael Connolly -- The southpaw from upstate New York had mixed results in his two appearances this week. He allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings against the Javelinas on Oct. 21, but followed that up with a scoreless eighth inning on Oct. 24 against Mesa.
1B Brad Eldred -- Eldred homered in his last two games, including a two-dinger, four-RBI night on Oct. 27 against the Desert Dogs. Meanwhile, he has avoided striking out in seven of 13 games this season.
RHP Matt Peterson -- Peterson didn't fare well in his only appearance last week, walking two and giving up three runs on five hits -- two were homers -- over four innings in his Oct. 26 start against Phoenix.
C Neil Walker -- Walker did well in his two starts over the week, going 3-for-7 with a homer and two RBIs. The Pirates' top catching prospect also displayed some wheels, scoring as a pinch-runner on Oct. 22 against the Surprise Scorpions.
LHP Shane Youman -- The 26-year-old left-hander had a difficult outing on Oct. 21, giving up five runs in three innings. He bounced back with a solid performance on Oct. 27, holding the Phoenix Desert Dogs to one run over five innings, while fanning three on the way to his first win of the season.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Power hitter headed to town?

10/31/2005
Is Tike Redman in the Pirates' future plans? Wouldn't it be more prudent to offer him in some type of package deal (possibly with Ty Wigginton) to gain a power-hitting center fielder or third baseman? -- Robert B., Patton, Pa.
I think Redman has run out of chances as the Bucs' starting center fielder. The organization loves Chris Duffy's glove and Duffy showed that he could hit big league pitching before being injured. Redman, who is a good fastball hitter, will probably come off of the bench as a pinch-hitter and get a spot start here and there in the outfield if he is still with the team next season.
As for your trade suggestion, Robert, I highly doubt that the Pirates would get the kind of player they are looking for to fill their outfield/third base void with a package that includes only Redman and Wigginton. Neither player has established himself as a big league regular, and other teams won't be jumping at the opportunity to unload a productive bat in exchange for bench guys.
Do you think that a trade of Kip Wells for Wily Mo Pena makes sense for both teams? Wells has great stuff but seems to need a change of scenery. Pena is a legit 40-home run player. Pena in right field allows Craig Wilson to move back to first and gives the Bucs a legit power threat and protects Jason Bay. -- Mark A, Philadelphia
Of the dozens of trade scenarios fans have submitted to me in the past few weeks, Mark, I would say yours is the most plausible. In fact, this deal was being discussed, at least internally, by the Pirates prior to the trading deadline.
The Reds have a glut of outfielders with Pena, Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns, and starting pitching has been their Achilles heel for years. Despite his struggles the past two seasons, Wells would probably have the highest ceiling of anyone on the Reds starting staff if this deal was made.
Rarely is any trade perfect, however, and this proposal is no different. First of all, you always run the risk of a pitcher like Wells finally putting it all together, and you'd hate to see him play for a team within your division. Pena is a right-handed power hitter who strikes out a lot, and the Pirates already have a couple of guys (Wilson and Brad Eldred) who fit that bill. He also has been known to let his mind wander on defense.
With all of that being said, this is a deal that seems to make sense for both teams.
Why in the world would the Pirates organization have any interest in keeping Mark Redman around? I felt Josh Fogg did a much better job than Redman. Keeping Fogg as a middle relief man would help fill the void of the ones they are losing. -- Joe S., Des Moines, Iowa
Quite frankly, Joe, the Pirates don't have much say in the matter. Redman has a $4.5 million player option for 2006. He could choose to walk away from that money and try his luck in the free agent market, but after his second-half struggles, I don't see that happening.
Fogg earned $2.15 million last year in his first year of arbitration. He'd likely earn a raise this year even in arbitration, even though his production declined. As much as the Pirates could use another right-handed arm in the bullpen, they could probably spend that money on a couple of veteran relievers looking to bounce back from off-years. Therefore, Fogg will almost certainly be non-tendered if the Pirates are unable to trade him.
With a stockpile of very young players, who do you feel has the best odds to be packaged in a possible Hot Stove deal? -- Bob A., Hershey, Pa.
Wells, in my opinion, is the top candidate to be dealt. Fogg could also draw some interest from pitching-starved teams, although other clubs might be willing to wait to see if the Pirates non-tender him so that they can acquire Fogg without having to give up anything in return.
Beyond those two, Ian Snell could also be an attractive part of a package deal because of his plus-stuff and success at the Triple-A level. However, it is unlikely that the Pirates would get much more than another prospect in return for him alone. Teams rarely trade established big leaguers for prospects with little Major League experience during the Hot Stove months.
Craig Wilson is also a darkhorse candidate to be dealt, but his trade value probably took a dip because of his injury problems last season. Humberto Cota, Wigginton, Redman, and perhaps even Jack Wilson could also be on the trading block.
I've heard the analysts talking about the free agency situation this year and the utter lack of power hitters available. The Pirates have indicated that they are willing to spend some cash to get a threatening bat or two in the lineup. Given the apparent lack of firepower in this year's crop of free agents, do you think the Pirates will go after someone aggressively and waste money on someone who really isn't worth it? I'd rather see them play the young guys and let them take their lumps than see this team waste money on a free agent or two just for the sake of signing them. -- Jeff B., Toronto, Ontario
You make a great point about throwing money at a problem rarely ever working, particularly for lower revenue teams that can't afford to make mistakes with their limited resources. A lot of Pirates fans are still wondering what the team could have done with the money that was given to Derek Bell in 2001.
I can't foresee GM Dave Littlefield significantly overspending just to make a publicity splash. He has worked for more than four years to have the "financial flexibility" that he now enjoys.
With that in mind, Littlefield also realizes that adding power to the lineup is essential for this team to improve. And power usually comes at a hefty price tag, be it free agent dollars or productive players and prospects in trades. The key, of course, is to spend wisely and get the most bang for your buck. Whether or not Littlefield can do that this offseason will have a tremendous impact on the Pirates' fortunes in 2006.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Colborn, Lett named Pirates coaches

11/01/2005
The three Jims will stay together and take their act to PNC Park.
Manager Jim Tracy has made the trek from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh, and he's bringing two of his top hands with him.
Tracy has tapped Jim Colborn to be his pitching coach and Jim Lett to be his bench coach for the Pirates in 2006, general manager Dave Littlefield announced Tuesday. Both men served in the same roles for Tracy while with the Dodgers this past season.
Colborn, 59, spent the last five seasons as the Dodgers' pitching coach. He guided that club's pitching staff to a ranking in the top four in ERA among National League clubs in three of the last four seasons, including a Major League-best 3.16 mark and 17 shutouts in 2003.
Now, he'll get the chance to put together similar success with a young Pirates staff with plenty of promise.
"[Tracy] and I feel we have unfinished business," Colborn had told the Los Angeles Daily News last month. "Jim and I work together very well, and pitchers look good sometimes because a manager agrees with his pitching coach on how to use them."
Colborn was a big-league pitcher for 10 years, compiling a career record of 83-88 with 60 complete games and a 3.80 ERA while with the Cubs, Brewers, Royals and Mariners. He was a 20-game winner and an All-Star with Milwaukee in 1973, setting a club record by pitching 314 1/3 innings that season.
Colborn is also well known for pitching a no-hitter against the Rangers while pitching for the Royals in 1977. In that game, he faced just one batter over the minimum.
Lett, 54, was Tracy's bench coach in Los Angeles this year after serving four years as the Dodgers' bullpen coach. A Charleston, W.Va., native, Lett has been involved in the game of baseball for 32 years as a player, coach, manager and front-office executive. He spent 23 of those years in the Reds organization.
Lett played three seasons as an infielder in the Minor Leagues for Cincinnati, followed by 10 seasons as a Minor League manager in the club's system, where he compiled a 646-667 record and guided his teams to a first- or second-place finish six times.
Before joining the Dodgers, Lett also spent time as a Major League coach with the Blue Jays (1997-99) and the Reds (1986-89, 1996).
Bringing Colborn and Lett aboard was the first move made by Tracy toward filling out his coaching staff. He's also expected to bring along former Dodgers first-base coach John Shelby in some capacity.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Tracy focused on culture of club

11/01/2005
Pirates manager Jim Tracy chatted with fans online about his offseason plans, challenges and strategy for 2006. He stressed the importance of changing the mind-set of the Pirates clubhouse to a team that understands how to win consistently.
Base_Ball_2: Other than the obvious changes in personnel that have or will happen, what changes do you think need to be made for the Pirates to be successful in the future, like on-field strategies for example?
Jim Tracy: First of all I think we have to establish a different culture in the clubhouse and from that we'll translate the idea of players understanding that there is a game within the game that we play each day. It involves little nuances like hitting a cutoff man, getting a bunt down, advancing a runner. When you look at the number of one-run games the Pirates were involved in, you need to learn how to win those. All those things above that we talked about are difference-makers in those kinds of games.
Brian_Dudiak: What are you most looking forward to with the Pirates?
Tracy: Re-establishing the credibility to an organization that has a very proud and storied history, and willingly look forward to the challenge of managing a ballclub that has had losing records for 13 consecutive years. Changing the mind-set, changing the culture.
wallach0029: I was wondering if Tim Wallach will be your new hitting coach? If not, why and who will act as hitting instructor?
Tracy: In all likelihood, Tim Wallach will not be the hitting instructor, although he is someone very high on our list. The geographics of the situation are not going to allow that to happen. As a result, the search is still ongoing in trying to fulfill all the parameters we are looking for in a hitting instructor for this group of Pittsburgh Pirates.
Base_Ball_3: Are you going to have much input on what players are brought in?
Tracy: I've been flattered already as to how much my opinion has been solicited and I look forward as we move on from day to day to interacting with Dave Littlefield, Doug Strange and the rest of the staff. I think that anytime you have that type of interaction between the field manager and the front office, positive results are going to occur.
autograph67: What is Chris Duffy's position going to be this season?
Tracy: We're hopeful that Chris is going to see a lot of time in center field and that he can gain a real good understanding as to what a great table setter he has the opportunity to become at the top of a lineup. Very similar to what I experienced in L.A. with the likes of Dave Roberts.
bucs05: I am a longtime Pirates fan from birth who used to live in Maryland. Will you be signing autographs after Spring Training games in Bradenton, Fla.?
Tracy: Yes. My opportunities to interact with fans at Spring Training are periods I look forward to. The fans are a huge part of our game and need to be treated accordingly.
Brian_Dudiak: What do you think is the best thing about this Pirates team?
Tracy: I think any successful situation at the Major League level begins with pitching and defense. When you look at the core of young starters that are here already (Oliver Perez, Kip Wells, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, etc.) and you look at the potential defensively in the middle of the field with Craig Wilson, Jose Castillo, Chris Duffy, Nate McLouth, it's a great foundation to begin from.
clevelandrocks48: What influenced you the most when you decided to take this job?
Tracy: The similarities of the abilities with some of the youth here in Pittsburgh in relation to where we started in Los Angeles back in 2001 when the likes of Paul Lo Duca, Eric Gagne, Dave Roberts, Alex Cora, Adrian Beltre to name a few, where pretty much unheard of at the time. There are a lot of similarities here.
Dave_John: What do you see as the biggest challenge to managing the Pirates?
Tracy: Once again, re-instilling the proper mind-set from the standpoint of what is necessary each and every day in going about your business to win. Understanding how to win on a regular basis and all the intangibles and sacrifices that have to be made to become a winner. That's the biggest challenge. We're young but in a lot of cases we are not young anymore. We've been playing for a while. To get beyond the point that we think because the organization spends this much on players, that is a built-in excuse to play at a level less than what should be expected from you every day.
tab: Jim, you have cited the importance of "small ball" techniques many times. With the type of team the Pirates are, is this the biggest key to success for the Pirates in 2006?
Tracy: It may not be the biggest key, but it certainly is one of the more important ones. For example, a team in our division, the Cardinals, who can hurt you with the long ball but is also a club that does a majority of their damage because they understand how to take runs and get runs when the opportunity presents itself by using every out of every game. That is a huge part of the success of a team as far as winning and losing is concerned.
rockmysocks35: Do you like the city Pittsburgh and do you hope to stay?
Tracy: Very much so. As a matter of fact I went to school about 115 miles from here and grew up 4 1/2 hours from here. I'd like to think that it will be a lengthy stay.
Base_Ball_2: Do you see the need of a power-hitting left-handed hitter, who can play first, third or right as the biggest need to acquire in the offseason?
Tracy: It's certainly something that we're looking at, not only from the standpoint of improving the club, but in the hope that it will help to enhance the capabilities and opportunities for Jason Bay, who is quickly becoming a very special player in our league.
rockmysocks35: I would just like to know some of the free agents that the Pirates are showing some interest to right now?
Tracy: We're talking right now about a number of different free agents. A mistake that gets made all the time, though, is getting too caught up with who the big-name free agents are and not wisely investing the dollars that you have. You can't put all of your eggs into one basket. You have to be very strategic with your opportunities in hopes of improving the club in more than just one area.
Brian_Dudiak: How much time do you think it will take to turn this team into a winning team?
Tracy: In hopes that we are going to have a very positive offseason from a personnel standpoint, and changing the culture and the mind-set of where the club has been for the last several years, and gaining an understanding of how to play winning baseball ... how many losing seasons do you need to have in a row before you get tired of it? Now we have to say enough is enough and we'd like think it could happen as early as 2006.
letsgobucs55: You have been criticized for playing the veterans more often than the young guys. Do you plan on continuing this trend with this very youthful Pirates team?
Tracy: You adjust to situations that you are confronted with. There were a number of veteran players in L.A. The situation in Pittsburgh is different. You have to be able to readjust your sights. The criticism I received in L.A. for playing a lot of veterans would make me wonder how Lo Duca, Gagne, Cesar Izturis, Cora or Jayson Werth arrived so quickly. They weren't all old. As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of similarities as to where I was at the beginning with the Dodgers and what I have accepted with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ben_Collins: Mr. Tracy, how will the team chemistry be affected now that you are the nucleus?
Tracy: We will focus on an unselfish approach and one in which you would like to feel comfortable that every player on your club will understand that from day-to-day you go to work to do whatever is necessary to score one more point than the other team.
buccoragg: Will your staff be able to straighten out Perez and Wells?
Tracy: Perez and Wells, in my opinion, are big keys in helping to turn this club around sooner rather than later. They have both shown the capability, having done it before, but still lack the necessary ingredients to figure out how to do it on a consistent regular basis. Jim Colborn's track record with success in these types of situations has been tremendous with the likes of Jeff Weaver, Gagne, Guillermo Mota, Giovanni Carrara, Matt Herges, and others.
jack2freddy: One dissimilarity is payroll. Do you think that this team could overcome the large margin of difference there?
Tracy: It's not how much you spend, it's how wisely you spend it.
Mike_Baldwin: Congratulations on your position with the Pirates. How do you see the closer's role working out in 2006?
Tracy: To designate the closer for 2006 on Nov. 1 would be unfair, but it would be safe to say that we are steering the direction to have Mike Gonzalez involved in some type of late-inning situation because of the great stuff that he possesses. Consistency in the strike zone will go a long way in determining how far back into the game we will send Gonzalez. Some of that will be up to him.
Base_Ball_3: Do you think you will upgrade the bullpen?
Tracy: Addressing the bullpen situation is something we will have to take a good look at over this winter in order to improve this team immediately for 2006.
vgsailor: Do you feel that Ryan Doumit can be an everyday catcher?
Tracy: You would like to think that Ryan Doumit eventually could become a front-line catcher at the Major League level. He has a great throwing arm. He switch hits and has power from both sides of the plate. Relationships that are developed between Ryan and the rest of the pitching staff are vitally important to the success or failure of a Major League Baseball team.
cansecorulz512: Assuming you go with a seven-man bullpen, how many lefties do you see in the bullpen if Gonzalez is designated as the closer?
Tracy: In any bullpen scenario, the optimum situation is to have two quality left-handed relievers if you have the luxury to do so. If you're going to make it look right, but have a better right-handed arm, and especially a right-handed pitcher who can get left-handed hitters out because of one pitch they possess, you go with what gives you the best chance to win. The ability to make pitches and get hitters out in the latter third of the game is of utmost importance to your success.
tom_cunkle: Will Chad Tracy be on the Pirates radar screen in the next draft?
Tracy: Hey Cunk. You'll have to ask Ed Creech about Bump Merriweather and the rest of the amateur scouting group whether that has a possibility of happening or not.
Josh_Bonifay: How is Rob Flippo doing? Will he be coming with you to the Pirates?
Tracy: He is doing just fine. In all likelihood he will remain as the bullpen catcher with the Dodgers, according to the latest conversation I had with him a week or so ago.
rockmysocks35: Do you think the Pirates will have any potential to go farther than the regular season this year?
Tracy: I think the Pirates should be thinking along the lines of being a better club in 2006 and beyond. The goal is to make them a better team, a championship-caliber team.
bmac09: Hey Jim what do you think about the talented group of young starting pitchers the Pirates have developed?
Tracy: This group has a strong chance of being a huge foundational piece to this ballclub. They have a chance to do some very special things together as a group. One of the ways you go about accomplishing that is surrounding them sufficiently with people who can catch the ball. Great pitching staffs end up developing from one, ability and two, great defensive players around them.
daleberra4: Could Zach Duke eventually evolve into a 20-game winner?
Tracy: I don't think there's any question that Zach possesses the capabilities of becoming a 20-game winner. He has great stuff. He competes at a high level and he likes to finish what he starts. Those things in themselves are the ingredients that make consistent 20-game winners.
mattykaz: Longtime Pirates fan and getting very tired of the losing seasons, the poor coaching and the bonehead moves. I would like to know your plans on locking up players that will play one position for most of the year, or are you just going to shuffle?
Tracy: Stability is one of the keys to success. Flexibility over the course of a nine-inning game helps to create additional opportunities for you to win. Having a core group of guys to build around, I think, is a vital element to the consistent success of any Major League team and something we are striving for here in Pittsburgh.
42951: Are there any current Pirates that you would put on the untouchable list as far as trades are considered?
Tracy: When you are looking to improve a club to the level and extent that we are here, I don't think any player is untouchable. I think you would talk about any player. Nobody is untouchable in the right deal.
bucfan: The Pirates had to be close to the lead in the number of runners left on base this past year. How do you address that problem?
Tracy: Situational hitting is one of the big keys toward the success or failure of a season. Maximizing the number of outs that you have available during the course of a game (27 outs) is the key to understanding how to play winning baseball on a regular basis. Grounding out to short early in the game with a man on third and the infield playing back isn't necessarily a bad thing.
lambtwo: Do you see any home-field advantages to PNC Park that you can capitalize on?
Tracy: When you really establish yourself in your own ballpark, no opponent should feel comfortable coming in to play you. This is another area that the ballclub needs to gain a better understanding of and perform at a much higher level.
ccoverdaleesq: Will you miss any of the players from Los Angeles?
Tracy: I miss any and all of my players, but in some point of time situations dictate that a change in venue is necessary. Relationships and feelings toward one another that are built leading up to that point in time are what is most important. This game has a bad habit of going full circle.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Redman exercises player option

11/03/2005
Mark Redman still might find himself involved in the trade market, but he won't be in the free agent market.
Redman has exercised his player option on a contract that will pay him $4.5 million in 2006, meaning the veteran left-hander is in line to find himself in a Pirates uniform for the second straight season.
The Pirates acquired Redman, 31, last November in the trade that sent Jason Kendall to the A's.
In 30 starts in '05, Redman went 5-15 with a 4.90 ERA. He notched two complete games and a shutout over 178 1/3 innings pitched.
On the whole, it was an inconsistent seventh big-league season for Redman, who has 53 career wins under his belt.
He went 4-8 with a 3.76 ERA before the All-Star break and 1-7 with a 7.08 ERA afterward. In fact, he put together his final victory of the season on July 24 against the Rockies, and that was his only win after June 10.
The subject of several trade rumors just before the deadline in July, Redman told MLB.com in September that he was a bit distracted in the second half.
"I'm disappointed, more or less," Redman said at the time. "From all the talk that was going on, and the fact that you are hearing even with the coaching staff that you might not make your next start, to have someone else ready ... That [messes] with your mind."
Assuming the Pirates keep him aboard, Redman is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation at Spring Training. The Bucs will have plenty of southpaws on hand for rotation spots, with left-handers Oliver Perez, Zach Duke, Dave Williams and Paul Maholm all in the mix.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Redman exercises player option

11/03/2005
Mark Redman still might find himself involved in the trade market, but he won't be in the free agent market.
Redman has exercised his player option on a contract that will pay him $4.5 million in 2006, meaning the veteran left-hander is in line to find himself in a Pirates uniform for the second straight season.
The Pirates acquired Redman, 31, last November in the trade that sent Jason Kendall to the A's.
In 30 starts in '05, Redman went 5-15 with a 4.90 ERA. He notched two complete games and a shutout over 178 1/3 innings pitched.
On the whole, it was an inconsistent seventh big-league season for Redman, who has 53 career wins under his belt.
He went 4-8 with a 3.76 ERA before the All-Star break and 1-7 with a 7.08 ERA afterward. In fact, he put together his final victory of the season on July 24 against the Rockies, and that was his only win after June 10.
The subject of several trade rumors just before the deadline in July, Redman told MLB.com in September that he was a bit distracted in the second half.
"I'm disappointed, more or less," Redman said at the time. "From all the talk that was going on, and the fact that you are hearing even with the coaching staff that you might not make your next start, to have someone else ready ... That [messes] with your mind."
Assuming the Pirates keep him aboard, Redman is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation at Spring Training. The Bucs will have plenty of southpaws on hand for rotation spots, with left-handers Oliver Perez, Zach Duke, Dave Williams and Paul Maholm all in the mix.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Duke finishes fifth for Rookie of the Year

11/07/2005
Zach Duke's bid to give Pittsburgh back-to-back National League Rookie of the Year Award winners came up short as the Pirates left-hander finished fifth in the balloting announced Monday by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Duke received three first-place votes and 16 points overall, trailing winner Ryan Howard of Philadelphia (19, 109), Houston's Willy Taveras (seven, 78), Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur (two, 60) and Colorado's Garrett Atkins (one, 17) in the voting.
Duke was 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 14 games. The 22-year-old from Clifton, Tex., made his Major League debut on July 2 and went 6-0 in his first 10 starts. He was 7-2 with a 1.78 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break.
Outfielder Jason Bay, who won the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year Award with 25 out of a possible 32 first-place votes and 146 total points, remains the only Pirate to have won the award dating back to 1957.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/

Bucs prospects cool off in desert

11/04/2005
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Apparently, things can cool off in the desert, too.
Brad Eldred, the Pittsburgh Pirates' top hitting prospect, saw his batting average take a slight dip this past week in the Arizona Fall League while all four of the Bucs' pitchers had less-than-memorable weeks. Here's a rundown on how all seven Pirates prospects fared:
RF Adam Boeve: The 25-year-old Iowa native roamed right field in just three games this week, his best game coming on Nov. 1 against the Javelinas, when he went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Boeve also whacked a double on Oct. 29 against Grand Canyon.
LHP Michael Connolly: Connolly saw plenty of action this week, getting the call three times for the Saguaros with less than spectacular results. The southpaw surrendered five runs on six hits and three walks over 2 2/3 innings, striking out one lone batter.
1B Brad Eldred: It was a rough week for the behemoth batsman, who saw his average drop from .302 to .246 in the middle of the week. He quickly righted himself, collecting a double and two RBIs in his last two games.
RHP Landon Jacobsen: A late edition to the Saguaros' roster, the 26-year-old righty from South Dakota pitched in two games with mixed results. He picked up the win against Grand Canyon on Oct. 29 with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, but surrendered four runs in 2 2/3 innings on Nov. 3 against Surprise.
RHP Matt Peterson: Halloween was certainly a scary night for Peterson, who started and took the loss against Grand Canyon, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings.
C Neil Walker: It was one of those hit-or-miss kind of weeks for Walker. The Pittsburgh native was hitless on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3, but went 2-for-3 with a run scored on Oct. 31.
LHP Shane Youman: The Louisiana southpaw surrendered a pair of runs on five hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings, taking the loss against the Scorpions in his only appearance of the week on Nov. 3.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/