Notes: Wilson nearing spring debut

03/06/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Four days after having one of his wisdom teeth removed, shortstop Jack Wilson returned to the McKechnie Field clubhouse looking like he'd just gone 12 rounds with Clubber Lang.
The left side of Wilson's face was swollen, his eyes were a little black and blue, and he could barely open his mouth.
"The swelling has gone done quite a bit," said Wilson, leaving one to wonder how bad it must have looked before. "It's just the pain is still there. The pain medication makes you drowsy, so you sleep."
Before taking batting practice in the indoor cage at McKechnie Field on Monday morning, all Wilson had done since the surgery was sleep and take a few strolls on a treadmill.
"It won't be as bad without the medication. But you need the medication, because it hurts like a son of a gun. But I'll be back soon," said Wilson.
Fortunately, Wilson's inactivity hasn't caused him to lose any of the bulk he worked so hard to put on during the offseason. By cutting up his food into bite-sized pieces and drinking energy shakes, Wilson has maintained his pre-camp weight of 206 pounds.
"I need my weight," said Wilson. "I didn't put it all on just to lose it."
Wilson hopes to see his first Grapefruit League action on either Wednesday or Thursday. Gookie Dawkins, Jose Hernandez and Freddy Sanchez have started at shortstop for the Pirates in Wilson's absence.
Duffy takes the field: For the first time since Aug. 25 of last year, Chris Duffy returned to his customary spot in center field on Monday against the Minnesota Twins.
Duffy, who was sidelined for the final six weeks of the 2005 season by a strained left hamstring, had been limited to DH duties in the early Grapefruit League games due a sore left shoulder.
"I actually felt at home -- finally," said Duffy. "I'm trying to get back into the routine. It was weird to pick up the leather and run out there with the guys. But it felt good."
It didn't matter to Duffy that no Twins player hit the ball to center field until after he'd left game.
"They didn't want to test me early," he joked. "Usually that's the way it works. It was good that I was just able to see some pitches, watch the ball go into the zone and kind of anticipate if something good was going to happen.
"It would have been nice to get a couple of balls. But it's a long season."
The competition continues: Right-handers Victor Santos and Ryan Vogelsong, who are among the four primary competitors for the Bucs' final two rotation spots, were both back on the mound again on Monday.
Santos started and allowed one run on five hits and a walk before being pulled with one out in the third inning. He might have escaped the outing unscathed if not for a Mike Cuddyer RBI single to the right side of the infield on a hit-and-run play with second baseman Jose Castillo covering the bag.
"I felt pretty good," said Santos. "If it's not a hit and run, it's hit right at Castillo and we get a double play. But that's baseball right there.
"Overall, I am throwing the ball well, and I want to continue that."
Vogelsong allowed two runs in three innings on four hits and two walks.
"I got behind a little bit. But most of the time I was missing, I was missing down," said Vogelsong. "I gave up a couple of bleeders there, but that's the game."
Vogelsong, who spent all of last season coming out of the bullpen after struggling as a starter in 2004, was encouraged by his ability to avoid the big inning after allowing runners to reach base.
"I feel like I am 10 times better than I was at this point last year," he said. "I worked my way out of some jams. Last year, I'd probably still be out there throwing."
Big day for Burnitz: New Pirates right fielder Jeromy Burnitz had the kind of game on Monday that the team would love to see more of when the regular season starts.
Burnitz, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason to add punch to the middle of the Bucs lineup, went 3-for-3 with three extra-base hits, including a mammoth home run to right field in the third inning.
"It's always nice to hit the ball hard," said Burnitz. "I was trying to hit line drives up the middle. Good things happen sometimes when you have a good plan."
After the game, Burnitz was asked which ball he thought he hit hardest. He responded that it was the double he had hit on a rope off of the right-field wall during his last at-bat.
"The last ball I hit was the most pure," said Burnitz, before pointing to the three notches on his bat. "One, two, three. Right there. That ones a little more sweet-spotted. But all of them are pretty good."
Burnitz then kissed his bat before putting it away for the day.
Bucs bits: Pitchers, catchers and players who needed work visas reported to the Minor League camp at Pirate City on Sunday. Position players will report on Tuesday. The Pirates will have approximately 150 players in their Minor League camp this spring. ... Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh will be broadcasting its "Sportsbeat" show live from McKechnie Field Monday thru Wednesday. Wilson, Duke, Gonzalez, Dave Littlefield and manager Jim Tracy are among the scheduled guests.
On deck: The Pirates will host the Atlanta Braves at McKechnie Field on Tuesday. Lefty Zach Duke will make his second spring start for the Bucs. He'll be opposed by Atlanta southpaw Chuck James. Mike Gonzalez, Matt Whiteside, Britt Reames and Ron Chiavacci are also schedule to take the mound for Pittsburgh.

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