Mailbag: When will Burnett be back?

03/27/2006
With Sean Burnett being demoted to the Minors, how long do you think it will be before he is called back up to the Bucs?-- Luke P., Johnstown, Pa.
Burnett has been extremely focused this spring, and he's very determined to get back to the big leagues as soon as possible. He was, understandably, quite disappointed to be sent to Triple-A Indianapolis.
The organization probably had its mind set on sending Burnett back to the Minors for at least the first month of the season, regardless of how well he pitched this spring -- short of him tossing a shutout every time he took the mound. The Pirates want to make sure that he has time to build up his stamina and regain the touch and feel of his pitches after such a long layoff. Burnett, 23, spent the entire 2005 season on the disabled list while recovering from left elbow and left shoulder surgeries. He is still a prized prospect and they don't want to risk rushing him back too soon.
Another factor that will play a role in Burnett's recall is team need. If the five guys in the big-league starting rotation are all pitching well, the Pirates won't oust one of them simply to bring Burnett back to Pittsburgh.
My best bet is that Burnett will rejoin the Bucs at some point in May.
Regarding Craig Wilson, why won't the Pirates use him as their Opening Day catcher? He'll have the best bat out of the bunch.-- Dave B., Toronto
I think that ship sailed long ago, Dave.
The Pirates have never shown much faith in Wilson's defensive skills behind the plate. He's been seen as an emergency catcher rather than a legitimate option as a starter there. Wilson made just 20 starts behind the plate during his first five seasons in the big leagues, with the last coming in 2004, when he made a grand total of four appearances there.
If Wilson was ever going to get his shot to play there regularly, it would have been in 2005, when the aging Benito Santiago clearly was on his last leg, while Humberto Cota was hampered by an oblique strain that forced him to begin the season on the disabled list. But rather than go with Wilson as the everyday catcher, the Pirates traded for David Ross.
With Ryan Doumit and Cota healthy and ready for the start of the season, and Ronny Paulino waiting in the wings at Indianapolis, Wilson is the fourth option, at best, for the Pirates behind the plate.
Who will be the Pirates announcers for Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh for the coming season? -- Janice M., Waynesboro, Pa.
Lanny Frattare, Steve Blass, Greg Brown, Bob Walk and John Wehner will all be back for another season with FSN Pittsburgh and the Pirates radio network.
Do you think that Jason Bay is going to hit 40 home runs for Pirates this season? -- Luis C., Las Vegas
If Bay played in just about any other home park in the National League, I'd say he'd have a decent shot at 40 home runs. But PNC Park is a notoriously difficult place for right-handed power hitters because of the deep dimensions in left-center field.
Of Bay's 32 home runs last season, only nine came at home. Bay did hit 15 long balls at PNC Park in 2004, but even if he matches that total this year, he'd need to hit 25 more on the road. That's a tough chore, even with the improved talent that Bay should have surrounding him in the lineup.
As an historical aside, the last Pirate to club at least 40 home runs in a season was Willie Stargell, who went deep 44 times in 1973. The last right-handed Bucs hitter to have 40 or more home runs was Ralph Kiner, who wowed the crowds at Forbes Field with 42 homers way back in 1951.
Who do you think will be in the bullpen on Opening Day? -- Steve D., Clearfield, Pa.
Mike Gonzalez is locked in at closer. Right-handers Salomon Torres and Roberto Hernandez and southpaws Damaso Marte and John Grabow will also pitch in the late innings, assuming Marte's sore left shoulder is sound. Ryan Vogelsong will reprise his role as the long reliever.
The seventh spot in the bullpen will be up for grabs between Giovanni Carrara and the loser of the Brandon Duckworth/Victor Santos competition for the final spot in the starting rotation.

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