Notes: Perez pleased with outing

03/01/2006
BRADENTON -- The Pittsburgh Pirates prepared for their Grapefruit League schedule by downing Manatee Community College, 8-1, Wednesday afternoon before a crowd of 1,942 at McKechnie Field.
Lefty Oliver Perez started for the Pirates and struck out three in two scoreless innings of work. Of the 19 pitches Perez threw, four were not strikes.
"Right now, I feel good," said Perez, who will be leaving Pirates camp on Thursday to join Team Mexico for the World Baseball Classic. "I used my splitter, my slider was good and my location was good."
The fact that Perez was facing college students didn't affect his game plan. He threw at 100 percent velocity and incorporated the changes to his pitching delivery that he has been working on this spring with new pitching coach Jim Colborn.
"I was trying not to think of them as a college," said Perez. "You just have to compete to work them down and make sure they don't hit you hard."
Seven Pirates pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts and limited the Lancers to two hits. Manatee's lone run came on first baseman Kevin Clark's solo homer in the fourth inning against Bucs setup man Salomon Torres.
"We threw a ton of strikes and we made some very good 0-2 pitches," said Pirates manager Jim Tracy.
Tracy, who has continually preached the importance of patience at the plate, was impressed with his hitters' approaches against Manatee pitchers, who often struggled with their control. The Bucs had just seven hits, but they were able to coax eight walks. Lancer pitchers also hit three batters.
"As I said to them on the first day, any time you see a crooked number go up there in any half inning, more times than not there is a base on balls, or more than one, somewhere in the midst of that."
The eighth annual contest between the Pirates and the local college raised $9,710. The proceeds will be divided evenly between the Manatee County Schools Foundation and the Wakeland Elementary School, which is located directly across the street from the Pirate City training complex.
Duffy to DH: Due to a lingering left shoulder problem, Pirates projected starting center fielder Chris Duffy will be used exclusively as a DH until March 6.
Duffy injured the shoulder by crashing into an outfield wall last August before his season was cut short by a left hamstring strain. He has been working this spring with the team's training staff to rebuild his arm strength.
"He has been doing extremely well with this [rehab] program with his shoulder, and is throwing," said Tracy. "We're going to continue to allow our medical people to finish the job with that. But in the meantime he's completely available to hit. We're going to DH him when we have a chance to do so to get him some at-bats."
The Pirates do not believe the condition is serious. Tracy says they are simply keeping Duffy off the field as a precaution against further injury.
"Tomorrow will be March 2. We're not trying to race him to the finish line. We're allowing him to gradually approach and get to that point."
Quotable: "I don't have any doubt that I'll be back in the near future for the better part of my career. Obviously, this is something that is serious and nobody wants to go through it. But stranger things than this have happened and you have to be prepared for all avenues of setbacks. I firmly believe that this is something I have to deal with and hopefully it will make me better and stronger and allow me to perform the way I am capable of." -- Pirates right-hander Kip Wells, who will undergo surgery Monday to restore circulation to his throwing arm
Bucs bits: Pirates catcher Humberto Cota of Mexico has decided to skip the World Baseball Classic. "I was only going to catch one game [for Mexico]. I thought it would be better for me to work with the new coaching staff and manager here," said Cota. "It was a tough decision, but this is a big year for me and I want to do everything I can to be ready." ... Catcher Ronny Paulino accepted his invitation to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Paulino, Perez, Torres (Dominican Republic), Damaso Marte (Dominican Republic), Jason Bay (Canada), Yurendell DeCaster (Netherlands) and Giovanni Carrara (Venezuela) will also represent the Pirates at the inaugural tournament. ... Bay and Jack Wilson will be at Pirate City on Thursday to shoot a national Fox commercial spot to promote the 2006 All-Star Game at PNC Park.
On deck: The Pirates will travel to Viera, Fla., on Thursday for their Grapefruit League opener against the Washington Nationals. Ryan Vogelsong will start for Pittsburgh against Nats right-hander Ramon Ortiz. Victor Santos, Mike Gonzalez, Brandon Duckworth, Scott Strickland and Matt Whiteside are also scheduled to pitch for the Bucs.
Southpaw Zach Duke will start the Pirates' spring home opener at McKechnie Field on Friday against Washington right-hander Tony Armas Jr. Paul Maholm, Mike Johnston, Terry Adams and Marty McLeary are also expected to see action for the Bucs.

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

Pirates pummel Nats in spring opener

03/02/2006
Pirates at the plate: Outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Chris Duffy and Ryan Doumit had RBI singles. Duffy had two hits in the game. Brad Eldred hit a solo home run off Valerio De Los Santos in the top of the seventh inning. Craig Stansberry hit a three-run home run off Travis Hughes. Jose Bautista had an RBI double. The Pirates had a runner on base in the first five innings and had two runners thrown out at the plate.
Nationals at the plate: Brandon Watson, in the running for the center-field job, went 2-for-2 with a walk before Kenny Kelly replaced him in the top of the fifth inning. Mike DiFelice drove in the Nationals' only run with a single to right-center field off Ryan Vogelsong in the third inning. DiFelice ended up getting two hits in the game.
Pirates on the mound: Vogelsong pitched three innings and gave up one run on five hits. Victor Santos, Matt Whiteside, Scott Strickland and Britt Reames shut out the Nationals the rest of the way.
Nationals on the mound: Ramon Ortiz, making his Nationals debut, pitched three innings and gave up a run on three hits. Reliever Steve Watkins gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth inning when he gave up an RBI single to Duffy. He ended up giving up two runs in two innings.
Grapefruit League records: Pirates 1-0; Nationals 0-1.
Up next: The Nationals travel to Bradenton Fla., to play the Pirates on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Kyle Denney will start the game for Washington, while Anastacio Martinez, Micah Bowie, Bill Bray, Jim Crowell and Francis Beltran will pitch in relief. Pittsburgh will have Zach Duke on the mound to start the game, while Paul Maholm, Mike Johnson and Terry Adams will pitch in relief.

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

Wells to undergo surgery Monday

03/01/2006
BRADENTON -- Pirates right-hander Kip Wells will have surgery Monday to restore circulation to his throwing arm.
After being examined Saturday in St. Louis by renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Robert Thompson and diagnosed with a complete blockage of the axillary artery, Wells and his agent contacted several surgeons. Wells considered his options before deciding to undergo a procedure during which his axillary artery will be replaced by a vein taken from his leg.
"[Thompson] is very experienced in what he is dealing with. Everyone confirmed that his diagnosis is what it is," said Wells, who spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since the diagnosis. "We have exhausted pretty much all of the options as far as [experts] are concerned."
The transplanted vein will extend from Wells' chest down the length of his arm, and it will be longer than the artery it is replacing.
"They'll add a little bit of length to the existing problem to alleviate the strain that might be put on the area," said Wells.
Until the operation is performed, it won't be known if Wells will need to have the top rib of his right side removed to alleviate pressure on the affected area. Thompson performed similar procedures on Arizona outfielder Luis Terrero in 2003 and Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook in '04.
"They have narrowed down the problem quite a bit. But there still could be a spectrum of things that could be in there," Wells explained. "Until they get in there and find out the severity of the injury, it's really tough to say much, as far as the details of what it is going to require."
The blood clot that formed under Wells' right arm pit was likely caused by the rubbing of Wells' humerus bone against his axillary artery. According to Wells, the irritation led to a buildup of scar tissue, which in turn narrowed the width of the artery.
Wells has been bothered by circulation problems in his right hand for two years. He underwent carpal tunnel surgery after the 2004 season in an effort to restore feeling to his throwing hand. In 2005, Wells struggled with erratic command and went 8-18 with a 5.09 ERA and a National League-leading 99 walks in 33 starts.
Wells, however, is not sure if the current condition is related to his past circulation problems.
"I don't know if it has been building for the last three years, six months or 15 years, or if little pieces of blood clots have gotten into my arm and that's why my hand, the circulation has been slowing down," said Wells.
"Hopefully when they open me up, they'll be able to say this is something that has been building. For me to say that this has had a direct impact on my career the last few years, I don't know if that is a fair assessment."
Wells cautioned that the surgery might not necessarily be a "cure-all" for his circulation issues.
"But this is a problem that needs to be fixed," he said. "We'll move forward from here."
No timetable will be set on Wells' return to the mound until the surgery is performed.
"The amount of time it takes me to get back could vary. It will be Monday afternoon before we know," said Wells. "Rather than set ourselves up for a letdown, let's just wait until [Thompson] gets in there and looks at it."
Wells concedes that even in the best of circumstances, he'll likely miss at least the first two months of the upcoming season.
"Obviously it's saddening to know that I'm going to miss out on the first part of the season, at least," said Wells.
"Whatever it is, it's too much for me. I came in here ready to go, I'd been throwing well and then this kind of thing happens. It's just frustrating.
"You've just got to deal with it and get as prepared as you can to return and hope for a speedy recovery and hope that by the time I get back, we're still in position that I can help us accomplish some things."
Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield on Wednesday reiterated his stance Wells' replacement will come from a pool of internal candidates that includes right-handers Ian Snell, Ryan Vogelsong and Victor Santos and left-handers Sean Burnett and Tom Gorzelanny.
"It's no different than yesterday," said Littlefield. "Nothing's changed."

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

Notes: Last workouts before Classic

03/02/2006
BRADENTON -- Seven Pirates players worked out with the team Thursday morning for the final time before heading to their respective World Baseball Classic pre-tournament training camps.
For all of the coverage that has been given recently to those who have elected to pull out of the inaugural tournament, there is no denying the fact that the players who will be participating in the World Baseball Classic are genuinely thrilled to have the opportunity to play for their countries.
"I'm very excited. You don't know what to expect. It's new for all of us," said Pirates setup man and Dominican native Salomon Torres. "It is a big deal for a lot of countries, especially for mine. There is a lot of pride involved."
"It's going to be fun," added reliever Giovanni Carrara of Venezuela. "It's my first time to have a chance to represent my country and playing against guys I've worked with. I'm really excited to be there and I'm proud to represent my country."
With the anticipation that has been built up since the tournament was announced last summer, the Pirates players have been champing at the bit to get to their camps.
"We've been talking about it for a while. Now we're just ready to get out there and get going," said outfielder Jason Bay, who will be Team Canada's marquee player. "You have that anticipation, it finally gets here and you definitely get excited."
"Everybody wants to represent their country. You are excited because you want to be with your team and get ready for the games start," said Pirates and Team Mexico starter Oliver Perez.
The wait has been particularly difficult for Pirates infield prospect Yurendell DeCaster. Most of his Netherlands countrymates have been working out for two weeks without him at the Pirate City complex.
"It's been a little tough," DeCaster said. "They have been playing and I want to be in that group. Now, I'll have a chance to help my team."
There has been quite a bit of good-natured trash talking in the McKechnie Field clubhouse this spring, particularly between Bay and Perez. Mexico and Canada will square off against each other in a game that could determine which country will advance to the second round of the tournament.
"You say things like, 'I am going to strike you out,' or 'I am going to hit a home run off of you,'" said Perez, who has also jokingly warned Bay that he'd better be ready for a high and tight pitch if they face each other.
"We'll let the actions on the field take care of that," countered Bay. "We have very similar teams and I think it will be a really good game."
The players' primary concern is to avoid injuries that could impact their ability to help the Pirates when they return to Bradenton.
"You want to do enough to help your country, but you want to be able to bring your arm back [healthy] for the Pittsburgh Pirates," said Torres. "At the end of the day, we have to come back to our teams and we want to come back in one piece."
Renewals likely: Thursday was the final day of negotiations between the Pirates and their unsigned players with less than three years of Major League service time.
With the team's self-imposed noon Thursday deadline looming, it was anticipated that at least a few of the 12 remaining unsigned players would refuse to accept the club's final offer. Because "zero-three-players" are under the contractual control of the team, their refusal to sign is simply a formal way for them communicate their displeasure with the Pirates' final contract offer.
As of Thursday morning, southpaw Zach Duke was not sure if he'd accept the team's offer, which was reportedly worth $335,000 for the 2006 season.
"It's just one of those [situations] where either I am going to take it or I'm not. It's not a big deal," said Duke. "I'm not angry at the Pirates at all. It's just one of those situations where it's just a contract."
The Pirates have decided not to exercise their right to impose a $10,000 penalty on players who refuse to sign.
Bucs bits: The Bucs' exhibition opener Thursday against the Washington Nationals at Viera, Fla. marked their first trip to the Atlantic coast for Grapefruit League action since they played two games against the Expos in Jupiter, Fla. in 2000. ... Former Pirates stars Manny Sanguillen and Kent Tekulve have returned to Bradenton as special Spring Training instructors. "It's great to come back here. It makes me feel good," said Sanguillen. "I remember all of my teammates like [Roberto] Clemente, [Willie] Stargell, Bobby Moose and Steve Blass and all of the good times we had." ... The Pirates will have their annual meeting with representatives from the Major League Baseball Players Association on Friday morning.
Quotable: "It would be a huge honor. That is every pitcher's dream to get the ball and be counted upon by your teammates to be that No. 1 guy. At the same time, I feel as long as I get the baseball then I'm doing exactly what I want to do. I'm getting a chance to pitch." - Duke, on the possibility that he could be named Pittsburgh's Opening Day starter
On deck: Duke will start the Pirates' spring home opener at McKechnie Field on Friday against Washington right-hander Tony Armas, Jr. Paul Maholm, Mike Johnston, Terry Adams and Marty McLeary are also expected to see action for the Bucs. Tickets for the game are available at pirates.mlb.com.

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

Notes: Duke, Maholm tinker in debuts

03/03/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates sophomore southpaws Zach Duke and Paul Maholm made their first appearances of the spring Friday against the Washington Nationals at McKechnie Field.
And while neither lefty had the kind of flawless performances they were probably hoping for, both came away feeling as though they were making progress toward the start of the season.
Duke, who has to be considered a top candidate to take the ball against the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day, struggled somewhat with the command of his two-seam fastball but managed to limit the visiting Nats to just one run on two hits while fanning two during his two innings of work.
"I felt pretty good. I left two pitches up in the zone that got hit hard. It's not a big deal," said Duke. "I got the adrenaline and the competitive juices going. It was nice."
Duke spent most of his 27-pitch performance trying to perfect the weight-transfer adjustments he has made to his pitching delivery this spring.
"When I do it right, I'm very successful locating the ball. When I do it wrong, sometimes I leave some pitches up," said Duke. "I felt like I did it well for the most part."
Maholm, who is slated to be the Bucs' No. 3 starter despite having just six big league appearances under his belt, had a tougher go of it than Duke. In two innings, Maholm allowed three runs on five hits, including a two-run home run by Washington right fielder Ryan Church in the third inning.
"It was good to get back out there," said Maholm. "I think I was maybe a little too anxious. I was falling behind hitters."
Like Duke, Maholm is still trying to work out some kinks in his delivery.
"I was just too quick, opening up, and I couldn't put the ball where I wanted," said Maholm. "I work off of my breaking ball and my command. Neither one of them was there today. I was disappointed in it. But I also know it's the first Spring Training game, and it's going to get better.
"I'll just work on this between now and my next time and hopefully build on it."
Sign 'em up: The Pirates came to terms with eight players on Thursday, including pitchers Sean Burnett, John Grabow, Mike Johnston and Ian Snell, catcher Humberto Cota and infielders Jose Bautista Brad Eldred and Javier Guzman.
Four others -- Duke, closer Mike Gonzalez, center fielder Chris Duffy and second baseman Jose Castillo -- refused to sign and had their contracts renewed by the team.
Because players with less than three years of service time have no leverage in negotiations, they are forced to accept what their teams offer them. Their refusal to sign is simply a ceremonial way for them to express their displeasure with the contract they are offered.
Pirates GM Dave Littlefield is not concerned that his closer, starting center fielder and second baseman, and potential ace starter would hold a grudge against the club.
"It was a decision they made. They disagree with where we slotted them in our scale," said Littlefield. "I think we've seen since the time that I've been here that it really has very little meaning. It's a one-day event. They made their decision.
"We signed a vast majority of the players who agreed to the scale. That's the decision they made. We'll move on."
Duke, who was reportedly offered $335,000 for the 2006 season after going 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 14 starts a year ago, was not fazed by the process.
"No big deal. I'm not unhappy or anything. It's just one of those things. "It's a business," he said.
"It's just kind of a rite of passage type thing. You put your time in. The paydays will come."
On the run: Sean Casey's first at-bat of his Pirates career will go into the books as a double to right field. What the box score can't show is the way he got it.
Although Casey did drill a bullet down the left-field line, he wasn't exactly able to stroll into second base. In fact, his head-first slide into second looked a lot like a barrel roll.
"My wife always jokes around about my grace," joked Casey. "Somebody was saying, 'That wasn't the most beautiful slide.' I said, 'Just get used to it. That's how I slide.'"
Ugly slide aside, Casey was happy to finally get back on the field for game action after plenty of drills at Pirate City.
"You can only take so much BP and so many ground balls," said Casey. "No matter what, in your first Spring Training game you get the juices flowing. It's competition. You see where you at. It's good to get in the games."
As for the double, "It's good to get a hit out of the way. But I know what really matters is April 3. I'm still trying to get myself ready for that."
Meet and greet: As part of the Pirates' annual on-site open house for individual ticket sales, Littlefield will once again be on hand at PNC Park to speak with Pirates fans.
It's an event Littlefield says he looks forward to every year.
"I always do. It's a good opportunity to visit and talk about Pirate baseball with some very passionate fans and some very interested fans that, a lot of times, study [the team] quite a bit. They're educated."
Individual-game tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday at PNC Park, online at pirates.com or via the telephone at 1-800-BUY-BUCS.
On deck: The Pirates will make the trek to Ft. Myers on Saturday to take on the Boston Red Sox. Southpaw Sean Burnett will make his first start of the spring for the Bucs against former Pirates right-hander Bronson Arroyo. Tom Gorzelanny, Gonzalez, Grabow, Ron Chiavacci and Scott Strickland are also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates.

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

Speed Davis' likely ticket to the Majors

03/03/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Rajai Davis leaned against the wall in the clubhouse at Pirate City and talked about his past and his future, quietly and calmly, in a voice, that at times, was barely above a whisper.
A thoughtful and introspective young man, Davis' demeanor betrays the aggressive nature of his game on the field. Davis, 25, can run, man can he run, stealing 179 bases in 472 games as a Pirates farmhand over the last five seasons. His speed has gotten him noticed and will likely be his ticket to the Major Leagues.
Davis stole 45 bases last season for Double-A Altoona, a franchise record. He led the Carolina League in steals (57) and batting (.314) while playing for Lynchburg. He knows how to scrap and he certainly takes advantage of his quickness, using a small-ball mentality to get on base. His speed also helps him a great deal in center field, tracking down balls many players wouldn't reach.
But there would appear to be more than just a slight obstacle preventing Davis from patrolling center field in Pittsburgh within the next year or so. His name is Chris Duffy, a player cut from the same cloth as Davis. He steals bases, though not as frequently, and is a bit better defensively. So what's a speedster to do?
One National League executive who watched both players several times last season offered this on the lifetime .308 hitter.
"Davis played extremely well the times I saw him," the exec said. "He needs to work on his on-base percentage a bit to become a legitimate leadoff hitter, but he's a nice package as a center fielder. From what I hear, [the Pirates] have a split opinion about him in the organization, but I think he has a chance to be an everyday guy.
"He's a little different. He gets away with a lot of things because of his athletic ability. His instincts aren't that refined, but I think he has enough to play every day. And I think, at some point, he'll have enough to challenge Duffy. It's just a matter of what Duffy ends up becoming. If last year was any indication, Davis may have a hard time taking away that center field job. So a lot hinges on what Duffy does."
Davis doesn't seem to get caught up in the "what-if" game, either. He's got strong religious convictions and is confident that they will help guide him, that his belief in God is the best remedy for whatever ails him on the field.
"The last couple of months I started to realize who I am as a person, as an individual and as a player," said Davis, who hit .281 with 76 strikeouts and 46 walks last season. "For me, getting close to God triggered that. The Lord is going to work it out with me. So where I am April 3 or April 4 or April 5, everyone will see the manifestations of what I believe. I really rely on God, he works out everything for me. I'm convinced of that."
Davis said he also benefited from playing in Altoona last season, where he was one of the younger players on the roster. Ever respectful and willing to learn, Davis said sitting back, observing and ultimately asking questions proved to be one of the best things he's done as a pro.
"I'm usually able to blend in with the older players," said Davis, who grew up idolizing former Cincinnati great Barry Larkin, admiring the fact that he spent his entire career with one organization. "They have more knowledge and experience, so you pick their brains and see what works best for them. I learned about respect for the game and got to play with the older players, which helped me understand the game better."
If he does make it to the Major Leagues, Davis will likely get as many questions about his name as he will his abilities. Rajai [pronounced Rahj-ay] means "king" in Sanskrit. He said his mom, Diane Davis, picked out the name.
"Every name has a meaning and a purpose behind that meaning," he said. "Once you find out what your name is, you know who you are and are reminded of it when they call you by that name."

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

Bucs 'will' strive for excellence, success

03/03/2006
PITTSBURGH -- For much of the past 14 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans have been forced to use the same phrases time and time again.
We hope. We wish. We want. We'll try. We might. We plan. We dream.
Friday morning at PNC Park, the Pirates were sending out a new message.
We will.
The organization unveiled its new marketing campaign for assembled media and community members inside the Home Plate Club -- one that the team hopes conveys a message of optimism and confidence for an organization that has endured 13 consecutive losing seasons.
"Through perseverance, we've turned the corner in all aspects of the organization," managing general partner Kevin McClatchy said via video message from the team's Spring Training headquarters in Bradenton, Fla.
"I'm excited about the team and improvements we've made. 'We will' has a meaning to everyone in the Pirates organization. It means we will strive for excellence and success in all aspects of the organization. These are more than two words, of course. They are a mindset, a philosophy and an attitude."
McClatchy said the organizational approach was born out of extensive research with input from front office members, the baseball operations staff, employees, players and, of course, fans. Hundreds were surveyed during the past year.
With the Pirates hosting the MLB All-Star Game this summer, the team said fan interest is at a peak. Record crowds showed up for the Winter Caravan stops throughout Western Pennsylvania and at PirateFest, the weekend-long event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The team has already sold 2,000 more season tickets than last season.
The timing was right for the Pirates to brand themselves the same way Nike, BMW, American Express or Gatorade does, team vice president, marketing, sales & broadcasting Tim Schuldt said, and "We will" is the culmination of those efforts.
"We will go to great lengths to ensure that the experience our fans get coming to the park is the best in sports and entertainment," Schuldt said.
The "We will" mantra will saturate everything involved with the organization, from television and print ads to PNC Park signage to pocket schedules and promotional items to business cards and company stationery.
McClatchy spoke to the players and coaches earlier in the week, and the team plans to inundate the players with the "We will" message on everything from warmup clothing to banners in the clubhouse. The goal is to have the players striving for positive results both on the field and in providing a good face of the franchise for their fans.
"The Pirates display the same hard work and attitude many of their fans and people in the Pittsburgh region share," McClatchy said.
The organization broke down its philosophy into four specific attitudes: Perseverance, Resilience, Improvement and Youthfulness.
"These core values will be integrated through the entire organization," McClatchy said. "Through the employees, business partners, players, the community and fans."
The Pirates said they will have up to 20 different television spots this season -- four times as many as last year -- and each will prominently feature the players conveying the new organizational attitude. All will include carefully selected music tracks from all genres, and some will highlight great Pirates teams from the past. The club has won five World Series titles in its 109-year history.
Banners featuring each of the Pirates on the 25-man Opening Day roster will be on display outside of PNC Park and three massive 20-by-80-foot banners will be visible from an Interstate-279 overpass adjacent to the ballpark, which was named the best in baseball by ESPN.com.
"This [campaign] will become the focal point of our organizational mission statement," McClatchy said. "We want to become the benchmark in the sports and entertainment industry."
McClatchy said the club has achieved a financial stability that was lacking at times in the past. Just less than three years ago, the Pirates were making money-motivated moves, such as the trade of Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs.
But the payroll was significantly raised this offseason, with Pittsburgh signing veteran free agents Jeromy Burnitz, Joe Randa and Roberto Hernandez and trading for Sean Casey and Damaso Marte. The club also gave lucrative contract extensions to core players Jason Bay and Jack Wilson. Jim Tracy, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was brought in as manager.
"We feel very good about where the team is at the Major League level and the Minor League level, but we're working very hard to make changes within the organization," McClatchy said.
Schuldt said the Pirates realize what part of striving for excellence is most important of all. Even if they will entertain and will work hard and will remain good members of the community and will connect with their fans and will treat their fans well, there is one thing among all else Pirates fans yearn for.
"At the end of this, make no mistake," Schuldt said. "The absolute vision for this club is to put that sixth ring on that sixth finger. We absolutely have a vision, and we are ready and really excited about sharing that sixth world championship with the great Pittsburgh Pirates fans."

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

Maldonado, Wilson go yard in Bucs win

03/03/2006
Pirates at the plate: Catcher Carlos Maldonado gave Pittsburgh its first lead of the game with a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning. Designated hitter Craig Wilson put the Bucs on the board with a three-run shot in the sixth, just their second hit of the afternoon up to that point.
Nationals at the plate: Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, including an RBI single off Zach Duke in the second inning. Ryan Church's two-run home run in the third inning off Paul Maholm staked the Nationals to a 3-0 lead.
Pirates on the mound: In his first spring start, Duke allowed one run on a pair of hits and struck out two in two innings. Maholm, who like Duke is expected to begin the season in Pittsburgh's starting rotation, was touched up for five hits -- including Church's home run -- in two innings.
Nationals on the mound: Right-hander Kyle Denney, starting in place of World Baseball Classic-bound Tony Armas, Jr., limited Pittsburgh to one hit in three scoreless innings. Reliever Micah Bowie was tagged for five runs on three hits and three walks in his lone inning.
Grapefruit League records: Pirates 2-0; Nationals 0-2.
Up next: Sean Burnett will make his first start of the spring Saturday when the Pirates travel to Ft. Myers to take on the Red Sox at City of Palms Park at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Nationals have split-squad games at Port St. Lucie against the Mets at 1:10 p.m. ET and at home against Team Panama at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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

Burnett well along on road to recovery

03/04/2006
FT. MYERS -- Pirates lefty Sean Burnett made an important pit stop on Saturday on his long road to recovery from elbow and shoulder surgeries.
Pitching in a competitive environment for the first time since Aug. 23, 2004, Burnett held the Red Sox scoreless on one hit in his lone inning of work. He mixed in his sinking fastball, curve, slider and changeup among the 12 pitches he threw in the game before heading to the bullpen for another 15-18 tosses.
"Everything went well, and I thought I threw the ball well," said Burnett. "I missed a few pitches, but it seemed like everything was working. If I missed, it was down."
For Burnett, the performance wasn't as important as the way his elbow and shoulder responded during his bullpen sessions and his inning of work.
"That's probably the best I felt all spring," said Burnett. "I don't know if adrenaline is the best medication or not, but there was no soreness, no tightness, nothing. It felt 100 percent."
It wasn't all that long ago that Burnett was the jewel of the Pittsburgh farm system. He was a can't-miss prospect, lauded in much the same way that Zach Duke and Paul Maholm are now.
A 2000 first-round pick taken 19th overall by the Pirates out of Wellington (Fla.) High School, Burnett went 26-13 in his first three professional seasons and was selected as the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2001 and 2002. In 2003, Burnett went 14-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 27 starts with Double-A Altoona and was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year.
By the middle of the 2004 campaign, Burnett was in the big leagues displaying the kind of poise and command of his pitches that scouts had raved about for years. After dropping his first two decisions with the Pirates, Burnett became the first Pittsburgh rookie since Mike Dunne in 1987 to win five straight starts. Included among those wins was a shutout against the Montreal Expos at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
Only 21 years old at the time, Burnett had arrived, and it looked as though he'd be a mainstay of the Pittsburgh rotation for many years to come.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long.
Burnett's elbow had been bothering him since the end his 2002 season at Lynchburg, and he was shut down for the 2003 Double-A playoffs because of pain in the elbow. When the problem persisted in 2004, Burnett didn't say anything to the team about it because he was determined to make the most of his first big-league opportunity, pain or no pain. But after allowing 26 earned runs in 22 innings over his final five starts, including a disastrous outing on Aug. 21 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Burnett could no longer keep the injury to himself.
"I knew I wasn't healthy," said Burnett. "I think it was kind of hidden because I was doing good. You want to keep your mouth shut and just go out there and keep pitching and keep pitching. But it got to the point where I couldn't compete any more. I was hurting the team and making myself worse."
Burnett underwent reconstructive elbow surgery on Sept. 22, 2004, and was back on the mound in time for the team's January minicamp. But just as it seemed that Burnett would be ready for a Minor League rehab assignment, his shoulder began to give him problems.
"I was a bullpen [outing] away from going to pitch in games last year, and, all of a sudden, my shoulder started barking," said Burnett. "I have no idea how I hurt my shoulder. I never had a shoulder problem in my life."
On May 24, 2005, Burnett went back under the knife again. Although the surgery ended any hopes he had of pitching again last season, Burnett now considers the injury a blessing in disguise.
"Maybe it was an act of God to give my elbow more time," said "Maybe that's why it feels so good now, because of those extra three or four months off."
Blessing or not, Burnett admits that it was very difficult to be in uniform at PNC Park every day last season, knowing that he had no chance to compete.
"It's mentally hard on you to be in the training room every day," said Burnett. "I went to the ballpark every single day at noon, two or three hours before the guys were there, and I knew I had no chance at playing. It's a grind."
Burnett finally returned to the mound this past January during the team's annual minicamp. He's since taken his regular turns during bullpen sessions with no setbacks. In fact, Burnett says he feels better than he has in years.
"Everything feels loose now," said Burnett. "It's kind of awkward, because that's not how it was a year and a half back."
Because of Burnett's medical history, the team is closely monitoring his progress with guarded optimism.
"We're just going to gradually walk into this situation. We're not going to race into it," said manager Jim Tracy. "We're very well aware of what has taken place as far as his medical history over the last year. There's not a major hurry here."
Coming into camp, the Bucs planned to have Burnett begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis so that he could work off a year's worth of rust. Those plans were altered last week. With Kip Wells expected to be sidelined for at least two months because of a blood clot, there are now two openings in Pittsburgh's starting rotation. Burnett, if he can prove that he is completely healthy, is legitimately in the mix for a spot on the big-league staff.
"A lot of people were saying I had to start in Triple-A," said Burnett. "But I knew I was working hard enough, and I felt good enough.
"It's big, since Kip did go down, to have my name brought up and maybe have a shot of breaking camp."
Although the road from Ft. Myers to Pittsburgh is a long one, Burnett finally feels like he has his career back in gear.
"Today might have been more exciting to me than my big-league debut," Burnett said. "I know it's just a Spring Training game, but it's a big game for me just to get out there and get in the flow of things again."

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

Notes: Castillo shines in spring debut

03/04/2006
FT. MYERS -- The Pirates finally had a chance to see at least one half of their vaunted double-play combination in action on Saturday against the Red Sox.
Second baseman Jose Castillo, who sat out the Bucs' first two exhibition games, took the field on Saturday for the first time since suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Aug. 22.
He didn't seem to miss a beat.
Castillo started a 4-6-3 double play in the first inning on the first ground ball hit to him, singled to right field in his first at-bat, and scored from second base on a Mike Edwards base hit to left field. He finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with a run scored.
"I felt good," said Castillo. "I'm happy because I got a hit and was able to [score] on the hit. My knees and leg felt very good."
Manager Jim Tracy certainly enjoyed his second baseman's spring debut.
"For him to come out here today, do the things that he did and get his work in, I know he is going to go home feeling like he had a very productive day," said Tracy. "Win, lose or draw, in Spring Training, that's what you'd like to hope every guy does."
For all the strides his second baseman has made to get back on the field, there is still one area of Castillo's game that Tracy would like to see evolve before the start of the regular season.
"I think [Castillo] is a better offensive player than he realizes," said Tracy. "If he stays in the strike zone and gets himself good pitches to swing at, you'll find out how good of an offensive player he is capable of being."
It will be at least two days before Castillo gets his regular double-play partner back. Shortstop Jack Wilson had his wisdom teeth removed on Thursday, and he's not expected to appear in a game until Monday at McKechnie Field against the Minnesota Twins.
Preaching patience: Pirates hitters have drawn 16 walks in the first three exhibition games.
Take a moment to let that sink in.
The Pirates, a team that routinely draws among the fewest free passes in the big leagues, have suddenly become the model of patience at the plate.
It's not a coincidence that these are no longer the free-swinging Bucs of old. Tracy has been stressing the importance of making the opposing pitcher throw strikes since the day he was hired, and Castillo's not the only player who has been hearing the new manager's message on a daily basis.
"For the most part, we have taken great at-bats," said Tracy, who has praised hitting coach Jeff Manto for his ability to get the hitters to adapt a more patient approach. "We've given ourselves chances to get a good pitch to swing at. What [Manto] is doing with these players is terrific."
Despite his fondness for walks and, more importantly, good pitches to hit, Tracy said that he stops far short of handcuffing his hitters and taking away their freedom of choice early in counts.
"I'm not sitting here advocating that we take the first pitch every time we walk up there," said Tracy. "I saw a couple of first-pitch swings, but the ball was put in play and it was put in play hard. If you are going to take a swing at a first pitch in a situation like that, have it be a real good swing.
"If we keep preaching that, I think the realization will come, and there won't have to be a whole lot said if you make a weak out on a marginally bad first pitch. It's not the way you play winning baseball."
Quote of the day: "Jose Hernandez plays seven positions. We've seen him at two so far. Stay tuned." -- Tracy, on his versatile veteran
Bucs bits: With their 7-6 win on Saturday, the Pirates improved to 3-0 in Grapefruit League action, their best start since at least 1993. Records for spring games prior to 1993 were not immediately available. ... Jody Gerut went 1-for-2 with two walks and threw out a runner at second base on Saturday. "This kid's got a real idea of how to play the game, and he has a real idea how to hit," said Tracy. "He understands the concept that we're preaching out here."
On deck: The Pirates will travel to Lakeland on Sunday to take on former Bucs managers Jim Leyland, Gene Lamont, Lloyd McClendon and the Detroit Tigers. Right-hander Brandon Duckworth is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman. Ian Snell, Terry Adams, Josh Sharpless, Jonah Bayliss and Scott Strickland are also expected to pitch for the Pirates.

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

Bucs take seesaw battle from Red Sox

03/04/2006
Red Sox at the plate: Alejandro Machado and Tyler Mingis stroked consecutive two-run singles to pace a five-run fifth inning for the Red Sox. Mark Loretta added two hits while Trot Nixon laced an RBI single.
Pirates at the plate: Ryan Doumit clubbed a three-run homer and Jose Bautista smacked a double and scored a run.
Red Sox on the mound: Left-hander Abe Alvarez sparkled in relief of Bronson Arroyo, firing 2 1/3 shutout innings while striking out two. Prospect Craig Hansen didn't allow a run in his inning of work, though he did walk two.
Pirates on the mound: Pirates left-hander Sean Burnett, who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery, made the first step in his comeback, pitching a scoreless first inning. Burnett is battling to be Pittsburgh's fifth starter.
Grapefruit League record: Red Sox 0-2; Pirates 3-0
Up next: The Red Sox will split up on Sunday, as half the squad will take a short bus ride to play the Twins in a 1:05 p.m. ET contest, while the other portion of the team will play Team Australia at 6:05 p.m. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield takes the ball against the Twins, while top prospect Jon Lester faces Australia. The Pirates play a road game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., at 1:05 p.m., with right-hander Brandon Duckworth on the mound.

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

Notes: McClendon happy with new gig

03/05/2006
LAKELAND, Fla. -- There was nothing novel about Lloyd McClendon addressing a half dozen or so Pittsburgh reporters prior to the Pirates' game Sunday at Joker Marchant Stadium -- he'd had hundreds of such powwows with the scribes during his tenure as the Bucs skipper.
The fact that McClendon conducted the interview while wearing a dark blue Detroit Tigers jersey, however, was certainly something new.
McClendon, who was let go last September after nearly five years as manager of the Pirates, has grown accustomed to his new threads. And he's become comfortable in his new role as a bullpen coach for his mentor, former Bucs skipper and current Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
"It's outstanding," said McClendon. "It's a pleasure to come to work every day. Jim makes it easy. He tells us all the time, 'You don't work for me; you work with me.' I think that's pretty darned good."
McClendon looks back fondly on his 14 years with the Pirates, even if things didn't go as well as he'd have liked during his time as a manager, and he has no lingering animosity for his former employers.
"I was with the club for 15 years. There are some good memories. Some bad, but most of the memories are very good," said McClendon.
"I went into the Pirates job with my eyes wide open. I understand how things work. It's unfortunate in this business. Time ran out. Guys were getting better, but time ran out. I wasn't the first [to be let go] and I won't be the last that that happens to. It's just the way the game works."
When Leyland decided to return to managing after spending the previous six seasons scouting for the Cardinals in Pittsburgh, he wasted no time adding McClendon to his big-league staff.
"I think he's a very bright baseball man," said Leyland. "He's a very well-rounded baseball man. He's an intelligent guy. He brings a lot.
"I thought he did a heck of a job [in Pittsburgh]. Plus, he's a friend. It's pretty nice when you've got a friend you think is a heck of a baseball guy. That's a pretty good combination."
While McClendon is enjoying his new role for now, he's made no secret of his desire to return to the managerial ranks some day.
"I'm only 47," McClendon said. "I'm not burned out yet."
Snell debuts: Right-hander Ian Snell, who is among the top four candidates to fill the final two spots in the Pittsburgh starting rotation, made his debut Sunday against the Tigers.
In two innings, Snell blanked Detroit while walking one and striking out one. He was able to effectively mix in his fastball, changeup and curve among his 27 pitches.
"Ian threw the ball extremely well today," said Pirates manager Jim Tracy. "I saw Ian throw breaking balls for strikes, I saw him throw changeups for strikes and I saw Ian throwing strikes early in the count.
"When you have the kind of stuff that he has, you start to force hitters to have to expend themselves offensively instead of limiting where the ball is going to show up in those specific areas."
Snell has pitched about as well as anyone could in the Minor Leagues, as evidenced by his 61-20 career record in the Minors and the no-hitter he threw last season at Triple-A. But to this point, those numbers haven't translated into big-league success. In 18 career appearances with the Bucs, including six starts, he's gone 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA.
With Kip Wells expected to be sidelined by a blood clot for at least two months, Snell knows this could be his best chance to open some eyes and show the new coaching staff that he deserves one of the two openings in the starting rotation. Still, he's trying not to put undue pressure on himself.
"I see there is opportunity. But I just want to go out and show that I can do it first instead of saying, 'Oh, I'm going to have that spot,'" Snell said.
"I'm trying not to think too much. If you think too much, you carry it on the field; you worry; you tell yourself you have to do good. I just want to go out and be myself, like [pitching coach Jim] Colborn told me. That's what I've done."
Tracyball: A sequence in the third inning epitomized the type of play that Tracy wants to see from his team this season.
Nate McLouth led off the inning, worked the count full and then hustled down the first-base line and reached safely on an error by Tigers shortstop Don Kelly. With the hit and run on, Freddy Sanchez was able to make contact with a pitch well out of the strike zone to move McLouth over to second base on a soft grounder to shortstop. Sean Casey followed with a single up the middle to score the speedy McLouth from second with the Bucs' only run.
Tracy's "rag smash" drill also paid early dividends when Pirates starter Brandon Duckworth snared a line drive back through the box in the first inning on Sunday and was able to throw out a runner venturing too far off second base for a double play.
Bucs bits: The 4-1 loss to the Tigers on Sunday was the Bucs' first in four Grapefruit League games. The Pirates also were held without a home run Sunday for the first time this spring. ... Four of the Pirates' last five managers were in uniform Sunday at Joker Marchant Stadium. In addition to Tracy, McClendon and Leyland, Gene Lamont was on hand as the Tigers' third base coach. ... Chris Duffy (shoulder) is expected to make his first start in center field on Monday. Tracy said he is not sure when shortstop Jack Wilson, who had his wisdom teeth removed on Thursday, will be ready to make his spring debut.
On deck: The Pirates will return home to McKechnie Field on Monday to take on the Twins at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Victor Santos will start for the Bucs against Minnesota southpaw Glen Perkins. Ryan Vogelsong, Matt Peterson, Marty McLeary, John Grabow and Matt Capps also are scheduled to pitch for Pittsburgh.

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

Pair of youngsters leave for Classic

03/05/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Yurendell DeCaster and Ronny Paulino, both of whom likely will start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, were among seven Pirates players who left camp last week to participate in the World Baseball Classic.
DeCaster, a versatile infielder/outfielder with developing power, will be one of the marquee players on a very inexperienced Netherlands team. Paulino, who is coming off an outstanding 2005 season split between Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona, will play a lesser role with the loaded Dominican Republic team.
Both players will be affected by not remaining in the big-league camp for the full six weeks. DeCaster is in competition for the final Pirates bench spot, and Paulino, as the third catcher on the depth chart, needs to become more familiar with the pitching staff.
However, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield and manager Jim Tracy believe the experience DeCaster and Paulino will receive by playing on an international stage will be invaluable for their career development.
On the move: With Kip Wells expected to miss at least the first two months of the season due to a blood clot, southpaw Sean Burnett is a legitimate candidate for a big-league rotation spot. If Burnett can show he has fully recovered from the shoulder and elbow surgeries that sidelined him for the entire 2005 campaign, he'll begin the season in Pittsburgh. Otherwise, Burnett will be given a chance to shake off the rust at Triple-A.
On the pine: Right-hander John Van Benschoten, who spent the 2005 season on the disabled list while recovering from surgeries to both shoulders, has begun throwing long toss. He likely will throw off the mound this week for the first time since mini-camp.
Names in the game: Former Bucs stars Manny Sanguillen and Kent Tekulve joined the team last week as special Spring Training instructors. Sanguillen will provide guidance to the team's catchers, while Tekulve will help the relief pitchers.
They're No. 1: Bryan Bullington, the 2002 No. 1 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft who is recovering from shoulder surgery, began throwing from a distance of 30 feet last week. He'll progress to distances of 45, 60 and 90 feet before throwing his first bullpen session. Bullington is expected to be ready for game action in late June or early July.
Class of '05: Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates' 2005 first-round pick, has been one of the early talks of camp. McCutchen, 19, received a lot of playing time early on in the exhibition schedule, and he's held his own. McCutchen has impressed Tracy with a mature approach at the plate that is uncommon for a player who is so young.
What they're saying: "To go out there and get a hit up the middle, an RBI, it felt real good. It let me know that I can handle this." -- McCutchen, on getting a hit against Pirates veteran Giovanni Carrara during an intrasquad game

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

Pirates tripped up by Tigers

03/05/2006
Tigers at the plate: Former Pirates prospect Chris Shelton doubled and scored in the first inning to open the scoring. Pittsburgh native Don Kelly singled and walked twice. He scored in the sixth inning on Mike Hessman's two-run home run. Hessman has two homers and five RBIs in two days.
Pirates at the plate: Sean Casey singled in Pittsburgh's only run in the fourth inning. He drove in Nate McLouth, who reached base on an error. Casey went 2-for-3, while McLouth reached base safely all three times at bat.
Tigers on the mound: Jeremy Bonderman tossed two hitless innings in his first start of the spring before Jordan Tata allowed one run on one hit in three innings. Chad Durbin walked two and gave up three hits, but he survived two innings with no runs allowed.
Pirates on the mound: Brandon Duckworth's second outing of the spring featured several hard hits, but he allowed just one run in two innings with three strikeouts. Ian Snell followed with two hitless innings. Jonah Bayliss allowed Hessman's home run.
Grapefruit League records: Tigers 3-1; Pirates 3-1.
Up next: The Tigers are going to Disney World to take on the Braves on Monday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Cracker Jack Stadium. Nate Robertson will make his second start of the spring after two easy innings against the Reds last Thursday. Preston Larrison, Roman Colon, Bobby Seay, Hector Mercado and Tim Crabtree also are scheduled to pitch. Horacio Ramirez is slated to start for Atlanta.
The Pirates return to Bradenton to host the Twins on Monday, also at 1:05 p.m. Victor Santos is the scheduled starter, and he will be followed by Ryan Vogelsong, Matt Peterson, Marty McLeary, John Grabow and Matt Capps.

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

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/

Mailbag: Is there a Plan B at leadoff?

03/06/2006
Chris Duffy is projected to be the Pirates starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. Should Duffy struggle at the plate or suffer an injury, Jason Bay will likely take over in center field. But who will bat leadoff? It seems to me that the Pirates don't have many other viable leadoff options. -- Alex L., Greensburg, Pa.
You raise a very interesting question, Alex.
Duffy had an outstanding rookie season, batting .341 and playing some of the most spectacular defense we've seen from a Pirates center fielder since Andy Van Slyke. However, with only 39 big-league games under his belt, Duffy doesn't have much of a track record. In the last six years, we've seen Adrian Brown and Tike Redman look like they would be Pittsburgh's center fielder of the future one year only to watch them struggle to hold down the job the next. And let's not forget that Duffy has already had more than his share of health problems.
You mention the option of moving Bay to center field, and the Pirates could certainly go that route if they needed to. They could insert either Jody Gerut or Craig Wilson into the starting lineup as a corner outfielder and not lose much offensively. But the Pirates probably don't want to have their best offensive player wearing himself out tracking down fly balls in center field. The huge left field at PNC Park is already enough of a defensive chore.
My best guess is that the Pirates will use Nate McLouth in center field and at the top of the order if Duffy struggles. The speedy McLouth has hit between .297 and .322 with 40, 31 and 34 steals during his last three Minor League seasons. He more than held his own in 41 games with the Bucs last season, and he's shown a lot of patience at the plate this spring. He's certainly not a bad backup plan.
Do you think it will be too much pressure on Zach Duke to be the No. 1 starter in his sophomore season? Can he handle squaring off against other No. 1 starters around the league? -- Tom B., Breezewood, Pa.
Well, Jim Tracy hasn't named his Opening Day starter yet. If he does select Duke, I believe the young lefty can easily handle the pressure.
We were hearing about Duke's unmatched poise long before he ever made it to the big leagues, and he's done nothing to this point to prove his supporters wrong. Unlike a lot inexperienced players, Duke never seems to get rattled out there. He sticks with his game plan and shakes off adversity.
Remember the game at Wrigley Field last summer when Duke struck out Derek Lee and induced Aramis Ramirez to hit into an inning-ending double play to get out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in his win over Greg Maddux? Rookies just aren't supposed to be able to do that sort of thing.
As for the pressure of having to match the other teams' aces, that won't really be an issue because rotations don't line up perfectly after teams have played a few series. There is a good chance that Duke will be facing a No. 4 or 5 starter in his second and third starts. Not that this would matter much to Duke. He seems to thrive on the challenge of proving himself against the best the league has to offer.
Do you think the weight Jack Wilson put on will boost his power numbers?-- Jonny H., Monroeville, Pa.
No. And neither does Jack. Wilson simply wants to be able to sustain his strength all season. He has been known to drop 10-15 pounds over the course the 162-game grind, so the extra weight gives him a better foundation to begin with.
It seems to me the Pirates gave Jack Wilson the big money too soon. That money could have been used on a solid free agent next offseason. Do you think that the Pirates should have waited for Wilson to have an offensive year like that of two years ago before signing him to a big extension?-- Shane L., Palos Verdes, Calif.
While it is true that Wilson was already under the contractual control of the Pirates through the 2007 season before he signed his extension, he would have been eligible for a hefty pay raise this winter. By signing Wilson to an extension now, the Bucs have given themselves payroll assurance with their shortstop. They've protected themselves in the event that the going rate for shortstops exceeds their budgetary means.
I don't know if even Wilson ever expects to have another Silver Slugger season. But if he can hit between .280 and .300 and continue to play Gold Glove-caliber defense, I believe the Pirates have made a wise investment in a player who has become one of the mainstays of the franchise.
I think Joe Randa can work this year at third base. But what about next year? Could you see the Pirates signing or trading for a power third baseman for the future, because I can't see Randa being part of the future at his age? -- Mike D., Pittsburgh
You're right on the money about Randa being a one-year fix, Mike.
The team wanted to give 2005 Minor League Player of the Year Jose Bautista at least a few months worth of at-bats at Triple-A before bringing him back to the big leagues. Randa gives the Pirates a solid, if unspectacular, veteran at the position while Bautista continues to develop.
Unless Bautista struggles mightily at Indianapolis this season, the third-base job will probably be his to lose at this time next spring.

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

Long balls lift Bucs past Twins

03/06/2006
Pirates at the plate: Jose Castillo gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead in the first inning with a three-run home run to left field. Jeromy Burnitz went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a home run. Burnitz's first long ball of the spring was a towering shot that cleared the palm trees behind the right-field fence. Ray Sadler put the Pirates ahead to stay with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.
Twins at the plate: Terry Tiffee paced the Twins offense with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Nick Punto went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and Mike Cuddyer pitched in with two base hits, including an RBI single in the third inning on a hit-and-run play.
Pirates on the mound: Victor Santos kept the Twins off the board in the first two innings before getting into trouble in the third. After Cuddyer's RBI single cut Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1, Matt Capps came on to get the final two outs of the third. Ryan Vogelsong, who is competing with Santos, among others, for the Pirates' two open rotation spots, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings.
Twins on the mound: Starter Glen Perkins struggled through a long first inning. The southpaw walked three, hit a batter and allowed two hits, including Castillo's three-run homer. J.D. Durbin tossed two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit.
Grapefruit League records: Pirates 4-1; Twins 3-3.
Up next: Southpaw Zach Duke will make his second start of the spring on Tuesday when the Bucs host the Atlanta Braves. Right-hander Brad Radke will take the mound for the Twins on Tuesday in Tampa, Fla., against the New York Yankees.

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

Bucs swing heavy bats against Braves

03/07/2006
Pirates at the plate: The Pirates took advantage of the fact that the wind was gusting out to right field. Top prospects Brad Eldred (fourth inning), Jose Bautista (fifth inning) and Nate McLouth (sixth inning) each had two-run home runs. Craig Wilson, Joe Randa and Ray Sadler pitched in with two hits apiece.
Braves at the plate: Wilson Betemit had two hits, including a two-out RBI double in the first inning off Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke. Ryan Langerhans doubled to lead off the second inning and scored on James Jurries' RBI single.
Pirates on the mound: Duke, the Pirates' potential Opening Day starter, allowed eight Braves to reach base in three innings, but he managed to keep the damage to a minimum, holding Atlanta to two runs on seven hits and a walk. Britt Reames held the Braves hitless for three innings to pick up the win.
Braves on the mound: Starter Chuck James limited the Pirates to one run on two hits in his two innings of work. Veteran lefty Mike Remlinger tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
Grapefruit League records: Pirates 5-1; Braves 2-4.
Up next: The Pirates will play road games on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET against the Reds in Sarasota and Wednesday night against the Yankees at 7:15 p.m. in Tampa. Tom Gorzelanny will start for the Bucs against the Reds, while Paul Maholm will start in the nightcap against New York.
John Thompson will start for the Braves on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m., when they travel to Lakeland to take on the Tigers.

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

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/

Surgery corrects Wells' blocked artery

03/07/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates right-hander Kip Wells underwent successful surgery in St. Louis on Monday to repair an artery that had been blocked by a blood clot.
Wells, who will remain hospitalized at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for at least the next two days, will begin a rehabilitation program in four to six weeks. According to GM Dave Littlefield, Wells will "be back game-ready somewhere around the All-Star break."
Wells had suffered a complete blockage of the axillary artery, which is located in the upper chest beneath the clavicle and supplies blood to the head and arms. Renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Robert Thompson was able to correct the problem by replacing the artery with a vein taken from Wells' leg.
Fortunately for Wells, Dr. Thompson did not need to remove Wells' top right rib during the operation. Thompson was forced to take this more intrusive action when he treated Colorado Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Terrero for blood clots in the past. Had this been the case with Wells, the right-hander likely would have been out of action for most, if not all, of the 2006 season.
"Considering all things, it is a good result," said Littlefield.
"We're anxious for him to get back," Littlefield added, "and looking forward to him coming back to the rotation."
After his stay in St. Louis, Wells will return to his home in Houston. At some point in April, he'll begin working to rebuild the strength and the range of motion in his shoulder.
Littlefield was uncertain as to when Wells would begin working out with the team.
"A lot of it will depend on how he improves," said Littlefield. "Everybody recuperates at a different rate. Will just have to keep an open mind as to how he does."
Wells had been troubled by circulation problems in his right hand for two years. He underwent carpal tunnel release surgery after the 2004 season in an effort to restore feeling to his throwing hand. He continued to struggle with command problems last season when he went 8-18 with a 5.09 ERA and led the National League with 99 walks.
However, Wells was reluctant to attribute his past problems to the blood clot when he met with reporters on March 1.
"Hopefully, when they open me up they'll be able to say this is something that has been building," said Wells. "For me to say that this has had a direct impact on my career the last few years, I don't know if that is a fair assessment."
Littlefield said Wednesday that the scar tissue which led to the blockage "certainly was enough to have a blocked artery," but added that Wells' blocked artery was "completely unrelated" to his past circulation problems.
Word of Wells' successful surgery spread quickly through the Pirates clubhouse at McKechnie Field, and his teammates were predictably pleased to learn the good news.
"It's awesome," said Ryan Vogelsong. "Any time you go in to something like that you expect the worse and hope for the best. It seems like the best has come true in this situation.
"It will be good to get him back. He definitely adds something to our team on and off the field. He's been our clubhouse clown here the last couple of years, and he's the type of guy, with his stuff, that we expect him to win every time he is on the field. It will be exciting when we get him back. It should be a real big boost for our team."
"It's definitely a good sign," said Craig Wilson. "With what you have seen in the past with guys with this problem, it's great that the surgery went well and it wasn't as intrusive at it could have been. We'll be glad to have him back."

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

Notes: Pirates' Duke in tinker mode

03/07/2006
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Zach Duke didn't have the kind of banner performance Tuesday against the Braves that Pirates fans grew accustomed to last summer.
In three innings against an Atlanta lineup that looked more like the Richmond Braves than the big league club, Duke allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk. And his command was uncharacteristically shaky. Of the 54 pitches Duke threw, 20 went for balls.
"I just felt a little bit inconsistent today. My mechanics were a little all over the place," said Duke.
"I gave up seven hits. But I wasn't necessarily pitching like I would during the season," he added. "I'm OK with that happened today."
There's a reason that Duke wasn't all that concerned about his pitching line. Unlike last spring, when he was fighting for a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation, Duke now has the luxury of knowing he'll break camp with the Bucs. He can work on getting himself ready for April rather than worry about trying to dominate in every start.
Tuesday, as was the case in his first spring start, Duke was focused almost entirely on getting his two-seam fastball over for strikes.
"That's my bread and butter," he explained. "If I can't throw it for strikes my game falls off the table. So I have to get this pitch down in Spring Training to be ready for the regular season."
Duke was able to cobble some positives out of his outing. Despite having at least two runners on base in each inning, he was able to limit the Braves to just two runs.
"I think I made some good pitches. Whenever I got into a little jam I got myself out a couple of times," said Duke.
"I need to get my rhythm [pitching] out of the stretch. This is the perfect time to do it."
Wilson practices: Jack Wilson returned to the field Tuesday for the first time since having a wisdom tooth removed five days earlier. He fielded some ground balls at shortstop before taking his hacks in batting practice.
"It was the first time I've had a ball thrown at me in a week and the first round of BP was pretty ugly," he said. "But I squared some balls up. The third round was decent.
"The fielding was kind of iffy. It will get better. You just keep working."
Wilson is not on the Pirates travel roster for either of the team's road games on Wednesday. He doesn't expect to see his first Grapefruit League action until Thursday or Friday.
"It makes sense," Wilson said. "I'll get a couple more rounds of BP and some more ground balls. I'll run on the treadmill to slowly but surely get up to a certain speed just to get some juice back."
Hernandez throws: Another Pirates veteran who has not yet participated in game action is right-hander Roberto Hernandez. The Bucs reliever has been slowed by tightness and soreness in his throwing shoulder.
Hernandez, 41, threw a bullpen session Tuesday as pitching coach Jim Colborn looked on. He expects to throw batting practice on Friday.
"Everything is going a lot better than expected," said Hernandez. "I'm just trying to get my arm back in shape. I probably overdid it earlier [in camp]. Right now, we're controlling it and everything is all systems go."
The Pirates have not yet determined when Hernandez will pitch in a game.
"The Mayor" returns: Pirates first baseman Sean Casey, who was one of Cincinnati's most popular players during his eight seasons with the Reds, will face his former team Wednesday for the first time since being traded to Pittsburgh last December.
"I've got to play the Reds at some point, they're in our division," said Casey.
"It will be a little strange. But hopefully I'll just go over there and enjoy it. It's still baseball. It will be good to see all of the guys I played with the last few years."
Ward to skipper Bradenton: Former Pirates outfielder Turner Ward was named Tuesday as the manager for Bradenton of the Gulf Coast League. It will be Ward's first managerial post.
Ward replaced former Bucs bench coach and interim manager Pete Mackanin, who accepted a position earlier this spring as an advance scout with the Reds.
On deck: The Pirates will play a pair of road games Wednesday. Southpaw Tom Gorzelanny will start the 1:05 p.m. ET afternoon tilt in Sarasota against Cincinnati Reds lefty Michael Gosling. Left-hander Paul Maholm will start the Bucs' first night (7:15 p.m. start) game of the spring against New York Yankees right-hander Jaret Wright in Tampa. Sean Burnett is also slated to pitch in the nightcap at Legends Field.

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

Stansberry blast carries Bucs

03/08/2006
Reds at the plate: Jacob Cruz broke a streak of nine in a row retired in the fourth with a double to right field. Cruz was later the third out, trying to score on a Tony Womack single to left field. Quinton McCracken and Anderson Machado each had singles in the game.
Pirates at the plate: Second baseman Craig Stansberry snapped a scoreless tie with a three-run home run that cleared the left-field fence in the fifth. It was Stansberry's second homer this spring. It was 4-0 in the eighth when pitcher Scott Strickland's squeeze bunt scored another run.
Reds on the mound: Seeking a spot in the Reds' rotation, Michael Gosling gave up two hits, a walk and hit a batter -- but worked three scoreless innings. Top pitching prospect Homer Bailey followed and looked impressive in his one scoreless inning. Bailey struck out one and walked one. Making his first appearance of the spring, Josh Hall surrendered Stansberry's homer. Hall was charged with three runs and three hits in one inning. Veterans Chris Hammond and Rick White each worked scoreless innings.
Pirates on the mound: With an outside chance to earn a spot on the staff, Tom Gorzelanny pitched three scoreless innings and allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Gorzelanny retired his first nine batters in order. Marty McCleary followed with his own three scoreless innings and gave up two hits and no walks while striking out three.
Grapefruit League records: Reds 3-5; Pirates 6-1.
Up next: The two teams play each other again Thursday in Bradenton. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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

Notes: Casey not injured after beaning

03/08/2006
SARASOTA, Fla. -- In the time it took Cincinnati Reds starter Michael Gosling to throw one pitch in the third inning on Wednesday, Sean Casey's return to Ed Smith Stadium nearly went from heartwarming to heartbreaking.
After Casey got ahead in the count, 2-0, Gosling reached back for a little something extra on a high and inside fastball. The pitch got away from the young southpaw and hit Casey on his batting helmet, just above his right eye.
The stunned crowd gasped and held its collective breath as Casey fell to the ground and lay at home plate. Gosling, obviously upset at the turn of events, walked off the mound toward Casey, hoping for the best.
Fortunately, the helmet took the brunt of the blow, and Casey was not injured.
"Great welcome back. I thought I had some friends in here," Casey joked afterward. "But hey, that's baseball. It happens. The ball got away from him. That's the way it goes. You take that risk every time you go in the batter's box."
Casey returned to his feet soon after being hit and jogged to first base. He didn't want to be helped off the field like he was at PNC Park last season, when as a member of the Reds, he took an elbow in the face from Bucs catcher Humberto Cota.
"I just wanted to get up, get on base and go," said Casey.
Manager Jim Tracy removed Casey for precautionary reasons at the conclusion of the third inning. Gosling apologized to Casey as the first baseman walked off the field.
After meeting briefly with a member of the Pittsburgh training staff, Casey said he felt fine except for a little bump on his forehead.
"I think I'm fine. I just have a little swelling," he said. "It never hit me in the face. Initially, I thought it might have, because you get that initial throb, but it didn't hit me in the face."
Casey's second at-bat stood in stark contrast to his first, when the popular former Reds star received a rousing ovation from the crowd, and fans could be heard shouting, "Get a hit, Sean!"
As he stepped into the batter's box, Casey jokingly asked Reds catcher Jason LaRue, "Is this an intersquad game?"
Casey admitted that he had mixed emotions facing his former teammates, but he was happy to get the first game against the Reds out of the way. Even if it meant taking one on the noggin.
"It was good to be back here," he said. "Hey, I got hit in the head. That's no big deal. I'll be back out there tomorrow."
Little ball, long ball: With the exception of Casey's frightening at-bat, Tracy couldn't have been happier with what he saw in the Bucs' 5-0 split-squad win over the Reds.
The victory was highlighted by strong pitching, spectacular defense, patience at the plate and a good old-fashioned backbreaker of a three-run homer.
Starter Tom Gorzelanny, who is in the mix for a spot in the big-league rotation, blanked the Reds on two hits and a walk in three innings. Relievers Marty McLeary and Scott Strickland also chipped in three scoreless innings.
"I thought Gorzelanny threw the ball great," said Tracy. "There is no question that the stuff is of Major League caliber. The consistency in the strike zone is the important thing. He was in the zone, and he was throwing early-count strikes. If there is consistency with that, then obviously this guy has the stuff it takes to be a big-league pitcher."
Left fielder Ray Sadler was the defensive stalwart for Pittsburgh. He made a diving catch for the first out of the first inning and threw out runner Jacob Cruz at the plate in the third inning.
"I've seen Sadler [be nothing in the outfield but terrific]," said Tracy. "I've seen three terrific throws. I've seen diving catches. The outfield play, in general, from the entire group, has been A-plus and then some."
As if the pitching and defense weren't enough to bring a smile to Tracy's face, the Pirates even had Strickland perfectly execute a squeeze play in the eighth inning.
"We've just done all of the little things the way you like to see them be done," said Tracy, whose team improved to 6-1 with the win.
For all the talk of small ball this spring, it was a big blast that opened the game for the Pirates. Craig Stansberry continued the team's early power surge with a three-run homer run in the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie. It was the 12th home run in seven games for the Bucs.
Tracy was quick to note that Stansberry's home run came after the prospect had worked the count to 3-1.
"That's the kind of swing you like to see a guy take when he gets a pitcher painted into the corner," said Tracy. "Those three-run home runs are damaging. They hurt. They're very painful."
JVB progressing: Right-hander John Van Benschoten, who has been sidelined by a sore right shoulder, will throw his first bullpen session of the spring on Friday.
"It's been real frustrating," said Van Benschoten. "But it's nice to have a set date to focus all my energy on and get ready for. Even if it's just some side work, it's a significant step just to get into the flow of things. Instead of being cooped up in the training room all day, I get to go out there and have some fun."
Van Benschoten spent the entire 2005 season on the 60-day disabled list while recovering from operations on both of his shoulders. The former No. 1 draft pick is not sure if he will be ready for the start of the upcoming Minor League season.
On deck: The Pirates will host the Reds at McKechnie Field on Thursday. Right-hander Ian Snell will start for the Bucs against right-hander Aaron Harang. Mike Gonzalez, John Grabow, Brandon Duckworth and Ron Chiavacci are also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates.

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

Bucs fall to Yanks in Tampa

03/08/2006
Yankees at the plate: Designated hitter Gary Sheffield hit a run-scoring single in his first at-bat since coming back from a hamstring injury. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored. First baseman Andy Phillips went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and center fielder Kevin Reese was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
Pirates at the plate: Mike Edwards hit a two-out single in the third inning and then scampered home on Nate McLouth's triple to right field. Freddy Sanchez then followed with an RBI single. Catcher Ryan Doumit hit a solo homer in the third inning for the Pirates' last run of the game.
Yankees on the mound: Jaret Wright started his second game of the spring, pitching 2 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits while walking two and fanning two. Scott Erickson pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Pirates on the mound: Left-hander Paul Maholm made his first start of the spring, working three innings and yielding five runs on six hits with three walks. Left-hander Sean Burnett pitched two innings and gave up a pair of runs (one earned) on four hits, fanning two.
Grapefruit League records: Yankees 4-3; Pirates 5-2.
Up next: Randy Johnson makes his second appearance of the spring on Thursday as the Yankees try to win their fifth straight in a game against Detroit at 1:15 p.m. ET at Legends Field in Tampa.
The Pirates return home to Pirates City in Bradenton to face the Reds at 1:05 p.m. Ian Snell is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh.

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