February 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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His birth certificate and passport say outfielder Jose Tabata was born Aug. 12, 1988, in Anzoategui, Venezuela. Yet, during a recent radio interview, general manager Neal Huntington admitted there are "a lot of rumblings" that Tabata might actually be in his mid-20s. In Latin America, record-keeping can be spotty, especially when it comes to youngsters with excellent baseball skills. The New York Yankees investigated Tabata's background in 2005 and, satisfied he truly was 16, signed him as an undrafted free agent. The Pirates are not publicly disputing Tabata's age, and yet ... "All of the documentation he has used to obtain his visa from the U.S. government and his passport from the ..."
February 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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All too often last year, the Pirates' offense evaporated at the worst possible time. "It seemed like every game we were in it, but we were always one or two hits away," catcher Ryan Doumit said. Sixty-six of their games -- about 41 percent of the season -- were decided by either one or two runs. The Pirates' record in those games was 24-42. The Pirates cannot say the franchise truly is taking steps back toward respectability until they find a way to restore their anemic offense and start winning close games. "It's a standard we have to set for ourselves," manager John Russell said. Last season, the Pirates scored 636 runs, the lowest total in the majors. They also amassed the second-fewest ..."
January 31
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Closing out the ninth inning of a tight ballgame is one of the most pressure-packed jobs in baseball. The best closers are rewarded with hefty contracts, delirious standing ovations, adrenaline rushes and perhaps an ulcer or two along the way. What they do not get a lot of is awards. "It is much harder for a reliever who has a great season to win the (Cy Young) award than a starter who has a great season," said Tekulve, who ranks first in Pirates history with 158 saves. "That's because all of the voters will consider the starter, but only certain voters will consider the reliever." Nine of the past 86 Cy Young awards have gone to relief pitchers. Since 1977, seven of the winners were ..."
January 31
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist Kevin Gorman
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Bob Nutting is known as a bottom-line businessman, as reflected by his dealings as Pirates owner. Ron Burkle has a reputation as a savvy billionaire with political muscle who is no stranger to hostile takeovers. When word leaked that Burkle and his Penguins co-owner, Mario Lemieux, made an offer to buy the Pirates, it set the stage for what could become a cross-town tug-of-war for control of the non-Steelers sports market. The Penguins want it, but Nutting isn't budging. Pirates president Frank Coonelly admitted Saturday that the timing of the leak, four months after the fact, was "odd." Considering that it came the night the Pirates unveiled plans for a statue to honor Bill Mazeroski and ..."
January 31
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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As principal owner Bob Nutting tightened his grip on the Pirates the past three years, he rejected at least two opportunities to sell the franchise. Last September, Penguins owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux met with Nutting and tried to convince him to sell. Previously, Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg, who owns the Pirates' Single-A affiliate in State College, made a similar inquiry. Both offers were rebuffed — proof, Nutting said Saturday, of his commitment to long-term ownership. "I cannot reiterate strongly enough that the Pittsburgh Pirates are not for sale, nor have they ever been for sale since I assumed control of the ballclub," Nutting wrote in an e-mail to the ..."
January 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Pirates this summer will celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the franchise's proudest moments by erecting a statue to Bill Mazeroski outside PNC Park. Final plans are expected to be revealed Friday at the opening of PirateFest, with Mazeroski in attendance, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The statue will be placed on Mazeroski Way. It will be the fourth Pirates monument outside PNC Park, joining tributes to Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner and several Negro League players are honored with a smaller statues inside the park."
January 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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What was the Pirates' best trade of the 20th Century? Was it when they swiped Andy Van Slyke, Mike LaValliere and Mike Dunne from the Cardinals? Bobby Bonilla from the White Sox? Brian Giles from the Indians? How about when they fleeced the Indians and got ... Gene Woodling? According to author Doug Decatur, the Pirates were involved in 18 of the top 200 most lopsided trades of the 20th Century. In 11 of those swaps, the Pirates got the worst end of the deal. In his book "Traded," Decatur rates the 306 most lopsided trades from 1901 to 2000. He bases his rankings on "win shares" (a stat created by Bill James to determine how many wins a player contributes to his team) and the future value ..."
January 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Octavio Dotel wants to be a closer again. The Pirates were the only team that offered him a chance to do it. "I feel like I still have the (ability) to do that job," Dotel said Thursday after signing a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Pirates. "I feel like I'm the right person, and the right team was Pittsburgh. I feel like I'm at home." Dotel's contract calls for a $3.25 million salary next season and includes a $4.5 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout. If Dotel is traded, the option becomes mutual. In 11 seasons, Dotel has 83 saves and a 3.73 ERA. Although he hasn't been a full-time closer in 2 1/2 years, the Pirates are intrigued by Dotel's experience and lively ..."
January 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Duke avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.3 million contract. This is the second of Duke's three years of arbitration eligibility. Duke, 26, made $2.2 million last season, when he went 11-16 with a 4.06 ERA and earned his first All-Star berth. In five seasons with the Pirates, Duke is 37-55 with a 4.30 ERA. According to general manager Neal Huntington, the Pirates did not consider offering Duke a long-term deal. "As we worked through the process, it became clear it's in our best interest to stay with a one-year contract," Huntington said. "The trouble with multi-year contracts this late in the (arbitration eligibility) process is they become more like a free-agent contract." ..."
January 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The reconstruction of the Pirates' bullpen continued Monday, when the team finalized a one-year deal with free agent Brendan Donnelly. Donnelly, 38, will make $1.35 million in base salary, with a chance to earn up to $1.5 million in performances bonuses. The right-hander, who pitched last season for the Florida Marlins, will fill a late-inning role with the Pirates. To clear a spot for Donnelly on the 40-man roster, the Pirates traded infielder Brian Bixler to the Cleveland Indians for infielder Jesus Brito. Over eight years in the majors, Donnelly is 29-9 with a 3.02 ERA. He had reconstructive elbow surgery in July 2007 and did not pitch again until last season, when he went 3-0 with two ..."
January 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Charges of family abuse and property against Pirates relief pitcher Tyler Yates in Hawaii have been dropped. Yates, 32, was charged Dec. 30 after intervening in a dispute between his parents at his offseason home in Hawaii. He was released on $1,050 bail. Four days later, Yates officially re-signed with the Pirates. The right-hander, who is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, received a minor league contract and an invitation to spring training. Early this morning, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review contacted general manager Neal Huntington about Yates' status. Tonight, the Pirates admitted they knew about the situation before Yates agreed to his contract."
January 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A few minutes after the Pirates allowed closer Matt Capps to become a free agent last month, Joel Hanrahan's cell phone began to buzz. "My brother sent me a text message right away," Hanrahan said. More calls and messages followed. Everyone, it seemed, had the same thought: maybe Hanrahan could regain the late-inning role he once held in Washington. "I wouldn't mind it," said Hanrahan, who saved 14 games in two rocky stints as the Nationals' closer in 2008 and '09. "I think it would be a fun challenge." But with Capps out of the picture - ironically, he eventually signed with the Nats - nothing is for certain in the Pirates' bullpen. And the closer's job isn't the only one up for grabs. ..."
January 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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It's not unusual for players to take a vacation ... or two, or three ... during the offseason. But not many turn their seafaring adventures into a music video. Pirates pitcher Virgil Vasquez spent the past couple of months kayaking, golfing, off-roading and generally goofing off in Southern California with his roommates, who also are pro ballplayers. Using the iMovie app on his laptop, Vasquez is splicing together his home movies and adding a soundtrack. "We're going to have the world premier sometime soon," Vasquez said. World premier? Is Vasquez renting out a theater and rolling out the red carpet? "Um ... no," he said, a bit sheepishly. "It'll be at my house in Santa Barbara." One ..."
January 16
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Left-hander Zach Duke on Friday became the lone Pirates player to file for salary arbitration. Duke is among 128 major leaguers who filed. Arbitration hearings will be held the first three weeks of February, though players and management can continue to negotiate up to the start of their hearing. Usually, most of the players who file for arbitration settle with their teams before their case is heard by an arbitrator"
January 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Lefty reliever Neal Cotts threw long toss Thursday morning under the watchful eyes of Pirates trainers and coaches, who said his motion was smooth with good zip on the ball. "Pretty good arm action for a guy who had Tommy John surgery in early July," pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said. Cotts, who'll turn 30 in March, was with the Chicago Cubs when he had surgery. He rehabbed at the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., and began throwing a few months later. "I struggled at the start," Cotts said. "But then, right after Christmas, it was like a switch just flipped on, and it all came back to me." Cotts is slated to begin throwing off a mound at the end of this month, but he is not expected to be ..."
January 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A make-or-break season may be on the horizon for Pirates left fielder Lastings Milledge. "I know this is going to be an important year," Milledge said Thursday. "I'm expecting a lot out of myself. I've been putting in the work, because I think this year could set up the rest of my career." Milledge, who is entering his fifth major-league season, arrived this week at the Pirates' final minicamp in dynamite shape, trimmer and more muscular. During morning sessions in the batting cage, Milledge, 24, attacked the ball. In the clubhouse after yesterday's workouts, Milledge joked with Andrew McCutchen. The two young outfielders - cornerstones of the Pirates' building plan - cut each other up ..."
January 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Now that the deal for free-agent outfielder Ryan Church is complete, don't be surprised if the Pirates swing more minor deals - a trade, another free-agent addition - in the next few days. As Church's one-year, $1.5 million contract was being announced Wednesday, general manager Neal Huntington was flying to Paradise Valley, Ariz., to attend a two-day owners' meeting. It's the first time all 30 GMs were asked to be at the owners' confab, and there's always some wheeling and dealing when so many front-office folks gather. Huntington remains on the prowl for bullpen help. That might necessitate opening a spot on the 40-man roster, either by trading or releasing someone now on the list. The ..."
January 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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By signing free-agent outfielder Ryan Church, the Pirates will get some insurance in case Jeff Clement struggles or Jose Tabata hits a major roadblock. Church has agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, which will be finalized after he passes a physical. The deal includes up to another $1.32 million in incentives based on plate appearances. The Pirates want to use Church, 31, as an extra outfielder to spell Garrett Jones in right field. At some point this summer, fast-rising prospect Jose Tabata is expected to make his Pittsburgh debut and take over in right. Beginning in spring training, Clement will get every opportunity to win the job at first base. However, Clement, acquired last ..."
January 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Tuesday, the Pirates signed three more players — right-hander Brian Bass, catcher Luke Carlin and outfielder Brian Myrow — to minor league contracts. That gives the team 19 non-roster invitees to spring training."