March 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Outfielder Brandon Jones got his first at-bats of the Grapefruit League season on Monday, popping out twice and grounding into a double-play. Perhaps it wasn't the most auspicious start, but for a guy eager for a fresh start with a new team, it was just good to get to the plate. "I was really anxious to swing the bat," said Jones, the 26-year-old outfielder the Pirates claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Jan. 19. "I'd probably seen two live pitches since I've been here. Basically, I was just trying to see some pitches and get comfortable at the plate and try not to strike out." In 2008, Jones was coming off a promising year in the minors as the Player of the Year for Double-A ..."
March 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates closer Octavio Dotel, who on Tuesday threw off the mound for the first time this spring, had another good session on Thursday. The 36-year-old righty, who is recovering from a strained oblique muscle, said before yesterday's session that he planned to push it a little more than on Tuesday, when he threw 31 pitches, all fastballs. "I'm going to try to go between 80 and 90 percent and see how it feels," he said. "If it feels good, I'm pretty sure I might change the schedule we've got. But if I feel OK, I might just stay on the schedule we've got." He ended up throwing 41 pitches, including 12 breaking balls, in a session that pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said went "extremely well." ..."
March 11
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Neil Walker was at McKechnie Field on Monday in a split-squad game against the Yankees when Pedro Alvarez was in Port Charlotte, Fla., hitting a triple for the second game in a row. By all accounts, Alvarez's triple was a blast, a 410-foot shot that short-hopped the center-field fence in the seventh inning. Another Alvarez clout to roughly the same place was caught. A year ago, that might have sent any number of thoughts steamrolling through Walker's head, especially given his own walk and groundout in his two at-bats. None of them would have been good, and none of them would have helped. This year, the thoughts are still there. Only now, he's handling them better. "I'd be lying if I said ..."
March 11
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Not all decisions made late at night prove to be good ones, but Daniel McCutchen got the result he wanted Wednesday in the Pirates' 3-2 loss to Baltimore at McKechnie Field. "I know I said I was working on my curveball, but I was lying in bed (Tuesday) night and I decided to bag the curveball and start throwing a slider," McCutchen said. "I threw it (yesterday), and it was good." So good, in fact, that he just may stick with it for the season. "We'll see," said last year's team MVP with Triple-A Indianapolis. "If my slider is like it was (yesterday), I'll be fine with just that. I got some outs with the slider. It's a breaking pitch, and that's what I'm looking for." McCutchen, 27, pitched ..."
March 10
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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When Ronny Cedeno gets angry with himself, he sometimes takes his mind off the game in front of him. Cedeno would strike out or pop up, then sulk all the way back to the dugout. When the inning ended, he'd still be sulking. And when he went back on the field to play shortstop, he'd sulk some more. That's when Cedeno would become a ground ball magnet ? and make costly blunders. "Simple errors," Cedeno said, shaking his head. "Sometimes, when I get (upset), it seems they always hit the ground ball to me. I've got to concentrate and make the play. "I want to help the team. I've got to make the routine ground ball (plays). I've got to separate my offensive game and my defense. I want to get my ..."
March 10
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Offense doesn't always come easy for the Pirates, especially against the World Series champions. In their first two games against the New York Yankees this spring, the Pirates totaled four hits, including just one in a split-squad loss Monday in Bradenton, Fla. But the Pirates equaled that and then some with a 15-hit performance Tuesday, as they beat C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees, 12-7, at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "We're starting to swing the bat," Pirates manager John Russell said. "Guys are starting to get more comfortable. (Ronny) Cedeno's been working on some things, and he's starting to come around. Andy (LaRoche) is starting to swing a little better, and we're starting to do ..."
March 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Paul Maholm was slated to pitch three innings Monday against the New York Yankees, but he lasted only two in the Pirates' 6-0 loss. "I didn't do myself any favors by falling behind almost every guy that came up there in the first," Maholm said. "I had too much energy and was trying to overthrow. My mechanics were just off, and I didn't feel like the rhythm was there. "I kept missing on my sinker, which I need to make sure is there every game because it's one of my main pitches. My offspeed was fine; I threw a couple good changeups." The Yankees brought four marquee players down from Tampa for the split-squad game. All four of them reached base to start the contest. Singles by Derek Jeter ..."
March 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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It's a good thing the Pirates aren't in the AL East. If they were, they'd see a lot more of Alfredo Aceves. Aceves, who's considered an outsider in the battle for the Yankees' No. 5 starter job, pitched four perfect innings in a 6-0 victory today against the Pirates. Aceves struck out three and threw just 36 pitches. "He throws a lot of strikes," Yanks shortstop Derek Jeter said. "He doesn't really fall behind guys. It's makes it fun to play behind him because he keeps you on your toes." The Pirates managed just on hit ? Steve Pearce's fifth-inning single ? against Aceves and three of New York's B-list relievers. Paul Maholm was bounced after giving up two runs on three hits in two ..."
March 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Catcher Erik Kratz is a bit of a throwback-type player. Friendly guy, no-nonsense approach, plays because he loves the game despite never yet spending a day in the majors. Kratz and his wife and raising two son on his minor league salary, so he works a regular-guy job in the offseason. Last year, he worked in construction. "I really enjoy it," Kratz said. "I enjoy working outside." He laughed when I asked if he ever accidentally dropped a brick or a hammer or something from 12 stories up. "No, but there was the drill story," he said. At the end of the day, a co-worker asked Kratz to toss down a drill, fitted with a paddle bit. The guy caught it - but in the process pressed the power ..."
March 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A stiff breeze was blowing out of Ed Smith Stadium a couple nights ago, but that didn't mean much for the Pirates' offense. The Baltimore Orioles took advantage of the wind. Miguel Tejada ripped a double over the head of center fielder John Raynor. Robert Andino, Matt Wieters and Luke Scott smacked fly balls to the wall. Adam Jones smoked a long, solo homer to give the Orioles the lead. Despite the helpful wind, the Pirates used a small-ball approach. A bloop single, a walk and a stolen base set up Aki Iwamura's RBI liner up the middle. After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Garrett Jones tied the game with a fielder's choice grounder. There was one big blast -- Tony Sanchez's solo ..."
March 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Bobby Crosby looked like a home run king Sunday in the Pirates' 15-5 rout of the Minnesota Twins. Picking Mark McGwire's brain this past winter probably helped. Crosby, who lives in Villa Park, Calif., worked out the past three winters with McGwire, the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger. "He's a good guy to have around," Crosby said. "He worked with me on being direct to the ball, taking a straight path. There's a lot more that goes into it, but he's a guy who really knows a swing." Yesterday, Crosby went 2 for 3 with four RBI. His barrage included a three-run homer into a gusty wind in the fourth inning. Crosby also credited Pirates hitting coach Don Long, who spent the past few days ..."
March 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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It was not the spring debut Kevin Hart had hoped for. Hart, battling for the No. 5 job in the starting rotation, threw just one rough inning Saturday, as the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies played to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings. Hart was scheduled to pitch two innings, but left the game after tossing 38 pitches. The right-hander allowed up two runs on one hit and four walks. "I didn't really command the ball, didn't make the adjustments," Hart said. "I got my pitch count up and was out of there.""
March 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A lot of kids say they want to be a major-league player when they grow up, but Lastings Milledge did more than dream. He planned for it. That's why Milledge seems so unfazed about being the Pirates' starting left fielder and possibly one of the cornerstones of the franchise's future. It's something he's been working toward and always expected to happen. "When I was 14, I knew I wanted to do this for a living," Milledge said the other day, unwinding at his locker after a workout at Pirate City. "I always stayed focused on becoming a professional. I didn't let outside things mess with me too much or put pressure on me. I was focused on getting to the major leagues." Milledge, 25, grew up in ..."
March 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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It was not the spring debut Kevin Hart had hoped for. Hart, battling for the No. 5 job in the starting rotation, threw just one rough inning Saturday, as the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies played to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings. Hart was scheduled to pitch two innings, but left the game after tossing 38 pitches. The right-hander allowed two runs on one hit and four walks. "I didn't really command the ball, didn't make the adjustments," Hart said. "I got my pitch count up and was out of there." Dewayne Wise led off the game with a triple to center and scored on a wild pitch. Hart then walked the bases loaded, but the Phillies got just one run out of it when Raul Ibanez grounded into a double ..."
March 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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For most players who have been there, Game 7 of a World Series has a feeling unlike any other. "It does feel a little bit different, because it's like sudden-death overtime," Bill Mazeroski said. "The closest thing to it would maybe be the first game, because you're full of excitement, especially if it's the first time you've ever been in a World Series. If it goes to a seventh game, you get that same feeling again." Since the best-of-seven format was adopted in 1905, only 35 of 96 World Series have gone seven games. All five of the Pirates' titles ? 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979 ? were decided in seven games. No Series has gone the distance since 2002, when the Anaheim Angels beat the ..."
March 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Joe Starkey and I already have mentioned what a refreshing, glad-to-be-here guy Tony Sanchez is. Tonight, Sanchez got into his first spring training game and had quite a debut. In the sixth inning, Sanchez threw out Jonathan Tucker trying to steal second base. In the eighth - his first at-bat wearing a Pirates jersey - Sanchez knocked a game-tying home run over the center field wall. The Pirates beat the Orioles, 5-3. After the game, I didn't even have to ask Sanchez a question. Smiling broadly, he just started talking. About his debut: "I don't know what it was. The adrenaline. I got back there and I was shaking - my helmet was shaking, my legs were twitching. I was really nervous. I ..."
March 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Bobby Crosby was a little stunned last year when the Oakland A's changed his job description at the start of spring training. After five seasons as a full-time shortstop, Crosby last year spent more time at the corner infield positions. "They said they wanted me to start working all over," Crosby said. "I really didn't have too much of a choice. I had to go out and do early work every day and try to get better as best I could." This past winter, the Pirates signed Crosby as a free agent, with the intention of using him a utility infielder. But if he plays well enough, Crosby could force his way into a bigger role at shortstop. "We were very open with Bobby that he was coming here to play ..."
March 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Pirates expect closer Octavio Dotel, who is out with a strained oblique, to be ready for Opening Day. Dotel sustained the injury while throwing in the bullpen on the fourth day of spring training. He has not thrown either long toss or a bullpen session since then, although he has resumed conditioning drills. Dotel hopes to be able to throw off a mound toward the end of next week, which would put him three weeks behind a normal spring training schedule. Dotel said he prefers to pitch 10-15 innings in spring games. "You can't go any less than that," he said. "If you do, you won't be ready." General manager Neal Huntington, however, expects Dotel to be good to go on April 5 ? even if that ..."
March 5
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton allowed one run in the two innings he pitched Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. "That's it? It seemed like I was out there for an hour," Morton said, laughing. Morton gave up just one hit, but he also walked three of the 10 batters he faced and hit another. Of his 26 pitches, only nine were strikes. Lefty Brian Burres gave up two runs over the two innings he pitched, as the Braves eased to a 4-2 victory. Andy LaRoche hit a solo homer, the first home run this spring by the Pirates. After the game, Morton joked that he mulled retirement after his shaky spring training debut. "I thought about it when I was on the (exercise) bike," Morton said with a ..."
March 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A year ago, Ross Ohlendorf was a newbie in the Pirates' clubhouse, hoping to earn a spot in the starting rotation. He went into spring training this year with a job already locked up. "I feel a lot better right now, just because I'm a lot more confident in my ability," Ohlendorf said Wednesday after tossing a 1-2-3 inning against the Yankees. "I know what it takes to get guys out more than I did last year, so I feel better for that reason." Ohlendorf pitched just one inning and faced Alex Rodriguez (strikeout looking), Marcus Thames (grounder to third) and Jamie Hoffmann (comebacker). He was done in a flash, throwing just 12 pitches."
March 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Hoping to make a good impression on management this spring, catcher Erik Kratz is off to a good start. This afternoon, Kratz ripped a two-run double in the seventh inning of the 6-3 loss against the New York Yankees. He alertly went to third on an errant relay throw and scored the tying run on Ryan Church's groundout. Yesterday, Kratz hit a solo homer against the State College of Florida. "He's a threat at the plate and he's catching very well," manager John Russell said. "He's picked up where he left off last year, when he put himself on the map. He had a very solid Triple-A season and he's doing a good job so far here." This is Kratz's second time in Pirates camp as a non-roster invitee. ..."
March 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Pirates wanted to keep Paul Maholm's spring training debut Wednesday against the New York Yankees as brief as possible. He did his part. Maholm worked one inning and retired all three batters he faced - Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira - on 11 pitches. He threw nine strikes. "My goal is to go out there and get ahead of guys, challenge them and get ground balls," Maholm said. "There were three hitters and three ground balls, so it was a good day." The Yankees won the game, 6-3, on Colin Curtis' three-run homer off Virgil Vasquez in the bottom of the ninth. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf threw a 12-pitch, clean second inning. Pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said the short ..."
March 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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A new league, new town, new team and new clubhouse full of unfamiliar faces. Aki Iwamura doesn't expect any of that to be a problem as he adjusts to his first season with the Pirates. "The most challenging thing is to get used to the No. 3 on my back," Iwamura said, grinning. "It is the first time I've worn No. 3." The second baseman had hoped to wear No. 1, as he did the past three seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays. It also was his number from 1998-2006 with the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League. However, the Pirates already retired No. 1 in honor of former manager Billy Meyer. Iwamura's second choice was No. 3, which has been unclaimed since last June, when Nyjer Morgan was ..."
March 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Brandon Moss was the only player from last year's Opening Day roster who was in the lineup for Tuesday's charity game against the State College of Florida. When the Pirates go to Tampa today for their Grapefruit League opener against the New York Yankees, Moss will stay behind and work out. After failing to hold onto the right field job last season, Moss has a lot of ground to make up during spring training just to make the team. "I know there's no starting job for me right now," Moss said. "I know there's not even a fourth outfielder job for me right now. That doesn't mean there won't be later on." Last season, Moss batted .236 and he struck out more than twice as often as he walked. ..."
March 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Pirates remembered what happened last year against the State College of Florida. Before Tuesday's annual charity game, outfielder Brandon Moss paced the dugout, getting in his teammates' faces. "Hey, let's win this freaking game," Moss yelled. "Let's not get beat by these guys." The Pirates won, 6-1, thanks in part to a home run barrage in the third inning. Steve Pearce, Moss and Erik Kratz went deep in consecutive at-bats. A year ago, the junior-college club beat a squad of Pirates minor leaguers, 6-4. It was the first victory for SCF, then called Manatee Community College, in 11 games against the Pirates. Yesterday, Pedro Alvarez went 3 for 4, including an RBI double in the first ..."
March 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Pirates on Monday went through their final morning workouts at Pirate City, then moved their camp to McKechnie Field for the rest of spring training. Non-roster minor leaguers are arriving for their training camp, which will be held at Pirate City. Ten pitchers threw bullpen sessions. Among them were Ross Ohlendorf and Paul Maholm, who were limited to 24 pitches because they are scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Brian Bass, D.J. Carrasco, Steven Jackson, Chris Jakubauskas, Jack Taschner and Jean Machi also are expected to pitch against the Yankees."
March 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Practically no one in the Pirates' clubhouse claims to remember last year's game against Manatee Community College. "I don't remember anything about that game. I mean, it was a year ago," pitcher Virgil Vasquez said with a shrug. "I wasn't there," manager John Russell said. "It was a split-squad game." True, the Pirates' regulars all were in Sarasota, Fla., on April 2, 2009, for a Grapefruit League game against the Cincinnati Reds. The lineup that day against MCC consisted of minor-leaguers and second-tier prospects. Still, it was more than a little shocking when the Pirates' prospects lost, 6-4, against a collection of junior-college players. It was the Pirates' first loss in 11 games ..."