Pittsburgh Pirates News

Pirates believe in outfielder Jones' potential
"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 ..."
Pirates relief pitcher Dotel says he's on track
"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." ..."
Spring training: Dotel has ... pennant fever?
"If anyone on the Pirates' 2010 roster is going to get dragged down by the franchise's miserable recent history, it surely will not be Octavio Dotel. In the span of a half-hour Thursday morning ... He pitched a spirited bullpen rehabilitation session, firings fastballs and kicking the rubber as if he were facing ... well, not a plastic dummy. When he threw one wildly inside, he shouted out, "I was trying to scare him!" And when he was done, he granted an interview to a Hispanic TV crew that he capped by crooning a song into the microphone. "I'm having a great time," Dotel said shortly after that. "The players are great. The coaching staff. Everybody. I like what I see. When you see players ..."
Orioles end losing streak, 3-2 over Pirates
"The Orioles scored three times in the first inning Wednesday night and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2, at McKechnie Field to end their six-game Grapefruit League losing streak. Adam Jones touched off the rally with a two-out triple against Pirates starter Zach Duke, and six straight Orioles reached base. Luke Scott delivered the most productive swing of the night with a two-run single, and Ty Wigginton brought home the other run with a hit to give Brad Bergesen a nice cushion before he took the mound for his first exhibition appearance. Bergesen, whose entry into the spring rotation was delayed by a December shoulder injury, gave up two runs and three hits over 1 1/3 innings. He ..."
Pirates' Walker treading new career path
"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 ..."
Late-night decision pays dividends for Bucs
"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 ..."
Vazquez thinks he's out
"Is Ramon Vazquez history with the Pirates? He certainly seems to think so, even though his $2 million salary for 2010 is guaranteed and the team would have to pay all of it if he is released. "They told me I'm not on the team right now," the Pirates' veteran utility infielder said, visibly displeased after a 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday night at McKechnie Field. "If I don't do well enough, I'm going to be gone. I don't know what that means, if that's a trade or what. I'm playing for myself right now. All I know is that I feel really good health-wise for the first time in a long time, and I'm ready for whatever happens." Vazquez showed that good feeling by going 2 for 2 ..."
Duke struggles early in Pirates' 3-2 loss to Orioles
"Luke Scott's two-run single in the first inning sparked the Orioles past the Pirates, 3-2, tonight at McKechnie Field. Neither team's starter fared well, with Baltimore's Brad Bergesen allowing two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings, Zach Duke allowing three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings. Duke struck out his first two batters, then allowed an Adam Jones triple, two walks and three singles. Ty Wigginton also had an RBI single for the Orioles in that inning, bringing a 3-0 lead."
Three Pirates pitching prospects out until mid-season
"Three of the Pirates' top pitching prospects -- Colton Cain, Zach Fuesser and Brett Lorin -- will be out until mid-season because of injuries. Cain, a 19-year-old left-hander who was the team's ninth-round draft pick in 2009, had minor back surgery after a previous ailment inflamed over the winter. Fuesser, another 19-year-old lefthander who was the 34th-round pick, has a broken finger."
Pirates SS Cedeno wants to stop the sulking
"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 ..."
Pirates find their punch against Yankees
"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 ..."
Legend takes aim at lefties
"One of Garrett Jones' many small spring goals is to hit better against left-handers, and he began to address that in a large way Tuesday. In the first inning of the Pirates' 12-7 victory against the New York Yankees, he launched a three-run home run off CC Sabathia, one of the game's premier lefties, and out of George M. Steinbrenner Field. Two innings later, he doubled off Sabathia. Not a bad start. "Yeah, he's pretty good," Jones said of Sabathia, laughing. "I'm getting there. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting there. The main thing has been shortening my swing, staying within that and just looking for good contact. That's all I did in both those at-bats. There were a couple fastballs, ..."
Jones homers as Pirates beat Yankees
"Garrett Jones hit a three-run home run that left George M. Steinbrenner Field, and the Pirates beat the New York Yankees, 12-7, this afternoon. The Pirates opened the game furiously against New York ace CC Sabathia: Andrew McCutchen lined a single, Ronny Cedeno doubled, and Lastings Milledge's single brought a run. Next, Jones launched a fastball high and over the small seating section beyond right field for a 4-0 lead. Jones generated the next run, too, when he doubled off Sabathia in the third and came around on Andy LaRoche's single for a 5-2 lead. It was Jones' second home run of the spring, and his 2-for-3 day raised his average to .214 after a slow start. "I'm getting there," Jones ..."
Maholm struggles against Yankees in brief outing
"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 ..."
Aceves leads Yankees over Pirates
"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 ..."
Pirates' offense goes blank in 6-0 loss to Yankees
"The Pirates, less than 24 hours after pounding out 15 runs, managed one hit in their 6-0 loss to the New York Yankees this afternoon at McKechnie Field. In a split-squad game at Port Charlotte, Fla., the Pirates lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3 in 10 innings, at Charlotte Sports Park, getting good showings from three prospects: Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata each went 2 for 4 with a triple, with Alvarez's triple reaching the 410-foot mark in center field in the seventh. Brian Friday followed Alvarez with a two-run home run to left-center that brought a 3-1 lead. Brad Lincoln, the top pitching prospect, made a two-inning start and allowed one run on two hits and three walks. At McKechnie, ..."
Pearce aims to turn heads
"Steve Pearce has gone from being Baseball America's 2007 Minor League Player of the Year to a near-afterthought in the Pirates' camp this spring. First base? That is his primary position, but Jeff Clement is the semi-designated starter, Garrett Jones also can play there, and shortstop Bobby Crosby is seeing time there, too, to prepare as a backup. Right field? That is Jones' position, with free agent Ryan Church as backup. Rule 5 draft pick John Raynor and Brandon Moss are the other top candidates there. Notice any name missing? "I know the challenge that's here in front of me," Pearce said before his fifth-inning single would be the Pirates' only hit in a 6-0 split-squad loss to the New ..."
Kratz contstructs a career
"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 ..."
Pirates searching for power
"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 ..."
Bobby Crosby shows home-run stroke
"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 ..."
Why no McCutchen extension?
"When the Arizona Diamondbacks last week signed 22-year-old outfielder Justin Upton to a six-year, $51.25 million extension, it might as well have raised this question: Why not the Pirates with Andrew McCutchen? McCutchen, 23, is coming off a fine 2009 debut, with a .286 average, 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in four months of everyday duty, plus superlative defense. The team controls his rights for six more years -- he cannot become a free agent until after the 2015 season -- but Upton's extension goes further in that it buys out two of what would have been his free-agency years. In such deals, the team gets what it sees as a discount on the free-agency years in exchange for the player getting ..."
Pirates pound Twins, 15-5
"Home runs by Bobby Crosby and Garrett Jones carried the Pirates to a 15-5 romp past the Minnesota Twins this afternoon at McKechnie Field. The Pirates were trailing, 5-3, in the fourth, when Crosby reached forward and mostly one-armed a three-run home run to left. A brisk wind that wreaked havoc on the fielders all afternoon helped Crosby's ball, which probably would have been a flyout in Pittsburgh. But there was no mistaking the pedigree of Jones' two-run shot later that inning, a laser over the fence in right that brought an 8-5 lead. It was Jones' first hit after an 0-for-7 start to his spring and, to hear him tell it, a bit of a relief. "I just wanted to get my swing back to being a ..."
Pirates' Charlie Morton: A "Skewed," Not-Really "Average" Pitcher
"Charlie Morton's 2009 ERA of 4.55 shouts "league average." But that's exactly what he is not, because he got there in a funny way. My father (a retired civil engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University) used to say that there were two types of "B" students. One type made "straight Bs." The other (rarer) kind made half As and half Cs. The latter were the ones to watch, because if they brought their Cs up to Bs, they'd have a 3.5 average. And it might actually be easier for them to turn their Cs into As than for straight-B students to turn their grades into As. On this scale, Charlie Morton's "average" stats might consist of two "As" and one "D." Or even three "As" and one "F." ..."
Hart's wild, Bucs play to tie
"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.""
Maturity, discipline put Milledge on right path
"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 ..."
Pirates' Hart shaky in outing against Phillies
"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 ..."
Game 7s heaven for Bucs
"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 ..."
Pirates' Sanchez 'as advertised'
"Count The Legend among those impressed.. Late Friday night, an energetic, wide-eyed rookie stopped and asked for dugout advice about his first at-bat against live pitching in six months. "I said, 'Try to send it the other way,' " Garrett Jones recalled Saturday. "And he hits a missile to center." So, Tony Sanchez's first steps as a professional Pirate, albeit in spring training, were an all-out sprint. He threw out his first base-runner in his inaugural inning behind the plate. He threw out the first bunt attempt against him. He delivered a 415-foot homer to tie the score in the eighth inning in his first at-bat. "That's pretty good," Jones said. "He looked like he's been playing for a ..."
Pirates tie Phillies, 3-3
"Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 2 with a run scored and a stolen base after his mother, Petrina, opened the game with a rousing version of the national anthem, and Ryan Church added a two-run homer and a single as the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies ended in a 10-inning, 3-3 tie today before a sold-out crowd of 5,787 in McKechnie Field. It was their Grapefruit League home opener, and left them with a record of 1-2-1 in official spring-training games. Kevin Hart, in competition for the Pirates fifth-starter job, walked four and allowed one hit in the seven Phillies batters he faced -- though he yielded only two runs thanks to a diving stop and double play started by Ramon Vazquez from his ..."
Sanchez: I was shaking
"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 ..."
Infielder Crosby is Pirates' insurance plan
"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 ..."
Bucs reliever Dotel a little behind schedule
"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 ..."
Pirates' Sanchez impressive in debut
"Some spring-training debut Friday night for rookie Tony Sanchez: He threw out a runner attempting to steal in his first inning behind the plate, and he smacked a 415-foot home run in his first turn at the plate. It came in the middle innings of a 5-3 Pirates victory against Baltimore before 4,187 at Ed Smith Stadium. Sanchez, the No. 4 overall selection in a June 2009 draft where some critics expected him to go later, replaced starting catcher Ryan Doumit with the Pirates trailing, 3-2, in the sixth inning. He was catching left-hander Javier Lopez, who got designated hitter Luke Scott on a flyout, reserve first baseman Brandon Snyder on a groundout and an assist from Sanchez on left ..."
Sanchez sparks Pirates to 5-3 victory
"Nice spring-training debut tonight for Tony Sanchez, the Pirates' fourth-overall selection in a draft where detractors considered him a pick who should have gone later: He threw out a runner attempting to steal second in his first inning, and he smacked a 415-foot homer to center field in his first at-bat. It came in the middle innings of a 5-3 Pirates victory over Baltimore before 4,187 at Ed Smith Stadium. Sanchez replaced starting catcher Ryan Doumit with the Pirates trailing by 3-2. He was catching left-hander Javier Lopez, making his first Grapefruit League appearance for the Pirates. Lopez got designated hitter Luke Scott on a flyout, reserve Brandon Snyder on a groundout and an ..."
Coonelly disputes McLouth's comments
"Pirates president Frank Coonelly today sharply disagreed with comments made by outfielder Nate McLouth, who suggested earlier this week he received sub-standard vision care while with the team. In an interview Thursday, McLouth, who was traded to the Atlanta Braves last June, said this about the Pirates: ``Guess they do [an eye exam] in spring training, but a blind man could pass that test. So I'd never really done a full eye exam.'' My first reaction upon reading these comments was surprise. McLouth is a pretty serious guy, but what he said just didn't make sense with what I knew. Professional sports teams spare almost no expense in treating their players. I have known the Pirates to be ..."
Morton struggles with command vs. Braves
"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 ..."
Ex-Pirate McLouth sees things in new perspective
"Maybe it's the contact lenses. Nate McLouth sees things differently now. Three-hundred fifty days after he happily signed a three-year contract and proudly talked about the future, the Pirates' preceding center fielder wondered Thursday about his former club's direction, the negativity that surrounds its 17 years of losing, even the eye exam that may have missed his near-sightedness. "After watching what went on last summer ... I was kind of lucky to be the first one to get sent out," McLouth said from the Atlanta spring-training clubhouse underneath Champion Stadium in Disney World while his contending Braves beat the Pirates, 4-2."
Pirates fall to Atlanta, 4-2
"Pirates starter Charlie Morton and non-roster invitee Brian Burres struggled through four innings, walking seven and plunking two other batters among the first 20 Braves they faced, and host Atlanta upended the Pirates 4-2 this afternoon before 4,004 at Champion Stadium at Disney World. Morton allowed one run and one hit among his two innings, which included three walks and a hit batsman. He opened the first with a four-pitch walk of ex-Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth, for whom he was traded last June. McLouth stole second. Touted rookie Jason Heyward was hit by the second pitch to him and, after he was erased on a Chipper Jones double-play grounder that moved McLouth to third, Troy ..."
Ohlendorf takes different approach
"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."
Kratz killing the ball
"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. ..."
Bucs starter Maholm efficient in spring debut
"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 ..."
Second baseman Iwamura adjusts to Pirates
"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 ..."
Pirates' Maholm sharp vs. Yankees in first outing
"Paul Maholm faced a murderous row of world-champion New York Yankees from the Grapefruit League get-go Wednesday. First came the third-place finisher for the 2009 American League MVP, Derek Jeter, and soon after the runner-up, Mark Teixeira. In between came Curtis Granderson, acquired this winter in a trade. No easy start, this one. No problem, either, for the Pirates' No. 1 starter at the ballpark once known as Legends Field. Maholm's line: 11 pitches, 9 strikes and 3 groundouts. Just the way he wanted to start. And afterward, he vowed that he expects nothing -- no knee, no flu, nothing -- to prevent him from his 30-plus starts this season. Asked how he feels this spring, Maholm began, ..."
Pirates fall in 9th to Yankees, 6-3
"Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf and two other Pirates pitchers no-hit the world-champion New York Yankees through four innings today, on the opening day of spring-training play, but the Yankees scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to jump-start their 6-3 victory before 9,278 at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Non-roster invitee Colin Curtis, wearing No. 98, hit a walk-off, three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth off Virgil Vasquez to win it for New York. While two of the Pirates' starters and bullpen candidates Brian Bass and D.J. Carrasco -- previously relievers in the Yankees' same American League -- blanked the hosts, Andrew McCutchen mustered the only Pirates hit ..."
Pirates' Moss battling to secure roster spot
"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. ..."
Pirates prevail over State College of Florida
"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 ..."
Pirates' Morris begins to put strikes behind him
"For the Pirates, the best part about this charity, exhibition opener against a local junior-college team quite possibly arrived as early as the first seven pitches. All were strikes. The first six were swinging, for consecutive strikeouts. The final one was a lazy fly ball to straightaway center. Bryan Morris delivered. Not to place too much emphasis on the meaningless inaugural day of a tune-up baseball month where pitchers take warning-track laps during play, but Tuesday shined a ray of sun on a heretofore gloomy, 10-20 minor league career record of a starter who has yet to rise above Class A. This was the Morris chosen 26th overall in the 2006 draft. This was the Morris considered the ..."
Pirates move to McKechnie Field
"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."
Pirates seek 'revenge' today
"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 ..."
Rehabbing Pirates pitchers slowly coming along
"They are the Rehab 5, their own five-man rotation of recovering arms and shoulders. Five guys who toss, work out and, perhaps most painful of all, wait together. Five pitchers who won't pitch for the Pirates or Class AAA Indianapolis until probably June or July. When 61 players packed up Monday to move to McKechnie Field, where the Pirates' exhibition season is scheduled to begin today in the annual charity game against the local State College of Florida/Manatee-Sarasota, they will be the five left behind with the 150 minor leaguers invading Pirate City. "I have a lot of company over there," Jose Ascanio said of the quintet. "I'd rather be playing," Craig Hansen said. "It is a little ..."