November 25
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Five days after leaving former ace Zach Duke off the 40-man roster, the Pirates traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later Wednesday. The left-hander was designated for assignment Friday, just over seven months since he was the Pirates' Opening-Day starter for the second time since 2007. The '09 All-Star was 8-15 with a 5.72 ERA in 29 starts this year. Duke, the Pirates' 20th-round selection in '01, was entering his final year of arbitration, and general manager Neal Huntington said last Friday that the sides could not reach common ground during discussions about his future with the team. The Pirates announced their full '11 coaching staff yesterday, and there"
November 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Pirates answered any lingering questions that may have remained about Zach Duke's future with the franchise by leaving the left-hander off the team's 40-man roster Friday. Infielders Andy LaRoche and Delwyn Young also were left off the roster, which had to be set by midnight. With Duke, the Pirates' 20th-round selection in 2001, general manager Neal Huntington said it was a business decision after failing to both negotiate a new contract and trade the oft-maligned pitcher. "We weren't able to reach common ground with Zach, and it came to a decision, do we continue to try to work something out or make the move now," Huntington said. "We felt it was best to make the move now. Zach is"
September 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Two days after manager John Russell said his coaching staff would have to decide whether to keep struggling pitcher Zach Duke in the rotation, Russell said Thursday that the left-hander will start Sunday against the Diamondbacks. "The kid's worked hard," Russell said. "We'd like to give him the opportunity to straighten things out." Russell said Duke has been working on his tempo and arm speed, hoping to make his delivery less choppy and more aggressive. Russell and pitching coach Ray Searage said Duke's side sessions between starts have been excellent, but they haven't been carried over into games. "The biggest thing has been not trusting himself, trying to make his stuff better rather"
September 16
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Manager John Russell said Wednesday he expected to know what the Pirates will do with Zach Duke over the remainder of the season either later in the day or today. Russell declined to discuss options or whether the decision would be based more on Duke or who might replace him in the starting rotation. "I really don't have anything to say on it because (general manager) Neal (Huntington) and I have spent a little time on it, but (pitching coach Ray Searage) has been out on the field," Russell said. "We'll talk more about it. We have a couple days." ? Brad Lincoln, who was limited in the final weeks with Triple-A Indianapolis after experiencing neck and shoulder stiffness in early August,"
September 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke isn't tired, isn't hurt and is doing everything he needs to do well in between starts. But on the mound, the 27-year-old left-hander just isn't putting the ball where he wants, with disastrous results. Duke got torched for the second game in a row Tuesday against the New York Mets at Citi Field, getting the hook after 31/3 innings in a 9-1 loss. "It's tougher on the team," a sullen Duke said after the loss. "Obviously I've been not good at all the last two starts, and this team's been battling much too hard for me to do that to them. So I have to find a way to be better, and I will." The Mets had a 4-0 lead after two innings, then stretched it to 6-0 on solo homers by Carlos"
August 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke lost his second decision in a row, with a no-decision against Colorado on Aug. 6 in between, against the Padres today. But his numbers - six hits and two earned runs allowed in six innings - were better than the three earned runs and 10 hits surrendered in six innings to Colorado and the six runs, seven hits in five innings against St. Louis on Aug. 1. Duke had to know going in that run support would probably be minimal the way the Padres pitch. Deservedly so, Duke felt decent about the outing even with the loss. "I feel consistent, I feel pretty good," Duke said. "It's a loss, but I feel pretty good about the way I pitched." Duke is now 2-3 with the no-decision since coming off"
June 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Left-hander Zach Duke (elbow strain) threw soft-toss Sunday (25 tosses) and Monday (40 tosses). "Felt good," Duke said. "I'm right on track." Duke is scheduled to throw a side session off the mound Friday. If the Pirates want Duke to throw two sides before beginning a rehab assignment, he'll likely miss at least two more starts. » With Duke on the disabled list, Daniel McCutchen remains in line to make another spot start Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. "As of now, yeah," manager John Russell said. » Neil Walker (concussion) was sent back to Pittsburgh to be examined by team doctors. According to GM Neal Huntington, results of Walker's MRI were negative, but he continues to have"
June 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates left-hander Zach Duke will not make his next scheduled start due to what the team is calling a "mild muscle strain" in his elbow. "It's just precautionary," manager John Russell said Saturday. "With a day off (Monday), we can push him back and it will not affect any of our other starters." Duke (3-8, 5.49 ERA) had been slated to pitch Tuesday in Texas against the Rangers. He will test his elbow Wednesday by throwing a bullpen session. If all goes well, Duke will start Saturday in Oakland. "I had this same thing in 2007 and tried to pitch through it," Duke said. "I ended up missing 2 1/2 months. This time, I'm going to be careful." Duke said he did not have either an MRI exam or"
May 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Big games usually bring out the best in Pirates left-hander Zach Duke. Tuesday night, Duke was matched up against Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay. Duke was winless in his previous seven starts. Halladay already seems on course for another Cy Young-caliber season. "It's a challenge," Duke said. "You know the margin for error is very small and it's going to be a battle. It makes you focus that much more." Duke rose to the occasion, and the Pirates generated just enough offense to slip away with a 2-1 victory. "Anytime you get a quality win like that, it's a big morale boost," Duke said. It snapped the Pirates' six-game losing skid at Citizens Bank Park. By going 3-2 against the"
May 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke is 2-3 with a 4.17 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies. Those numbers don't tell the whole story of how well he has pitched at times against them. Tonight, Duke checked the Phils to one run through six innings, yielding six hits and two walks and netting five strikeouts. Last July, Duke tossed a complete-game, five-hitter at Citizens Bank Park. Although Duke lost, 3-2, the outing impressed Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who two days later selected Duke for the National League All-Star squad. On July 7, 2005, Duke threw seven shutout innings in a 2-1 victory at PNC Park. He allowed six hits and struck out eight. "I've been fortunate to have some pretty good games"
May 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Although he lost 16 games, left-hander Zach Duke pitched well enough to be named the Pirates' lone All-Star last year. He looked to be on his way to the same honor during his first three starts this season. Now he is looking like something else. Duke over six innings gave up four runs and eight hits, including Andre Ethier's three-run homer, as the Los Angeles Dodgers won their second straight over the Pirates, 5-1, Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. Duke beat LA on Opening Day, yielding two runs in five innings as the Pirates won, 11-5. But he has become a different pitcher, and not in a good way. After winning his first two games with a no-decision, Duke has lost his last three starts,"
April 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke did not win a game and his ERA was high, but those things don't usually count for much in spring training. What matters is that the Pirates left-hander put himself in solid position for Opening Day. Wednesday, Duke allowed eight runs in the Pirates' 8-5 loss against the Detroit Tigers. He went 3.1 innings and yielded nine hits and a walk and struck out three. "There are a couple pitch selections I'd take back if I could," Duke said. "Most of it was soft contact, but they put them in good spots. The important thing is, I felt fine. I'm ready to go." In five Grapefruit League games, Duke went 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA. In 18.2 innings, he allowed only 19 hits and ? especially encouraging"
April 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke allowed eight runs in the Pirates' 8-5 loss against the Detroit Tigers this afternoon. Duke yielded nine hits and a walk, and struck out three in 3 2/3 innings. "There are a couple pitch selections I'd take back if I could," Duke said. "Most of it was soft contact, but they put them in good spots. The important this is, I felt fine. I'm ready to go." Duke gave up five runs in the second inning. In the fourth, he served up a solo homer to Scott Sizemore."
March 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke was just as effective at the plate as he was on the pitcher's mound Friday, even though the Pirates lost, 6-4, against the Houston Astros. Duke worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. The left-hander walked one, struck out two and lowered his ERA to 3.00. "Not much I can complain about today," Duke said. Duke was slated to work six innings, but he was efficient enough to start the seventh in order to boost his pitch count. "Everything was working," manager John Russell said. "He was down (in the zone), his offspeed pitches were working. When he's like that, he's very efficient." After giving up T.J. Steele's broken-bat, infield single in the third inning, Duke"
March 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Coach Tony Beasley has been doing batting drills with the pitching staff for the past week or so. Zach Duke is his best pupil. This afternoon, Duke smacked a pair of doubles, one each off Astros ace Roy Oswalt and closer candidate Brandon Lyon. Pretty good results, considering they was Duke's first two at-bats in a game this spring. "I take a lot of pride in possibly helping myself (at the plate)," Duke said. The Pirates got seven hits, including two by Duke. In the third, Duke got the Pirates' first hit, a looping double to left off Oswalt. In the fifth, Duke whipped a pitch from Brandon Lyon into the right field corner. Duke eased into second base - drawing some good-natured boos from"
March 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates manager John Russell tabbed left-hander Zach Duke as the Opening Day starter. "Realistically, you could've picked any one of three (pitchers)," Russell said. "Ross (Ohlendorf) had a great finish. Zach made the All-Star team. Paul (Maholm) is your consistent, steady starter. It's not an accolade for any one guy. This balances our rotation." ? The rotation will be Duke, Ohlendorf, Maholm, Charlie Morton and Daniel McCutchen. The lefties (Duke and Maholm) are separated, with rookie McCutchen in the No. 5 spot. ? In his worst outing of the spring, right-hander Ohlendorf yielded seven runs (four earned) Tuesday in an 11-1 loss against the Houston Astros. Ohlendorf threw 77 pitches in"
February 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates pitching coach Joe Kerrigan wonders if Zach Duke's second-half slide last season was a byproduct of his heavy workload in the first half. "We'll have to take a look at that," Kerrigan said. "Maybe that has something to do with the wear and tear in August and September." Duke tossed 213 innings, the most on the team and 12th in the National League. He earned an All-Star bid by winning eight games and posting a 3.29 ERA in the first half. But Duke put up ERAs of 5.76 in August and 5.84 in September/October and won just twice in his final 11 starts. "Yeah, he was pitching his butt off the first two months and was going eight or nine innings," Kerrigan said. "But did those outings take"
February 21
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Zach Duke is a workhorse in the Pirates' starting rotation. The left-hander has made 30-plus starts in three of his first four full seasons in the majors. The exception was 2007, when injuries limited Duke to 19 starts. Last season, Duke did not miss a start and led the team with a career-high 11 victories. He tossed 213 innings, tops on the team and 12th in National League. Duke also was tied for third in NL with three complete games, the most by a Pirate since Jeff Suppan had three in 2003. "I take a lot of pride in the fact that I take the mound every time and, most of the time, I give us a chance to win," Duke said. "The key is getting into a routine. You let your body adjust to the"
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 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"
December 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates left-handers Paul Maholm and Zach Duke have drawn considerable interest from other teams at the Winter Meetings. "The value is high for quality starting pitchers," general manager Neal Huntington said Tuesday. "As more go off (the market), the value may go up. It's something we have to be open-minded about. We're not looking to move, but if we get a good baseball deal, we'll talk about it." Huntington indicated there's no sense of urgency to trade a pitcher during this week's meetings. "In fact, if we were smart about it, we'd probably wait and let most of the other options go off the board," he said. "Maybe we'd get (another team) that's willing to be that much more aggressive." »"