Zach Duke News: Pro Sports Daily

Duke unusually wild in Pirates' 8-4 loss to Reds

Comment

October 4

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"One to go. The Pirates' 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last night at Great American Ball Park very much had that get-this-over-with feel, from Zach Duke uncharacteristically losing his command to the offense swinging wildly at an erratic opposing pitcher to ... Well, whatever. Today, the franchise's 123rd season ends, 98 losses after it began, with little more than the mathematical assurance that 100 cannot be achieved. And it might well be that the official avoidance of 100 with the victory here Friday led to a letdown in this one. The players had spoken in recent days of not wanting to be part of such a distinction and treated the 6-2 stretch that followed like "our playoffs," as center ..."

Capps will be tendered

Comment

September 26

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Pirates will tender contracts to all three key players -- starter Zach Duke, closer Matt Capps and shortstop Ronny Cedeno -- who are certain to qualify for salary arbitration this offseason. "Barring some unforeseen circumstance, we will," general manager Neal Huntington said last night in his first firm pronouncement on the subject. Management would prefer, as always, to negotiate settlements before cases reach arbitration. That could be especially true of Capps, who will be second-year eligible after making $2.425 million in a down year. "I don't see a situation in which we non-tender Capps unless we get completely unrealistic financial demands," Huntington said. "From the standpoint ..."

Drip by drip, dismal inning dunks Pirates' Duke

Comment

September 9

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Zach Duke watched squibber after squibber squeak through the Pirates' infield for single after single in Chicago's first inning, with nary an out in sight. Surely, this had to change. Well, it did: One batter actually hit the ball hard and, then, the defense would begin hurting him, too. All told, the Cubs would string eight consecutive hits to open the game, tying a Major League Baseball record, and score seven times on the way to a 9-4 rout last night at PNC Park, a thorough humbling for the home team that included some biting reactions from the 17,862 who paid to watch. "I'll tell you what," Duke said afterward, after a deep breath. "I made some pretty good pitches that ended up being ..."

Pirates' Duke unimpressed by win No. 10

Comment

August 24

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"It took five tries before Zach Duke notched his 10th victory of the season. By stifling the Cincinnati Reds, 12-2, on Saturday, Duke snapped a string of two losses and two no-decisions. His record improved to 10-11. Time to celebrate? Not quite. "It means I'm one under .500," Duke said with a shrug. True, but it also allowed Duke to match his career high for victories in a season. With seven or eight starts to go, he should easily set a new personal mark. "Hopefully, I can get over .500 in that span," he said. Duke joined Ross Ohlendorf (11-8) in the Pirates' double-digit-win club. That might not seem like much, until you consider the team leader last year was Paul Maholm ... with nine ..."

Duke, Pirates move out of Central basement

Comment

August 23

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"This one had a Fam-a-lee feel to it. Tonight, with nearly all the living members of the 1979 World Series champs in attendance, the Pirates kept their five-game winning streak rolling by hammering the Cincinnati Reds, 12-2. The Pirates inched into fifth place in the NL Central, a half-game ahead of the Reds. It was the Pirates' most complete game in weeks - featuring clutch hits, a dash of power, some flashy defense, speed on the basepaths and a dominant pitching performance by Zach Duke. Just like back in the day, eh? "When we were there, and even preceding me, when you put on a Pirates uniform, there was an automatic (sense of) class," said Dale Berra, a former first-round draft pick and ..."

Are the Pirates done dealing?

Comment

July 31

Foxsports.com

"After a flurry of activity, are the Pirates done dealing? Probably. But not necessarily. General manager Neal Huntington isn't marketing starters Paul Maholm and Zach Duke the same way he did since-traded infielders Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson. Maholm and Duke "are not being shopped," one source said. The Pirates are still listening but would probably have to be overwhelmed in order to make another trade. Of the two, Maholm is less likely to be dealt, one source said. His ERA is up one full run from last year, and Huntington wouldn't want to sell low. Reliever Matt Capps is available, too, but his uneven season (6.15 ERA) has scared away some suitors."

Pirates fielding offers for Sanchez and Wilson

Comment

July 23

Foxsports.com

(scroll down)

"The Pirates continue to listen to offers for second baseman Freddy Sanchez, shortstop Jack Wilson, left-handed reliever John Grabow and right-handed closer Matt Capps. Moving left-hander Paul Maholm or Zach Duke would be "very tough" for the club, one source says, unless the Pirates acquired a major-league ready starting pitcher plus additional prospects in return. The Pirates like the foundation of their future rotation — Maholm, Duke and right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and Charlie Morton. The Giants are less willing to move left-hander Jonathan Sanchez due to the uncertainty surrounding lefty Randy Johnson, who is on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. Johnson, who turns 46 on Sept. ..."

Duke involved in potential deal to Giants?

Comment

July 13

San Francisco Chronicle

(scroll down)

"As for not pitching in the All-Star Game, he said, "It's disappointing not being able to throw, but we've got other stuff going on here we'd like to take care of. It worked out all right. I get to go and enjoy it and Zach deserved it. It's good for him to be able to go do this." There is a little coincidence in the decision to take Duke. I keep hearing one version of a possible Giants deal for Pirates second baseman Fred Sanchez expanded to include Duke, too. I really don't know how serious that is, but it brings up a larger point. I would not be surprised to learn that GM Brian Sabean is looking for pitching, not because of Cain, but because of the injury to Randy Johnson, uncertainty of ..."

Zach Duke added to All-Star team

Comment

July 13

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Zach Duke arrived at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Sunday morning and was told Pirates manager John Russell wanted to speak with him. In Russell's office. Alone. "I was thinking, 'What did I do to get into trouble already?'" Duke said with a laugh. Russell, though, had good news. Duke was named to the National League roster for the All-Star Game, which is Tuesday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. "This is definitely a very welcome surprise," Duke said. "You dream of it, but it's hard to realize it's actually happening." Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will manage the NL team, chose Duke to replace San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain, who Saturday was struck near his ..."

Duke added to National League All-Star roster

Comment

July 12

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Pirates pitcher Zach Duke was added this morning to the National League's All-Star roster as an injury replacement, and he will join teammate Freddy Sanchez in the game, Tuesday in St. Louis. The San Francisco Giants' Matt Cain was the injured pitcher. Duke, selected for the first time, is 8-8 with a 3.29 ERA. The Pirates scored just seven runs in those eight losses, and Duke has two complete-game losses, tied for most in Major League Baseball. "This is the icing on the cake, just knowing all the work I've put into it," Duke said. "To have something like this to verify that work, it's kind of great." Asked about being selected by other managers: "To feel like you're being recognized for ..."

Pirates pitcher Duke isn't feeling snubbed

Comment

July 7

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Don't count left-hander Zach Duke among the list of All-Star snubs, at least not in his mind. "I don't think I should have made it, per se," he said. "But to be included in the discussions is definitely an honor. ... I'm happy with the first half I had." Duke is 8-7 with a 3.28 ERA and ranked fourth in the National League with 118 innings pitched. The Pirates averaged 1.1 runs in his seven losses. "Take about four of his games, if we score him any runs, I think he's a shoo-in because he's sitting there with 10 or 11 wins," manager John Russell said."

Last few years rough on Duke

Comment

April 3

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Zach Duke has come to grips with 2005. During his debut season with the Pirates, the left-hander was practically bulletproof. Duke started with a five-game winning streak and finished with a flourish. Over the next three years, however, Duke lost more than twice as many games as he won. He battled injuries, struggled with revamped pitching mechanics and was forced to take a pay cut. The pitcher who once seemed to be the Pirates' future was instead being viewed as a flop. "That's kind of the curse of success," Duke said. "You have a good year and then don't necessarily back it up in the next couple of years, and you're always going to be compared to that one good season." Since his stellar ..."

Pirates inch closer to free agent Turnbow

Comment

December 31

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Pirates are one of three finalists in a freshly pared-down field of suitors for free-agent reliever Derrick Turnbow, a source said yesterday. The source described the Pirates as "very much still in the mix" but declined to divulge if they had offered a major league contract or any other specifics. The other two suitors are not known, either, although varying reports have linked Turnbow to the San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays. Turnbow, 30, was the Milwaukee Brewers' closer when he pitched in the 2006 All-Star Game at PNC Park, but he has fallen far since that 39-save season: He lost the closer's job in 2007 ..."

Pirates lose fifth in a row, swept by Rockies

Comment

July 21

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Zach Duke was strong early, but ended up clobbered for nine runs in five-plus innings of the Pirates' 11-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies this afternoon, one that completed a four-game sweep, extended a five-game losing streak and dropped the overall record to a season-low 10 games under .500, at 44-54."

Pitching woes continue as Duke gives up 5 runs; Dumatrait returns to DL

Comment

July 12

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The revolving door that is the Pirates roster spun again last night and will continue to rotate today. After a 6-0 loss to Kyle Lohse and St. Louis, the Pirates announced that left-hander Phil Dumatrait is back on the disabled list and won't start tonight."

Pirates push back Duke

May 29

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Because of a callus on his left middle finger, Zach Duke's next start will be bumped back a day to Friday. "Two starts ago, he had three (calluses) pop up," pitching coach Jeff Andrews said. "Now, it's down to one." Duke flips spots with lefty Phil Dumatrait, who will start today's series finale against Cincinnati."