Results tagged ‘ fernando nieve ’

Bucs release Fernando Nieve

nieve.jpg

 

 

The Pirates have granted Fernando Nieve his unconditional release.

The right-hander was reassigned to minor league camp on Monday where he was expected to start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Nieve allowed eight runs on 17 hits over 7.1 innings while walking two and striking out eight this spring.

 

*Photo credit: Yahoo!  Sports

Day 36 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

The Pirates will face the Minnesota Twins today at McKechnie Field at 1:05pm. You can listen to the game on the Pirates radio network (104.7) , MLB TV, or on a free webcast here.

Left-hander Paul Maholm will face Brian Duensing of the Twins.

  • Injury updates:

Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune reports:

Lefty Joe Beimel on Sunday took a cortisone shot to relieve pain and inflammation in his elbow. He said Monday he had “zero pain” but added there is no firm timetable for when he’ll resume pitching.

Right-hander James McDonald (discomfort in left side) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. If all goes well, he might be cleared to resume game action.

Garrett Jones said he “felt a little pop” in his neck/shoulder area Thursday and still is stiff and sore. “It kind of locked up, but I feel better now. It’s nothing serious,” said Jones, who batted in a minor league game Sunday.

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports:

Brad Lincoln’s right arm is still swollen, but he said his range of motion and strength is coming back. Lincoln, who was hit in that arm on Friday, said he hopes to resume throwing (on flat ground) on Wednesday. This means he is definitely missing at least one turn through the rotation.

Catcher Chris Snyder will get 3-4 at-bats in a Minor League game on Monday. He’ll also put his gear on and catch a bullpen session. Assuming all goes well, Snyder, who was out with back soreness, will then catch in a Minor League game on Tuesday.

  • MLB Network is in Bradenton today filming 30 clubs in 30 days. The Pirates episode will air Tuesday at 11 PM/ET.  Andrew McCutchen getting mic’d up:

 

mccutchenMLB.jpg

  • The Pirates released Garrett Atkins and reassigned Fernando Nieve and Justin Thomas (read more here).
  • Scott Olsen is out of the running for the 5th spot in the rotation and is likely to start the season on the disabled list. Charlie Morton, although it hasn’t been announced yet, looks to earn the No. 5 spot in the rotation (read more here).
  • The Pirates have their final off day of the spring on Tuesday.
  • Wednesday the Bucs will face the Houston Astros at McKechnie Field. Ross Ohlendorf, who was originally scheduled to start, has been moved back to Thursday. Left-hander Brian Burres will start against the Astros instead.

General Manager Neal Huntington told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “We’re trying to get (Burres) stretched out to give us multiple innings. He could potentially plug a spot in the rotation if we have a need. Stranger things have happened. Teams have lost two starters in the last five days of spring training. You have to have internal options, which is why we’re trying to get Brian and Jeff (Karstens) stretched out.”

 

Pirates

Lineup: McCutchen CF, Walker 2B, Pearce LF, Overbay 1B, Diaz RF, Alvarez 3B, Rodriguez SS, Jaramillo C, Maholm LHP

Pitchers: Maholm, Olson, Veras, Gallagher

*Garrett Olson will be making his Pirates debut.

Twins

Lineup: Span CF, Tolbert SS, Mauer C, Young DH, Bailey 1B, Hughes 2B, Dinkelman LF, Lambin 3B, Repko RF

Pitchers: Duensing, Capps, Gutierrez, Hoey, James, Perkins

 

*Photo credit: @BucsInsider

Atkins released, two others cut from camp

The Pirates have released infielder Garrett Atkins and reassigned Justin Thomas and Fernando Nieve to minor league camp.


atkins2.jpgAccording
to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com,
Atkins was informed of the news on Sunday and was not in the clubhouse for comment today.

Atkins signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in late December.

Atkins batted just .129 this spring (4-for-31) in 17 games with one home run, four RBI and 11 strikeouts.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “He came here to make the club and is a very honest self-evaluator. He saw people ahead of him and knew that there wouldn’t be an opportunity for him at Triple-A. The window of opportunity was closing. He didn’t want to take at-bats from the guys still wanting to make the club and wanting to get ready for the season. Good for him.”

Could this be the end of the road for the 31-year-old? There is no word yet on whether he will sign with another club.

Atkins’ best years came when he was with the Rockies. From 2003-09 he hit .289 with a .354 on-base percentage, 98 homers and 162 doubles.

General Manager Neal Huntington told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “This gives him an opportunity to land somewhere else. He’s working through options. Part of him thinks he still has something to offer. It does sound like he has a continuing interest to play and we’ll do everything we can to help him.”

 

Thomas and Nieve signed minor league deals this offseason and according to Langosch, they will start the year at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Thomas allowed six runs (one earned) on eight hits over 4.1 innings while walking four and striking out four.

Nieve allowed eight runs on 17 hits over 7.1 innings while walking two and striking out eight.

41 players remain at camp.

 

*Photo credit: Tribune-Review

O’s pound Bucs 13-3

The Baltimore Orioles offense pounded the Pirates on Thursday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla., as they combined for 20 hits in the 13-3 loss by the Bucs at McKechnie Field.

Ross Ohlendorf was scheduled to pitch five innings but he outing was cut short due to his high pitch count (he only threw three innings). Ohlendorf allowed six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. His sinker was effective in the first inning (enduced a double play) and had a 1-2-3 second.

Ohlendorf ran into trouble in the third. He allowed two runs to score before Jose Tabata misplayed a routine fly ball in the sun –It should have been the third out. From there, the O’s rallied. Matt Weiters hit a two-RBI single and Jake Fox hit a two-run homer.

Ross Ohlendorf told Colin Dunlap of the Post Gazette, I feel like I kept the ball down. The results really weren’t that indicative of that. I would have preferred to have thrown more [innings] but I think I should be OK.”

“I would like the results to be good, but I am much more concerned with how I am throwing. … I feel like I made good pitches for the most part.”

Scott Olsen and Joe Beimel (in their second spring appearance) also took a beating.

Olsen allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and a strikeout. Olsen was scheduled to throw two innings but was pulled after 1.1. He issued back-to-back walks and at one point threw six straight balls. Olsen also allowed Jake Fox to homer, his second of the game.

Is there still time for Olsen to be stretched out to be considered for the fifth spot in the rotation? Manager Clint Hurdle told Rob Biertempfel of the Trib, “I don’t know. He very well may be. I can’t say no. I’ll leave the speculation out there for people who want to speculate. We’ll give him the ball again and see where he takes it.”

Beimel allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in the eighth inning.

 

Notes:

  • Andrew McCutchen has reached base safely in 10 straight games.
  • Jason Jaramillo went 1-for-2 with a RBI and a walk. He is 9-for-16 with four doubles, five RBI and three walks (.529 avg).
  • Brian Burres pitched four shutout innings in the Pirates ultrasquad game at Pirate City today. He allowed two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Brian Burres told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “There are a couple things that I still want to continue to do. But as far as where I am now, I think I’ve done a pretty decent job this spring trying to do the things that I’ve wanted to do.”

Burres has yet to give up a run this spring over nine innings and the opponents are batting just .179 against him.

  • Jeff Karstens threw three scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks.
  • Evan Meek and Fernando Nieve threw scoreless frames as well.
  • So far, Paul Maholm and Kevin Correia are the only pitchers to have thrown five-inning starts. The others: Brad Lincoln (four innings scheduled tomorrow), Charlie Morton (four), Ohlendorf (three) and James McDonald (three).

Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “We’ve got work to do. We’re not throwing enough strikes. We don’t have good enough command right now. I have no idea what our pitch count was today, but we threw way too many pitches today. We’d like to see our starters lengthen things out. There is work to be done. That’s what Spring Training is for. That’s why you have the amount of games that you have, and that’s why these starters have to keep building up their pitch counts.”

  • Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune reports that Ryan Doumit is scheduled to play against the Phillies on Friday. Doumit (strained oblique) has been sidelined since March 8th.

Doumit went 3-for-4 (double and a homer) in a minor league game today. Manager Clint Hurdle told Biertempfel, “We just needed him to see pitches and make sure he’s getting his swing off with no hesitation.”

  • Corey Wimberly, John Bowker, Steve Pearce, Andy Marte, Ryan Doumit, Garrett Atkins, Josh Rodriguez and Pedro Ciriaco will start tomorrow against Philly. The positions have not yet been announced. As Biertempfel points out (Doumit excluded), perhaps a last chance before to show Hurdle what they got? Another round of cuts should be happening soon.

Brad Lincoln (four innings) will get the start against Roy Oswalt. Chris Resop, Jose Veras, Mike Crotta and Chris Leroux will follow.

Day 32 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

The Pirates will face the Baltimore Orioles today at 1:05 at McKechnie Field. You can listen to the game on MLB.com

    Ross Ohlendorf is scheduled to pitch five innings against the Baltimore Orioles. Joe Beimel and Scott Olsen will make their second appearances of the spring. Daniel McCutchen and Sean Gallagher will also throw.
     

  • Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune reports that Pedro Ciriaco will start in Center Field at Pirate City in an intrasquad game at 10 am. Steve Pearce will be starting at third base. Jeff Karstens is also now scheduled to start and pitch four innings. Brian Burres was originally scheduled to start. No word as to why he was scratched. Tyler Yates, Fernando Nieve and Evan Meek will follow.
  • Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Steve Pearce has eliminated his leg kick from his swing. Pearce is hoping this adjustment (less movement during at-bats) helps earn him a bench spot.

Steve Pearce told Langosch, “I’ve felt amazing. If I had more at-bats during the season, a leg kick might have been beneficial, because it worked for me last year. But with limited at-bats, I need to limit my movement.”

Pearce is seeing immediate results. Since losing the leg kick last week, he has reached base in six of his last nine at-bats.

Hitting Coach Greg Ritchie told Langosch, “You don’t want to take away what’s natural but you definitely want to be simplified, so things can be maintained very easily. There is a magnitude of things that it’s going to accomplish. He is seeing the ball bigger, eliminating the strikeouts, putting the ball in play and hitting the ball on the money.”

The following pitchers are scheduled to throw on Friday: Brad Lincoln, Chris Resop, Jose Veras, Michael Crotta, Chris Leroux.

Charlie from Bucs Dugout was at Pirate City on Wednesday and he posted this great article of what he saw from the prospects and games. Be sure to check it out.

  • Both Jameson Taillon (first round pick in 2010) and Luis Heredia are huge a huge part of the Pirates future. Taillon, although it hasn’t been formally announced, said at Pirate City that he will be starting the season for the West Virginia Power. It hasn’t been announced where Heredia will start the season, but when I spoke to President Frank Coonelly he didn’t rule out the Gulf Coast League.

Be sure to read these two great articles on Taillon (Tribune) and Heredia (Post Gazette) and the progress they’ve made.

  • Biertempfel also reports that Ryan Doumit (strained oblique) will lead off of every inning in a minor league game this afternoon. 

Pirates

Lineup: Tabata LF, Walker 2B, A. McCutchen CF, Alvarez 3B, Overbay 1B, Diaz RF, Cedeno SS, Jaramillo C, Ohlendorf RHP

Pitchers: Ohlendorf, Beimel, Olsen, D. McCutchen, Gallagher

Orioles

Lineup: Pie CF, Hardy SS, Reimold LF, Wieters DH, Fox C, Winn RF, Harris 2B, Bell 3B, Snyder 1B

Pitchers: Tillman, Rupe, Accardo

 

 

greenbase.jpgThe Pirates will be wearing green hats today in honor of St. Patty’s day. The bases will also be green.

*Photo credit: @BucsInsider

Trouble in 4th for Maholm, Pirates lose 5-3 to Orioles

The Blue Jays scored three runs in the fourth inning off Paul Maholm, and went on to win 5-3 at McKechine Field in Bradenton Fla., on Wednesday afternoon. The Pirates drop to 8-12 this spring and have lost seven of the last 10 games.

Paul Maholm allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts over five innings.

Maholm pitched well, but ran into trouble in the fourth inning. He walked Eric Thames, who then stole second base. Jose Molina hit a RBI single to left field, then David Cooper hit a two-run homer.

After the game (on twitter) Maholm said, “Had one bad inning today had 2 sliders hammered but able to come back out and throw six pitches for 3 outs. Ready for season.”

“Glad to have a rough inning and make adjustment learned a lot today and feeling better other than one inning.”

Paul Maholm told Rob Biertempfel of the Trib, “It was good to go back out and have a quick inning, get ground balls and fix what was going on. This was the first time all spring — bullpens, game, anything — when I’ve all the sudden gotten out of whack. It’s hard when you know you’re off and you’re trying to compete. I was able to come back and do what I need to do.”

The Pirates scored just three runs (on 11 hits) against the Blue Jays. Neil Walker hit his second homer of the spring in the first inning. Garrett Jones hit a RBI single (scoring Lyle Overbay) in the fourth and Jones drew a bases loaded walk to score the third and final run in the eighth inning.

 

Notes:

  • Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a double. He is continuing his hot spring (batting .382) and has eight hits in his last 11 at-bats.
  • Joel Hanrahan pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.
  • Mike Crotta threw a perfect ninth. He has yet to give up a run in 7.1 innings pitched this spring and has allowed just three hits.
  • Biertempfel also reports that Pedro Ciriaco will start in Center Field tomorrow at Pirate City in an intrasquad game at 10 am. (No, that’s not a typo). Jeff Karstens is also now scheduled to start and pitch four innings. Brian Burres was originally scheduled to start. No word as to why he was scratched. Tyler Yates, Fernando Nieve and Evan Meek will follow.

Ross Ohlendorf is scheduled to pitch five innings against the Baltimore Orioles. Joe Beimel and Scott Olsen will make their second appearances of the spring. Daniel McCutchen and Sean Gallagher will also throw.

  • Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that The Pirates will be wearing green hats on Thursday in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. McKechnie Field will also use green bases.

 

mccutchencommerical.jpgAndrew McCutchen was spotted posing for a shot in Sports Illustrated.

*Photo credit: @BucsInsider

Day 31 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

The Pirates will face the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 in Bradenton, Fla., today.

Paul Maholm will start for the Bucs against Kyle Drabek.

According to Rob Biertemepfel of the Trib, Woody Huyke will manage the Pirates this afternoon, as Manager Clint Hurdle spends the day at Pirate City watching minor league camp. Huyke has spent the past 43 years with the Pirates organization.

  • Injury updates:

According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com,

James McDonald will throw on flat ground on Thursday. He will also to throw a bullpen over the weekend. McDonald tells Langosch, that he feels “way better”.

Chris Snyder is taking it easy today after waking up with back stiffness. He has been hitting and throwing the last two days.

Ryan Doumit (oblique strain) took batting practice this morning. He will also take some at-bats during a minor league game on Thursday. Doumit tells Langosch, “Feel just fine. I knew it was nothing to begin with.”

 

doumitswing1.jpg

  • During Tuesday’s game against the Orioles, Andrew McCutchen stole second base with Pedro Alvarez (batting fourth) at the plate and no outs. Clearly, McCutchen will still be stealing despite batting third.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “You have to remember who we are,. Our four hitter right now, we want to get runners in scoring position for him. If Pedro is hot and rolling during the season, we might not take as many chances. But we’ve got usable speed and if we can go get a base, we’re planning on going and getting a base.”

“We’ve got to take some chances. Pedro is a power hitter in growth. It’s not like we’re running with [Albert] Pujols up at the plate. It’s a whole different complex, a whole different dynamic. We want to keep this mindset of going, of being aggressive, especially with Andrew. I do think that’s a part of his game that he can continue to open up more and we don’t want to take that away at all if he ends up in the three spot.”

  • Left Fielder Jose Tabata is getting more comfortable leading off this spring. 

Tabata told Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazete, “I feel comfortable leading off, but I will do whatever they want. If they say lead off, I’ll be there. If they say bat second or third, I want to do whatever I can to help my team.” 

Tabata batted .255 when leading off, .328 in the No. 2 spot last season.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Musselman, “I really like his approach leading off. He’s shown some discipline. He’s had some walks. He can hit the ball the other way. He’s a contact hitter. You can use him to hit and run. You can use him various ways. He’s got speed when he gets on.”

  • Ross Ohlendorf (three or four innings) will start on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles. Joe Beimel (one), Scott Olsen (one or two), Daniel McCutchen (one or two) and Sean Gallagher (one or two) will follow.
  • Brian Burres will pitch the first four innings Thursday at Pirate City. Tyler Yates (two), Fernande Nieve, Jeff Karstens (three or four) and Evan Meek (two) also will throw.

Blue Jays

Lineup: Patterson CF, McCoy SS, Encarnacion 3B, Thames LF, Molina DH, Cooper 1B, Arencibia C, Tolisano RF, Diaz 2B

Pitchers: Drabek, Villanueva, Janssen, Henn, Lewis

Pirates

Lineup: Tabata LF, Walker 2B, McCutchen CF, Alvarez 3B, Overbay 1B, Jones RF, Cedeno SS, Brown C, Maholm, LHP

Pitchers: Maholm, Hanrahan, Resop, Veras, Crotta

 

*Photo credit: @Colin_Dunlap

Pearce comes up big in Bucs 8-7 win over Rays

Steve Pearce knocked in Andrew Lambo from third in the ninth inning for the go-ahead run in the 8-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Friday.

The Pirates combined for 15 hits –the most this season and picked up their 7th victory this spring. The seven wins tie the total of wins the Bucs had last year, with 19 games still remaining.

The Bucs greeted Rays’ Wade Davis win runs rather quickly. They tacked on four on seven hits through the first two innings.

Davis pitched three innings allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks.

James McDonald’s outing started off well –a 1-2-3 first inning for the right-hander. McDonald was pulled after just two innings, four hits, two runs (one earned) with two walks, after suffering discomfort in his left side. Manager Clint Hurdle, along with the training staff met him off the mound and he walked off the field holding his left hip. McDonald could be suffering from an oblique injury, but at this time, the Pirates have not announced any more information.

Brian Burres pitched three shutout innings, giving up just two hits. He did walk four and struck out one.

The Pirates at one point had a comfortable 7-2 lead over the Rays, but things began to unraveled quickly from the bullpen.

Daniel Moskos allowed four runs on three hits with one walk and a strike out. The pitching staff combined for eight walks this afternoon.

Fernando Nieve picked up the save after pitching a scoreless frame, allowing just one hit.

 

Notes:

  • Scott Olsen completed his second live batting practice session Friday morning without any issues.
  • John Bowker hit a pinch hit two-run homer in the Bucs 8-7 win over the Rays, extending his hit streak to five games. Bowker is battling for a bench spot on the roster this year.
  • Pedro Alvarez continues his hot bat this spring. He went 1-for-3 with a RBI. Alvarez is batting .310 in 10 games this year.
  • Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI. He was pulled in the third inning due to discomfort in his left wrist. He, along with McDonald were taken back to Bradenton for further tests. No additional information on their injuries has been announced. You can read more on their injuries here.
  • Ryan Doumit was officially diagnosed with a right oblique strain on Friday. The Pirates said he will be reevaluated on March 16th –which means it’s unlikely to get any playing time before then.

Doumit said on Friday that the injury was not serious but, “These things can get a lot worse if you’re not careful with them, so I’m going to play it safe.”

  • The Pirates have 20 stolen bases so far this spring (15 games).
  • Corey Wimberly, who picked up his first hit of the spring on Thursday, went 2-for-3 with a stolen base. He was also picked off at third base.
  • Josh Rodriguez replaced Ronny Cedeno in the fifth after being sidelined for several days. Hurdle: “We’re just happy to get him back. He’s been out a few days; he was dinged up a little bit, and we had to shut him down. … He made a couple nice plays at short today, moved around well. He seems to be physically fit; we just need a long look at him.”
  • Chris Leroux entered the eighth inning with a 7-6 lead. He allowed two hits, a walk and the tying run to score. According to reports, Leroux walked off the mound, covered his mouth with his glove, and let out quite the howl.

Leroux is fighting for a spot in the Bucs’ bullpen this year, and has been working on, well, everything.

“I’ve been working on a lot on my mechanics, [which are] almost totally different than I used to be when I came into camp,” the 6-foot-6 right-hander said. “I’m working on following through. I tend to come up when I finish, and that leaves the ball up sometimes. My front step, I need to keep my front side closed, and it’s just a bunch of different things. My mind’s racing a mile a minute when I’m out there.”

“I always like to think that I have a chance of making it,” Leroux said, “but now with all my mechanical changes, I realize that it’s going to be a process.”

Leroux has allowed two runs over five innings on six hits with three walks.

  • Ross Ohlendorf will start Saturday (four innings) in a split-squad game against the Phillies. He’ll be followed by Jose Veras (one or two innings), Aaron Thompson (two) and Tyler Yates (one).

Jeff Locke (two innings) will start the other game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. He’ll be followed by Sean Gallagher (two or three), Daniel McCutchen (two), Ramon Aguero (one) and Mike Crotta (two or three).

Phillies rally to beat Bucs, 7-4

Fernando Nieve is not leaving a good impression on the Bucs as he was charged with four runs in the Pirates 7-4 loss over the Phillies at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla.

Nieve, who signed a minor league contract over the offseason, has allowed seven earned runs during two spring training games this season in just 2.1 innings of work.

Kevin Correia started for the Pirates, giving up four straight singles and two earned runs before settling down. He allowed five hits over three innings with five strikeouts.

“I felt like I was throwing the ball a lot better than I was in my last outing,” Correia said. “I just wanted to get a decent result out of it. I didn’t want to go out there and have to come out before my three innings. Everything felt a lot better than my last outing.”

“What I did today is what I’m looking to do,” Correia said. “Minus the first few hits, everything was what I wanted to do. Now it’s a matter of building on that and getting my pitch count up.”

The Pirates started the bottom of the first off with four straight singles as well, off Joe Blanton, making it a 2-1 ballgame.

Tony Sanchez made his grapefruit league debut in the sixth inning (more on Sanchez later tonight) ripping a 2-2 down the third baseline. Andy Marte, doubled to score Walker, giving the Bucs the lead.

The Phillies went on to rally, scoring four runs in the final three innings of the game.

 

 

Notes:

  • Ronny Cedeno was scratched from the lineup with a sore right middle finger.

Cedeno injured the finger while fielding a grounder in the sixth inning of Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays. The injury is said to be minor, and he should not be out of action for very long.

  • With Matt Diaz’s stolen base in the fifth inning, the Pirates swiped their Grapefruit League leading 11th base.
  • Evan Meek had a successful session of live batting practice on Friday at Pirate City and is scheduled to pitch one inning in March 7 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. –More on Meek’s bp up in next post.
  • Joe Beimel’s throwing program has gone well on both Thursday and Friday and is pitching pain free. Beimel is scheduled to play catch again on Saturday
  • The Bucs will face the Phillies again on Saturday in Clearwater. Paul Maholm will get the start followed by Jeff Karstens, Mike Crotta, Sean Gallagher, Chris Leroux and Rudy Owens.

Roy Halladay will start for the Phillies.

Day 19 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

  • The Pirates will face the Philadelphia Phillies at home (McKechnie Field) today at 1:05.

Kevin Correia will get the start for the Bucs followed by Brian Burres, Fernando Nieve, Bryan Morris, Kyle McPherson and Daniel Moskos.

Joe Blanton is scheduled to start for the Phillies.

  • Neil Walker is working with Hall of Famer Bill Mazerowski at spring training again this year. Walker wants to learn everything he can from the eight time gold glove award winner and fears he may even be getting on his nerves.

“Maz is probably the best second baseman of all time,” Walker said. “It’s very humbling having him around. He treats me like a son, and I appreciate everything he does for me. I’m going to listen to every single word he says. I’m guessing by the end of Spring Training he is going to be sick of me. That’ll mean I got the most out of him.”

Maz laughed at Walker’s comment saying,

“He comes and asks me what he needs to work on,” Mazeroski said. “There are other guys who don’t do that. You have to go after them. But he comes after you to get work, and that’s good. You know he wants to learn and he’s learning well.”

“I look forward to him leading the league this year in double plays,” Mazeroski answered. “He adapts that quick. He’s a good athlete. It doesn’t take much. So far this year, he’s picked up everything. If he just keeps doing it for a while, he is going to be fine.”

  • Evan Meek is scheduled to throw live batting practice today –not a bullpen session, as previously reported. Meek is sidelined by a right calf strain and –if all goes well– should make his grapefruit league debut Monday, March 7th against the Tampa Bay Rays.
  • Scott Olsen (left hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Saturday.

 

 

Phillies

Pitchers: Joe Blanton, Beaz, Myers, Carpenter, Zagurski, Bastardo

Lineup: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Ibanez RF, Howard 1B, Young 2B, Schneider C, Garcia DH, Valdez LF, Martinez CF

Pirates:

Pitchers: Correia, Burres, Nieve, Morris, McPherson, Moskos

Lineup: Tabata LF, Cedeno SS Ciriaco SS, Walker 2B, Overbay 1B, Diaz DH, Jones RF, Marte 3B, Snyder C, Hernandez CF

**Ronny Cedeno was scratched from the lineup with a sore right middle finger.

 

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