Results tagged ‘ matt diaz ’
Burres struggles in 10-6 loss to Astros
Left-hander Brian Burres had his first rough outing of the spring on Wednesday’s 10-6 loss to the Houston Astros in Bradenton, Fla.
Burres entered the game without allowing a single run over nine spring innings. But that didn’t last long as Burres allowed two in the first inning after allowing a lead-off hit, a four pitch walk (six straight balls thrown), a RBI double by Hunter Pence and a sac fly by Brett Wallace.
The Pirates quickly tied the game at two in the bottom of the first after a walk by Neil Walker and a home run by Andrew McCutchen off of J.A. Happ — his first of the spring.
The Bucs tacked on two more runs to take a 4-2 lead in the second, but Hunter Pence homered off Burres in the third to cut the lead to just one run.
More trouble came in the fifth for Burres. Angel Sanchez and Pence hit back-to-back doubles and Tony Manzella, who pinch ran for Sanchez, scored on a fielding error by Matt Diaz in right field. Jason Michaels doubled, but advanced to third on a bad throw by Diaz. Wallace hit a sac fly scoring Michaels and taking a 6-4 lead.
Burres combined to allow six runs on 10 hits with one walk and two strikeouts over five innings.
Burres told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “Even when I was throwing strikes, it wasn’t where I wanted them all the time. Little bit wild with the strike zone today. I wasn’t keeping the ball over the plate enough and when I was, it was up and they did a pretty good job taking advantage of it.”
Pedro Alvarez hit his first home run of the spring in the sixth –and it was crushed to deep center field.
The Astros combined to score four more runs off the Pirates relievers, three off of Tyler Yates in the ninth inning.
Notes:
- Lyle Overbay continued his hot spring, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. He seems to feel pretty comfortable as a Bucco (He’s batting .425 ).
Manager Clint Hurdle told Langosch of MLB.com, “This man is determined this spring. He has made a conscious effort of getting out of the blocks clean. The confidence should have been built up. I think he’s found an approach that is going to work. It’s good to see.”
- Ronny Cedeno had a good day at the plate, he went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
- Ryan Doumit went 2-for-4 with a run scored but he allowed two passed balls (one scored a run in the seventh) and was picked off twice, at both first and second base.
- Mike Crotta pitched a scoreless ninth inning and has yet to allow an earned run this spring (10.1 innings).
- Ross Ohlendorf is scheduled to start on Thursday against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla. He will pitch six innings followed by Evan Meek (one), Garrett Olson (one or two) and Chris Leroux (one). The O’s will send Jake Arrieta to the mound.
- The members of the 2010 Eastern League champion Altoona Curve received their rings in a pre-game ceremony held at McKechnie Field.
- On Monday, Pedro Alvarez, Josh Fields and Josh Rodriguez stayed after the game for additional batting practice with Manager Clint Hurdle, hitting coach Gregg Ritchie, and several other coaches. Today after the game, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Alvarez stayed after again, but this time he was joined by Neil Walker and Ronny Cedeno.
Hurdle told Langosch of MLB.com, It’s something I’ve always done. I would have preferred to have done it a few times earlier, but we waited because of the workload these guys have been carrying. It’s just more practice is all it is.”
So what exactly is the focus of the session? Manager Clint Hurdle said, “Sometimes you have to find a way to slow the game down. When you’re behind the fastball and ahead of the soft stuff, it’s a very uncomfortable place to be. Sometimes you get up there and just have too much going on. All the thinking needs to be done on-deck. Once you get in the batter’s box, you need to compete.”
- Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune reports that James McDonald (left side) is scheduled to pitch on Saturday, most likely in a minor league game. McDonald has not pitched more than three innings in a start this spring and has been sidelined since March 11th. If all goes well on Saturday, he could remain in Florida to pitch a minor league game on the 31st –putting him in line for an April 6th start for the Pirates. If he suffers any set backs, Jeff Karstens or Brian Burres could be used as a spot starter.
Biertempfel of the Trib also reports that Chris Snyder (back soreness) who has been sidelined since March 9th will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Orioles.
Maholm solid, bats quiet in Bucs 4-1 loss
The Pirates combined for just one run and six hits in the 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Monday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla.
Jason Jaramillo, who is 11-for-21 this spring, hit a RBI double (scoring Matt Diaz) for the lone run of the game.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “He’s worked very hard. “It’s gotten better each time out. Handling the ball, receiving the balls, it’s cleaned up. He’s slowed the game down, which I think was the biggest thing early in the spring was that games were moving real quick for him behind the plate. He’s showed up very, very good. I think he’s in a confident place and he’s worked very, very hard.”
Left-hander Paul Maholm had a solid outing today. Over six innings, he allowed two runs on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Maholm has allowed just four walks this spring (20 innings), two of them coming today.
Maholm told Langosch of MLB.com, “Today I threw in a good bit. Everything was working. They hit a few changeups that were decent — they weren’t horrible, but they weren’t exactly where I wanted them. That’s part of it. It’s good to be able to battle and get through six innings and to throw close to 100 pitches.”
Hurdle told Langosch of MLB.com, “I thought he pitched well today. He was aggressive with his fastball. He threw some good changeups. Paul will give up some hits now and again, but he was aggressive. He was pitching to contact. It was a good outing.”
Joe Mauer hit an RBI single in the third inning to tie the game at one.
Delmon Young hit into a double play, scoring Denard Span in the fifth inning to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.
The scored stayed 2-1, until the 9th inning. Garrett Jones and Corey Wimberly called each other off on a routine fly ball, but the ball dropped due to the miscommunication putting runners on the corners. James Beresford hit a ground ball to second, scoring Jason Repko. After that, Pedro Ciriaco juggled the ball at short, which scored Mark Dolenc.
The Bucs lost 4-1 and dropped to 10-15 this spring.
Notes:
- John Bowker had another good day. In his lone at-bat he hit a double (he is 10-for-31 this spring) and also made a nice catch in the 9th, taking a home run away from Steve Holm.
- Garrett Olson made his Pirates debut, pitching a 1-2-3 inning. Olson told Biertempfel of the Tribune, “When I found out I was on waivers, I didn’t know what to expect,” Olson said. “I’m very excited to get over here and get it going. I’m looking forward to this opportunity, and I want to make the best of it.”
Hurdle told Langosch of MLB.com, “You only get one chance to make a first impression. Low strikes, a few changeups, good downhill plane. We’ll get him back out there as quick as we can.”
- Hall-of-Famer Bert Blyleven threw out the first pitch to Kent Tekeulve prior to the game.
- Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune reports that after the Bucs 4-1 loss to the Twins, Pedro Alvarez, Josh Fields and Josh Rodriguez took additional batting practice for over an hour . Manager Clint Hurdle threw the BP, hitting coach Gregg Ritchie and several other coaches were on the field to observe and critique.
- Biertempfel also reported that Fields had a closed door meeting with Hurdle prior to the game today. Fields, 28, is batting just .178 this spring.
- Steve Berthiamume on Sunday’s episode of Baseball Tonight discussed the “Sunday Heroes” and Charlie Morton’s name came up. He went on to say, “Tim Kurkjian reported [Morton] has developed a Roy Halladay type sinker. He’s having a great spring for the Pittsburgh Pirates.”
- The Pirates will have their final “off day” of the spring on Tuesday. Not everyone, technically, will be off. Langosch reported that:
Jose Ascanio will throw two innings (35 pitches) of live batting practice to hitters tomorrow at Pirate City.
There will also be a “B” game. Daniel McCutchen, Sean Gallagher and Jeff Karstens (four inning) are expected to throw.
- The Bucs will face the Houston Astros at McKechnie Field on Wednesday. Ross Ohlendorf, who was originally scheduled to start, has been moved back to Thursday. Left-hander Brian Burres will start against the Astros instead.
Pirates score five runs in 4th, beat Red Sox 7-5
Kevin Correia helped out his own cause in the Pirates 7-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla.
Correia went 2 for 2 at the plate, including a two-run single in the fourth inning.
Kevin Correia told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “I just got my bat on the ball. I’ve played in the National League my whole career and I like hitting.”
Manager Clint Hurdle has had the pitchers batting in the lineup since March 6th. Last season, the Pirates pitchers batted just .089 (25-for-279).
“I think it’s a good idea,” Correia said. “When you look back over a season, you’d be surprised at how many times what a pitcher did at the plate was the difference in a big inning.”
Correia’s first two innings were solid –throwing just 26 pitches, 15 for strikes. Although, he did get up several hits, the defense behind him turned two double plays. Correia also had back-to-back strikeouts in the fourth inning. Correia struggled in the fifth. After walking Darnell McDonald (James McDonald’s cousin), he gave up back-to-back-to-back singles from Daniel Nova, Nate Spears and Marco Scutaro. Neil Walker commited an error, which scored another run in the inning.
Correia allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Correia told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “The first inning, I was kind of getting my feel. I felt pretty good after that. Then they barreled a couple of balls in the fifth. But all in all, I felt strong through 80 pitches. At this point, I feel like I could make a regular-season start.”
An error by the Red Sox first baseman Nate Spears in the fourth inning allowed the Bucs to start a five run rally off Josh Beckett.
Neil Walker reached base on the error, Andrew McCutchen drew a walk, then Lyle Overbay hit a two-RBI double to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. Matt Diaz and Dusty brown both hit singles. With the bases loaded, Correia hit a two-RBI single, but an error by catcher Jared Saltalamacchia allowed the bases to clear. The Pirates scored five runs, only one was earned by Beckett.
Notes:
- Joel Hanrahan pitched a scoreless sixth allowing just one hit while striking out two.
- John Bowker hit a two-run homer in the seventh, his 3rd homer of the spring. He is 9-for-30.
Bowker told Langosch, “It’s going well. I’m trying to just get that rhythm and get the timing down like everybody else.”
- Pedro Alvarez, who has yet to hit a home run this spring, leads the club with six doubles.
- Lyle Overbay extended his hitting streak to 10 games. The first baseman went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
- McKechnie Field set another attendance record today. (previously 6,602 on March 13 vs. Red Sox) 6,644 fans packed the stadium.
- Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Manager Clint Hurdle Is not ready to name an opening day starter yet but it will be either right-hander Kevin Correia or Left-hander Paul Maholm.
Hurdle told Langosch, “We’re getting closer. We’ve categorized all the numbers. We have all the information we need. With us, it’s not so much our No. 1; it’s our best way to set up the rotation as we move forward. We’re still considering some things.”
- Brad Lincoln, who was dealing with stiffness and soreness in his right forearm on Saturday morning, may have to skip his side session on Sunday.
Lincoln told Langosch of MLB.com, “If I was to answer that today, I would say, ‘Probably not,’” Lincoln said, when asked if he’d be ready to pitch on Sunday. “But we’re going to do treatments all day on it and see where it goes. Try to get some of that swelling out of there.”
Lincoln was struck in the right forearm with a line drive by Jimmy Rollins on Friday.
- The Pirates will travel to Kissimmee, Fla. On Sunday to face the Houston Astros at 1:05. Charlie Morton will face Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Evan Meek, Mike Crotta and Chris Leroux are scheduled to throw.
McCutchen a “polished ballplayer”
Tim Kurkjian of ESPN said on Baseball Tonight on Thursday that Andrew McCutchen is a star on the rise.
“I saw him today. Matt Diaz, one of his new teammates told me, ‘this guy, who is hitting 3rd now, might drive in 100 runs, might score 100 runs and his defense is so good he might prevent 100 runs.’ Diaz called him a ’300 run guy’ –which is pretty hard to do. He told me he worked with McCutchen when McCutchen was 15-years-old. And Diaz said he gave him three lessons of hitting and said, ‘I can’t teach you anything else. You got it now.’ He said, ‘his hands at 15 were faster than mine and I was in the big leagues.’ So this kid is a polished ballplayer –not just some really great athlete trying to play baseball.”
*Photo credit: Yahoo! Sports
Diaz, Pirates, build playground on off day
Pirates outfielder Matt Diaz, along with Jeff Karstens, Brian Burres, Charlie Morton, Justin Thomas, Triple-A Manager Dean Treanor, front office members and 120 volunteers built a playground for kids on their off day on Tuesday.
The Matt and Leslee Diaz Family Foundation was formed two years ago, which helps orphaned and disadvantaged children.
Matt Diaz told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I’m watching Gregg Ritchie sweat through his shirt on an off-day. I’m humbled and amazed at the teammates that have showed up today. They have given up their off-day — as a baseball player those are few and far between — so for them to give up their off-day to help kids [in an area where] they don’t live in or play in just speaks volumes to where their hearts are.”
“I was shocked,” Diaz said. “It floored me. I barely know these guys — I’ve known them for four weeks. It just goes to show the kind of players that the Pirates look for and have. It’s not just a ballplayer, but a good person as well.”
Jeff Karstens told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “Any time you can donate your time to benefit kids, it’s for a good cause. Matt asked for some guys to show up, and a few did. I know these days are hard to come by, so to come out and give a few hours of your day is beneficial to come by.”
For more information on Diaz’s foundation click here.
*Photo credit: @Bucsinsider
Day 29 of Pirates spring training: news and notes
- The Pirates will face the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05 in Sarasota, Fla. You can watch the game on MLB TV, or listen on MLB.com.
- Kevin Correia will start for the Bucs (pitching five innings) against the O’s Jake Arrieta.
- The Pirates cut 10 players from big league camp this am. You can read more here.
- It was reported that Ryan Doumit (right oblique) was taking dry swings this morning. That’s a good sign for the catcher who has been sidelined since last week. The Pirates will update Doumit’s status on Wednesday.
- Joe Beimel and Scott Olsen will be making their spring debuts today. Each will pitch one inning.
- John Bowker is back in the lineup today. He will be debuting at first base. The Pirates want him to be versatile in case he needs to step in to play there this season. Bowker is having himself a hot spring –batting .333 in 16 at-bats with a double, two homers and four RBI.
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Josh Rodriguez was selected by the Pirates first overall in the Rule 5 draft. The infielder is looking to not only make an impression, but for spot on the 25-man with the Bucs.
I was hoping that with the season I put up, I’d opened up some eyes out there,” said Rodriguez, a career .266 hitter with a .356 on-base percentage and .426 slugging percentage in five minor-league seasons. “I think the most surprising part was just being taken No. 1 overall. The Rule 5 draft you usually see a bunch of pitchers go, but not too many position players. So to be taken No. 1 overall was definitely a surprise and definitely made me feel good.”
“We got him for a reason,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “There are people who think highly of him who saw him in the minor-league system last year and as we look to fill that utility spot he’s someone we want to take a long look at. We still have two weeks to evaluate him.” -
A great article on why the players and Manager love pitching coach Ray Searage –Pittsburgh Tribune
Pirates
Lineup: Ciriaco 2B, Bowker 1B, McCutchen CF, Alvarez 3B, Diaz LF, Pearce RF, Rodriguez SS, Jaramillo C, Correia RHP
Pitchers: Correia, Meek, Olsen, Beimel, Crotta
Orioles
Lineup: Winn, LF, Pie CF, Markakis RF, Guerrero DH, Scott 1B, Reynolds 3B, Wieters C, Andino 2B, Izturis SS
Pitchers: Arrieta, Berken
Pirates rack up K’s, lose 4-2 to the Yankees
If Sunday’s 13 strikeouts weren’t bad enough, the Pirates managed to top it on Wednesday night –fanning 16 times in a 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees in Tampa, Fla.
The Pirates have struck out 106 times through 13 spring training games so far but Manager Clint Hurdle isn’t worried.
“I’m not worried,” Hurdle said. “Worried wouldn’t be an appropriate word. I think one of the things you look at is how we’re getting to two strikes. I think we’re getting balls early to hit in the count and we’re not hitting on them.”
“Nobody likes to strike out 16 times,” Hurdle said. “That’s the challenge in front of our guys which has been presented since the beginning of Spring Training. It’s something they’ve got to continue to work at.”
As it was pointed out, The Arizona Diamondbacks have struck out 102 times in 15 games but no other team in the Arizona or Florida Leagues have struck out more than 87 times this spring.
Kevin Correia made his third appearance this spring, allowing three runs on six hits through four innings (65 pitches). He walked three and struck out four.
“I threw a couple of pitches I didn’t really like, but I feel like I’m getting a ground ball when I need to and a strikeout when I need to,” Correia said. “They hit the one ball hard in the first, and everything else, I kind of made a pitch that I wanted, and they got a hit. I think I’m real close. Obviously, there is a lot of work to be done, but we are in early Spring Training. I feel pretty good about where I’m at right now.”
Yankees’ Bartolo Colon struck out the side in the first inning on just 12 pitches (10 for strikes) and allowed two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts through four innings.
Charlie Morton pitched three strong innings –and is really having himself a nice spring. In eight innings he has allowed just two runs.
Pirates beat reporter, Jenifer Langosch said, “Actually, I think it’s fair to call him the favorite [for the 5th spot in the rotation] at this point — both because of what he has done and what Scott Olsen has not been able to do.”
Morton allowed just one run (Andrew Jones homer in the 5th) on two hits with two strikeouts.
“Very aggressive with all of his pitches,” Hurdle said. “I think the comfort is picking up. You’re watching him get on the mound, get set over the mound, get a sign and deliver. There’s not a lot of fidgeting. He’s very confident out there. He’s been very, very aggressive.”
“For the most part I felt pretty aggressive,” Morton said. “I fell behind in some counts, but I managed to stay in those counts and not allow a bunch of baserunners. That’s good. There are some things that I’m working on, but I feel fine. I’m just glad to get out there and compete instead of hanging out in Bradenton like I was all winter.”
Russell Martin hit a solo home run off of Correia in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead early. Steve Pearce hit a sac fly (scoring Matt Diaz) and Chris Snyder hit a RBI single (scoring Garrett Jones) to tie the game at two in the 2nd. The Yankees added two more runs in the third inning. Derek Jeter tripled, Alex Rodriguez singled and Robinson Cano had an RBI single.
Notes:
- Daniel Moskos, is one of the players most likely moving from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indy this year. Pitchers Bryan Morris, Jeff Locke, Tony Watson, Rudy Owens and Michael Crotta; Position players Chase d’Arnaud, Andrew Lambo and Gorkys Hernandez are in the mix to make the jump as well.
“The team last year in Altoona was really good,” said Daniel Moskos, a former first-round pick and Altoona’s closer for most of 2010. “I think it’s almost to the point where there are so many good ballplayers that I don’t know where they are going to put them all. There is a lot of young talent, and it’s really good baseball talent.
“It’s starting to be exciting. You’ve heard management talk about how the focus was on the Minor League system initially, and now the focus is on the Major League team. They’re right, because they’ve got a lot of talent.”
- Andy Marte doubled in his pinch-hit at-bat. Three of his four hits this spring have been doubles.
- Manager Clint Hurdle could have used a designated hitter in the 4-2 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday night, but wants to work the pitchers at the plate –and improve last year’s results (pitchers batted just .089).
If anybody watched our club last year you saw the lack of execution we had from our pitchers,” said Hurdle, who hasn’t used a designated hitter since Saturday. “It was worse than a soft spot in our lineup. So we’ve put the pitcher in play much earlier in the season than they did last year just so they can get acclimated walking up there, digging in, putting down a bunt or swinging the bat, running down the baseline then having to go out and pitch.”
Hitting coach Gregg Ritchie said, Ritchie said. “It’s going to run that pitcher’s pitch count up. It’s going to move a baserunner 90 feet. Every 90 feet we’re one step closer to scoring a run. So if that pitcher can always get in there and move the runner ahead of him 90 feet no matter how he does it — whether it’s a sacrifice bunt, putting the ball in play, drawing a walk — that’s going to give our offense a better opportunity to score runs.”
- Pittsburgh will face the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday at McKechnie Field. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, the game will be televised on FSN Pittsburgh.
Paul Maholm will start, (four innings) followed by Joel Hanrahan, Evan Meek, Chris Resop, Jeff Karstens and Tony Watson.
Diaz homer not enough in 4-2 to Rays
Matt Diaz showed signs of breaking out of his slow start to spring (two hits in his first 16 at-bats) by hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning off of lefty David Price, but the lead was not enough as the Pirates lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Price allowed just two runs on four hits, striking out two through four innings of work.
“I thought I threw some good off-speed stuff and that’s what I wanted to work on,” Price said. “Threw a lot of two-seams, I was down in the zone. Thought I was pretty good.”
Ross Ohlendorf started for the Bucs. Ohlendorf retired the first three batters in the first inning, but gave up three hits and walked one in the second.
“I probably felt a little stronger in the first one just because I had a little more adrenaline,” said Ohlendorf, who had lasted 1 2/3 innings in his first start. “But I still felt good about today.”
Tyler Yates allowed two runs on one hit with two walks through .2 innings and picked up the loss.
Notes:
- Evan Meek made his spring training debut in the fourth inning of Monday’s ball game, pitching a scoreless inning.
After Ronny Cedeno made an error, allowing Evan Longoria to reach base, Meek got Manny Ramirez to hit into a double play. He then walked Joyce but the inning ended when he got caught trying to steal second base.
“Things were a little quick today,” Meek said afterward. “I found myself trying to relax and go out and throw strikes. That was my main focus — not really focus too much on velocity or anything. I really wanted to go in and get my work in and get back in the groove of things. It’s a good step forward.”
Meek threw just one breaking ball during his inning of work, relying on his fastball for strikes. He is scheduled to pitch an inning on Thursday, and should have no set backs for opening day.
- John Bowker and Josh Rodriguez were both sidelined on Monday due to minor injuries.
Bowker (soreness in his left wrist), Rodriguez (tightness in right quad) should not miss more than a few days.
- Scott Olsen will throw a live session of batting practice on Tuesday.
- Chris Snyder threw out two-of-three base stealers today.
- The Pirates will have two games on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers.
Brian Burres will start the regular squad game against Carl Pavano, Brad Lincoln will start for the “B” squad. Steve Pearce will also make his debut at third base.
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.
Pirate City workouts: 3/2
It was much better weather on my second trip to Pirate City. No rain today, thank goodness.
The major league players had a three hour MLB Players Association meeting in the early am so most of the fields were occupied by the minor leaguers.
A funny moment happened later in the morning (after the major leaguers arrived) when a fan called over Matt Diaz for an autograph. He handed him a picture of John Bowker, who wore No. 23 last year. Diaz said, “That’s not me. That’s Bowker.” The fan said that he was wearing No. 23, but Diaz laughed and told him that when your old like me you can take the younger players numbers.
I recorded bullpen sessions by Kyle McPherson and Bryan Morris as well as Rudy Owens.
Pedro Ciriaco and Josh Rodriguez took grounders at shortstop this afternoon.
Justin Wilson throwing a bullpen session.
Minor leaguers taking batting practice.
Players practicing drills (Brock Holt, Jim Negrych, Starling Marte)
Players stretching before workouts.
Kristy Robinson
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