Results tagged ‘ orioles ’

Day 41 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

The Pirates will face the New York Yankees in Tampa, Fla., at 1:05 pm. The game will broadcast on FSN Pittsburgh (for the last time before it transitions into ROOT Sports).

Right-hand pitcher Kevin Corriea will face left-hander Manny Bauelos.

  • Chris Snyder was scratched from the lineup today with a stiff back. Snyder missed two weeks due to the injury. He caught against the Orioles on Thursday night for the first time since being sidelined and it was reported that he was sore on Saturday.

Snyder told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “Maybe I did a little too much, too soon. We’re going to have to see (about the severity), come next week. I couldn’t tell you right now.”

Just two spring training games remain, and two exhibition games in Philadelphia before the season starts on April 1st. Snyder being out could change the pitching plans.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Biertempfel of the Tribune, “It could have an impact on our catching situation. We need to re-evaluate and revisit what the issues are. For it to happen again after just catching a night game … we’ll see. It definitely could jeopardize what we do with the roster and who goes with us.”

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that if Snyder is out for the beginning of the year, Ryan Doumit will be the opening day catcher with Jason Jaramillo as the backup.

Jaramillo will replace Snyder in the lineup this afternoon.

  • Earlier this morning, the Pirates cut four players from camp: Left-hander Brian Burres, Infielder Andy Marte, Catcher Dusty Brown and Infielder/Outfielder Corey Wimberley (read more here).

With Marte cut from big league camp, Steve Pearce makes the Pirates opening day roster for the first time in his career (read more here).

  • James McDonald is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game today in Tampa against the Yankees Triple-A team. This marks McDonald’s first outing since March 11th. The Pirates would like him to throw about 50 pitches.

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that If for some reason McDonald is not ready to start on April 6th, Jeff Karstens would be asked to spot start in the rotation. If not, Karstens will remain as the long inning relief pitcher in the ‘pen.

  • Three relievers remain for two final spots in the bullpen. Lefty Garrett Olson and Right-handers Mike Crotta and Chris Leroux.
  • On Friday’s edition of Baseball tonight, Buster Olney discussed what must go right and what could go wrong for all 30 major league teams. Here is what he had to say about the Bucs:

Olney: “For the Pittsburgh Pirates. What must go right? The rising group of talent, positions players. Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata must continue to grow. You know what? Scouts really like the high ceiling players they’re putting together.

Now, what could go wrong for the Pirates? The rotation appears to be thin again. This torpedo, the Pirates went 57-105 last season. Neal Huntington, their General Manager, is in the last year of his contract. They are not committed to him long term.”

 

Pirates

Lineup: Tabata LF, Walker 2B, McCutchen CF, Overbay 1B, Alvarez 3B, Jones RF, Cedeno SS, Jaramillo C, Correia RHP

Pitchers: Correia, Crotta, Veras

Yankees

Lineup: Gardner CF, Jeter SS, Teixeira 1B, Rodriguez 3B, Swisher RF, Posada DH, Dickerson LF, Nunez 2B, Romine C

Pitchers: Bauelos, TBA

Ohlendorf struggles, Walker has two homer night in 11-7 loss

Lyle Overbay and Neil Walker homered back-to-back off of Jake Arrieta in the 1st inning to take a 3-0 lead. But the Pirates pitching staff, lead by Ross Ohlendorf, combined to allow 11 runs on 15 hits in the 11-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., on Thursday evening.

Ohlendorf didn’t give the Pirates much opportunity to stay in the game as he was charged for six runs (five earned) on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Four of those runs came from the long ball. Ohlendorf allowed three –Luke Scott, Mark Reynolds and Felix Pie– (He allowed just one homerun over his previous four starts).

Ohlendorf told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “It is still not as good as I would like it to be, but I still thought it was better than last time. I’ve been up in the zone too much. I feel like I was better today, but still not as good as I need to be. The fourth inning I was really happy with. The third inning, I thought, went pretty well. But I still need to pitch better.”

Two runs scored during Evan Meek’s outing (1.1 innings) but neither were earned as one was charged to Ohlendorf and Pedro Alvarez made a throwing error.

Garrett Olson made his second appearance as a Bucco in the 7th, but it didn’t go as well his first. The Orioles tacked on three more runs on three hits giving Baltimore a 11-4 lead.

After a walk by Overbay and a single by Walker, Alvarez drove in one in the 8th inning.

Josh Rodriguez hit his first home run of the spring in the ninth inning making it 11-7.

　

Notes:

  • Walker had a big night at the plate while batting cleanup. He went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI and two runs scored.
  • It was announced earlier today that Kevin Correia will be the Pirates opening day starter. He will face Ryan Dempster on April 1st in Chicago. Paul Maholm is slated to pitch the PNC Park home opener on April 7th. The rotation is as follows: Kevin Correia, Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, Charlie Morton, James McDonald.
  • James McDonald is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Saturday. Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports the Pirates are hoping for McDonald to extend his pitch count to 50 pitches. McDonald would then stay in Florida to pitch another minor league game on March 31st (about 80 pitches). If he suffers no set backs, McDonald would be ready to start on April 6th in St. Louis.
  • Joe Biemel (left elbow) threw a bullpen session today without any issue according to Greg Brown, Pirates Broadcaster.
  • With just one week until opening day, expect cuts to be happening very soon. 41 players (10 non-roster) still remain at big league camp.
  • Chris Snyder, who was in the lineup for the first time since March 9th (lower back soreness), caught for five innings today.
  • Chris Leroux was the only pitcher that did not allow a hit or run during his outing (one inning).
  • Charlie Morton will start Friday against the Rays in Port Charlotte (1:05 start) and is scheduled to throw six innings. Also scheduled to pitch: Joel Hanrahan (one inning), Jose Veras (one inning) and Daniel McCutchen (one inning).

Day 38 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

The Pirates will face the Baltimore Orioles at 7:05 PM in Sarasota, Fla. Ross Ohlendorf is scheduled to 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.

Meek will be pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this spring.

Olson will be making his second appearance since being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.

  • As it was reported yesterday, James McDonald (left side) will pitch in a minor league game on Saturday (read more here).
  • Joe Beimel is scheduled to throw off the mound today. Beimel (left elbow) has had two successful days of playing catch on flat ground.
  • This spring John Bowker is fighting to make the club as the Bucs fifth outfielder, and he’s making the most out of every opportunity. Bowker is batting .313 in 16 games, with three home runs, seven RBI and three doubles. Since missing four games (sore left wrist), he has hit safely in nine of the past 13 games.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “He’s had a good spring. You look for the quality of the at-bats and the ability to see pitches and not burn up at-bats in a hurry. He’s done a lot of that since we gave him that time off. He’s come back and done very, very well.”

The outfielder, who can also play first base, is out of options, so if the Pirates do not keep him on the 25-man roster they could lose him to another club.

Bowker told Biertempfel of the Tribune, I’ve come off the bench before. I think of myself as a good pinch-hitter because I usually give a good at-bat. If I can get a start every once in a while, too, that’s a plus.”

“I’m not trying to think too much about that. I know I’m out of (minor league) options. I’m just trying to make a good impression because this is my first spring training with these guys.”

  • According to Forbes.com, the Pirates are ranked last (30th) in baseball in net worth of the franchise at $304 million.

The average MLB franchise is now worth $523 million, an all-time high. The New York Yankees (Ranked No. 1) are worth $1.7 billion.

  • Charlie Morton will start Friday against the Rays and throw about 80 pitches. Also scheduled to pitch: Joel Hanrahan (one inning), Jose Veras (one inning) and Daniel McCutchen (one or two innings).　

　

Pirates

Lineup: McCutchen CF, Tabata LF, Overbay 1B, Walker 2B, Alvarez 3B, Jones RF, Cedeno SS, Snyder C Ohlendorf RHP

*Snyder (lower back soreness) is back in the lineup for the first time since March 9th.

Pitchers: Ohlendorf, Meek, Olson, Leroux

Orioles

Lineup: Roberts 2B, Markakis RF, Lee 1B, Guerrero DH, Scott LF, Pie CF, Reynolds 3B, Wieters C, Hardy SS, Arrieta RHP

Pitchers: Arrieta, TBA

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.

Day 34 of Pirates spring training: news and notes

The Pirates will face the Boston Red Sox at 1:05 in Bradenton, Fla. Kevin Correia will start for the Bucs against Josh Beckett. The game will be aired on FSN Pittsburgh.

  • According to Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, Brad Lincoln does not expect to throw a bullpen session on Sunday. Lincoln was struck in the right forearm with a line drive hit by Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies on Friday.

Lincoln told Biertempfel, “It’s really stiff, worse than yesterday. My strength is still good, though. And there’s no structural damage.”

  • Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Lincoln he will receive treatment today. He was also wearing a protective sleeve on his right arm.

  • Some more injury notes, Rob Biertempfel reports:

James McDonald (left side) threw long toss (about 50 throws) today and will try a bullpen session on Sunday.

Chris Snyder (back stiffness) took swing off a tee today. Snyder plans on doing fielding drills on Sunday, hopes to take batting practice on Monday and play in a minor league game Tuesday. Snyder said, “Right now, no pain. Every day in the last three has been a positive progression.”

  • Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune reports that Charlie Morton will throw the first six innings Sunday against the Astros. Even Meek (one inning), Mike Crotta (one or two) and Chris Leroux (one or two) will follow.

Joel Hanrahan will throw one inning on Sunday in a Triple-A game at Pirate City.

Jose Ascanio will throw batting pratice at Pirate City this afternoon.

  • Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that left-hander Garrett Olson will arrive in Bradenton, Fla., this evening. He is scheduled to throw a side session on Sunday and make his debut in Monday’s game.

Olson joins Scott Olsen, Joe Beimel, Brian Burres and Justin Thomas as the lefties being considered in the Bullpen.

General Manager Neal Huntington told Langosch, “[Olson's] another guy we’ll get an evaluation on in Spring Training. It’s a player that we have liked for a couple of years. Actually, we tried to acquire him when he was with Baltimore. I’ve tried a couple of times with Seattle. He came available on waivers, and we claimed him.

  • Garrett Olson ( @Oly49) tweeted this am: Thank u to all the mariners fans for being awesome and supportive. Gonna miss u all! And to Pirate nation, here I come!

　

　

Pirates

Lineup: Tabata LF, Walker 2B, McCutchen CF, Overbay 1B, Alvarez 3B, Diaz RF, Cedeno SS, Brown C, Correia RHP

Pitchers: Correia, Hanrahan, Beimel, Nieve, Thomas

Red Sox

Lineup: Scutaro SS, Pedroia 2B, Saltalamaccia C, Youkilis 3B, Cameron DH, McDonald CF, Nava LF, Reddick RF, Spears 1B

Pitchers: Beckett, Aceves, Wheeler

Pirates claim lefty Garrett Olson

The Pirates have claimed left-hander Garrett Olson from the Seattle Mariners, according to the Herrald Net.

olson.jpgIn five appearances (five innings) this spring, Olson allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

The 27-year-old was selected in the 1st round (48th overall) in the 2005 draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

Olsen has been with the Seattle Mariners since 2009 and went 3-8 with a 5.26 ERA in 118.1 innings over the two seasons.

 

In order to add Olson to the roster, the Pirates have placed Kevin Hart (right shoulder surgery) on the 60-day disabled list.

*Photo credit: AP

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

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

Beimel, Olsen debut in Pirates 8-2 loss to Orioles

Left-handers Joe Beimel (left forearm soreness) and Scott Olsen (left hamstring strain) finally made their spring debuts on Monday afternoon, each allowing an earned run in the 8-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla.

Beimel’s outing went well, despite the numbers in the box score. He did allow Jake Fox to hit a solo-home run off his very first pitch (fastball over the plate) but that was his only earned run of the inning. Three runs did score, but two were unearned and he struck out two.

Reliever Joe Beimel told Rob Biertempfel of the Trib, “That was messed up. First pitch of spring and he swings and hits a homer off me. I wasn’t too happy about that.”

It felt amazing,” Beimel said. “It really did. It might not have looked like it but I felt like everything was coming out pretty good. I was missing up a little bit, but for the first outing, I was actually pretty excited about it.”

“I just have to fine-tune things from here,” Beimel said. “I think stuff-wise, I felt like the ball was coming out pretty good. That’s usually what you have to build up to. I think I’m right on track.”

Olsen needed just 11 pitches to get through the eighth inning. He retired the first two batters, then allowed a solo home run to Nick Green. After the homer, Broadcaster Bob Walk said, “That was the furthest ball we’ve seen hit this afternoon. It cleared everything.”

Olsen allowed a triple to Josh Bell before getting out of the inning.

Kevin Correia started for the Pirates. Through five innings he allowed four runs on seven hits with a strikeout. After three great innings, Correia ran into trouble in the fourth. He allowed a RBI single by Markakis, as sac fly hit by Vladi Guerrero and a RBI single by Mark Reynolds. He also even threw a wild pitch.

Starter Kevin Correia told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “The command was good. Everything was pretty good except one inning, when I kind of got a little quick to the plate trying to keep the running game down. I know that’s something that I tend to do when guys get on base, so I need to work on it before the season starts.” 

“I’d say I’m two starts away from being ready for a regular-season game,” Correia said. “My pitch count was better today. I threw one less pitch than I did last outing and I went one more inning. The runs are one thing, but I want to stay out there as long as possible. So to get the pitch count down today was one of my main goals.”

　

 

Notes:

  • James McDonald will skip a turn in the starting rotation this week. McDonald injured his side while throwing a pitch in the third inning of Friday’s game. The Pirates have not announced the exact injury or the severity of it.

The Bucs did issue a statement on saying that McDonald is feeling better, but they did not say whether he may be at risk to miss any additional starts.

  • Charlie Morton today threw four innings (63 pitches) in a minor league camp game at Pirate City. He allowed three runs –all off a home run. Otherwise, it was reported that he was sharp.
  • It was a good day for Steve Pearce who hit 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and Jason Jaramillo who had a double and a RBI.
  • Evan Meek had a nice bounce back inning of work. He allowed just one hit with no runs or walks with one strikeout.
  • Andrew McCutchen proved today that there are no limits to his talent. After Randy Winn hit a solo-home run to center, McCutchen who jumped to try to catch the ball, lost his glove over the wall. With no one around to retrieve it, he took the matter into his own hands and leaped over the wall to get it himself.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “He’s got six tools. We saw the sixth tool today.”

  • Pedro Ciriaco made an outstanding throw to Alvarez to get Nick Markakis at third base (he was trying to stretch a double into a triple).

He’s got a gun,” Hurdle said. “The arm strength is there. It’s a big arm. And it took a big arm to make that play. That’s one thing we’ve seen from Pedro.”

  • The Pirates have an off day on Tuesday. Wednesday Paul Maholm will start against the Toronto Blue Jays. Jeff Karstens, Joel Hanrahan are scheduled to pitch.

Kyle Drabek (son of former Bucco Doug Drabek) will be pitching for the Jays. Former Pirate closer Octavio Dotel is also scheduled to throw.

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