Results tagged ‘ phillies ’
Walker’s homer gives Bucs edge in 4-3 win over Phillies
Neil Walker’s two-run homer off of J.C. Ramirez in the sixth inning gave the Bucs the lead in the 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, FLA. on Saturday.
Walker is batting .294 this spring (six games).
Paul Maholm started for the Pirates, allowing just one run (a solo homer by Ben Francisco in the 2nd inning) on four hits with two strikeouts over three innings.
“I’m right where I want to be,” Maholm said. “It’s getting more comfortable each time out. I felt a lot more comfortable today throwing inside. I missed a couple of them, but that’s part of getting through it. Now, for me, it’s flipping the switch. It’s time to make sure you mix all your pitches and get outs and go toward the season ready to go.”
The Phillies sent Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay to the mound. He allowed just one hit and two walks and struck out four through three innings.
With the tying run on second base in the ninth inning, Chris Leroux forced Freddy Glavis to fly into a double play to end the game.
Notes:
- Corey Wimberly, after being walked in the 7th inning, stole both second and third base off of Phillies closer Brad Lidge. Jose Tabata and Pedro Ciriaco also stole a bag each. The Pirates have a grapefruit league leading 15 steals so far this spring.
- Lyle Overbay had a nice day at the plate going 2-for-3.
- Sean Gallagher pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out one. In three innings (2 games) this spring, Gallagher has not given up a run or hit.
- Former Bucco Delwyn Young went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Phillies. He signed a minor league contract with Philly this offseason.
- Ronny Cedeno was scratched again from the lineup with a bruised right middle finger.
- Scot Olsen threw a bullpen session today without any issues.
- The Pirates will play the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday at McKechnie (1:05).
James McDonald will get the start. Joel Hanrahan, Chris Resop, Aaron Thompson, Daniel McCutchen, Justin Wilson, Jeff Locke, Justin Thomas are all scheduled to pitch.
Prior to the game, the Bucs will hold a Piratefest in front of the stadium from 10-12:30 pm.
Day 20 of Pirates spring training: news and notes
- The Pirates will face the Phillies today at 1:05 pm in Clearwater, Fla.
Paul Maholm will start for the Bucs, followed by Jeff Karstens, Mike Crotta, Sean Gallagher, Chris Leroux and Rudy Owens.
Roy Halladay will start for Philly.
- Pitchers Cesar Valdez, Donnie Veal and catchers Eric Fryer and Tony Sanchez have been reassigned to minor league camp on Saturday. They are the first group to be cut from spring training this year. 58 players remain at big league camp.
- The Houston Astros received bad news on Friday, as their catcher Jason Castro, will under go season ending knee surgery.
It’s been publicly known that the Pirates have been shopping Ryan Doumit. Could a trade happen soon? While it’s still very early, Doumit does come with a hefty price tag ($5.1 m). The Pirates could be willing to eat some of his salary, if they got the right guys back in return. Just something to keep your eye on.
- Andrew Lambo is settling in with the Pirates after a rough past and reputation while in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. -Great story on the Bucs minor legaue prospect
- During spring training, the late inning pitchers like Joel Hanrahan, are used in mid innings. A shake in their usual in game prepreations can be tough.
“It is different, sometimes it isn’t easy,” Hanrahan said. “But you still have to go out there and do your job. The pregame routine is different, though. Like here, in spring training, if you are pitching in the fifth you have do your stretching in the second and maybe drink your Red Bull or whatever you do in the second. Definitely a different feel, though. Because I really am a guy who feeds off the crowd.”
“Toward the end of spring, they will try to get us more into what our real roles will be,” Harahan said. “Now, obviously, they are just trying to get our feel back out on the mound at this point in spring. They are just trying to get us to get used to facing hitters again and seeing competition. I see it as competition every time, but I can’t wait to get back into the regular season and get into the regular atmosphere.”
- The Pirates have not yet named an opening day starter, but Bucs Paul Maholm says he would be honored to be that guy.
“I wouldn’t say it’s do or die, but it’s fun,” Maholm said. “If they come to me and ask or tell me I’m the guy, then I’m more than happy to do it. I’ve enjoyed it.”
Maholm was the opening day starter two years ago. He went 6.2 innings allowing one run on seven hits, getting a no-decision.
Pirates:
Pitchers: Maholm, Karstens, Crotta, Gallagher, Leroux, Owens
Lineup: McCutchen CF, Tabata LF, Alvarez 3B, Overbay 1B, Walker 2B, Jones DH, Doumit C, Bowker RF, Cedenon SS
Phillies:
Pitchers: Roy Halladay,
Lineup: Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Howard 1B, Polanco 3B, Francisco DH, Brown RF, Young 2B, Schneider C.
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.
- Be sure to add me on facebook. I’ve uploaded over 100 spring training pictures so far in my photo album.
- Also, follow me on twitter (@kristpie)
Spring training news and notes: 2/11
- Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm has already arrived at Bradenton, FL. For spring training. He shared a picture on twitter: “It all starts here Monday.”
- Manager Clint Hurdle kicks off his first spring training workout on Monday at noon (Pitchers and catchers are to report on Sunday).
- This year, there are 63 players reporting to big league camp (40-man roster, plus 23 non-roster invites). Those invited include:
40-man: Ramon Aguero, Jose Ascanio, Kevin Correia, Michael Crotta, Joel Hanrahan, Kevin Hart, Jeff Karstens, Chris Leroux, Brad Lincoln, Jeff Locke, Paul Maholm, Daniel McCutchen, James McDonald, Kyle McPherson, Evan Meek, Bryan Morris, Charlie Morton, Daniel Moskos, Ross Ohlendorf, Scott Olsen, Chris Resop, Tony Watson, Aaron Thompson, Ryan Doumit, Chris Snyder, Jason Jaramillo, Pedro Alvarez, Pedro Ciriaco, Steve Pearce, Neil Walker, Ronny Cedeno, Lyle Overbay, Josh Rodriguez, John Bowker, Gorkys Hernandez, Andrew McCutchen, Alex Presley, Matt Diaz, Garrett Jones, Jose Tabata
Non roster invites: Andrew Lambo, Justin Thomas, Fernando Nieve, Josh Fields, Dusty Brown, Eric Fryer, Chase D’Arnaud, Sean Gallagher, Donnie Veal, Andy Marte, Cesar Valdez, Tony Sanchez, Brian Friday, Jose Veras, Joe Beimel, Tyler Yates, Jeff Clement, Rudy Owens, Justin Wilson, Garrett Atkins, Corey Wimberly, Brian Burres, Wyatt Toregas
- According to Jenifer Langosch, beat reporter of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hurdle’s camp will be much different than John Russell’s. Hurdle specifically noted that there would be an increased focus on shoring up fundamentals and honing pitchers’ pickoff moves.
- During spring training, Hurdle will choose a closer for the Pirates (Joel Hanrahan or Evan Meek) as well as a fifth starter (options include: Charlie Morton, Scott Olsen). Bench players and bullpen will be determined as well.
- Spring training runs through February 24th. The Pirates will kick off spring training games against State College of Florida at 12:05 p.m. ET at McKechnie Field.
- The Pirates will host games against the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros (click here for the full schedule).
Bucco news and notes: 2/7
Now that the superbowl is over we can all focus on our national pastime. Just seven days until pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton, FL. And 21 days until I head down for coverage.
Here are some Bucco news and notes:
- General Manager Neal Huntington told Pirates beat reporter Jenifer Langosch that the pieces are finally in place for the organization to move forward in a positive direction.
“We’ve talked a lot about where we’ve been,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “I feel stronger about our plan. I feel stronger about our vision. I feel stronger about our execution than I’ve ever felt. I stand in front of you more excited about our season than I have ever in the three other times I’ve stood here. We’re beginning to now talk about the Major League team.”
- Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez, who arrived at spring training early, caught his first bullpen this season on Monday. He said on twitter, “First time catching pens today since Nov. It’s like riding a bike. Caught Jeff Locke and Hunter Strickland, both looked pretty damn sharp.”
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Have you ever wondered what those semi trucks that are heading down to spring training are full of? Well, MLB Network’s Monday edition of Hot Stove revealed some of the items that the Phillies sent to sunny Florida.
15 cases of gum (regular and sugarless)
12 cases of sunflower seeds
20 coolers
Half a pallet of powerade mix
250 batting practice tops
300 helmets
250 pairs of shorts
450 pirates of socks
600 pairs of pants
600 hats
200 fleeces
1200 bats
2000 shirts
10,000 cups
15,000 baseballs
150 pairs of gloves
Young signs with the Phillies
Former Bucco Delwyn Young signed with a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. He will also receive an invite to spring training, which is held in Clearwater, Fl.
The Bucs designated Young for assignment on November 19th.
Young has spent the past two seasons in Pittsburgh where he played right field, second base, third base and was also used as a pinch-hitter.
In 206 plate appearances during the 2010 season, Young hit .236 with seven home runs and 29 RBI.
MLB Network rips apart Pirates 2011 season
Incase you missed Hot Stove from Wednesday night, or perhaps you don’t get the channel, here is what the analysts from MLB Network had to say about the Pirates 2011 season (P.S. It’s not pretty).
Matt Yallof: “The Pirates. Every single year. It seems to get worse. 57 wins last year. That seems difficult to do.”
Bill Ripken: “You wonder what direction they’re heading in. Our friend Clint Hurdle is taking over this club. I think he’s going to bring an attitude and a positive mentality to this club. But for me, I look at the pitching staff. In all these years that they’ve finished down to the bottom of baseball, I’m wanting to know where that number one is. We mentioned [Steven] Strasburg when we talk about the Nationals. Now, he blew out his elbow and he got hurt. But when you draft, you draft a number one. You draft some cheddar. When I look at the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation, I’m kind of wondering, ‘where’s the heat’? I’m not saying heats everything because you can pitch to spots and you can locate. When everybody on your staff is throwing 91, 92, then you drop down below 90, throwing 86, 88. There’s not that one guy that actually wows me. [Charlie] Morton throws the hardest. When you’re looking at 93 topping out, I’m wanting to know, ‘where the heat is?’ If you didn’t draft it, and you go out and you pick out other guys that are kind of throwing the same, ‘where’s the heat?’ I want somebody in that rotation that’s going to make somebody swing and miss at a fastball and maybe get yourself out of a jam instead of giving up big innings.”
Pirates projected rotation (according to MLB Network)
James McDonald (4-6, 4.02 ERA in 2010)
Paul Maholm (9-15, 5.10 ERA in 2010)
Kevin Correia (10-10 5.40 ERA in 2010)
Scott Olsen (4-8, 5.56 ERA in 2010)
Ross Ohlendorf (1-11, 4.07 ERA in 2010)
Mitch Williams: “There has to be a guy on every staff that at some point in the game, can reach back and throw the ball 95, 96. If you’ve got two outs and the bases loaded, two strikes on a hitter, you have got to have that guy that can blow that hitter up. Pittsburgh does not have that guy. They have guys that throw hitting speed.”
Matt Yallof: “You know what, they’ve had their chances to draft guys of note and guys that do what you’re taking about but they’ve missed. They’ve had high draft picks over and over. That hurts. Look at the guys they’ve passed on. They’ve missed those type of guys.”
Pitchers drafted in first round by Pirates since 2002:
2006:
Drafted – Right hand pitcher Brad Lincoln
Missed on – Left hand pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right hand pitcher Tim Lincecum, Right hand pitcher Matt Scherzer
2003:
Drafted – Left hand pitcher Paul Maholm
Missed on – Left hand pitcher John Danks, Right hand pitcher Chad Billingsley
2002:
Drafted – right hand pitcher Brian Bullington
Missed on – Right hand pitcher Zach Greinke, left hand pitcher Cole Hamels
(*As a note: Kevin McClatchy and Dave Littlefield were the General Managers during this time. Since Neal Huntington took over as GM in September of 2007, the drafting and minor league system has done a complete 180. Huntington really hasn’t gotten enough credit for what he has done so far and how much better the organization is heading.)
Harold Reynolds: “That’s the easy stuff they’ve missed on. Those are the number one picks. It’s the guys in the fifth round, six round, that your scouting is suggesting and going after. They’ve done a nice job with some players that have come up as of late (Williams: “position players”). But they’ve really missed it on the pitching.”
Ripken: “That term that comes into baseball now: Sign ability. Some of that might be their hands are tied a little bit but boy when you see that list and some of those players they’ve passed up on, wow! They’d look a lot different.”
Reynolds: “If you look back at the ‘we are family pirates’ they were international. They were: Puerto Rico, Dominican, they may not have had the funds back then but they went in those countries and developed players. I still think they had the market cornered. That’s when everybody wanted to be a pirate.”
Williams: “They won the World Series with the ugliest hats in the history of baseball.”
Yallof: “Last winning season: 1992. It’s really hard to believe.”
Notable Transactions (by MLB Network)
Additions:
First baseman – Lyle Overbay
Outfielder – Matt Diaz
Right hand pitcher – Kevin Correia
Left hand pitcher – Scott Olsen
Subtractions:
Left hand pitcher – Zach Duke
Right hand pitcher – Chan Ho Park
Outfielder – Lastings Milledge
Hanrahan’s number retired, wants to bring a winning season to Pittsburgh
Bucco closer Joel Hanrahan’s high school jersey was retired on Friday at his former school–Norwalk High, in Iowa.
Hanrahan chatting with kids in first and second grade.
Kids lining up to ask Hanrahan questions.
Hanrahan talking to the Norwalk high school baseball team.
Pictures curiosity of Mark Harahan.
Hanrahan also chatted with 1460 KXNO in Des Moines where he discussed Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies, on the Nationals future, his arbitration process and why he enjoys chatting with fans on twitter. You can listen to the entire interview here.
On if 2010 was his best year: “For a full year, yeah. I feel like my half year in Pittsburgh was really good, after I left Washington. Obviously, I would have loved to have my ERA a little bit lower. I had one game where I gave up six runs in one inning. But the accomplishments I’ve had likegetting the 100 strike outs, was awesome for me. I don’t know if that’s a big deal for anybody else. I felt like that was pretty neat. I felt that pitching in 72 games was also good. Especially after missing the first week and really missing all of spring training. “
On his mentality as a reliever compared to when he was a starter: “Everyday is different. You never know. And that’s the beauty of being a reliever. You go to the park and you know you have a chance to play. Where as a starter, you pitch once every fifth day. As a bullpen guy, you never know what your job is going to be that day. You may have to come in and pitch six outs, finish up a one-hitter. That’s kind of the beauty, you never know what is going to happen. It brings some excitement and you got to be ready everyday.”
On National League pitching, and how he studies the players he faces: “We do a scouting report the first game of every series. They can tell you what Ryan Howard is hitting on a 0-1 breaking ball, when it’s 72 degrees and partly cloudy (laughs). They have stats for everything. Being around for a couple years, facing a lot of the same guys, you start to know what the hitters want to do and are looking for.
On how he gets Albert Pujols out: “You just really got to mix it up with him. He’s one of the best hitters in the game –if not the best. You gotta be aggressive and challenge him. Show that you’re not scared.”
On Pittsburgh: “Pittsburgh has been through a lot. I feel bad for what the fans have gone through. That’s part of the motivation though. You want to be a part of that team that brings a winning season back to them. I went to a Steelers game and a Penguins game this year, and it was ridiculous. People were fighting before the game even started, that’s how passionate they are. I feel like once we starting winning in Pittsburgh, it’s gonna be like that for baseball games.”
Hanrahan on how the Pirates will decide who will close next year: “I really have no idea what they are going to make that evaluation on. I know they want to make a decision before spring training. The main thing they are going to look for; who’s the most consistent. I think it’s going to have a lot to do with the past. And who they feel more comfortable with. I talk to Evan [Meek] once every two weeks and we don’t really look at it as a competition. We wanna win. We want to do what’s best for the team. We feel like we can be the top 8-9 combo, whichever way it goes.”
On the rumors that Ryan Doumit will be traded: “I hope it’s not [true}. I'm a fan of Ryan Doumit. We get along pretty well, on and off the field. I hope Doumit's still around. He's looking for a bounce back year, that's for sure."
On Pirates new skipper: "Clint Hurde is going to be great. I met him at the Steelers game. He did a great job [with the Rockies], same with Texas. Led those guys to the World Series as the hitting coach. He’s very motivational, very passionate about what he’s doing and he really wants to win, wants to turn this thing around. He’s been sending me a motivational text message everyday with a different quote. He’s in this for the long haul. I think he’s going to be great with our young guys and getting them motivated and keeping them going for 162 games.”
On offseason conditioning: “I took off October. I was in DC for a little bit. Then, moved back down to Texas and starting working out November 1st. I’m up at 7:30 every morning, I workout at eight for about two hours. I started throwing December 1st. Once I get back from the holidays, I’ll get back in the throwing program a little bit. After New Years, I’ll starting throwing off the mound every once in a while. I have a Pirates mini-camp going on in January. Then going to Pittsburgh for the Pirates caravan, going to my teammate Pedro Alvarez’s wedding. Then, time to go to spring training.”
On what he wants to improve on for 2011: “I need to get left-handed hitters out better. I felt like I was pretty good against righties. I gotta find a way to start pitching inside a little better and getting lefties out.”
Moss signs a minor league deal with Phillies
Outfielder Brandon Moss has signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and an invite to 2011 Spring Training.
Moss was removed from the 40-man roster earlier this month and became a minor league free-agent.
Once a bright prospect of the Pirates, Moss was the main piece in the Jason Bay trade. Although he has shown success in the minors he has not been able to translate it to the majors: just .228 with 13 homers in 195 total games with the Pirates.
Kristy Robinson
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