Results tagged ‘ spring training ’
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.
According 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
Taillon makes spring debut
The Pirates No. 1 prospect (and 2nd overall pick in the 2010 draft) Jameson Taillon made his professional spring debut on Sunday afternoon against the Yankees Class-A team.
The right-hander pitched two innings allowing three hits, one run and struck out two at Pirate City.
*Photo credit: Post Gazette
Morton dominant, Pirates beat Astros, 3-1
Charlie Morton pitched six shutout innings against the Houston Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., on Sunday afternoon. The Pirates went on to win the ballgame 3-1.
Morton, who only pitched four innings his last start, allowed just four hits (two in the first, two in the fifth innings), no runs and walked none with five strikeouts. His ERA this spring is just 1.29.
Morton became the first Bucs starter to finish six innings this spring.
Charlie Morton told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “I got some good feedback from some of the guys in their clubhouse. When the hitters are saying, ‘You’re doing a good job getting me out,’ that’s good. Let’s stick with that.”
So what is the reasoning for all the success from Charlie? Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette reports:
Pitching coach Ray Searage said that Morton has dropped down ever-so-slightly as he comes to the plate. Think of a clock — Charlie used to come from somewhere around where the 11 is. He is now dropped down just slightly, more around where the 10 would be. Searage imparted that is where Morton’s natural delivery — he feels — should come from and the angle that gives Charlie the best chance of getting people out. Looks like it has worked so far in spring training, huh?
Josh Fields doubled, then Ronny Cedeno hit a two-run homerun to left (his 2nd of the spring ) in the 2nd inning to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.
Andy Marte singled and Ryan Doumit followed with an RBI double giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
The lone Astros run came in the ninth inning when Bengie Gonzalez, 20, who was up from minor league camp, committed an error.
Gonzalez went on to commit three more at shortstop over a span of three innings.
Notes:
- Evan Meek (7th) and Chris Leroux (8th) each pitched a perfect inning of work.
- Mike Crotta allowed his first walk of the spring in the 9th inning. He has yet to allow an earned run this spring over 9.1 innings.
- Garrett Jones has been out of the lineup in four straight games. During the broadcast, Greg Brown said he aggravated his shoulder during a diving play.
- Paul Mahom will start against the Minnesota Twins on Monday. Garrett Olson (making his Pirates debut), Jose Veras and Sean Gallagher are scheduled to follow.
- Right-hander James McDonald threw a bullpen session on Sunday “without any issues” according to General Manager Neal Huntington on his radio show.
Day 35 of Pirates spring training: news and notes
The Pirates will face the Houston Astros for the first time this spring in Kissimmee, Fla., at 1:05 pm. Charlie Morton is making his third start (fourth appearance) this spring and is scheduled to throw five innings. He will face Ryan Rowland-Smith.
You can listen to the game live here.
- Chris Snyder is eyeing Tuesday as his return to action since he’s been sidelined with lower back stiffness.
Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Snyder took swing in the batting cage on Saturday and said his lower back was giving him no problems.
Snyder will do more cage work on Sunday and hopes to be cleared for batting practice on Monday. If all goes well and he does not suffer any set backs, Snyder could play and catch in a minor league game on Tuesday.
Snyder said he should be ready for Opening day (April 1st).
Snyder told Langosch, “If it was any later than early next week then it would have been pushing it. Hopefully everything goes well and stays on track and I can stretch it out. Hopefully get nine innings one of those days. Get rolling.”
- Langosch also reports that James McDonald threw long toss on Saturday (50 throws, 120 feet) and said he felt fine afterwards. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Sunday.
- Members of the 2010 Eastern League Champion Altoona Curve will be honored on Wednesday during a pre-game ceremony at McKechnie Field.
- The Pirates will face the Minnesota Twins on Monday at 1:05 in Bradenton, Fla. Paul Maholm will get the start against Brian Duensing. Chris Resop, Jose Veras and Sean Gallagher will follow.
Newest Bucco Garrett Olson throws in the bullpen at McKechnie Field.
- First pitch strikes are important. The league average for the pitching staff throwing an 0-1 count is 59 percent –the Pirates last season did it at 58 percent.
Pitching coach Ray Searage is looking to improve that rate by several percentage points this season.
Searage told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune, “I don’t want us to be 60 (percent). Sixty is average. I want us to be above average.”
Read more on Biertempel’s piece on the importance of first pitch strikes –Good Stuff.
- Manager Clint Hurdle has not yet named an opening day starter, but he has narrowed it down to two: Right-hander Kevin Correia and lefty Paul Maholm.
Hurdle told Biertempfel of the Tribune, “We’re going to watch Paulie pitch Monday and go from there. We’ve looked at a lot of different things. We’ve categorized all the numbers — trajectory ERAs, history in ballparks, history against (hitters). It’s not so much (who’s) our No. 1; it’s what is the best way to set up our rotation as we move forward.”
- Rob Biertempfel of the tribune also reports that Brad Lincoln’s bullpen session was canceled today. His arm remains swollen and painful.
Lincoln was struck with a line drive by Jimmy Rollins during Friday’s game against the Phillies.
Pirates
Lineup: Tabata CF, Pearce 3B, Walker 2B, Diaz RF, Marte 1B, Doumit C, Fields LF, Cedeno SS, Morton RHP
Pitchers: Morton, Crotta, Leroux, D. McCutchen
Astros
Lineup: Bourn CF, Hernandez 2B, Pence RF, Lee 1B, Bogusevic LF, Downs SS, Oswaldo 3b, Quintero C, Rowland-Smith LHP
Pitchers: Rowland-Smith, Lyles, Pendleton
*Photo credit: @BucsInsider
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.
Beimel scratched with elbow soreness
Joe Beimel was scheduled to pitch during today’s game against the Red Sox but was scratched due to soreness in his left elbow.
According to Rob Biertempel of the Tribune, Left-hander Joe Beimel did NOT sound optimistic about being ready to start season.
Beimel told Langosch of MLB.com, “It is definitely frustrating and I want to be out there pitching. But at the same time, if I’m pushing too hard to get ready for Opening Day and there is a setback, then I’m gone for a lot longer. I think it’s better to take care of it now and then just go from there.”
Beimel has only made two starts this spring due to left forearm soreness. The issue is believed to be inflammation and not structural related.
“I just decided it would be better not to push it too hard and go out there today and try to throw through it,” Beimel said. “I definitely don’t want to take any steps back and have something serious happen to it. I’m just going to rest today and come in [on Sunday] and see how it feels.”
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
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
Phillies walk-off win, 3-2
Tuffy Gosewisch, a non-roster invite by the Phillies, hit a walk-off single that scored Erik Kratz for the 3-2 win at Bright house Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., In front of record attendance –10, 828.
Right-hander Chris Leroux entered the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead. He allowed two runs on three hits, picking up the blown save and loss.
Brad Lincoln was pulled after pitching 2.2 innings (he was scheduled to pitch four) after getting hit on the right arm by a line drive hit by Jimmy Rollins (For more on Lincoln’s injury update, read here). Unfortunate timing for the right-hander who is trying to earn the 5th spot in the rotation.
Lincoln, despite only allowing one run on one hit, he did walk two batters –both were lead off walks in the first and third innings.
Brad Lincoln told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “The control issue was a factor today. I never really did get in a groove. My arm felt great; it was just I couldn’t find it out there on the mound. I just battled out there today.”
The Pirates starting lineup today was made up of those fighting to make the club. There wont be many opportunities left to prove themselves, as there are 44 men at big league camp with just two weeks until opening day.
Corey Wimberly went 0-for-4 with a RBI, John Bowker 1-for-4 with a RBI and a double, Steve Pearce went 1-for-3 with a walk. Garrett Atkins and Josh Fields went hitless. Pedro Ciriaco and Andy Marte both went 1-for-3.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I think we’re evaluating internally and we’ll keep it internal. We’ll let people know as we do that. Obviously at this point in time, we’re close to having another round-them-up meeting to decide what we’re going to do with our personnel. I like the way everybody has gone about their work. I like that we have been able to move those guys fighting for the bench positions around.”
Notes:
- During the first inning, Ryan Howard hit a double up the first base line. Jimmy Rollins, who was on second, tried to score home but the relay from Steve Pearce (right) to Pedro Ciriaco (second) to Ryan Doumit was on target. Doumit missed the tag, Rollins missed the plate but Doumit recovered and Rollins was tagged out –that’s a play to see.
- Mike Crotta pitched yet another scoreless inning. He has not allowed a run this spring –8.1 innings and counting.
- Ryan Doumit (strained oblique) caught five innings and went 0-for-2 today. It was reported that he felt fine afterwards.
- MLB Network announced it will air the Pirates version of 30 clubs in 30 days on Tuesday at 11 PM/ET.
- The Pirates claimed Left-hander Garrett Olson from the Seattle Mariners. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, Kevin Hart (shoulder surgery) was placed on the 60-day disabled list (more on Olson here).
- The Pirates will face the Boston Red Sox at McKechnie Field on Saturday. Kevin Correia is scheduled to throw six innings. Josh Beckett will start for the Red Sox. The game will be aired on FSN Pittsburgh.
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.
Kristy Robinson
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