Results tagged ‘ triple a ’
Lincoln solid in rehab start
Right-hander Brad Lincoln pitched for the Triple-A Indians on Sunday for his first rehab appearance with the ball club.
Lincoln has been sidelined with a right forearm contusion. He suffered the injury during a spring training game when Jimmy Rollins of the Philles hit a liner of Lincoln’s arm.
Scheduled to pitch four innings (about 65 pitches), Lincoln stayed out to pitch a fifth.
Lincoln allowed two runs on two hits (including a solo home run) with no walks and two strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches, 42 for strikes over 4.2 innings.
Lincoln is one of three pitchers being considered to replace Ross Ohlendorf (15-day DL for right shoulder posterior strain) in the rotation. Jeff Karstens and Brian Burres are the others.
Lincoln was coming off a great spring before getting injured. He allowed four runs on six hits over 10.2 innings, with four walks and five strikeouts in six games (three starts).
Ohlendorf DL; McCutchen recalled; Injury updates
- Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday afternoon with right shoulder posterior strain. Ohlendorf exited Friday’s game in the 3rd inning after experiencing some discomfort.
Ohlendorf told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I don’t think it will take as long [to heal] as last time. I feel much better than I did last year when I got hurt.”
“It’s frustrating, but at this point, I can’t really do anything about it except work to get back. Anytime you go on the DL, it’s tough. In the past, I really haven’t been hurt that much. It’s kind of surprising and frustrating.”
- The Pirates re-called righty Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill his roster spot.
- Due to the 14-inning, 5 hour game on Friday night, the Pirates are short arms from the bullpen for Saturday’s game.
Jeff Kartsens, Chris Resop and Garrett Olson are not able to pitch today due to the pitch counts from last night.
Mike Crotta is also unlikely due to pitching on back-to-back nights.
Evan Meek is unavailable to throw because of right shoulder tightness.
That leaves Joel Hanrahan, McCutchen and Jose Veras available from the bullpen.
Starters Paul Maholm and Kevin Correia could pitch an inning of work, if needed, since it’s their day to throw on the side.
- The Pirates have not announced who will fill the 3rd spot in the rotation for Ohlendorf.
Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “We don’t need to make a decision yet on that, so we’re just going to go TBA. We’ve got to see how everything plays out. We’ve got to get through the next two days, and then we’ll evaluate from there.”
- Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com also reports that Meek is feeling better, but will not throw until Tuesday for precautionary reasons.
Meek did throw long toss on Saturday.
He told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “I’m still not feeling quite 100 percent. The whole point right now is just [that] there’s no point in throwing me out there and risking something happening where it’s going to take me a week or two weeks to come back. It’s not something that’s serious, but it is something that they want to give me a few extra days.”
- Right-hand pitcher Brad Lincoln will be making the start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, not High-A Bradenton, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.
Lincoln will be filling in for Daniel McCutchen, who the Pirates re-called from AAA earlier today.
Lincoln is rehabbing a right forearm contusion. He was struck in the arm by a line drive by the Phillies Jimmy Rollins late in the spring.
He is scheduled to throw about four innings (65 pitches).
Leroux optioned to AAA; Roster appears set
The Pirates optioned Right-hand pitcher Chris Leroux to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Leroux allowed five runs on 13 hits over 10.2 innings with three walks and five strikeouts this spring.
Pitching coach Ray Searage told Mike Radano of MLB.com, “He has a nasty fastball that hits 95. [Leroux] is young and has great stuff. All he needs to work on is his consistency, and then he can really help us.”
The Pirates still have to make a few DL assignments official, and Veteran Jose Veras needs to be added to the 40-man roster, but the roster appears complete.
Here is what the roster will look like for opening day 2011:
Pitchers:
Starters: RHP Kevin Correia, LHP Paul Maholm, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP James McDonald
Relievers: RHP Joel Hanrahan, RHP Evan Meek, RHP Chris Resop, RHP Jeff Karstens, RHP Jose Veras, LHP Garrett Olson, RHP Mike Crotta
Players:
Catchers: Ryan Doumit, Jason Jaramillo
Infielders: Lyle Overbay, Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez, Ronny Cedeno, Josh Rodriguez, Steve Pearce
Outfielders: Jose Tabata, Andrew McCutchen, Matt Diaz, Garrett Jones, John Bowker
Moskos, Presley demoted, but not giving up
On Saturday morning Daniel Moskos, Alex Presley (along with eight others) were cut from big league camp.
Both Moskos and Presley were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis where they will start the season, but not necessarily end it there.
Moskos, a former 1st round pick by the Pirates in 2007 draft, was competing for a spot in the ‘pen. The 24-year-old lefty allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts over five innings.
Reliever Daniel Moskos told Jenfier Langosch of MLB.com, “Anytime you get sent down, it’s not a good day, not a good thing. As hard as I worked this offseason, I did expect to compete for a big league spot. That didn’t work out. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up. I’ve got things to work on and I’ll continue to do that down in the Minors, and hopefully I’ll be back up shortly.”
Manager Clint Hurdle told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “It very well could play out this year for him,” Bucs manager Clint Hurdle said when asked how close Moskos appears to being big league ready. “It would not surprise me at all, if there is a need and he pushes the envelope.”
To Moskos, those comments made by Hurdle meant a lot.
“That’s definitely encouraging to hear him say those kind words about me,” Moskos responded. “I did a lot of hard work this offseason to put myself in that position. It didn’t work out the way I wanted, but for him to say that I’m close is very encouraging. That will help me deal with today.”
Used primarily as a closer last year, Moskos will spend his time with the Indians getting a feel for multiple innings and perhaps a “lefty specialist” role.
General Manager Neal Huntington told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “The key for him is going to be command,” Huntington said. “He’s going to have to attack the strike zone and be ahead in the count. When he is, he has a couple very good off-speed pitches that he can get Major League hitters out with. It’s just a matter of refining the command of his motions, the command of his delivery, which will result in the command of his stuff.”
Presley had an incredible 2010 season. The 25-year-old quickly climbed the minor leagues. He played in 67 games with the Altoona Curve where he batted .350 with 13 doubles, seven triples, six home runs and 47 RBI before being called up to Triple-A. There with the Indians he batted .294 in 69 games with 15 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 38 RBI and stole eight bases. Presley made his debut with the Buccos in September and in 23 at-bats he batted .261.
After getting a short taste of the big leagues, Presley took the news of being optioned to Triple-A hard.
Outfielder Alex Presley told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “It’s tougher when you’ve actually been up there and you’re not going back. You don’t want to be anywhere else. It’s definitely a motivator knowing what you could have or what you’re going to have at some point. I’ll just move forward to get to where I want to be.”
His specific goals he will need to work on in order to get re-called are better plate discipline and better use of his speed.
General Manager Neal Huntington told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “He has speed to impact the game on the bases. Base stealing is something we definitely have to refine. Just the confidence. He can get the good read. He can get the good jump. There’s just a little bit of hesitation that we can work out.”
“I just need to get to where I can steal a base at any time,” said Presley, who finished 2-for-17 in Grapefruit League play. “The speed is there. It’s just a matter of getting it done and finding a way. And I’ll just continue to do what I did last year and build off that as much as possible.”
*Photo Credit (Moskos): Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, (Presley) Pittsburgh-Post Gazette
Triple-A projected to begin 2011 with 8 top prospects
Triple-A Indianapolis Indians sent out a press release on Wednesday stating those players “likely to be on it’s roster this season”.
Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reported:
Among the players who are “projected to begin their 2011 campaigns” at Indy are eight top prospects: Bryan Morris, Rudy Owens, Andrew Lambo, Alex Presley, Daniel Moskos, Pedro Ciriaco, Matt Hague and Josh Harrison. All of them are ranked among the top 30 prospects in the Pirates’ farm system, according to Baseball America.
Presley, Moskos, Bryan Morris, Ciriaco, are on the 40-man roster and Owens, Lambo are non-roster spring training invitees.
Doumit’s role with the Bucs in 2011
As Pirates’ beat reporter Jenifer Langosch points out in her latest article, A look at Pirates catchers, this is how Ryan Doumit will fit in with the Bucs during the 2011 season.
- $11 is due to catchers Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit, but it doesn’t look as unbalanced as it seems (The estimated payroll for 2011 is in the low to mid $50 M range). $3 M was sent along with Chris Snyder in the trade with Arizona, so once subtracted, the Bucs will owe him a reasonable $2.75 M for this season. Doumit will make $5.1 million in 2011.
- Doumit, if not traded, will serve as a backup catcher. General Manager Neal Huntington has said that Chris Snyder will be the Bucs primary catcher even if Doumit out plays him in Spring Training. Snyder is a huge defensive upgrade over Doumit, allowing only nine passed balls in 2010. Snyder also lead all catchers with a .999 fielding percentage since 2007, at the time of the trade.
- Don’t expect to see Doumit only one day a week (what normal backup catchers play). The Pirates believe Doumit will not battle as many injuries with less time behind the plate. He will play some time in right field and is an option at first base –if he improves on his defense at that position. Doumit can be a threat off the bench. The switch hitter batted .251 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 124 games last season.
- It appears there are no serious suitors for Ryan Doumit, but if he doesn’t make it to opening day with the Pirates, Jason Jaramillo could serve as a backup catcher. There is a chance, if Manager Clint Hurdle wants to use Doumit primarily as a pinch-hitter, that the Bucs could have three catchers on the 25-man roster. If not, Jaramillo will be the everyday catcher at Triple-A Indy.
Martinez traded to the Indians
On Tuesday, the Pirates traded right-hander Joe Martinez to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Martinez was designated for assignment on December 22nd after his short stay in Pittsburgh.
Acquired by the San Francisco Giants in the trade that sent left-hander Javier Lopez to the bay for outfielder John Bowker and Martinez.
He spent a month in Triple-A Indianapolis before he joined the Bucs after September call ups.
In five appearances with the Pirates during the 2010 season, he allowed 11 hits, five runs (three earned) through 8.2 innings pitched. Martinez also walked three and struck out six.
Morton hopes to rebound in 2011
With the new year looming and spring training less than 10 weeks away, the Pirates look to have four starters locked for 2011.
Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, Kevin Correia and James McDonald seem to be the favored starters for the Bucs, although nothing has been officially announced.
That leaves one spot left, with plenty of arms to compete in spring training.
Charlie Morton hopes to rebound from a horrible 2010 season.
“When you know you can do well and you prepare to do well and you go out and struggle like I did, that makes it pretty hard,” Morton said. “I was really excited coming into this year and it just didn’t get me anywhere. It was tough.”
Morton was acquired by the Atlanta Braves in June of 2009 and had high expectations by the Pirates. He finished 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA.
A horrible first part of the 2010 season, Morton picked up nine losses and had an ERA of 9.35. By May 28th, he was put on the Disabled list for right shoulder fatigue and by July 2nd, he was sent to the minors.
“I think I let the results dictate how I felt on the mound, and that, in turn, led me to be in a place that when I was on the mound and things weren’t going right, it all kind of compounded,” Morton said. “It got harder and harder. And I’m not talking harder outing-to-outing. I’m talking harder pitch-to-pitch. You’re looking in and not believing. I definitely have to rethink and reanalyze what I was trying to do out there. At the end, I’d be looking at video of myself and you could see in my face the doubt.”
A lack of confidence was a major contributor of his disastrous starts and he began to doubt his future as a pitcher.
“I had a lot of questions about myself when I was in Triple-A and not pitching well,” Morton said. “I had a lot of doubts. When I started pitching better, I started feeling better about baseball, but I didn’t feel better about my career. I’m at the stage in my career where it’s, ‘Can you pitch in the big leagues? Or can you not pitch in the big leagues?’”
In the final two months with the Pirates (five starts) he finished with a 3.99 ERA, his record 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA.
Morton has spent the offseason pitching in Winter Ball where he allowed three runs through 15 innings, striking out 14 and walking two.
“We’re moving in the right direction, and winter ball is just going to help build on that,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “He’s made some mechanical adjustments. He’s believing more. He’s being more aggressive. He’s trusting the stuff more. He’s taken some nice steps forward.”
With just one option remaining, Morton has a lot to prove in Spring Training if he wants to be the fifth starter in 2011. The Pirates, however, haven’t given up on him just yet.
“I’ve learned that you can’t think about things long-term,” Morton said. “You can have goals and long-term dreams, but just looking at my next start and going out there and trying to execute pitches is the most important thing.
“Do I want the guys in this clubhouse and coaches’ locker room to count on me? Yeah, I want that responsibility. But when I start moving forward that can’t be the only thing on my mind. It has to be me taking care of what I need to take care of. Whether that leads me to a certain position on the staff or wherever, I can’t really focus on that.”
Pirates acquire Wimberly from A’s
The Pirates acquired Corey Wimberly from the Oakland Athletics’ in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Kelly. He will also receive a non-roster invite to Spring Training.
Wimberly, 27, can play five different positions: shortstop, third base, second base, left field and center field. He hit .284 with three home runs, 57 RBI in 135 games for the A’s Triple-A team. Wimberly stole 56 bases last season, 259 bags in 563 career games.
Kelly, 23, was drafted by the Pirates in the 26th round of the 2006 draft. He went 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA through 75 innings during the 2010 season with Class A-West Virginia.
Minor League News and Notes
- The Pirates have not decided on a starting rotation for Triple-A system for 2011. Those players who do not make the major league roster could be factored into the Indians rotation. The candidates include: Rudy Owens, Justin Wilson, Bryan Morris and Jared Hughes (who could begin trickling into the Pirates rotation after July).
- Infielder Josh Harrison finished the finished well in the Arizona Fall League where he hit .330 in 22 games and finished with a .516 slugging percentage. He could be a candidate to start the season in Triple-A.
“He’s a guy that’s going to continue to challenge people to think that he’s better than what they think,” farm director Kyle Stark said. “He went out there and played very well.”
- Andrew Lambo also finished well in the AFL, batting .274 with 23 RBIs in 28 games (The 22-year-old outfielder was acquired by the Dodgers in the Octavio Dotel trade). Lambo is also a starting candidate for Triple-A.
Kristy Robinson
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