Thursday, February 28, 2013

Taillon impresses, others don't.

The ballgame is over here at McKechnie Field, where the Pirates, done in by 14 walks, dropped a 16-6 heartbreaker to the Boston Red Sox.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle took the day, ugly as it was, in stride.
"It was hard day for us off the mound," he said. "The command wasn't anywhere where we wanted it to be nor where we needed it to be. That's why you have spring training. It's early in spring training. Some of these guys are trying to find their way, and they need to find a way to uncomplicate some things from time to time. So today I'll think they'll be able to step away and figure out some things they may not want to re-do."
The one highlight came courtesy of starter Jameson Taillon, considered the 15th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and Baseball America, and the Pirates' top pick in 2010. Taillon struck out three, allowed one hit, one run (unearned) and a walk in two innings.
It was his first Grapefruit League start.
"I feel like I went out there today and I handled that situation and that stage pretty well," said Taillon, who pitches for Team Canada when the World Baseball Classic kicks off  this weekend. "Being around the guys early in the camp has definitely prepared me for that...I felt pretty comfortable, so from that standpoint, I feel like I've come a long way already."
Hurdle has been impressed with Taillon's poise, on and off the mound.
"I try and watch him in different environments," Hurdle said. "I try to watch him during the stretch, watch him during PFP (pitchers fielding practice) when they're not involved in specific practice drills. So it's not always game action.
"I want to see if he's using his eyes, using his ears. Both him and Gerrit (Cole) have been very good that way."

Pirates vs. Red Sox: Lineups

 Not exactly a star-studded lineup for either team today as the Pirates host the Boston Red Sox at McKechnie Field.
In fairness to the Red Sox, they brought the A-team to last night's game against the Orioles in Sarasota, so there was little chance they'd make another trek from Fort Myers so soon.
As for the Pirates, manager Clint Hurdle said everyone will get some time this spring, which is why today's lineup will probably look nothing like the one the Pirates will unveil Opening Day against the Cubs.

LINEUPS
RED SOX
Jackie Bradley Jr., cf
Brock Holt, 2b
Ryan Lavarnway, dh
Ryan Sweeney, rf
Drew Sutton, 3b
David Ross, c
Lyle Overbay, 1b
Juan Carlos Linares, lf
Jose Iglesias, ss
John Lackey, p

PIRATES
Alex Presley, cf
Jose Tabata, lf
Travis Snider, rf
Brandon Inge, dh
Clint Robinson, 1b
Jared Goedert, 3b
Josh Harrison, ss
Tony Sanchez, c
Chase d'Arnaud, 2b
Jameson Taillon, p

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Pirates vs. Rays

As you can see, the weather is much better here at McKechnie Field, where the Pirates are set to host the Tampa Bay Rays.
Here are the lineups. One note: Wil Myers, considered baseball's top prospect, is on the Rays' travel squad today.

RAYS
Ben Zobrist, 2b
Desmond Jennings, cf
Matt Joyce, rf
Yunel Escobar, ss
Luke Scott, dh
Kelly Johnson, lf
Jose Molina, c
James Loney, 1b
Sean Rodriguez, 3b
Jeff Niemann, p

PIRATES
Starling Marte, lf
Neil Walker, 2b
Andrew McCutchen, cf
Pedro Alvarez, 3b
Garrett Jones, 1b
Gaby Sanchez, dh
Brad Hawpe, rf
Michael McKenry, c
Clint Barmes, ss
A.J. Burnett, p

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Today's game...

...has been officially called on account of rain.
Check back tomorrow when I blog from McKechnie Field when the Pirates host the Tampa Bay Rays for the first of three meetings this spring in Bradenton.
A.J. Burnett will start for the Pirates against the Rays' Jeremy Hellickson.

Lineups: Pirates vs. Orioles

Dark clouds are making their way over McKechnie Field, site of today's game between the Pirates and the resurrected Baltimore Orioles.
Rain is in the forecast. A tornado watch is in place.
Something tells me the party deck won't be hopping today.
But the Orioles' prized prospect, Dylan Bundy, is scheduled to make his spring debut today, so we have that going for us.

Lineups:

ORIOLES
Alexi Casilla, ss
Lew Ford, lf
Wilson Betemit, dh
Steve Pearce, 1b
Russ Canzler, rf
Danny Valencia, 3b
Jason Pridie, cf
Taylor Teagarden, c
Ryan Flaherty, 2b
Chris Tillman, p

PIRATES
Starling Marte, lf
Neil Walker, 2b
Andrew McCutchen, cf
Pedro Alvarez, 3b
Garrett Jones, 1b
Gaby Sanchez, dh
Brad Hawpe, rf
Michael McKenry, c
Clint Barmes, ss
Wandy Rodriguez, p

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Pirates win

Clint Barmes hit a two-run home run, Brad Hawpe drove in a pair of runs and seven Pirates pitchers teamed for a seven-hitter as the Pittsburgh defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-2 in front of 5,626 fans at McKechnie Field.
It was the Pirates’ first home game of the Grapefruit League season, and the first official exhibition game at McKechnie since the ballpark underwent a $10 million overhaul.
Darren Ford had two hits and two RBIs and Clint Robinson singled, doubled and scored a pair of runs for the Pirates (2-0).
Pendleton School graduate Tyler Pastornicky knocked in a run for the Braves.
PROSPECT OF THE GAME: Braves starter Julio Teheran, ranked 31st in MLB.com’s list of baseball’s top 100 prospects, pitched two hitless innings, striking out two and walking one.
UP NEXT: The Pirates head south to Fort Myers to take on the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. Monday. Kyle McPherson will start for Pittsburgh against the Twins’ Vance Worley

Pirates win

Clint Barmes hit a two-run home run, Brad Hawpe drove in a pair of runs and seven Pirates pitchers teamed for a seven-hitter as the Pittsburgh defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-2 in front of 5,626 fans at McKechnie Field.
It was the Pirates’ first home game of the Grapefruit League season, and the first official exhibition game at McKechnie since the ballpark underwent a $10 million overhaul.
Darren Ford had two hits and two RBIs and Clint Robinson singled, doubled and scored a pair of runs for the Pirates (2-0).
Pendleton School graduate Tyler Pastornicky knocked in a run for the Braves.
PROSPECT OF THE GAME: Braves starter Julio Teheran, ranked 31st in MLB.com’s list of baseball’s top 100 prospects, pitched two hitless innings, striking out two and walking one.
UP NEXT: The Pirates head south to Fort Myers to take on the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. Monday. Kyle McPherson will start for Pittsburgh against the Twins’ Vance Worley

Russell Martin opts out of World Baseball Classic

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie


Russell Martin is staying in Bradenton.
The Pirates' newly-acquired catcher has decided not to play for Team Canada for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
"The Pirate organization wasn't comfortable with me playing shortstop, and I don't think Team Canada was comfortable with me playing shortstop," said Martin, who was born in Ontario and resides in Quebec, "and I didn't want to have put my body in a position where I was going to catch however many innings of baseball during the tournament."
Wait. Did he say shortstop?
Drafted as in infielder in 2002 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Martin was all about going to the WBC as  long he didn't have to catch. And he wanted to play short.
So the 30-year-old figured if he was going to catch, why not catch the guys who he'll be working with for the next five months.
"I'm not catching every day here," Martin said prior to Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves, "but staying here and catching their bullpens, catching them in a game every once in a while, it'll help accelerate the process of chemistry and just comfort."

Braves vs. Pirates: Lineups

Like that view?
It's from the new, oft-admired boardwalk in McKechnie Field. The ballpark, fresh off a massive renovation, hosts its first Grapefruit League game of the spring today when the Atlanta Braves visit the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Here are the lineups. One note: Tyler Pastornicky, a graduate of The Pendleton School, is on the Braves' travel roster.

BRAVES
Reed Johnson, cf
Jason Heyward, rf
Justin Upton, lf
Juan Francisco, 3b
B.J. Upton, dh
Blake DeWitt, 2b
Gerald Laird, c
Ernesto Mejia, 1b
Ramiro Pena, ss
Julio Teheran, p

PIRATES
Starling Marte, lf
Russell Martin, c
Andrew McCutchen, cf
Pedro Alvarez, 3b
Neil Walker, 2b
Gaby Sanchez, 1b
Brandon Inge, dh
Jose Tabata, rf
Clint Barmes, ss
James McDonald, p

Friday, February 22, 2013

Game over



By JOHN LEMBO
BRADENTON – Shutout innings from Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon, and a long home run off the bat of Starling Marte.
The Pittsburgh Pirates hope such scenarios play out during future summers and falls at PNC Park.
Friday, they had to settle for watching three of their prized prospects perform well in the Black And Gold Game, an intrasquad affair that lasted 5 ½ innings in front of 2,131 fans at McKechnie Field.
In the first game at McKechnie since the ballpark underwent a $10 million overhaul, Team Gold and Team Black played to a 2-2 tie.
Marte, who homered on the first pitch he saw as a Pirate last year, swatted at another first pitch Friday and launched it over McKechnie’s new left-field bleachers to give Team Gold a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
He wound up hitting .257 with 17 RBIs and 12 steals in 47 games with Pittsburg.
A pair of former first-round draft picks, Cole and Taillon started and threw two shutout innings apiece.
Cole allowed a hit and struck out one for Team Black, while Taillon struck out three and surrendered two hit.
“It felt good,” Taillon said. “Nothing out of the ordinary…still some things I want to iron out, like timing. But overall, it felt real good.”
Neither pitcher issued a walk.
“I thought they were very, very good with their pace,” said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. “And obviously they both pitched very well (Friday).”
Lucas May and Alex Presley each drove in a run for Team Black.
The Pirates open Grapefruit League play Saturday when they head to Port Charlotte to face the Tampa Bay Rays, and play their home-opener 1 p.m. Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.


Let the games begin!

Major league baseball is back in Bradenton, and it has never looked better.
This is John Lembo, blogging live from McKechnie Field, which is looking sharp following a $10 million facelift.
Today is the Pirates' Black and Gold Game, an intrasquad affair that will last 5 1/2 innings.
Here are the lineups:

BLACK
Alex Presley, cf
Chase d'Arnaud, ss
Jerry Sands, rf
Clint Robinson, 1b
Brandon Inge, dh
Jared Goedert, 3b
Josh Harrison, 2b
Michael McKenry, c
Felix Pie, lf
Jameson Taillon, p

GOLD
Starling Marte,lf
Jose Tabata, rf
Matt Hague, 3b
Gaby Sanchez, 1b
Brad Hawpe, dh
Jordy Mercer, ss
Tony Sanchez, c
Iva De Jesus, jr., 2b
Darren Ford, cf
Gerrit Cole, p

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Pirates announce Clint Hurdle's contract extension

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Tuesday they have given a contract extension to manager Clint Hurdle, exercising the club option for 2014 and adding another club option for 2015.
News of the extension was originally reported Monday by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Hurdle, 55, is 151-173 in two seasons with the Pirates. Pittsburgh has started out strong under Hurdle but is a combined 36-76 in August and September.
"From the first day I took the job, (my goal) was to reconnect and rebond the city with its baseball team. We've taken some steps and appropriate steps in that direction," Hurdle said Monday, "but there's still unfinished business.
"I think we have re-ignited the fan base to some degree. We have gotten our team mentality and our environment in place where it needs to be, but again, you're always working to fulfill a dream, and the dream of every man out here right now is to be part of a championship team and a championship organization."