The 2012 MLB interleague schedule has its opening weekend from May 18-20. One of the more interesting matchups is between the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, giving the city a chance to see its two teams do battle. The Boston Red Sox go up ...
The Washington Nationals continue to impress even with all of the injuries the team has gone through to this point in the season, improving their home record to 14-5 in their May 16 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates by the score of 7-4. Gio Gonzalez ...
The Pirates' offense was so anemic Alex Presley, their fifth-best hitter, was demoted to the minor leagues.
Source: TribLIVE
Source: Rum Bunter by Tom Smith
Source: Post-Gazette
Adam LaRoche went 3 for 4 and drove in four runs, leading the Nationals to the victory.
Source: MLB.com
Source: TribLIVE
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Jordan Zimmermann has been a big part of the Washington Nationals' success on the mound.Source: Post-Gazette
Padres 4, Dodgers 2: Chase Headley homered, doubled and drove in three runs as last-place San Diego rallied to beat visiting Los Angeles.Source: Post-Gazette
In a game between teams with similar characteristics Wednesday night, Adam LaRoche made the difference for the Nationals afainst the PiratesSource: Pirates Prospects by John Dreker
Top ranked prospect Gerrit Cole, will get his eighth start of the season tonight for Bradenton. He is tied for the sixth best WHIP(1.00) in the Florida State League. He also has the 11th most strikeouts in the league, while ranking 34th in innings pitched. A full recap of yesterday’s games can be found here.
Cole has allowed five or less hits in every start this year
Triple-A: Indianapolis (22-17) @ Lehigh Valley (23-16) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Jo-Jo Reyes (5-0 2.25)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 0 Lehigh Valley 1 (game story here)
Jo-Jo Reyes will make his seventh start of the season tonight, he also made one relief appearance at the start of the season. In all six of his starts, he has pitched at least five innings while giving up two runs or less. He made a start again Lehigh Valley on 5/7, throwing a complete game shutout. Reyes allowed three hits, one walk and he struck out a season high eight batters. He is holding opposing batters to a .246 average, left-handed hitters are batting just .145 against him.
Double-A: Altoona (15-22) @ Bowie (15-23) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Phil Irwin (0-1 7.20)
Yesterday’s Result: Altoona 4 Bowie 3 in 10 innings (game story here)
Phil Irwin will make his third start of the season tonight, his second while with Altoona. On 5/11, he gave up four runs in five innings, allowing five hits, two walks and he struck out one. After missing the first month of the season with an arm injury, Irwin made a rehab start with Bradenton on 5/5. He picked up the win, going five innings, while allowing one run on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
High-A: Bradenton (18-21) VS Dunedin (25-14) 6:30pm
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (2-1 3.18)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton 3 St Lucie 6 (game one) Bradenton 0 St Lucie 4 (game two)
Gerrit Cole will make his eighth start of the season tonight. In 34 innings, he has allowed 23 hits, walked eleven and struck out 39 batters. He trails team leader, Jameson Taillon, by one in strikeouts. Taillon has pitched 8.1 more innings than Cole. In his last start on 5/12, Gerrit allowed one run(solo homer) in six innings, giving up a total of three hits, one walk and he struck out five. Opposing batters are hitting .193 against him.
Low-A: West Virginia (13-26) @ Greenville (18-20) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Zac Fuesser (0-1 5.34)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 7 Lexington 13
Zac Fuesser will make his eighth start of the season tonight. He has pitched 30.1 innings this year, giving up 36 hits, 13 walks and he has struck out twenty-three. Zac is looking to bounce back from his worst start of the season. On 5/12, he gave up nine earned runs in 4.1 innings, allowing 11 hits. He began the year by allowing six hits over his first 11 innings(three starts). Since then he has allowed 30 hits in 19.1 innings.
Source: Pirates Prospects by Nancy Zinni
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 1, Indianapolis Indians 0
(Box)
Daniel Cabrera took a tough loss today, allowing one run in six innings.
The Indianapolis Indians were shut out by the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for the second day in a row, losing 1-0 at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. This gives the Indians 36 straight innings without scoring an earned run. They were shut out by the Norfolk Tides on Sunday at home, and though they won on Monday, the only run they scored in that game was unearned. The Indians out-hit the Iron Pigs 8-5 tonight, but the Iron Pigs needed only two of those hits, along with a hit batter, to score the only run of the game.
The game began as a pitching duel between Indians’ starter Daniel Cabrera and Iron Pigs’ starter Scott Elarton. Each team posted 3 hits over the first 5 innings, but did not score a run. The Tribe had a runner on base in three of those innings. 3B Matt Hague lined a single into left field in the 2nd, but was erased when 2B Jordy Mercer bounced into a double play. C Jose Morales worked a walk in the 3rd, and was left on base. CF Starling Marte beat out an infield single in the 4th, but was promptly thrown out by former Indy Indian C Erik Kratz as he tried to steal second base.
The Iron Pigs put a runner on base in each of the first four innings. Cabrera walked CF Derrick Mitchell and hit 2B Kevin Frandsen with a pitch in the bottom of the 1st. Two ground outs ended the inning with both runners stranded in scoring position. 3B Tug Hulett singled in the 2nd and Frandsen singled in the 3rd, and both of them were left on base. RF Michael Spidale singled to lead off the 4th, but moments later was erased when Hulett bounced into a double play. The grounder went right to second base, where SS Chase d’Arnaud was covering. D’Arnaud took a step to touch second base and force out Spidale, then fired on to first for the out on Hulett.
Jeff Clement singled twice in tonight's game.
It was the bottom of the 6th when the Iron Pigs cracked the scoreboard. With one out, Frandsen singled up the middle, then Cabrera hit Kratz with a pitch. Spidale grounded to second, where Kratz was forced out, giving the Iron Pigs runners on the corners. 1B Cody Overbeck drove in Frandsen with a single into center, for what would be the only run of the game.
The Tribe tried to respond with a rally in the top of the 7th, in what was their best chance at scoring. With one out, 1B Jeff Clement slipped a single up the middle, and 2B Jordy Mercer worked a walk, moving Clement to second base. Jake Fox came in to pinch-hit for RF Jeff Larish, but Fox popped out to end the threat.
Bryan Morris came on to relieve Daniel Cabrera, who had pitched 6 innings. Cabrera had allowed the one run on 5 hits and a walk, with 5 strikeouts. Morris zipped through the 7th inning, with three straight ground outs to Mercer at second base. He had a little more trouble in the 8th, allowing a pair of back-to-back walks, but ended the inning with a double play, 6-4-3 (d’Arnaud to Mercer to Clement).
In the top of the 8th, the Indians fell victim to a rare triple play. Morales led off with a line drive single into center field. Brian Friday came on to pinch-run for Morales. Brandon Boggs, who had entered the game in a double-switch, made it back-to-back singles by grounded into center field. That brought up d’Arnaud, who tried to put down a bunt. Instead of going down, his bunt attempt popped up. Erik Kratz took a step in front of the plate and caught the pop, then fired to SS Andres Blanco, who doubled off Friday. Blanco relayed the ball to Frandsen at first, doubling off Boggs to complete the triple play.
The Indians had one more try in the top of the 9th, and again they put two runners on base. LF Gorkys Hernandez led off by beating out a throw from 3B Hulett, for an infield single. A strikeout and a line out left the Indians with one more out to work with. Matt Hague hit his second single of the day, lining into right field. With the tying and go-ahead run on base, Jordy Mercer grounded to third, for a force out at second to end the game.
Daniel Cabrera, who surrendered the only run of the game, suffered the loss, his first of the season. He threw 98 pitches (62 strikes).
The Toledo Mud Hens also loss tonight, so the Indians remain in first place in the International League Western Division by half a game over the Mud Hens.
Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: Two hits each for Jeff Clement and Matt Hague. Hague singled in the 2nd and 9th. Clement had his hits in the 4th and 7th.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: The Tribe turned two double plays, but the slickest one came in the 4th. SS Chase d’Arnaud made the scoop of Tug Hulett’s grounder just a step away from second base, making it easy to step on the bag and then fire on to first base.
NOTES
Justin Wilson was feeling better today.
Roster Moves: Reliever Evan Meek was called back up to the Pirates today. In order to clear a roster spot on the big club, OF Alex Presley was optioned back to Indianapolis. Presley has been struggling at the plate recently, so maybe a stint back at AAA will shake him out of it.
Justin Wilson, who had to leave the game on Monday due to a groin strain, pitched a side session today and reported that he felt fine. He might not have to miss his next start after all.
Former Indianapolis Indian OF Rich Thompson, who has been playing for the Iron Pigs for most of the past 4 seasons, was traded to the Rays today. It seems that he might get to go right to the major league team and get some playing time, due to an injury to Rays’ OF Brandon Guyer.
Source: Pirates Prospects by WTM
Altoona beat Bowie behind a big night from utility infielder Kelson Brown, who was subbing at short for an injured Brock Holt. Brown drove in Altoona’s first run in the first inning with a sac fly, scored a go-ahead run after leading off the 6th with a double, and drove in the eventual winner in the top of the 10th with a two-out triple. The left fielder missed a diving catch on the play or it would have been a single, but the run still would have scored. Brown finished 3-3 with the sac fly and a hit batsman. He’s now batting .351.
Nate Baker Battles Control Problems, Relievers More Effective
Altoona starter Nate Baker, who’s largely struggled this year, ran into control problems right from the start. He walked two and hit one batter in the first, leading to two runs. He managed to pitch scorelessly after that, but was lifted with two outs in the fifth as he’d thrown 94 pitches. He finished with three hits allowed and five walks, and he fanned only one against a weak Bowie lineup. Baker’s fastball sat at 89 and he showed a good change. His breaking stuff was less impressive as he generally lacked much control of it.
Three Altoona relievers had less trouble, with the only glitch being an ill-timed Vic Black balk. Kris Harvey followed Baker and threw an inning and a third, allowing one hit. Harvey’s fastball sat at 91, which is less velocity than he had earlier in his career. Black came on with the Curve up 3-2 and threw two innings. He allowed two hits and no walks, while fanning four. The one run came when the first hitter Black faced–the very weak-hitting Steven (son of Al) Bumbry–doubled to the opposite field, just missing a HR. After a sacrifice put Bumbry on third, Black got a strikeout, but he stumbled in a delivery to the next hitter, balking in the tying run. Black’s fastball ranged from 91-96, sitting at 94 until partway through his second inning he started hitting 96 frequently. He showed a low-80s breaking ball that could be either a slider or a hard curve, I’m not sure which. It had a sharp break at times. Black’s command still needs work, but he struggled far less to throw strikes in this game than when I’ve seen him in the past. In this game he threw 24 of 33 pitches for strikes. Duke Welker pitched the 9th and 10th innings to get the win. Welker’s fastball velocity was 96-99 in his first inning. It dropped a little to 94-97 in his second inning, and his control also became more shaky. He threw a slider that registered 88 at times. The slider still needs work, which probably is why Welker hasn’t fanned all that many hitters this year, just 6.5 per nine innings. Welker allowed just a walk in the two innings, and fanned one.
Notes on Other Players
– Quincy Latimore has been having a rough year, but in this game he went 2-4 and gunned a runner down at home with a perfect throw.
– Robbie Grossman went 1-5 with two strikeouts, just as he did the day before. The one hit was a triple to lead off the game.
– The Curve blew a scoring opportunity in the 5th when they had the bases loaded with one out. Grossman hit into a double play at that point, one of four the Curve hit into on the day. They nearly blew another scoring chance in the 6th when Matt Curry struck out with a runner on third and two out. Fortunately, Ramon Cabrera followed with a double lined over the leftfielder’s head. Cabrera now leads the Curve with 20 RBIs.
Source: Post-Gazette
Roger Clemens' lawyer toyed with Brian McNamee's memory and attacked him from several directions at once.Source: Post-Gazette
A Pirates security supervisor nearly lost a finger and a Pittsburgh police officer was hurt during an incident at PNC Park.Source: Post-Gazette
The Pirates optioned Alex Presley to Class AAA Indianapolis Wednesday so the struggling outfielder can get regular playing time.Source: Post-Gazette
Brett Lawrie heard the penalty, then expressed just one regret about his tantrum: that his batting helmet bounced up and hit an umpire.Source: Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke?
I guess that all things considered, maybe Evan Meek wasn't the right guy to bring up for short-term bullpen depth.
I dunno, that's all I got for this one. Josh Harrison hit a home run and now he has more home runs than walks this year. In fact, he's only got one fewer home run than walk for his entire career. Don't ask for more numbers. They'll depress you.
Source: Bucs Dugout by Charlie Wilmoth
There's been a tremendous amount of (understandable) impatience about the Pirates' offense recently, with a lot of people wondering why Neal Huntington doesn't just head over to the hitter tree and pluck some fruit and put it in his basket.
Unfortunately, there isn't much the Pirates can do right now. They can't really look to Indianapolis for much help, for example -- Indy has the worst offense in the International League, and there's no one on the entire team who has an OPS above .802. There are some guys to keep an eye on as possible replacements for struggling players, but
Source: Bucs Dugout by WTM
Wednesday's action:
-P- Indianapolis dropped a 1-0 game to Lehigh Valley. Considering the players on their roster, you'd think the Indians would have a good, or at least solid, offense, but they've been pretty terrible. Well, not Pirate Terrible, not even close to that historic level of ineptitude, but bad just the same. They're last in the International League in OPS by a comfortable margin. They wasted their usual strong start, this one by Daniel Cabrera, who
Source: Yahoo! Sports
ATLANTA (AP) Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and possibly saved two runs with a diving catch and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 8-4 on Wednesday night, adding another win to their impressive May record.Source: MLB.com by James Walker
Thursday's finale of a two-game series between the Pirates and Nationals will feature a matchup of two of the top young pitching talents in the Major Leagues.Source: TribLIVE
Source: Pirates Prospects by Tim Williams
A look at how the current top 10 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. Rankings from the 2012 Prospect Guide, which can be purchased here.
1. Gerrit Cole, RHP (2-1, 3.18) - DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP (2-3, 2.55) - 5.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
3. Starling Marte, CF (.260) - 1-for-4, 2 K
4. Josh Bell, RF (.274) - Low-A DL
5. Luis Heredia, RHP (No Stats) - Extended Spring Training
6. Robbie Grossman, CF (.234) - 1-for-5, 3B
7. Tony Sanchez, C (.250) - 0-for-4, BB
8. Stetson Allie, RHP (0-0, 54.00) - Extended Spring Training
9. Kyle McPherson, RHP (No Stats) - AAA DL
10. Nick Kingham, RHP (1-2, 6.75) - DNP
The minor league system hit 17 homers last week. The code “HOME RUN” gives you $0.50 off per home run, which is a savings of $8.50. That’s the biggest discount yet! Use the code on the products page of the site to get your discount. Expires Sunday 5/20 at 11:59:59 PM EST.
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS (.358) – 3-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI
Home Runs: Alen Hanson (6), Junior Sosa (1)
Result: Lehigh Valley 1, Indianapolis 0
Starting Pitcher: Daniel Cabrera, RHP (1-1, 2.78) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Matt Hague, 3B (.281) – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers
Jeff Clement, 1B (.296) – 2-for-4
Bryan Morris, RHP (2.45) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Indianapolis was shut out for the second night in a row. On the season, Bryan Morris has a 2.45 ERA in 23 innings, with a 19:4 K/BB ratio. Per Nancy Zinni, Justin Wilson threw a side session today and reported that he felt fine.
Result: Altoona 4, Bowie 3
Starting Pitcher: Nathan Baker, LHP (5.17) – 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Kelson Brown, SS (.351) – 3-for-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI
Other Notable Performers
Ramon Cabrera, DH (.275) – 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Robbie Grossman, CF (.234) – 1-for-5, 3B, 2 K
Victor Black, RHP (2.00) – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Duke Welker, RHP (2-1, 2.33) – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Nathan Baker has struggled with his control at times this year, with this being his third start out of eight with a walk per inning. He did limit the hits tonight, and has given up five earned runs in 16.2 innings over the last three starts, although his 7:7 K/BB ratio in that stretch isn’t ideal. On the season Victor Black has a 2.00 ERA in 18 innings, with a 21:7 K/BB ratio. Duke Welker has a 2.33 ERA in 19.1 innings, with a 14:7 K/BB ratio. Kelson Brown is putting up some good numbers, although he only has 57 at-bats on the season. He’s been hot in May, going 11-for-22 (.500) with tonight’s extra base hits being his first of the month.
Game One Box Score
Result: St. Lucie 6, Bradenton 3
Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon, RHP (2-3, 2.55) – 5.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS (.240) – 3-for-4, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Carlos Paulino, C (.243) – 2-for-3, 3B, RBI
Mel Rojas, CF (.282) – 1-for-3, SB
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon has his worst start of the year. Heading in to the game he had given up six runs in 36.2 innings. Today he gave up six runs in 5.2 innings. He also gave up his first two homers, walked more than one batter for the third time in eight starts, and gave up a season high in hits. His overall numbers are still strong, with a 2.55 ERA in 42.1 innings, along with a 40:9 K/BB ratio.
Game Two Box Score
Result: St. Lucie 4, Bradenton 0
Starting Pitcher: Hunter Strickland, RHP (2-1, 4.42) – 2.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
Top Hitter: Justin Howard, RF (.235) – 1-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Mel Rojas, CF (.282) – 1-for-3
Game Notes: Since returning from being hit by a line drive, Hunter Strickland has allowed six runs in 5.1 innings, with a 1:1 K/BB ratio. Prior to the injury, Strickland had given up three runs in 13 innings with a 10:2 K/BB ratio.
Result: Lexington 13, West Virginia 7
Starting Pitcher: Ryan Hafner, RHP (0-3, 8.24) – 3.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS (.358) – 3-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI
Other Notable Performers
Junior Sosa, LF (.297) – 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, SB
Game Notes: Ryan Hafner now has an 8.24 ERA on the year in 19.2 innings, with a 10:14 K/BB ratio and four homers. Alen Hanson had a much better day today, rebounding from an 0-for-4, 4 strikeout day. Hanson hit his sixth homer of the year, which was a solo shot in the ninth inning. He didn’t have such a good day on the field, with four errors. Junior Sosa hit his first homer of the year, and is now hitting for a .297/.385/.385 line in 91 at-bats. Gregory Polanco extended his hitting streak to nine games.
AAA: Indianapolis Indians – 22-17
AA: Altoona Curve – 15-22
A+: Bradenton Marauders – 18-21
A: West Virginia Power – 13-26
Source: Yahoo! Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense is so abysmal Alex Presley, their fifth-best hitter, was demoted to the minor leagues and richly deserved it.Source: Hyzdu Headquarters by Michael J
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| How Long Will It Be Until We See Him in Black and Gold Again? |
Source: MLB.com by Jeff Seidel
Starter Erik Bedard had problems against Washington in last week's start, coming out in the second inning with back spasms. He did much better this time around, but three solo homers helped the Nationals to a 7-4 victory over the Pirates before 25,942 at Nationals Park on Wednesday.Source: Pirates Prospects by Kristy Robinson
Bedard suffered back spasms during his outing on May 9 against the Nationals. Image Credit: Pittsburgh Pirates
Left-hander Erik Bedard made his first start on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals since his scheduled start was bumped back by two days due to back spasms.
The lefty allowed four runs on six hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out seven while throwing 92 pitches, 62 strikes. It marked Bedard’s first outing this season that he allowed more than two earned runs.
Three of the four runs that Bedard allowed came from the long ball. The lefty allowed one to Ian Desmond in the second frame. Bedard went on to retire 11 straight batters, which included seven whiffs, before giving up back-to-back homers in the sixth. Bedard allowed just one home run over his first seven starts of the season (35.0 innings). The first run scored on a RBI ground out by Ryan Zimmerman in the first inning. Bryce Harper scored the run after tripling off the right field wall with one out.
Barajas Showing Signs of Breaking Out of Slow Start
Both Rod Barajas and Clint Barmes are hitting below .200 on the season, but Barajas has shown signs at the plate of breaking out of the slump to start the season. The catcher went deep for the second time in five games Monday, and four of his last six hits have gone for extra bases. Barajas entered Wednesday’s game with an .821 OPS in May, after a .406 OPS in April.
“We didn’t bring those guys in here to hit 40 home runs and hit .320,” General Manager Neal Huntington said. “We brought those guys in here to be stabilizing veteran presences, guys in the middle of our field defensively.”
“There’s going to be recovery here. [Hitting Coach] Gregg [Ritchie] and [Pirates Manager] Clint [Hurdle] continue to work with these guys. There’s no question that we want more production than they have been offensively…Rod’s starting to get some hits. Clint is showing signs, but there’s no doubt that we need these guys to turn a corner. But again, we need them to be what we expected them to be. We knew what they were going to be offensively coming in, they weren’t signed to come in and be difference makers for us. They were signed to come in and stabilize the defensive diamond, to be positive clubhouse presences. Both have done that.”
Lincoln’s Change in Mentality
Right-hander Brad Lincoln allowed two runs on four hits over six innings during his spot start on Monday in Miami. And before that start, Lincoln posted just an 0.63 ERA out of the bullpen over 14.1 innings. The righty has spent parts of three seasons in the Majors, but right now is pitching the best he has in his professional career.
“Don’t be afraid to fail,” Lincoln said of his mentality. “I think that when I first got up here the last couple years, I was kind of a little timid about finding the plate, maybe getting hit around a little bit. Now it’s just, let it go and I’m going to come right at you. If you beat me, you beat me. If not, good things will happen. So far, so good for me this year. Things have been working out.”
Source: TribLIVE
Source: Post-Gazette
In a game between teams with similar characteristics but diverging trajectories, Washingtons' Adam LaRoche made the difference.Source: Yahoo! Sports
WASHINGTON (AP) Adam LaRoche broke open a tight game with a three-run double for his 1,000th career hit after homering for No. 999, and Gio Gonzalez took over the NL strikeout lead from teammate Stephen Strasburg by fanning 10 in seven innings Wednesday night, leading the Washington Nationals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4.Source: Bucs Dugout by Charlie Wilmoth
Erik Bedard struck out seven batters after having his start delayed by back spasms. Unfortunately, he also gave up three homers -- a solo shot by Ian Desmond in the third, and then back-to-back homers by Adam LaRoche and Xavier Nady, and the Nats led 4-1 after six. (Back in the Pirates' dugout, Nate McLouth must have felt lonely.)
At
Source: Bucs Dugout by karreemofwheat
PNC Security Guard Loses Finger In Altercation With FanDrunk, stupid and smoking, we got it all.
Source: MLB.com by Tom Singer
The Pirates dive into Interleague business bravely, even eagerly, for a couple of solid reasons. Pitching is still the game's great definer, and even against the tough early-season schedule, the Bucs' staff has outdone every single AL club, not just those on their slate.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Arizona: RHP Daniel Hudson (shoulder) pitched against Oakland in an extended spring training game, his first game since going on the disabled list after an April 18 start. If Hudson recovers well, he is expected to make a rehab start for Class AAA Reno on Monday with an eye toward rejoining the D-backs the last week of May. ... CF Chris Young (shoulder) finished his three-game rehab assignment at high-A Visalia (Calif.) with a .308 average, three doubles and seven RBI. He has been out since April 17.Source: TribLIVE
Source: MLB.com
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said pitcher Jeff Karstens felt good after a brief throwing session on Wednesday.Source: MLB.com
The Pirates optioned outfielder Alex Presley to Triple-A on Wednesday and recalled right-handed reliever Evan Meek.Source: Bucs Dugout by j1066
What Dock Ellis Taught Me About Drugs, Spitballs, Hair Curlers, Office Culture, Race, And AmericaSource: TribLIVE
Source: TribLIVE
Source: Bucs Dugout by Vlad
Chris (Pittsburgh): How likely is it that at least one of Almora, Giolito, or Correa will be available when the Pirates pick at #8? If all three are available, who should the Bucs choose?
Jim Callis: Likely, as of today, only because Giolito is a total wild card. I don't think Almora or Correa gets to them. If all three were on the board, I'd be torn between Almora and Correa. I hear so many raves about Almora, I'd lean that way. (If Giolito were healthy, I'd quickly take him.)
Source: TribLIVE
Source: Yahoo! Sports
WASHINGTON (AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled right-hander Evan Meek from Triple-A Indianapolis before Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals and optioned slumping outfielder Alex Presley to the minors.Source: TribLIVE
Source: Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke?
Don't have much time to write a pre-game post here since I have RNA club tonight (this is a real thing), but Gio Gonzalez and Erik Bedard both strike out a ton of hitters and are pitching against teams with bad offenses. This could be entertaining/boring/frustrating.
First pitch is at 7:05
Source: Buccos Buzz by Troy Pfaff
The Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned struggling outfielder Alex Presley to its AAA affiliate in Indianapolis and have recalled relief pitcher Evan Meek to the majors, the team announced today.
Presley, 26, impressed after coming up as a late-season call-up in 2011. He finished the year with a .298 average, four home runs and nine stolen bases in 52 games. He also had a decent OPS of .804, hinting that perhaps Presley was ready to join the Major League club full-time as a top of the order hitter.
The lefty got off to a nice start this year with hits in 17 of his first 19 games and a 12-game hit streak from mid to late April. On April 28, Presley’s batting average sat at .303.
Less than a month later, that number is .220. Presley has just three hits in all of May. He has 26 hits on the year with 30 strikeouts.
Presley had been splitting his spot in the outfield with Nate McLouth and Yamaico Navarro.
The Pirates offense has been struggling mightily, and that surely can’t be helped by making McLouth and Navarro near-everyday outfielders. Hopefully Presley can find his swing in AAA and make a return to Pittsburgh soon.
The right-hander Meek will replace Presley on the 25-man roster. He was originally optioned to Indianapolis on April 30 after racking up a 5.59 ERA in nine appearances in Pittsburgh. He’s made four scoreless appearances for Indianapolis.
This all brings forward the burning question of when the Pirates will call up outfield prospect Starling Marte, he of the ridiculous 2012 Spring Training.
Some will be surprised when they find out Marte is only batting .261/.323/.437 in 131 plate appearances in AAA this year. He missed a few games this week after taking a pitch off the hand.
While few expected Marte to replicate his spring success in Indianapolis, most expected the 23-year-old’s average to be above the .300 mark, not borderlining Garrett Jones territory.
I don’t think Marte is ready yet. He’s clearly not hitting AAA pitching like we want him to. Feeding him to major league pitching wouldn’t be a great idea, especially if his confidence level is anything less than full.
The Pirates will likely leave Meek up with the big club for this series with the Nationals, but could make a move to bring up another hitter for the weekend series in Detroit, where the team will need a designated hitter.
I don’t expect to see Marte up this weekend. Matt Hague seems the more likely choice to come up and get some major league at bats.
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Source: Post-Gazette
WASHINGTON -- The Pirates optioned Alex Presley to Class AAA Indianapolis Wednesday and added Evan Meek to the active roster.Source: TribLIVE
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