Lincoln began the 2009 season with Altoona, and he quickly found his stride. �He earned a 1-5 record in 13 starts, but he was on a team that often did not supply him with a lot of runs. �He posted a 2.28 ERA in 75 innings, allowed 63 hits and 18 walks (a slightly elevated walk rate) and struck out 65 batters (also a higher rate than in 2008). �The Texas native started the season slowly, with a 4.26 ERA in April. �In his first four starts, he gave up 3 earned runs in each of three starts (totalling 14 innings). �On April 16th, Lincoln was the hard-luck loser, when he gave up one unearned run (due to a throwing error) in 5 innings and struck out 6, but was charged with the loss when the Curve were held to just one hit by the Erie (Detroit) pitchers. �Lincoln dominated in the month of May, allowing just 3 earned runs over 33.2 innings for a 0.80 ERA. �That month included a 2-hit 9-inning shutout on May 21st against Bowie (Orioles). �In four more starts in the first half of June, Lincoln gave up 7 earned runs in 22.1 innings (2.82 ERA). �At that point, he was promoted to AAA Indianapolis. �With the Indians, Lincoln found a tougher time than he had at AA. �He made 6 starts over the rest of June and July, earning a 2-1 record and a 4.62 ERA, with 40 hits and 22 runs (17 earned) over 33.1 innings. �He did not walk many (8) and struck out a respectable 20 batters, including 7 strikeouts in 5 innings on July 6th and 6 K’s in 6 innings on July 23rd. �The remainder of his time in Indy was about the same. �In August/Sept, Lincoln made 7 more starts for 28 innings, allowing 32 hits and 15 runs, with only 2 walks and 22 strikeouts. �He finished his time in Indy with 61.1 innings (total of 136.1 for the season), a 6-2 record, and a 4.70 ERA.
Lincoln was picked to pitch in the 2009 Futures Game, and had some fun with a frisbee during a rain delay, though his part in the actual game was not as fun. �He entered the game in the top of the 7th (which was the last, due to the rain) with two outs, two runs in, and a runner on second base. �Lincoln gave up doubles to Rene Tosoni and Dayan Viciedo, bringing in two more runs (one charged to the previous pitcher), then walked Carlos Santana before ending the inning with a pop up. �Lincoln’s other honor for the 2009 season was to be named to Team USA. �He participated in the World Cup tournament in Europe in September, making 3 starts and one relief appearance. �Lincoln earned 3 wins, including the championship game for Team �USA. �He pitched 23.1 innings in those 4 appearances, with a 2.70 ERA, and gave up 23 hits and 6 walks, with 12 strikeouts. �In the championship game, Lincoln came into the game in the 5th inning, and gave up 2 homers for 3 runs over 4.1 innings.
Lincoln was added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster after the 2009 season. �He made two appearances in Grapefruit League games this spring. �He pitched one scoreless inning, allowing 2 hits on March 4th, then two more hits and an earned run in 2 innings on the 8th. �On the 15th, Lincoln was optioned to Indianapolis, and he pitched 3 scoreless innings yesterday in the Indians’ spring training game. �Lincoln will begin the 2010 season in the Indians starting rotation. �He needs to show the domination at the AAA level that he did last year at Altoona before he will be ready to move up to Pittsburgh.
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Tim Alderson is another first-round draft pick, but for the Giants in the 2007 draft. �The Arizona native pitched a few innings at the Rookie level that season, then made a splash at the A+ level (San Jose) with a 13-4 record and a 2.79 ERA in 26 starts (145.1 innings), including a whopping 124 strikeouts. �Alderson made 5 more starts with San Jose in 2009 (1-1, 4.15 ERA, 26 innings), as well as 13 starts (72.2 innings) at AA Connecticut. �He posted a 6-1 record and a 3.47 ERA there, with 76 hits, 14 walks, and 46 strikeouts. �Then Alderson was included in the trade that sent Freddy Sanchez to the Giants. �The Pirates assigned their new righty to Altoona, where he made an additional 7 starts for 38.2 innings over the rest of the season. �Alderson found things a little tougher in his new home, allowing 39 hits and 20 earned runs, with 13 walks and 18 strikeouts, giving him a 3-1 record and a 4.66 ERA. �That was a higher walk rate than any other time in his career, as Alderson is generally thought to have good command of his pitches (2- and 4-seam fastballs, curve, and change), though his velocity dropped from the low-90’s in 2008 to mid- and upper- 80’s in 2009. �Those will be things that the Pirates will be watching for in 2010. �Alderson is just 21 years old, so there is still time for development. �He could open 2010 in Indianapolis or back at Altoona, depending on how he looks this spring.
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