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Monthly Archives: October, 2010

Freddy’s big night

Former Pirate Freddy Sanchez had a big night, on the biggest stage, against a pitcher who was on one of the most dominant postseason runs in baseball history. Fun stuff

Q&A: The Off-Season Roster Decisions

In the last few weeks I've talked about the positional recaps for the Pittsburgh Pirates from the 2010 season, leading to my evaluation of...

Leach / Hunter Rematch Goes to Leach

Mesa Solar Sox� 7,� Scottsdale Scorpions� 6

Rematch:� Brian Leach vs. Bryce Harper --� strikeout.� Way to go, Brian.

The Scorpions jumped out to an early lead this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League, but the Solar Sox did not give up -- they chipped away at the lead for a come-from-behind win.� RF Andrew Lambo and 2B Josh Harrison combined for 4 hits, with Harrison's 3 hits further boosting his average to .333.

Mesa starter Robert Carson (Mets) zipped through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the 2nd, when the first four batters reached base safely:� a walk and three consecutive singles.� That brought in two runs and left runners on the corners.� Scorpions' RF Harper (Nationals) struck out. � The next batter lined out, and the Solar Sox tried to catch the runner from first off base, but he was safe at second, and the runner from third scored.� A single scored the runner from second, and a home run by CF Charles Blackmon (Rockies) brought in the 5th and 6th runs of the inning.� Carson was relieved by David Cales (Cubs), who ended the inning with a fly out.

The Solar Sox started their comeback in the bottom of the inning.� Harrison led off with a double, and he scored on LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis' triple.� Nieuwenhuis tried to tag up and score on a fly out, but he was thrown out at the plate.

Mesa took a big step forward in the 5th, when they began the inning with 4 straight hits. 1B Joshua Satin (Mets) singled, C Tim Kennelly (Phillies) and SS Andrew Romine (Angels) both doubled, and CF Brett Jackson (Cubs) also singled, and 3 runs came in.� Jackson stole second base, then scored on DH Matt Rizzotti's (Phillies) single.� Two strikeouts (one by Harrison) and Lambo's fly out ended the inning, but the Solar Sox had come within one run of the Scorpions, 6-5.

Cales pitched a scoreless 3rd inning for Mesa.� Chris Carpenter (Cubs) retired the side in order in the 4th, then got out of a jam (double and walk) with a timely double play in the 5th.

Brian Leach took the mound for the Solar Sox to begin the 6th.� He gave up a one-out bunt single, then Bryce Harper came to the plate.� Leach struck him out on three pitches -- foul, foul, and swinging strike.� A fly out ended the inning.

Kyle Smit (Cubs), Justin De Fratus (Phillies), and Chris Kissock (Phillies) each pitched a scoreless inning to finish it up for the Solar Sox.� De Fratus walked the only Scottsdale batter to reach base over those three innings.

The Solar Sox rallied again in the bottom of the 7th.� With two outs, Lambo and Harrison hit back-to-back doubles, driving in Lambo with the tying run.� Then Nieuwenhuis lined a single in to right field, and Harrison raced around from second base to score the winning run.

Leach has now pitched in 5 games for the Solar Sox, for a total of 5 innings.� He has given up 8 hits and 5 runs, but all of those runs have been unearned.� He has walked one batter and struck out three.

Pirates’ Pitchers Busy In Winter Leagues; Morton’s Debut

Wednesday's winter league games with Pirates' players and friends...

VENZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita� 6,� Leones del Caracas� 4 -- Margarita starter Justin Thomas gave up 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a walk and a home run.� He zipped through the 3rd inning, then allowed a single and a walk in the 4th before being relieved, though both of those runners were left stranded.� Caracas scored 2 more runs in the 5th on three walks, a single, and an error.� Los Bravos had been scoreless for the first 4 innings, then exploded for 6 runs in the bottom of the 5th.� 3B Andy LaRoche followed a lead-off single with an RBI double.� Three consecutive walks by a new Caracas pitcher forced in LaRoche with the second run of the inning, leaving the bases loaded.� Another new Caracas pitcher was greeted by LF Frank Diaz's grand slam, to give Margarita a 6-4 lead.� Former Pirate farmhand Ronald Belisario pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th to earn the save.

Navegantes del Magallanes� 2,� Cardinales de Lara� 1 -- Los Cardenales were held to just 4 hits in this game, while Los Navegantes posted 11 hits.� Magallanes scored their first run in the 3rd inning, on an RBI single by 1B Mark Trumbo (Angels).� Their starter Anthony Lerew (Royals) pitched 6 innings and allowed the 4 hits, one of which was a solo home run in the 6th inning, to tie the score and make Lerew ineligible for the win.� Corey Hamman came on in relief, and pitched a perfect 7th inning.� Jean Machi followed with a perfect 8th, and Yoel Hernandez retired the side in order in the 9th.� In the top of the 8th, DH Mike Ryan broke the tie with a solo home run, which became the game-winner.� That gave Hamman the win and Hernandez his 2nd save.� Ryan went 3-for-4 in the game, raising his batting average to .389.� SS Argenis Diaz went 1-for-4 for Magallanes.

Caribes de Anzoategui� 3,� Tigres de Aragua� 2� --� Brian Bass gave up 2 runs on 2 hits in his start for Los Tigres, and he was lucky that it wasn't more runs, because he walked 5 batters.� He gave a free pass to 2 batters in each of the 1st and 2nd innings, and both times left them on base.� In the 3rd, he gave up a 2-out walk, and the next batter smacked a 2-run homer.� He gave up a single in the 5th, and was relieved after getting a ground out.� Aragua tied the game in the 5th inning when former Indy Indian LF Jorge Cortes walked, then a hit batter and a ground out pushed Cortes to third.� he scored on an RBI single.� The score remained tied until the bottom of the 10th, when Los Caribes got a lead-off single.� Adenson Chourio came in as a pinch-runner, and he stole second base.� A walk-off double plated Chourio with the winning run.� 1B Hector Gimenez singled and walked twice for Los Tigres, and C Raul Chavez singled and walked, but neither scored.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas� 2,� Senadores de San Juan 1 -- San Juan scored one run in the top of the 1st on a walk, a stolen base, an error, and an RBI ground out.� Then they had only 4 hits for the rest of the game.� Caguas tied the score in the 5th inning on a walk, a single, and an RBI single by former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa.� A solo home run by DH Omir Santos gave Los Criollos the winning run in the 7th inning.� Figueroa had 2 more hits in the game -- a double to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning, and a single after the homer in the 7th.� 3B Ramon Vazquez singled twice in the game, in the 6th and the 8th innings.

Arizona Fall League Recap: 10/27

After a big day yesterday by the Pirates prospects, Josh Harrison returned to the lineup today for another big performance, leading the Mesa Solar...

Interview with Jason Townsend

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Jason Townsend in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB draft, selecting him as a junior from the University of...

Harrison, Lambo, and Mercer Have A Banner Day

Mesa Solar Sox� 18,� Peoria Saguaros� 9

If you heard a lot of booming this afternoon, it might have come from the Solar Sox.� They posted a total of 22 hits on their way to 18 runs.� While the Saguaros recorded 15 hits, they managed only 9 runs.� Both teams also contributed to an error-fest:� 3 for the Solar Sox and 6 for the Saguaros.� 2B Josh Harrison and CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) led the way with 4 hits and 3 RBI each.� RF Andrew Lambo and SS Jordy Mercer each contributed 3 hits, and Lambo also had 4 RBI.

Harrison started the game off with a double into left field.� He advanced to third on a grounder, and scored on Lambo's single -- Lambo's first RBI.� Peoria responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, with a two singles, a double, and two of Mesa's errors:� a throwing error by Harrison and a throwing error on starter Josh Zeid (Phillies) on a pick-off attempt.� The Saguaros added two more in the 2nd inning, on a single, a triple, and an RBI ground out.� Saguaros� 4,� Solar Sox� 1.

The Solar Sox came back to take the lead in the top of the 3rd.� Harrison led off with a walk, and made it to second base on a passed ball.� Moore blasted a 2-run homer, to bring Mesa closer:� 4-3.� 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) tripled, and scored on Mercer's single to tie the game.� LF/1B Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) also singled, then a double by 1B/3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) drove in Mercer with the go-ahead run.� Solar Sox 5,� Saguaros 4.

Then the Solar Sox went crazy.� They sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the 4th, scoring 8 runs.� Moore singled, and moved to second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt.� Lambo singled, driving in Moore for his second RBI in the game (1 run).� Lambo advanced to second base on the throw to the plate, then on to third on Mercer's ground out for the second out of the inning.� Flahery walked.� A fielding error let Lambo score (2), and put Vitters on base.� C Kai Gronauer (Mets) doubled, driving in both Flaherty and Vitters (3, 4).� The Saguaros changed pitchers, but it didn't help.� Valdespin singled, plating Gronauer (5).� Harrison doubled, and Valdespin came in (6).� Moore walked, and Wood singled to load the bases.� Lambo grounded to short, where a fielding error let Harrison and Moore both score (7,8).� The inning ended when Mercer grounded into a force out.� Solar Sox 13,� Saguaros 4.

And they weren't done.� The 5th inning began with back-to-back fielding errors, putting Flaherty and Vitters on base.� Gronauer walked to load the bases with no outs.� Harrison's sacrifice fly brought in Flaherty, and Moore's single brought in Vitters.� Solar Sox 15,� Saguaros 4.

Back-to-back singles by Valdespin and Harrison opened the 7th, and a passed ball put both of them into scoring position.� After two strikeouts, Lambo and Mercer hit another pair of back-to-back singles, with both runners scoring on Lambo's hit -- his 3rd and 4th RBI of the game.� Harrison capped off the game with a solo home run to lead off the top of the 9th inning.

Zeid pitched 4 innings and gave up those early 4 runs to Peoria.� He was relieved by Tyson Brummett (Phillies), who gave up a 2-run homer in the 5th inning.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) pitched a perfect bottom of the 6th.� Eric Niesen began the 7th, and gave up three consecutive singles, driving in one run.� After a pop out, a fielding error by Mercer loaded the bases.� Two more singles drove in two more runs.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) finished the 7th inning for Niesen, then went on to pitch a scoreless 8th.� Steven Geltz (Angels) gave up a single and a double in the bottom of the 9th, but he got out of the jam without a run scoring.

Everyone's batting average was boosted today.� Harrison, who needed a lift, now has a .293 average and 5 RBI.� Lambo is up to .319 with 13 RBI.� Mercer is hitting .286 with 7 RBI.

A Bit Of Winter League Action For Gonzalez

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in the winter leagues:

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes de Carolina� 10,� Indios de Mayaguez� 8 -- SS Benji Gonzalez got into this game as a late-inning defensive replacement in the 7th inning.� He got one at-bat, but popped out to second base.� Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 1st, and 3 in the 4th, but their biggest inning was the 2nd, when they plated 5 runs on 4 singles and 2 doubles.

Senadores de San Juan� 4,� Leones de Ponce� 3� -- San Juan had a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 8th.� Ponce used 3 consecutive singles and a double to score 3 runs in that inning, but could not catch up.� Former Pirate farmhand RJ Rodriguez pitched a scoreless top of the 9th for Ponce, though he allowed 2 singles.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tiburones de La Guaira� 9,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 7 -- Los Tiburones scored 6 runs in the 1st inning, but Los Navegantes kept chipping away, until they had a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the 8th.� Los Tiburones would not stand for that, though -- they scored 3 more runs in the bottom of the 8th to retake the lead and get the win.� SS Argenis Diaz did not have a hit in the game, for Magallanes, but he reached on a fielding error in the 6th inning, giving him an RBI.� DH Mike Ryan had an RBI ground out for Magallanes in the 1st inning, and drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the 8th with a double.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan� 7,� Yaquis de Obregon� 5 -- Los Venados scored one run in each of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings, and had a 3-1 lead over Obregon.� Los Yaquis' run came in the 3rd, on an RBI single by CF Jeff Salazar.� Obregon burst out with 4 runs in the 5th, starting the inning with 4 straight singles, then a wild pitch, two more singles, and a walk by Salazar.� Mazatlan answered with 4 runs in the top of the 9th, on two doubled and four singles, to take the win.� RF Rogelios Noris had a single in the 6th inning, but did not score.

2011 Pittsburgh Pirates 40-Man Roster and Payroll

          NOTES: All salaries in bold are official. All ages are as of the start of the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates season. Players in the minor leagues make $32,500...

Arizona Fall League Recap: 10/26

The Pirates prospects had a big day on offense, leading the Mesa Solar Sox to an 18-9 win: -Josh Harrison (.293) started at second, batting...

In Praise of Jason Thompson

I have a weird quest to acquire every regular issue baseball card for every Pirates player from 1952 to 1993. I'm way more than half way there, but my collection essentially starts in the early 1970s. I recently acquired a 1981 Topps Jason Thompson card, which got me thinking.

Sanchez and Pribanic Can’t Bail Out Solar Sox

Phoenix Desert Dogs� 8,� Mesa Solar Sox� 6

A 5-run inning by Phoenix overcame an early Solar Sox lead this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League.� Each member of the Solar Sox' lineup except one had at least one hit in the game, including a single by C Tony Sanchez.

Mesa jumped out to a 3-run lead in the top of the 1st.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) opened the game by beating out an infield single.� CF Brett Jackson (Cubs) walked, and LF Jeremy Moore (Angels) drove them both in with a triple lined into right field.� A single by 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) brought in Moore.� Sanchez also singled in the inning, but he was left on base.

The Solar Sox added another run in the 2nd, on a single by SS Andrew Romine (Angels), who then stole second base.� Jackson singled, and Romine scored from second base.� They picked up an unearned run in the 3rd, when RF kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) singled, moved to second when DH Josh Vitters (Cubs) reached on a fielding error at short (it should have been the third out), and scored on 1B Ryan Flaherty's(Cubs) RBI single.

Cubs' Jake Muyco made the start for Mesa.� He zipped through the first inning, but gave up a double and a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning.� Muyco and the Solar Sox were still leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the 3rd. That's when the trouble started.� A double, a walk, and a 3-run homer tied the score at 5-5.� Muyco got a ground out, then gave up another double.� A second grounder gave him the second out of the inning, but an RBI single followed.� That was all for Muyco.� He was relieved by Ryan Brasier (Angels), who was greeted by the third double of the inning, which brought in the 5th run for the Desert Dogs.� Dogs 7, Sox 5.

Andrew Romine started another Solar Sox rally in the 6th with a single up the middle.� Valdespin added a single into right, moving Romine to third base.� Jackson's sacrifice fly brought him home, and Valdespin stole second base, but couldn't come around to score.

After Brasier finished the 3rd inning, he retired the side in order in the 4th.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) worked around a walk and a single to keep Phoenix from scoring in the 5th.� Aaron Pribanic took care of the 6th, allowing a walk, but erasing the runner with a double play.

The Desert Dogs scored one more time in the 7th.� With Robert Fish (Angels) on the mound in relief of Pribanic, Andrew Romine's brother Austin (Yankees) doubled, then moved to third base on a passed ball by Sanchez.�� A single scored the run from third base.� Chris Kissock (Phillies) pitched the final inning for the Solar Sox and retired the side in order.

***

The only winter league game tonight was in the Puerto Rican League, where Los Gigantes de Carolina beat Los Indios de Mayaguez 6-2.� Carolina made use of a 4-run 3rd inning, which was started by former Indy Indian RF Luis Matos, who hit the first of four consecutive singles.� A walk and a fifth single finished the inning.

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