BRADENTON, Fl. – Josh Bell has been criticized about his glove work at first base since the beginning of last year. If today is any sign of what’s to come, fans and coaches alike should be relatively pleased with the progress he has been making.
Bell entered the game in the sixth inning, with a multiple of other scheduled substitutions that included the likes of Max Moroff, Adam Frazier, Harold Ramirez, Dan Gamache, and Reese McGuire. While playing first base, you could immediately see some of the fruits to Bell’s labor as his footwork, game sense, and ability to cover the base all seemed to have improved markedly over last season.
On multiple occasions, Bell covered the base efficiently on a throw from the infield, utilizing his large frame to make a necessary stretch to catch the ball and record the out by beating the running to the bag. His stretch when covering the base looks much better from the early parts of last season, as I was able to watch him on multiple occasions in Altoona last year. On one particular throw in the dirt from shortstop Pedro Florimon, Bell was able to make a great scoop while still maintaining a stretch and keeping his foot on the bag.
Not only did his play in the field look positive, Bell ripped a two run double to the left center gap in the seventh inning. In the ninth, Bell hit a rocket that ricocheted off of the first baseman’s glove that turned into a force out at second.
In that seventh inning, a brigade of Pirates’ prospects strung together a comeback effort with two outs in the inning. Moroff led the way with a single through the 3-4 gap, followed by a hard single by Ramirez. Gamache walked to load the bases, and Jacob Stallings drew a bases loaded walk to score Moroff. After a wild pitch scoring Ramirez, Bell doubled scoring two. He then came around to score on a Florimon shot down the left field line.
The Pirates scored five runs in the inning, all thanks to the group of players who mostly played at Double-A Altoona last year. Ramirez also doubled to the wall in the ninth and eventually came around to score on a Stallings’ hard hit RBI single.
Manager Clint Hurdle joked after the game that he needs to get these young guys in sooner rather than later in the game.
“That’s two days in a row,” he said. “I need to put them in earlier. That’s managerial error on back-to-back days.”
Hurdle did take time to praise the prospects on their work so far this spring.
“They’re fighting,” he said. “They’re taking advantage of their at-bats and doing some things. They’re laying off pitches outside the zone to get the walks and put themselves in positions to score runs.”
NIESE AND VOGELSONG HAVE ENCOURAGING OUTINGS
Jon Niese and Ryan Vogelsong both threw two innings for the Pirates this afternoon at McKechnie Field in Bradenton.
Niese did not escape the day unscathed, as he allowed four runs on five hits in the second inning; however, he could have escaped the inning with no runs and only two singles given up. Jason Rogers could not come up with a slow grounder to third with two runners on, and although an error was not given to him, the play should have been made. Niese allowed three more singles and a walk before finally recording the third out of the inning.
The box score simply does not reflect the afternoon that Niese had, as he threw the ball well and felt good about his performance.
“Overall, I felt pretty good,” Niese said after the game. “I attacked the zone with my two-seam, four-seam, changeup, cutter, and curveball. I got the curveball over for strikes. Of course, there were a lot of things out there that were out of my control, but I overall fought through it.”
Niese pointed out that extended innings this early in Spring Training can really take its toll on a pitcher.
“Anytime innings get extended, it kind of wears on you, especially this early [in Spring Training],” Niese said. “When the innings get extended, you get fatigued and start leaving balls up. That’s when stuff snowballs.”
Hurdle said after the game that he was pleased with his starters’ outings.
“I loved the way Jon attacked the zone,” said Hurdle. “I actually felt that two pitches got called wrong, which would have spun the whole [second] inning for him.”
On the other hand, Ryan Vogelsong impressed in both the eye test and the box score results. Vogelsong sent down the only six batters he faced, with two strikeouts, three groundouts, and a flyout to right.
Niese spoke out about the veteran Vogelsong.
“He’s a true professional,” Niese said of his teammate. “Obviously, he went out there and got the job done today. It speaks volumes of him hard work.”
MATT JOYCE HOPING FOR A SHOT
Matt Joyce, who signed a minor league contract with the Pirates two weeks ago, is trying to make a case to become the fourth outfielder on the 25-man roster. He went 1-for-3 two days ago in Lakeland, with a line drive single to center field, and he added two walks today at McKechnie. Joyce also attempted to steal twice this afternoon, successfully in the first inning and having to go back to first on a foul ball in the third.
Joyce went from an All-Star in 2011 to one of the worst graded outfielders in MLB for the Angels last season. The 31-year-old is striving to revive his career this season with the Pirates, and he has impressed in many facets of the game this week, from plate patience to fielding to his demeanor.
Hurdle said that Joyce provides “experience” and a “slow heartbeat” to the club.
“He has provided quality at-bats and gap power,” Hurdle said of the veteran Joyce. “He’s very competitive on the offensive side, shows good numbers against right-handed pitching, and can be a good bat off the bench.”
TOUGH OUTING FOR HOLDZKOM, KNUDSON
John Holdzkom pitched the sixth inning for the Pirates, and it was not the best first outing for the towering righty. His line looks like this: HR, 6-3 ground out, double, walk, HBP, single, fly out. Holdzkom was pulled after only recording two outs.
Guido Knudson relived Holdzkom in the sixth and recorded a strikeout for the last out. Knudson then allowed a walk, double, and home run in the seventh before getting out of the inning.
A NEW PIRATES PROSPECTS FAN?
Greg Brown and John Wehner were joined by legendary hockey play-by-play man Mike “Doc” Emrick in the radio broadcast booth today at McKechnie Field. I may try to write more about Doc, who is an incredibly passionate Pirates’ fan, at a later time, but for now, it looks like we have a new fan of Pirates Prospects.
At the end of talking with a few members of the media, Doc asked if anyone had heard anything about “that Austin Meadows kid”. Tim Williams immediately gave a quick scouting report on Meadows, then gave Doc a copy of the 2016 Prospect Guide, which he was very excited to receive and started flipping through immediately. We hope he can utilize his new Prospect Guide for when he is on the TV call next week and the prospects enter the game in the second half.
Minor League Camp
By Tim Williams
At this point in minor league camp, there’s not much going on. Every day is the same, with the only differences being the pitchers who are throwing in the bullpen. There were only three guys throwing today. Fortunately, one of them is Mitch Keller, who can be seen below.
Not every player has reported to camp yet, with just early arrivals so far. That doesn’t leave a lot of players to profile, so I’ve been spacing out the videos, and waiting on a lot of reports until seeing the players in action for more than one day. Today’s video is Kevin Newman and Kevin Kramer taking ground balls at shortstop.
For more from minor league camp, check out today’s article on Jose Osuna.
