The World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament started this weekend, with round-robin group play that has Team USA in action down in Mexico.
Representing Team...
The DSL Pirates teams ended their seasons this week, which brings the rookie-level affiliates to an end.
I've been reviewing the best performing hitting and...
The Pirates appear to be missing out on their top free agent target. According to Ken Rosenthal, starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa is close to signing with the Colorado Rockies.
One of the needs the Pittsburgh Pirates need to eventually address is their starting shortstop role. Ronny Cedeno has strong defensive tools, but inconsistent...
Andy LaRoche and Delwyn Young have both elected free agency, after both players were designated for assignment last Friday. Both players had more than...
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker was named to the 2010 Topps Rookie team today. Walker becomes the second Pirates' rookie to receive the...
A quick look at the Off-Season calendar gives us some important dates for the upcoming week:
Tuesday, November 30th - Last date (midnight deadline) for...
A few signing notes for some former Pirates -- LHP Phil Dumatrait has signed a minor league contract with the Twins, and LHP Neal Cotts has signed a minor league contract with the Yankees. OF Rajai Davis was traded from the A's to the Blue Jays.
Sunday's winter league action involving a few Pirates' players and friends:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Aguilas Cibaenas 12, Tigres del Licey 1 -- A 6-run 1st inning put the game into Los Aguilas' pocket right from the start. Starling Marte came into the game in the 5th inning as a pinch runner (he didn't score), then remained in the game in left field. He flied out in the 7th, then hit an RBI single in the 8th. Denny Bautista was one of the few Licey pitchers who held Los Aguilas scoreless, as he threw a perfect top of the 9th for Los Tigres. Indy area native Jake Fox went 0-for-4 for Los Tigres.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tiburones de La Guaira 6, Tigres de Aragua 2 -- Los Tiburones scored 5 runs over the first 3 innings, and Los Tigres could only manage 2 runs. In the top of the 1st, SS Ronny Cedeno followed a lead-off single with a sacrifice bunt, then another single brought in the first Aragua run. Their second run came in the 6th inning, when Cedeno led off with a double into left field, and a few minutes later, 1B Hector Gimenez doubled into right field, bringing in Cedeno. C Miguel Perez came in as a defensive replacement behind the plate, but flied out in his only plate appearance. CF Jorge Cortes went 0-for-3 with a walk. Former Pirate pitcher Chris Hernandez pitched the top of the 9th for La Guaira. He gave up a walk, but then got Cortes to bounce into a double play to end the game.
Cardenales de Lara 7, Navegantes del Magallanes 2 -- Los Navegantes were also only able to put up 2 runs, one in the 2nd, and one in the 7th. SS Argenis Diaz contributed one of Los Navegantes' 5 hits, but he did not score. Corey Hamman pitched the 7th inning for Magallanes, and he gave up a solo home run.
Bravos de Margarita 2, Aguilas de Zulia 1 -- Anthony Claggett won his second game in two days for Los Bravos, this time with one scoreless inning of work (it was 1.1 innings yesterday). Los Bravos scored one run in the bottom of the 4th on a double, a single, and a grounder. Los Aguilas tied the score in the top of the 6th, also with a single and a double. Claggett took the mound to begin the 7th. He gave up a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters he faced. In the bottom of the inning, Los Bravos scored the go-ahead run on a single, a bunt, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly. That made Claggett the pitcher of record. Ronald Belisario pitched a perfect 9th inning for Margarita to collect his 10th save of the season.
