Mike Burrows tied a career best in single-game strikeouts with ten on Sunday afternoon.
The right-handed pitcher went five innings, allowing three runs on four...
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 Indianapolis Indians open on the road in Columbus against the Clippers, with Kevin Hart taking the mound at 7:05 pm. Former Indian/Pirate Brian Bixler is now playing for the Clippers (Cleveland affiliate). The Indians' home opener will be next Friday, April 16th.
The Altoona Curve open at home against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) at 6:30 pm. Mike Crotta will get the start for the Curve.
Bryan Morris will be on the mound as the newest Pirates' affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, play their first game at McKechnie Field. They will face the Ft. Myer Miracle at 7 pm.
The West Virginia Power begin their season facing the Sand Gnats in Savannah. The game begins at 7:05 pm with Hunter Strickland getting the start for the Power.
Ronny Cedeno delivered a game winning single in the 10th inning. The Pirates held off a couple of late inning threats from LA and Garrett Jones homered for the third time in two games.
An update on roster moves made by the Pirates over the past few weeks, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The biggest releases: �lefty pitchers Kyle Bloom and Corey Hamman. Bloom started 21 games for the Altoona Curve in 2009, and earned a 6-9 record with a 4.05 ERA, and 71 strikeouts in 104.1 innings. �Hamman made 29 relief appearances for the Curve and 26 relief appearances for the Indianapolis Indians in 2009, with a combined 1-5 record and one save. �He had a 3.68 ERA for the Curve and an 8.01 ERA for the Indians.
Another surprise was reliever RJ Rodriguez, who had a 6-3 record, a league-leading 27 saves, and a 3.08 ERA for the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2009.
Other pitchers released: �Chris Aure, Gerardo Esparza, Brad Clapp, Papiro Juan, Diomedes Garcia, Edgar Gutierrez, Rafael Quintero, Ricardo Paulino, Andres Santos, Edison Barrios, Harrison Bishop, Chris Cullen, Jose R de los Santos, Wilson Ortiz, Nelson Pereira, Moises Robles
Catchers released: �Jesus Aguilera, Daniel Bomback, Billy Killian, Craig Parry,
Infielders released: Carlos Silva, Chris Garcia, Henry Henry,
Outfielders released: Jeff Corsaletti, Gemmy Gonzalez, Ciro Rosero, Edward Garcia
Killian and Chris Garcia were minor league free agents who must not have worked out. �This de los Santos is not the infielder Jose L De Los Santos -- he is still in the organization, at Altoona.
Some Latin American signings, none of whom are expected to play in the US this season:
RHPs: �Jeffrey Jaquez, Jonas Corporan, Melvin German, Yhonatan Herrand, Luis Alexis Ortiz, Carlos Ruiz, Luis Campos, Miguel Gerreras; LHP: Christopher Richarson; SS Jose Luis Solano; OF Yefaine Jerald, Malfre Ramirez
The second part of who's who in the coaching box for the Pirates' minor league affiliates.
Also, the Curve, the Marauders, and the Power have announced their official Opening Day rosters. �The Indians still have just a tentative roster up. �Rosters can be seen here, and will be updated throughout the season. �{UPDATE: �ok, the Indians have a real roster up now too}
Bradenton Marauders (A+)
Manager PJ Forbes
second season as manager of the Pirates' A+ level team (last year it was Lynchburg)
6 seasons as manager in the Phillies' organization
13 seasons as an infielder (mostly second base) in the Angels', Orioles', Rangers', and Phillies' organizations
Hitting Coach Dave Howard
first season as hitting coach for the Marauders
2004 - hitting coach for Sarasota
scout and minor league fielding coordinator in the Red Sox organization from 2005 - 09
drafted by the Pirates in the 24th round in 1989
7 major league seasons with the Royals, and one with the Cardinals, as an infielder
I was down at the ballpark on Monday, enjoying the wonderful Opening Day festivities. Here are a few photos that I snapped from my upper deck seat, as well as a short video of the game's final out. As usual, check the Flickr feed for additional photos.
The Pirates stretched their Opening Day winning streak to four games. Garrett Jones hit two homers and knocked in three and the Pirates also got three RBI from Ryan Doumit and newcomer Ryan Church. That outburst supported Zach Duke, who earned the win with five innings pitched.
Two more players for the Indy Indians, who open (along with the rest of the minors) on Thursday:
Steve Pearce was the Pirates' 8th round pick in the 2005 draft. �He exploded onto the Pirates' radar with an amazing 2007 season, during which he hit .347 with 11 homers and 24 RBI in 19 games at A+ Lynchburg, .334 with 14 homers and 72 RBI in 81 games at AA Altoona, and .320 with 6 homers and 17 RBI in 34 games at AAA Indianapolis. �He made his major league debut on Sept 1st of that year, and hit .294 in 23 games with the Pirates, though without any homers. �The 2008 season was more of a struggle for Pearce. �He was busy learning how to play the outfield while in Indianapolis, and he hit better when he played first base than when he was stationed in right field. �He hit .251 overall for the Indians, with 12 homers and 60 RBI, and earned a call up to the Pirates, but also struggled more there, hitting .248 with 4 homers and 15 RBI in 37 games.
Pearce returned to Indianapolis to begin the 2009 season. �He got off to a very slow start, with just 3 hits in his first 9 games. �He got on a roll in the last 8 games of the month, going 13-for- 33, including ging 4-for-5 with a double and a home run on April 23rd. �That slid into more hitting in the first half of May, when Pearce hit .333. �After another slow week, he had 9 hits in 5 games at the end of the month, including another 4-for-5 game on May 29th. �That gave him a .288 average for the month of May, with 3 homers and 15 RBI.
If you have been following PLC’s 2009 vs. 2010 series closely, you may have noticed some things that did not add up. The offense, defense and pitching is all projected to be close to average. That would seem to indicate a season around .500. However, when compared to the 2009 numbers, the team only projects to improve by about five wins, which would be a win total of 67. Something’s off.
Two bullpen additions to the Indianapolis Indians for the 2010 season.... only a few days until Opening Day!
Steven Jackson is a right-hander from South Carolina, who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2004 draft. �After three seasons in their organization, almost entirely as a starting pitcher, Jackson (along with Ross Ohlendorf) was traded to the Yankees in the deal for Randy Johnson. �The Yankees put Jackson into the starting lineup to begin the 2007 at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but found that he did much better working out of the bullpen. �Jackson also split the 2008 season between AAA and AA in the Yankees' organization. �He started in Trenton, where he made 15 relief appearances, for 31.1 innings, earning a 1-3 record and 2 saves, with a 5.74 ERA and 37 strikeouts. �He got better when he moved up to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. �In one start and 33 relief appearances, Jackson had a 3-0 record and 4 saves, with a 3.17 ERA over 48.1 innings, including 54 strikeouts. �Jackson began the 2009 season back at S/W-B, and had pitched in 7 games, earning one save, in 14.1 innings. �He had a 1.88 ERA but had allowed 16 hits with 3 earned runs, 3 walks, and 8 strikeouts. �But the Yankees needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster, so Jackson was designated for assignment, and the Pirates claimed him off waivers on May 18th. �He was optioned to AAA Indianapolis, where he made 4 relief appearances over the rest of May: �one scoreless 1-inning performance, two scoreless 2-inning performance, and one inning in which he gave up 4 earned runs on 3 hits and a walk.