PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Pirates 6, �Manatees 1 � (box) The Pirates kicked off their spring training games this afternoon with the traditional charity game against the State College of Florida/Manatee- Sarasota team. �The lineup looked rather like what the Indy Indians are going to be fielding in just 37 days. �It was fitting that 3B Pedro Alvarez had the first hit and the first RBI of the 2010 season. �LF John Raynor reached base on an error by the Manatees' shortstop, and then he scored on Alvarez's double. �DH Brandon Moss doubled in the 2nd inning, and scored on C Erik Kratz's RBI hit. �Alvarez hit again in the 3rd, and scored on 1B Steve Pearce's 2-run homer. �Moss made it back-to-back with a solo homer, and Kratz made it back-to-back-to-back homers with another solo blast. �At the end of 3 innings, the Pirates were leading 6-0. The Pirates' pitching staff was having a good day too. �Bryan Morris got the star and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 1st, including 2 strikeouts. �Donnie Veal followed with another scoreless inning, allowing only a walk. �Ronald Uviedo took the 3rd inning and allowed 2 singles including one to the Manatee shortstop who had made three errors, but Uviedo kept the Manatees scoreless. �Justin Thomas was next. �He loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, but got out of the jam without a run scoring (no double play, either). �Ramon Aguero retired the Manatees in order in the 5th and struck out two. � The Manatees got onto the scoreboard in the 6th, as their leadoff hitter, 1B Zimmerman, smacked a solo homer run off Jeff Sues. Sues gave up two walks, but struck out three to end the inning. �Anthony Claggett also got into and out of trouble in the top of the 7th. �He gave up three walks, but was the beneficiary of a 4-6-3 (Doug Bernier to Brian Friday to Steve Pearce) double play, and no runs scored. The Pirates did not score again after the 3rd (it was only scheduled for 7 innings), but they had runners on base in each of the remaining innings. �Alvarez and CF Jose Tabata each had a hit, and Bernier and C Luke Carlin worked walks. �Neil Walker had a pinch-hit at-bat but struck out. The Manatees' left fielder's name is Speed. �That's a better name to live up to than their catcher's name: �Chubb. Housekeeping notes: � lots of contracts signed, by the guys who don't really have a lot of choice: �Pitchers:�Ramon Aguero, Jose Ascanio, Joel Hanrahan, Kevin Hart, Chris Jakubauskas, Brad Lincoln, Daniel McCutchen, Evan Meek, Bryan Morris, Charlie Morton, Ross Ohlendorf, Ronald Uviedo, Donnie Veal; �Catcher: Jason Jaramillo; �Infielders: Jeff Clement, Argenis Diaz, Andy LaRoche, Steve Pearce, Neil Walker; �Outfielders: Gorkys Hernandez, Brandon Jones, Garrett Jones, Andrew McCutchen, Lastings Milledge, Brandon Moss, John Raynor, Jose Tabata, Delwyn Young. Former Pirate Jesse Chavez pitched in the Atlanta Braves first spring training game, facing the Mets. �He pitched the 5th inning, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on a walk and three hits. �He was charged with a Blown Save and the Loss. �CF Nate McLouth went 0-for-3 at the plate.

We continue to look at some of the Pirates' prospects, as minor league camp gets underway... these are not in any particular order, other than generally moving from the lower levels to the upper levels. �Today, a couple of starting pitchers who began their careers in other organizations. Bryan Morris came to the Pirates in 2008's big three-way trade between the Pirates, the Red Sox, and the Dodgers. �The righty had been the Dodgers' first round pick in 2006. �After missing the entire 2007 season due to Tommy John surgery, the injury bug continued to plague Morris in 2009. �His season start was delayed due to off-season toe surgery and shoulder problems. �The Tennesee native finally was able to make his first start for Lynchburg on June 7th. �He fought his way through four starts in June, earning a 2-2 record and a 5.12 ERA. �In both of the losses, he gave up 4 earned runs in less than 5 innings. �Things did not improve for Morris in July. �In 6 starts, he posted an 0-4 record and a 6.49 ERA, while allowing 35 hits and 19 earned runs in 26.1 innings. �In the only start in which he did not allow an earned run, he fell victim to 3 errors by his teammates, for 4 unearned runs. �Morris let his emotions get the better of him at the end of July, and his outburst earned him a forced rest period, with an intra-organizational suspension. �He seemed to see the error of his ways, though, because he returned in mid-August in a much better mental state. �He still struggled on the mound, though. �His best start came on August 19th, going 6 innings and allowing one unearned run on only 3 hits. �For the rest of the month, it was more of the same. �He made 5 starts for the rest of the season, and allowed 15 earned runs on 34 hits in 27 innings, with 15 walks and 11 strikeouts, for a 2-3 record and a 5.00 ERA. �When the Hillcats made their playoff run, Morris contributed one big win. �In the fifth game of the Carolina League's semi-final series, Morris�matched his season-high with 6.2 innings of work, and allowed just one run on 7 hits and a walk, to earn the win and send the Hillcats to the finals (and they eventually won the league championship). �Morris' final stats for the season are disappointing: �a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA; �72.2 innings, 87 hits, 45 earned runs, 34 walks, and 32 strikeouts, with batters hitting .295 against him -- more hits than innings, more walks than strikeouts. �Despite all that, the Pirates think enough of Morris to have added him to the 40-man roster at the end of the season. �He will turn 23 later in March, so he still has some time. �A full season without battling injuries could be just what he needs to turn himself around. �He is expected to continue at the A+ level, with the Bradenton Marauders, to begin the 2010 season. Another righty, Aaron Pribanic, came to the Pirates from the Mariners' organization in the trade for Ian Snell and Jack Wilson. �The 23-year-old was the Mariners' 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft. �He made three appearances for Seattle's Arizona rookie league team in that season, then began 2009 at their A level affiliate in Clinton (Iowa). �Seventeen starts for the Lumberkings gave Pribanic a 7-6 record and a 3.21 ERA, with 31 earned runs on 76 hits in 87 innings, with 26 walks and 54 strikeouts. �After the move to the Pirates' system, Pribanic was assigned to West Virginia. �He began with a relief appearance, then made 6 starts for the Power, with generally good results, mostly allowing one or two earned runs over 5-6 innings. �His last start was his best: � 6 one-hit, shut-out innings. �That batter who got the single off him? �Pribanic picked him off first base. �He pitched 37.2 innings for the Power, allowing 9 runs on 32 hits, 5 walks, and 18 strikeouts, for a 4-2 record and a 2.15 ERA. �The Pirates might have some concern about two things: �First, Pribanic's total innings for the season was 124.2 innings, which is high for what the Pirates' usually like to see with their young pitchers. �Second, Pribanic gave up 5 homers in his 7 games with the Power. �All of them came in the first 4 of those games, and they might have come on some of the offspeed pitches he was working on (slider, splitter), so probably no�cause for extreme worries just yet. �Pribanic should begin 2010 with a promotion to A+ Bradenton. Other notes, as some former Pirates signed some minor league contracts: 1B Brad Eldred has signed with the Rockies for 2010. �Eldred was last with the Pirates and the Indy Indians in 2007. � He played for the Charlotte Knights (AAA of the White Sox) in 2008 and for the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA of the Nationals) in 2009. �Last season he hit .269 with 17 homers and 59 RBI, but he also struck out 96 times in 105 games. RHP John Van Benschoten signed with the Yankees. �He pitched in 9 games for the Pirates in 2008, spending the rest of that season with the Indy Indians. �In 2009, JVB pitched for the Charlotte Knights. �He earned a 2-8 record and a 6.35 ERA in 13 starts and 9 relief appearances. C Carlos Maldonado signed with the Nationals for 2010. �He also was last in the Pirates' organization in 2008, and spent last season with Pawtucket (AAA Red Sox), but spent time on the DL and appeared in only 25 games. �He hit .225 with 2 homers and 15 RBI. �He also played winter ball in his native Venezuela this year. C JR House signed with the Braves. �He last played in the Pirates' organization in 2004, and spent 2009 with Omaha (AAA Royals), where he hit .251 with 9 homers and 53 RBI.

If you don’t trust Bob Nutting, that’s fine. I’m not sure I completely trust him myself. But let’s knock him for things we know for certain, not for commonly accepted “realities” that are unsubstantiated and, honestly, don’t make a whole lot of sense.

In January, the Pirates hired Bernie Holliday away from West Point to be the team's mental health conditioning coordinator. He will begin working with the organization's minor league players. Read this interview with Holliday.

Two more prospects in the infield for the new fans of the Marauders: First baseman�Calvin Anderson was the Pirates' 12th round pick in the 2008 draft, after hitting over .300 in three seasons at Southern University A&M. �Anderson went from college to State College in 2008, where he appeared in 45 games for the Spikes. �He made a splash in his pro debut, with 3 hits including a home run, then hit .265, with 6 homers and 28 RBI for the rest of the season. �Anderson was on a 9-game hitting streak when his season ended in August with an ankle injury. �The Seattle native was assigned to West Virginia for 2009. �He got off to a great start, with a .318 average, 3 homers, and 13 RBI in April, including three 3-hit games. �That slipped a little to .264 over May and June, with 5 homers, 32 RBI, and 14 multi-hit games over those two months. �July was his toughest month, as he hit .254 with one homer and 8 RBI. �Anderson picked it up in August/September, back to a respectable .274 average, 3 homers, and 11 RBI to finish the season. �Anderson's plate discipline needs some work, as he walked 33 times and struck out 110 times. �He walked more often and struck out less in the second part of the season, though, so he was showing some improvement. �Anderson finished the season with an overall .274 average, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 12 homers, and 64 RBI. �He did better against right-handed pitching: �.288 against right-handers and .230 against southpaws. �Anderson is a big guy -- 6' 7" and 240 pounds -- so it's not surprising that he stole just one base. �He made 10 errors at first base, which also needs to be worked on. �At 23 years old, Anderson will probably split his time between first base and DH-ing at Bradenton in 2010. �He'll need to work on defense and continued improvement in his plate discipline. �He'll also need to avoid the minor and nagging injuries that kept him off the field in fits and spurts in 2009. Third baseman�Jeremy Farrell also hit over .300 in three college seasons for University of Virginia. �The son of the Boston Red Sox' pitching coach John Farrell, Jeremy was born in New Jersey, went to St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland (former Pirate and Indy Indian Matt Kata also went to St. Ignatius), and then attended University of Virginia. �Farrell reported to State College after being chosen by the Pirates in the 8th round of the 2008 draft. �He hit .287 in 52 games for the Spikes, with one homer and 23 RBI. �Farrell's 2009 season got off to a late start due to an oblique strain. �He reported to West Virginia at the beginning of May, and after a slow week, Farrell had a hit in all but four of his remaining 21 games with the Power in May. �He hit .275 in May, with 3 homers and 19 RBI. �Unfortunately, that was his biggest show of power with the Power. �He slumped to a .229 average in June and .230 in July, with just one homer and 15 RBI over those two months. �He rebounded some in August, hitting .257 but without any more power, just one homer and 5 RBI. �His season ended in mid-August, due to injuries, and again like Anderson, Farrell missed other little stretches during the previous months with small injuries. �His final average was .248 with 13 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, and 39 RBI. �Farrell also had a high strikeout rate (71 K in 73 games), and drew 30 walks. �On the field, Farrell played third base exclusively for the Power, though he had split between third and first for the Spikes in 2008. �He made 25 errors at third in 2009, and that's going to be a problem in a system where there are already a number of third base prospects above him on the ladder. �Farrell will likely be in Bradenton for 2010, where he will have to work on both defense and hitting. Possibly joining Anderson and Farrell in the Bradenton infield: �SS�Rodolfo Cardona, who the Pirates selected from the Orioles' organization in the Rule 5 Draft in December. Cardona played at A-level Delmarva for most of 2009, hitting .235 with one homer and 22 RBI in just 46 games. ��He also got in some time at A+ Frederick (.238 in 14 games) and AA Bowie (0-for-14 in 6 games).

Just a few more days until the exhibition games start.... today we'll look at a couple of up-and-coming outfielders: Outfielder�Robbie Grossman is a 20-year old Texan. �The Pirates' lured their 2008 6th-round pick away from college, though he got to play in only 5 games with the CGL Pirates at the end of the 2008 season. �He got his feet wet, but hit 3-for-16 (one double), with one RBI, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. �Grossman moved up to A West Virginia to begin 2009. �He started the season a bit slowly in the first two months, except for a modest 10-game hitting streak at the end of April and into early May. �He went 15-for-39 (.385) over that streak, which boosted him to a .275 average for April and .253 for May. �Grossman found his form in June. �He had only 4 hitless games all month, several multi-hit games, and on June 18th, went 5-for-6 with 5 RBI. �That boosted his average to .323 for the month, with 16 RBI, 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 homers. �(He'd had 11 RBI over April and May). �The Texan slid back down in July, though, hitting .233 with another homer and 8 RBI, and he slipped further in August, going .221 with one homer and 7 RBI. �Grossman finished the season with a flourish, as he began September with another little streak -- 9-for-20 over 5 games. �That gave him a .266 average for the season, with 5 homers and 42 RBI. �A switch-hitter, he did better from the left side of the plate (his natural side), hitting .330 in 100 at-bats, and .248 from the right (351 at-bats). �The most troubling aspect of all that was that Grossman struck out at an alarming rate: �164 strikeouts for the season, 36% of his at-bats. �During June, when he was hitting the best, he still had 26 K's (27% of his AB's). �He walked 75 times, which shows that he does know where the strike zone is supposed to be. �When he got on base, Grossman also showed nice speed . �He stole 35 bases over the season, including 9 steals in both May and June. �In the outfield , Grossman was solid. �He played center field for most of the season, with an accurate throwing arm, then switched over to mostly left field when Starling Marte moved up to the Power. �This was Grossman's first full pro season, and their might have been some element of fatigue playing a part in his late-season slip. �Grossman still has time to develop some power and work on adjustments. �He'll need to drop the strikeout rate at A+ Bradenton in 2010. Starling Marte made his US baseball debut in 2009, after two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. �The Dominican native had a strong 2008 season, hitting .296 with 9 homers, 44 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. �When the then-20-year-old came to the US, he began with 2 games in the Gulf Coast League. �Despite going 0-for-7 in 2 games there, he was quickly bumped up to West Virginia at the end of June. �Marte's first game with the Power set the tone for the next 53 games: �he went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. �In fact, he began his stint in West Virginia with a 10-game hitting streak, going 15-for-40 (.375). �He hit .312 in July, with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 15 RBI. �In August, Marte hit .277 with 5 doubles, 4 triples, another homer, and 15 RBI. �That gave him a .312 average for his time with the Power, and a total of 34 RBI. �He struck out 55 times (25% of at-bats), and walked only 12 times. �Marte has good speed -- he stole 24 bases in just 54 games in West Virginia. �Marte split his playing time between center and right fields for the Power, where his speed was also an asset. �Marte was promoted to Lynchburg, and once again, he got started with a bang -- two singles in his first two at-bats. �But, when he advanced to second base on the throw after his RBI single in the 3rd inning, he slid awkwardly into the base and sprained his ankle. �That ended his season two days early, and kept him from playing in the Hillcats' playoff fun. �Overall, it was a very nice introduction to US baseball for Marte. �He got in a little work for Los Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League, but did a lot of pinch-running and did not have a lot of at-bats. �He had 2 hits in 3 full-game opportunities, and had another pinch-hit. �Marte will join Grossman in the outfield for Bradenton in 2010. �He'll need to work on his plate discipline, but if he continues to hit as well as he did in 2009, he might not spent the entire season in Bradenton.

Looking at a couple of relievers today.... RJ (Richard Jose) Rodriguez was a nice surprise in Lynchburg in 2009. �The right-handed reliever from Miami had been in the Padres' organization for three seasons, but was released during spring training of last year. �The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract and assigned Rodriguez to the Hillcats. �It turned out to be a good pick-up: �Rodriguez led the Carolina League with 27 saves. �May was his toughest month, with "only" 3 saves and 6 runs allowed in 10 innings. �He saved 7 games in April and again in August/September, plus 5 games each in June and July. �June was his best month, as he did not allow an earned run in 9.2 innings (9 relief appearances). �Rodriguez also struggled a bit in August/September despite the 7 saves, as his ERA for the month rose again, to 4.76 (6 runs in 11.1 innings). �Overall, Rodriguez pitched 49.2 innings and earned a 6-3 record with a 3.08 ERA. �He walked 27 batters over the season, and the walks paralleled the earned runs -- 10 walks in May, only 2 in June, creeping up to 7 walks in August/September. �He also struck out 41 batters, though those did not necessarily correllate with other struggles -- his high month in strikeouts was also May, with 10. �Rodriguez was named to the Carolina League All-Star teams in both the mid- and post- seasons. �Rodriguez did not join the Hillcats in their playoff run, because he was busy relieving for the Puerto Rican team in the World Cup tournament in Europe. �He appeared in a total of 6 games for Team Puerto Rico, earning 4 saves. �He pitched 7 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits (in 22 at-bats, holding batters to a .091 average), 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. �When the World Cup was over, Rodriguez was still not done. �He reported to��Puerto Rico for the Winter League and made a significant contribution there as well. �Rodriguez was not Ponce's closer, so he did not get the big save totals (only 2). �In 24 innings with Ponce, he allowed 12 earned runs on 26 hits, with 8 walks and 14 strikeouts, for a 4.50 ERA and a 1-0 record. �After that busy year, the 25-year-old Rodriguez ought to have done enough to earn a promotion to Altoona. �Unfortunately, he might get caught in a numbers crunch as relievers who don't make the big league team crowd into Indianapolis, and there is a trickle-down effect, filling up Altoona's bullpen too, and leaving no room for Rodriguez. Diego Moreno, another righty, is a 23-year-old Venezuelan native. �Moreno had spent two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League, one mostly in relief and one mostly as a starter. �In 2008 as a starter, he he appeared in only 7 games (6 starts), but earned a 3-1 record and a 0.87 ERA. �He jumped over the Gulf Coast League and began 2009 in State College, where he appeared in 2 games. �In 5 innings, Moreno allowed 4 hits --one was a homer -- with one walk and 4 strikeouts. �He was quickly sent up to West Virginia, where he stayed in the bullpen, making 18 relief appearances over the rest of the season. �He pitched a total of 45 innings for the Power, and allowed 16 runs (13 earned) on 29 hits, with 14 walks and 57 strikeouts. �Of those 13 earned runs, 7 came in his last three games. �Batters managed to hit only .182 against him, which helped him hold his ERA to 2.60 as he saved 5 games. �Like Rodriguez, Moreno also played winter ball, relieving in 14 games for Zulia in his native Venezuela. �He had more trouble at home than in West Virginia, though. �In 13.2 innings from early November to mid-December, Moreno allowed 8 runs on 15 hits (5.27 ERA), with 3 walks, and he still struck out 15 batters. �Moreno should begin 2010 in A+ Bradenton.

Continuing to look at some of the Pirates' minor leaguers...only 6 more weeks until the minor league season opens! Duke Welker came to the Pirates in the 2007 draft as their second round draft pick. �The Washington state native struggled with injuries in 2007, when he reported to State College after the draft, and again in 2008 at A level Hickory. �Welker stayed at the A level, this time in West Virginia when the affiliates changed, for 2009, which was supposed to be the year that he settled in, got past the injuries, and got down to business. �Unfortunately, that didn't happen. �Welker made 4 starts with 2 losses in April, going 18.2 innings and allowing 9 runs on 13 hits and 10 walks (4.34 ERA). �May was marginally better, as he made 6 starts with 3 losses, and allowed 14 runs on 34 hits plus 17 walks in 30 innings (4.20 ERA). �Things got even worse in June, as he racked up a 9.00 ERA in 5 starts and lost another 3 games. �In 19 innings, he gave up 19 earned runs on 17 hits plus 24 walks, as his control all but vanished. �Welker was moved to the bullpen in July. �He made 16 relief appearances over the rest of the season, and the move did not make things appreciably better. �In 33.1 innings, Welker gave up 23 earned runs on 32 hits with 16 walks (6.21 ERA), and lost 3 more games. �The relief appearances were mostly 1-2 innings in length. �He had four scoreless relief spots in August (8 innings), but then also had an appearance in which he gave up 5 runs on 4 hits and a walk in one inning, and three times when he allowed 3 runs over a total of 6.1 innings. �Welker finished up the season with an 0-11 record and a 5.79 ERA. �He pitched 101 innings, and allowed 80 runs (65 earned) on 96 hits, with 67 walks, 69 strikeouts, and an amazing 22 wild pitches. �The 69 strikeouts wouldn't be so bad, if they hadn't been accompanied by a nearly equal number of walks. �Welker, who turned 24 this month, may have to return to West Virginia again in 2010. �This season really does have to be the year that he does get it together, and control will need to be a big part of that. Other notes: Former Pirate Kent Sakamoto, who was released by the Pirates in early November, has signed a contract with Sioux City of the (independent) American Association for 2010. �Sakamoto was the Pirates' 12th round pick in 2006. �He played with the Lynchburg Hillcats in both 2008 and 2009, but hit only .189 with 7 homers and 29 RBI this past season, appearing in 72 games at first base and as designated hitter. �Sakamoto joins another former Pirate farmhand, Jared Keel, who signed with Sioux City earlier this month.

The opening of spring training brought news of an elbow injury for Joel Hanrahan. However, an MRI and a subsequent trip to Dr. James Andrews left Hanrahan with some good news.

Two Pirate blogs square off in the finals.

Two more prospects with the same name, both from the 2009 draft... Nate Baker was the 5th round pick for the Pirates. �The southpaw from Tennessee had pitched mostly as a starter in his first two season of college at the University of Mississippi, but then had more relief appearances in his final year. �After signing with the Pirates, Baker was assigned to State College, where he continued to pitch in relief for most of his appearances. �He made his debut on August 5th, and faced 7 batters in 2 innings, allowing only a lead-off double to begin the second of his innings. �Baker had only one tough appearance, on August 13th, when he allowed 3 runs over 2 innings, on three hits, a walk, and two wild pitches. �After that night, he finished the season with three more scoreless outings, including his only start of the season, in which he threw 4 innings and allowed just 2 hits, with 3 strikeouts. �Overall, Baker gave up 11 hits and 3 earned runs over 16 innings, for a 1.69 ERA, with no decisions or saves. �He walked only two batters in those 6 appearances, and struck out 9. �He struck out more batters in college (9.3 K/9 innings in his last year of college, compared to 5.1 K/9 innings with the Spikes), but his strikeout rate may rise again in his second year. �He is reported to have a fastball in the mid 90's and a good slider, and the low walk rate shows some nice control. �Baker, who turned 22 in December, has earned a promotion to West Virginia, and maybe even to Bradenton later in the season. Aaron Baker is also a lefty at the plate, though he throws right-handed. �This Baker �is also 22 years old, and is from Texas. �He played both first base and catcher for University of Oklahoma before becoming the Pirates' 11th round pick. �Baker's bat was valuable enough so that Oklahoma found ways to keep him in the lineup: � 16 doubles, 15 homers, and 56 RBI with a .284 average in 63 games during the 2009 season. �He signed quickly after being drafted and he shifted from Oklahoma up to State College. �The Spikes also found ways to keep him in the lineup, as Baker split his 62 games between first base and the designated hitter spot. �He slugged a triple for his first hit in his first professional game, but struggled for the next month, hitting .224 with 5 doubles, two triples, and 9 RBI. �The second part of his season, August and September, showed improvement, with a .264 average in 34 games, with 10 doubles, 5 more triples, 3 homers, and 23 RBI. �His power really showed in August, when he had a .480 SLG and a .842 OPS. �Baker struck out 54 times, which could be better though isn't horrible. �He also�walked 32 times, so he has shown some patience at the plate. �This Baker has also earned the step up to West Virginia for 2010.

Jose Tabata shows a glimpse of his hidden power in today's batting practice session.