PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

I am looking back to 1996, the last time the Pirates attempted an all-or-nothing rebuilding project.  You can find previous installments of this series...

Just in case you're counting.... the minor league Opening Day is 9 weeks from today. The Pirates have added three more players to their minor league ranks: Anthony Norman is a 25-year-old outfielder from California. �He went undrafted out of UCLA, where he hit .270 in his third season on the team (2006), with 7 RBI. �The Angels picked him up in 2007 and he spent the season with their Arizona (Rookie) League team, appearing in 44 games. �He hit much better -- a league leading .362 average, with 4 doubles, a whopping 10 triples (also leading the league), and 33 RBI. �His OBP of .440 was third in the league. � �Norman was named the Arizona Rookie League MVP, as well as the Topps AZL Player of the Year. �All that earned him a bump up to A+ in 2008 (plus one game at the A level, in which he went 1-for-3). �At �A+ Rancho Cucamonga, Norman �showed more power, as he hit .257 with a .381 OBP, including 16 doubles, 9 triples, 15 homers, and 44 RBI. �He struck out 76 times, though. �Norman also showed some speed on the basepaths, with 36 steals. � The 2009 season began with Norman back at Rancho Cucamonga, where he struggled in the opening weeks of the season. �He hit .194 in April, with just 2 doubles, one homer, and 6 RBI. �May was better, with a .273 average, 2 doubles, another homer, and 12 RBI. �That gave him an overall .238 average, with a .326 OBP. �He also made one appearance on the mound, probably in a blow-out situation; he pitched 1.1 innings and walked 2 batters, but did not give up a hit or a run. �Norman was released by the Angels at the end of May, but was picked up by the St. Paul Saints in the independent American Association. �He appeared in 39 games for the Saints, and hit .264, with 11 doubles, 2 homers, and 19 RBI. �The Pirates have signed Norman to a minor league contract (no invitation to major league spring training), hoping that he regains his earlier form. �He will probably be assigned to the new A+ Bradenton Marauders, at least until the Pirates see what he can do. Infielder Kevin Melillo is a minor league veteran who will be 28 years old in May. �The Florida native�can play anywhere in the infield, though he spent most of his time at the corner positions in the recent past. �Melillo was the Oakland A's 5th round pick in the 2004 draft, and he remained in their system, working his way up, through 2007. �His batting average tailed off as he climbed higher in the organization, though, and his strikeout totals grew. �In 2007, at AAA Sacramento, Melillo hit .262, with 27 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, and 55 RBI, plus 54 walks and 100 strikeouts. �He made his major league debut in June 2007, when he appeared in his one and only game for the A's, and walked in his only plate appearance. �(Quick quiz -- how many players in major league history have done that? �Answer at the bottom.) �Melillo was back in Sacramento at the beginning of the 2008 season, where he hit .260 in 38 games, with 5 homers and 17 RBI. �That stint included a 10-game hitting streak. �He was traded to the Blue Jays and assigned to AAA Syracuse at the beginning of June and finished the season there, hitting at about the same clip: �.257 average, 9 homers and 36 RBI in 68 games. He signed a minor league contract with the Brewers for 2009 and was assigned to AA Huntsville. �For the Stars, Melillo hit .249, his lowest season average as a pro. �The season began reasonably well, as he hovered around the .275 mark for the first three months, but he slid down to .238 in July and to .143 in August. �The totalled 52 RBI for the season, with 22 doubles, 3 triples, and 9 homers. �If the Pirates figure Melillo to be a third baseman, he'll be standing in line in Indy.... more likely he'll be assigned to AA Altoona, and made to prove that last year's AA performance was just a fluke. Billy Killian was the Padres' 3rd round draft pick in 2004. �The Illinois native played for two seasons in the Padres' organization, mostly with their Arizona Rookie League affiliate. �His second stint in Arizona (2005) was his best, hitting .287 with 10 RBI in 32 games. �He was�moved up to Low A Eugene for 14 games in 2005, but hit .189 there. �He also made a cameo appearance with the AAA Portland team in 2004 (at age 18), and played in 3 games, going 1-for-7 at the plate. �Killian was traded to the Rangers before the 2006 season, and split that year between Low A Spokane and A Clinton. �He began 2007 in Spokane again, then was traded to the While Sox, but appeared in only 31 games during the entire season. �The White Sox placed him in A+ Winston-Salem for 2008, where he hit .206 while appearing in 47 games. �Killian moved on to the Baltimore organization for 2009, and played all season for A+ Frederick, but only got into 33 games. �He hit .216, with one double and 9 RBI. �Killian is reported to have a good arm, though it isn't much help when he's sitting on the bench. �Expect to see him as a back-up in West Virginia or Bradenton. Going elsewhere: �Infielder Angel Gonzalez, who split the 2009 season between Altoona and Lynchburg, has signed a minor league contract with the Nationals for 2010. �He struggled all season, hitting just .138 in 29 games for the Hillcats and .192 in 172 games for the Curve. Quick quiz answer: �Five players in MLB history "enjoy" the distinction of having made just one plate appearance and walked for their major league careers. �Kevin Melillo is #5; �Bill Veeck's friend Eddie Gaedel (wearing uniform number 1/8) was #4 on August 9, 1951. �#3-- Joe Cobb (Detroit), April 25, 1918. �#2 -- Bill Batsch (Pittsburgh), September 9, 1916. �#1-- Dutch Schirick (St. Louis Browns), September 17, 1914.

// Much of the 1996 rebuilding effort was made up of major trades that saw veteran Pirates leaving the city of Pittsburgh. Before...

“This is a growing process for us. We're not going to turn this thing around in one year. We have a five-year plan...

The Winter League Playoffs are over... and the winners are waiting for the Caribbean Classic, which begins on Tuesday. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS -- Mayaguez wins 4-1 Indios de Mayaguez 3, �Criollos de Caguas 2 �(14 innings) This drawn-out contest was decided in the top of the 14th, �when Mayaguez scored on two singles and a sacrifice fly. �Caguas also managed a single in the bottom of the inning, but left the runner on base. �Mayaguez had scored their first two runs in the 4th on a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly. �Caguas caught up with a run on a hit batter and two singles in the 7th, and two walks and a single in the bottom of the 9th. Caguas 9, �Mayaguez 2 Los Criollos got some revenge the next night, scoring in the first four innings, plus two more in the 7th. �SS Luis Figueroa scored twice -- once in the 1st, when he reached on a fielding error, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and came in on a sacrifice fly; then again in the 3rd, when he led off with a walk, and another walk and two doubles followed. �This was Caguas' only win in the series. Mayaguez 8, �Caguas 6 Mayaguez ended the series with a hit-a-thon, stacking up 21 hits. �Los Indios scored first, with 3 runs in the 3rd and one in the 4th, then one more in the 7th inning. �Caguas scored one run in each of the 3rd and the 5th, and one more again in the 7th, on Luis Figueroa's RBI double. �Back-to-back homers by DH Cesar Nicolas and LF Aaron Bates tied the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th inning. �Each team scored a run in the 10th inning, Mayaguez on a double and two singles, and Caguas on a walk, a wild pitch, and a single. �Los Indios won it with a single, a double, a single, a walk, and a sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th for the final win of the series. DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS -- Leones del Escogido wins 5-4 Leones del Escogido 4, �Gigantes del Cibao 3 �(11 innings) Juan Perez took the loss in this game. �The score was tied at 2-2 after 5 innings, and that tie lasted until the top of the 9th, when 1B Wilson Betemit homered for Los Gigantes. �Escogido responded with a run in the bottom of the frame on a single, a throwing error, and an RBI ground out. �Neither team scored in the 10th, and Los Gigantes put a runner on in the top of the 11th, but he was caught stealing. �Perez came on to pitch in the bottom of the 11th, and after one out, he gave up a double. �He got a ground out, which moved the runner to third, and two walks loaded the bases. �A walk-off single brought in the winning run. Los Leones 5, �Los Gigantes 2 Juan Perez got a chance to redeem himself in this game, though he could not lead his team to the win. �He did pitch a 1-2-3 inning for Los Gigantes in the 6th. �Escogido scored 3 runs in the 2nd inning, on a solo homer, two doubles, and a single. �Los Gigantes were held to just two singles over the first 7 innings (and one was erased with a double play), but finally got onto the scoreboard with a solo homer and another run on three singles in the 8th. �Escogido added two more runs in the top of the 9th to cap off their 5th win and the series. VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS -- Leones del Caracas wins 4-3 Leones del Caracas 6, �Navegantes del Magallanes 3 Caracas was behind in this series, but came from behind with two wins in the last two games. �They took a big lead with 5 runs in the 4th inning, on back-to-back homers by C Carlos Maldonado (2 runs) and 2B Jose Lopez, then a walk and two doubles. �Another homer by RF Josh Kroeger added another run in the 5th. �Magallanes didn't score until the 8th inning, on a three-base fielding error and an RBI ground out. �A 2-run homer gave Los Navegantes two more runs in the 9th. �1B Yurendell de Caster singled for Magallanes in the 5th, but was out in a force play. Caracas 7, �Magallanes 2 C Carlos Maldonado was the hero of the series finale, with 4 of Caracas' 16 hits. �The first batter of the game, CF Gregor Blanco, got the fun started with a home run, and Maldonado's first single, plus another single, a double, and two errors gave Caracas 4 runs in the 1st inning. �Magallanes scored 2 in the bottom of the 2nd, on three singles (one by Yurendell de Caster), a walk, and a fielding error, but that was all they would get. �De Caster singled again in the 4th, and LF Mike Ryan doubled in the 5th, but both were left on base. �Maldonado singled again in the 5th, but did not score. �Jean Machi came on to pitch for Magallanes in the 8th, and Maldonado took Machi's first pitch into center field for a single. � A wild pitch and two more singles brought in Maldonado. �Maldonado also doubled to bring in two runs in the 9th inning, and Caracas had the series win. �Magallanes' starter, former Indy Indian (207) Jim Brower suffered the loss. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS �-- Naranjeros de Hermosillo wins 4-3 Naranjeros de Hermosillo 9, �Venados de Mazatlan 0 Mazatlan was shut out and held to just 5 hits and 2 walks. �Hermosillo plugged away, posting 13 hits and runs a bit at a time, ending with a 3-run homer in the 8th. Mazatlan 4, �Hermosillo 3 Los Venados got to Hermosillo starter Travis Blackley just a bit, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, on a lead-off homer and three singles. �Hermosillo scored one run in the 5th, on a single, an error, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. �They caught up with two runs on two doubles and a single in the 7th. �Mazatlan broke the tie in the bottom of the 8th. �DH Robert Saucedo led off with a single, and Rogelios Noris came in as his pinch-runner. �Noris moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt, and after a walk, he scored on an RBI single to give Mazatlan the win. Hermosillo 1, �Mazatlan 0 Hermosillo took the series win with just one run, even though they were out-hit 6-3. �Mazatlan starter Walter Silva pitched 8 innings and gave up just 2 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 7 batters. �But, the first Naranjeros batter to face him tripled, and a sacrifice fly gave Hermosillo their lone run in the top of the 1st. �Mazatlan put a runner on base in all but the 4th and 9th innings, but in only one of those innings (6th) were they able to put two runners on base at the same time.

The winter league playoffs have finished up.... and catching up with a few other items from the past few days: Roster moves: � Relievers Anthony Claggett and Steven Jackson, who were put on waivers to clear spots on the 40-man roster, have cleared waivers. �They have both been outrighted to the AAA Indianapolis Indians, and both will be non-roster invitees to the major league spring training camp. �Both still have a chance at making the Pirates out of spring training. Also invited to major league camp: �Infielders Brian Friday and Doug Bernier, and catcher Hector Gimenez. Doug Bernier recently signed a minor league contract with the Pirates. �The 29-year old infielder started his pro career in the Rockies' organization as a non-drafted free agent in 2002. �He made it up to the AAA level (Colorado Springs) in 2007, and played there for two season. �He hit .310 in 97 games in 2007, with 15 doubles, 2 homers, and 27 RBI. �In 2008, though, his average dropped to .255, with 10 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, and 42 RBI in 110 games. �Bernier made his major league debut with the Rockies in June 2008, but appeared in only 2 games, and went 0-for-4 at the plate. �Bernier spent all of 2009 with the Yankees' 2009 AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre affiliate. �He played in 79 games, hitting just .181, with 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 20 RBI. �Bernier does draw his fair share of walks -- 34 in 2009, and 64 in 2008 -- but struck out in nearly a third of his at-bats in 2009 (71), and nearly a quarter of them in 2008 (79). �Bernier has played several infield positions, primarily shortstop, but also second and third bases. �He will likely be the infield depth at Indianapolis. Reliever Juan Mateo has signed a minor league contract with the Angels for 2010. �Mateo made one appearance in Altoona in 2009, then 48 relief appearances in Indianapolis. �He finished with a 7-7 record, 4 saves and a 3.79 ERA. �In 71.1 innings, Mateo gave up 69 hits and 33 runs (30 earned), with 16 walks and 45 strikeouts. �He had come to the Pirates' organization in 2008 after 4.5 years in the Chicago Cubs' organization. OF Jason Delaney has signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. �Delaney was released by the Pirates back in early November. �He began the 2009 season with Indianapolis, but only played in 2 games for the Indians before being shuffled back to Altoona. �For the Curve, Delaney hit .271 with 25 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and 65 RBI. �He worked 57 walks but struck out an amazing 90 times in 118 games. �He struggled in the early part of the season, especially in May, when he hit .181. �Things began to turn around in June and July (.286 and .277 respectively). �Delaney poured it on in August and into September, when he hit .320 with 20 RBI. In case you didn't see this: �a chat with pitcher Tim Alderson on Baseball America -- he's working out, particularly working on lower body strengthening, and excited to be with the Pirates.

Dejan reports this morning that Penguins' owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle made an offer to buy the Pirates four months ago. Bob...

I discussed the payroll a bit in my last post and I just wanted to follow up briefly. My main point was that we...

Dejan posted some of his angrier mail items in yesterday's Q&A. Most of them look something like this: Q: IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT THE...

I understand that Pirate fans are angry and frustrated. It is easy to look at the annual 60-something win total combined with a bottom...

A few Pirates' friends and players are still involved in the winter league playoffs.... The Dominican League is taking Tuesday night off. �I'll be taking the rest of the week off -- I'll catch up with the rest of the playoffs in a few days. VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Navegantes del Magallanes 3, �Leones del Caracas 0 Caracas was held to just 3 hits as three Magallanes' pitchers combined for a shutout. �Starter Raul Valdes pitched 7 scoreless innings and allowed 2 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 4 batters. �One single and two walks, including a walk to C Carlos Maldonado, came in the 2nd inning, but Valdes got out of the bases-loaded mess with a strikeout to end the inning. �Another single and another walk to Maldonado put two runners on in the 4th, but again Valdes escaped the jam. �Valdes retired the side in the next 3 innings, and then was relieved by Jean Machi to begin the 8th. �Machi gave up a walk and a single, but got out of the inning with a timely double play. �Francisco Rodriguez earned a save with a 1-2-3 performance in the 9th inning. �Magallanes scored one run in three separate innings. �1B Yurendell de Caster started the fun in the 2nd inning with a single, but was thrown out at second base. �Another single, a stolen base, and a fielding error brought in the first run of the game. �A solo homer added another run in the 5th. �In the 8th, a single, a walk to DH Mike Ryan, and another single loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly brought in Magallanes' third run. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Indios de Mayaguez 5, �Criollos de Caguas 4 Former Indy Indians CF Luis Matos and SS Luis Figueroa were both held hitless as Mayaguez took a 2 games to none lead in the championship series. �Los Indios scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, loading the bases on three singles and then clearing them with a 3-RBI double by DH Randy Ruiz. �Caguas came right back with 3 runs of their own in the very next frame with a 3-run homer. �Mayaguez took the lead again in the bottom of the 5th, courtesy of another big double by Ruiz, this one for 2 runs. �Caguas managed one more run in the 7th on two singles, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI ground out by Matos, but they couldn't get any further. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Naranjeros de Hermosillo 7, �Venados de Mazatlan 2 Home runs were the order again -- this time it was 3 for Hermosillo and one for Mazatlan. �The first Hermosillo batter of the game homered to lead off the bottom of the 1st. �The bottom of the 2nd also began with a solo homer, and a single and a double added another run for Los Naranjeros. �Three singles and a fielding error contributed two more runs in the 3rd, to give Hermosillo a 5-0 lead. �The third homer of the game gave Los Naranjeros a run in the 6th, and a single and a double brought in �a run in the 7th. �Mazatlan scattered two singles and three walks over their first six innings, but didn't score until the 7th inning. �Their first run came on three consecutive walks and an RBI ground out. �Los Venados' only other run was a solo homer in the 8th by CF Ruben Rivera. �The best-of-7 series is now tied at 2 games each.

The Pirates’ bullpen is nearly set, and it seems likely that Javier Lopez will be the only left-handed reliever on the opening day roster....