PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Happy New Year!

Now that the Puerto Rican and Mexican Pacific Leagues have also finished their regular season, there will be more playoffs after a short holiday break.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Los Lobos de Arecibo won the pennant with a 21-11 recored. Los Gigantes de Carolina came in second, 3.5 games back. Los Indios de Mayaguez came in third, Los Criollos de Caguas fourth, and Los Leones de Ponce finished last, with a 12-21 record, 9.5 games out of first place. Stats for a few players:

RJ Rodriguez -(Ponce): 17 relief appearances, 1-0 record, 2 saves, 3.80 ERA; 21.1 innings, 19 hits, 13 runs/9 earned runs, 6 BB, 12 K, batters hit .238 against him. He had a couple of rough outings but generally was the Rodriguez we saw in Lynchburg.

Jorge Charry- (Ponce) (2008 Spikes): 5 relief appearances, no wins/losses/saves, 1.93 ERA; 4.2 innings, 4 hits, 1 runs, 2 BB, 1 K, batters hit .235 against him.

Shane Youman - (Arecibo): 5 starts, 1-2 record, 6.75 ERA; 17.1 innings, 29 hits, 13 runs, 7 BB, 13 K; batters hit .375 against him.

Greg Picart-(Ponce): 18 games, .167 average (3-for-18), 0 BB, 3 K. Not a performance that helped his standing.

Luis Figueroa - (Caguas): 32 games, .317 average, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer, 15 RBI, 11 BB, 6 K, 2 stolen bases. This is the same scrappy infielder with the big grin who played for the Indy Indians in 2004.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo finished in first place, with a 20-13 record. Los Tomateros de Culiacan and Los Yaquis de Obregon tied for second place, just 0.5 games behind. Los Algodoneros de Guasave were next, then a tie between Los Venados de Mazatlan (the first half division winner) and Los Mayos de Navojoa. Los Caneros de Los Mochis and Los Aguilas de Mexicali finished at the bottom of the pile. Stats for a few players:

Brian Bixler- (Mazatlan, first half): 35 games, .300 average, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 homers, 12 RBI, 13 BB, 42 K, 4 stolen bases. Generally a strong performance, other than the strikeouts, which can only help make him look good to other teams when the Pirates go to either trade or release him.

Rogelios Noris -(Mazatlan): 20 games, .333 average, 3 doubles, 1 homer, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 12 K. An excellent rookie performance before the hometown fans.

Luis Cruz- (Culiacan): 53 games, .314 average, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, 22 RBI, 16 BB, 19 K, 3 stolen bases. Another strong showing in his native country. Best of luck with the Brewers.

Chris Snelling- (Obregon): 23 games, .254 average, 1 double, 3 homers, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 8 K, 1 stolen base.

Yurendell de Caster- (Guasave): 24 games, .372 average, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 homers, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K. This should help him find a job for 2010.

Ty Taubenheim -(Hermosillo): 6 starts, 1-2 record, 4.66 ERA; 29 innings, 32 hits, 17 runs/15 earned runs, 11 BB, 15 K, batters hit .288 against him. Didn't really help his own cause, unfortunately.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Los Leones de Caracas lead the round robin playoff format with a 3-0 record. Los Aguilas de Zulia have played only one game and are 1-0. Los Navegantes del Magallanes are 1-1, and Los Bravos de Margarita and Los Tiburones de La Guaira are both 0-2.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Los Gigantes del Cibao and Los Leones del Escogido are tied in the round robin tournament with 3-2 records. That leaves Los Tigres del Licey and Los Toros del Este at the bottom, both with 2-3 records.

The Mexican Pacific and Puerto Rican Leagues wrapped up their regular season games on Wednesday night... though one of the Puerto Rican games was postponed and the other was cut short due to rain. The Venezuelan and Dominican Leagues continue with their playoffs...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Navegantes del Magallanes 9, Tiburones de La Guaira 6

Consecutive 4-run innings by Magallanes gave them the edge over La Guaira. Los Tiburones scored one run in the 1st, 2 runs in the 3rd, and one run in the 5th. In the 8th inning, with Corey Hamman on the mound for Magallanes, a walk and a triple brought in one run, and LF/1B Hector Gimenez singled to bring in a second run. Ronny Cedeno, who was selected by Magallanes in the post-season draft, had a single and a double. Magallanes' first run came in the 2nd inning, on a double by LF Mike Ryan, followed by a single and a wild pitch. Ryan had the second single of the 4th inning, and a double brought in both runners. Two more singles, one by Cedeno, plated another run, and a sacrifice bunt scored the 4th run of the inning. In the 5th, the first double of the inning brought in one run. Two walks loaded the bases for Cedeno, who doubled to clear the bases for 3 RBI.

Leones del Caracas 8, Bravos de Margarita 3

Caracas also had a 4-run inning, the 6th, to seal their victory. C Carlos Maldonado walked in Caracas' 2-run rally in the 2nd. He also doubled to lead off the 4th inning, and scored on two singles. In the 6th inning, two singles, a double, a wild pitch, and a throwing error contributed to the 4-run rally. Maldonado and Bravos' pitcher Edgar Martinez were both ejected following in the wild pitch. Margarita scored 2 runs in the 2nd and another run in the 4th, but couldn't answer after Los Leones' 4-run frame. Jonel Pacheco made a pinch-hit appearance for Margarita in the bottom of the 9th, but struck out to end the game.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Leones del Escogido 3, Tigres del Licey 0

Two pitcher ejections in this game...details not available yet. In the bottom of the 5th, Jhonny Nunez took the mound for Licey and was ejected without officially facing a batter. He was replaced by Denny Bautista, who was charged with a walk but was also ejected. Licey 2B Ronnie Belliard was ejected in the 9th inning. Escogido scored 2 runs in the 4th on a single and an RBI double. A walk to LF Brian Myrow and a single loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly brought in another run. A single, two bunts, and a sacrifice fly added one more insurance run in the 6th. C Ronny Paulino and CF Jose Bautista both went 0-for-4 for Licey.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Algodoneros de Guasave 9, Venados de Mazatlan 1

Los Venados were held to 3 hits, and their only run came on a walk and an RBI double in the top of the 1st. Guasave countered with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame, and went on to score in four more consecutive innings (3rd through 6th). CF Rogelios Noris went 0-for-3 for his hometown Mazatlan.

Tomateros de Culiacan 3, Mayos de Navojoa 1

Navojoa out-hit Culiacan 6-4, but Los Tomateros put their hits to good use. The first Culiacan batter of the game walked, but the next 12 went down in order. They began the 5th with another walk, and then LF Luis Cruz was hit by a pitch. A single into left field brought the lead runner in and put Cruz on third base. He scored on a sacrifice fly, and a throwing error let the second runner advance to third base. That runner scored on an RBI single. The only Culiacan batter to reach base for the rest of the game was Cruz, when he tripled in the 6th inning, but was left on base. Navojoa also began their batting with a walk, but that runner was erased with a double play. They also had a single in the 3rd inning, but caught that runner stealing. Navojoa scattered 5 more singles and another walk over the rest of the game. Their only run was scored in the bottom of the 9th, on a single, a stolen base, and another single.

Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Aguilas de Zulia 19, Navegantes del Magallanes 12

No, that isn't a football score. These two teams slugged it out with a total of 39 hits, including 5 home runs. Zulia scored in each of the first five innings, including 5 runs in the 1st and 7 runs in the 5th. Magallanes scored in four consecutive innings, and even scored 3 in the bottom of the 9th, and on most days that would have been fine, but not on this day. Zulia's reliever Chris Hernandez took the mound to begin the bottom of the 9th, and he began by giving up a walk, a single, and an RBI double. He did get a ground out, then gave up two more singles. Hernandez was relieved, but a walk loaded the bases again. After another out, Romulo Sanchez, who was taken from Los Cardenales de Lara in the playoff draft, came in to get the final strikeout. DH Mike Ryan went 2-for-6, with an RBI single in the 3rd inning. Corey Hamman pitched the 8th inning for Magallanes, and he gave up 2 runs on two singles, a walk, and a double. Jean Machi pitched the 9th inning for Magallanes, and set down three Zulia batters in order with three ground outs.

Leones de Caracas 5, Bravos de Margarita 3

Three runs in the 3rd inning were all that Margarita could get. C Carlos Maldonado began Caracas' scoring with a solo homer in the 3rd, and two singles and two wild pitches brought in another run. Caracas loaded the bases in the 6th inning on a walk and two singles. An RBI single tied the game, and Maldonado's sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run. Maldonado led off the 9th by reaching base on a fielding error. He was replaced by a pinch-runner, who came around to score on a sacrifice bunt, a fielder's choice and an error.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Gigantes del Cibao 6, Tigres del Licey 5

CF Jose Bautista had an RBI double and C Ronny Paulino followed with an RBI single in Licey's 3-run 2nd inning. A single, a passed ball, and another single added another run for Los Tigres in the 3rd. Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 2nd, and took the lead with 3 runs in the 4th inning. One more run gave them insurance in the 6th inning, and that held up despite Licey scoring one more of their own in the 8th. Juan Perez pitched to one Licey batter in the 5th inning and got a fly out.

Toros del Este 9, Leones del Escogido 3

A 5-run 6th inning and a total of 19 hits put Los Toros over the top. One Toros batter had 4 hits and three more had 3 hits each. RF Wladimir Balentien went 4-for-4 and DH Willis Otanez had 3 hits for Escogido. LF Brian Myrow was hitless in 3 at-bats for Los Leones.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Criolles de Caguas 8, Indios de Mayaguez 4

Caguas posted 14 hits, including 2 by CF Luis Matos and one by SS Luis Figueroa

. Los Criollos got the early lead with back-to-back solo homers to lead off the 2nd inning. Matos began a rally in the 7th inning with a walk, and scored after a fielding error and an RBI double. A hit batter and a walk forced in a second run in that inning. Mayaguez came back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, but Caguas loaded the bases again in the 8th inning, and then brought in 4 runs with a single and a 3-RBI double.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Mayos de Navojoa 1, Tomateros de Culiacan 0

The opposite of the Venezuelan slugfest -- only one run scored, though both teams were able to put runners on base in several innings. 2B Luis Cruz was 0-for-4 for Culiacan.

Algodoneros de Guasave 2, Venados de Mazatlan 1 -- Game 1

Home runs were the only scoring in this game. Mazatlan's DH Robert Saucedo homered in the 4th, but Guasave had homers in the 2nd and 4th to take the win. 3B Yurendell de Caster singled in the 1st for Guasave, but was left on base.

Guasave 1, Mazatlan 0 -- Game 2

Another anti-slugfest, with the two teams combining for just 5 hits. Guasave scored the only run of the game on a walk and an RBI double in the 3rd. 3B Yurendell de Caster was 0-for-3 in this game.

It is the time of year for prospect lists. Last year, I tried to count down my top 25 prospects, with a separate...

Pirates' players and friends in Monday's winter league action...

DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Leones del Escogido 7, Gigantes del Cibao

LF Brian Myrow went 1-for-3 with two walks for Escogido in this win. He began a rally in the 3rd inning with the first of three singles and came around to score. Myrow walked in the 5th, and then walked and scored in the 3-run rally in the 7th inning. Los Gigantes had batters on base in most innings. They only had a runner reach as far as third base in the 8th inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs, but left all three on base.

Tigres del Licey 8, Toros del Este 1

CF Jose Bautista had three hits for Licey, including a 2-RBI double in Los Tigres' 5-run 7th inning. Reliever Denny Bautista pitched a scoreless 9th inning for Licey and allowed only a single.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Lobos de Arecibo 5, Leones de Ponce 2

Shane Youman made the start for Arecibo, and he earned his first win of the season. Youman gave up 5 hits and one run over 5.2 innings, with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. Youman walked the first two batters he faced, but then struck out two and got a ground out to get out of the jam. In the 4th inning, Youman loaded the bases with three singles, but ended the inning with a double play to keep Ponce from scoring. The only run he gave up was in the 6th, when he gave up a run on a double, an RBI single, and a throwing error. Ponce scored one more run in the 8th inning. Arecibo scored their first 3 runs in the 2nd inning on an error, two singles, and a double. Reliever RJ Rodriguez came on to pitch for Ponce in the 7th inning, when Arecibo had two outs and two runners on, and Rodriguez ended the inning with a strikeout. Rodriguez struggled in the 8th inning, though. He gave up a single, a sacrifice bunt, and another single, for one run. Then a double, a walk, and a fielding error on what could have been an inning-ending double play allowed another run (unearned). Rodriguez was replaced at that point, and his relief got the final out of the inning.

Criollos de Caguas 5, Indios de Mayaguez 4

SS Luis Figueroa had two hits and 3 RBI for Caguas. Los Criollos scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning when they loaded the bases on a double, a hit batter, and a single. Another hit batter forced in the first run, and the second scored on CF Luis Matos' sacrifice fly. Figueroa singled after the run scored, loading the bases again, but all three were left on base. Mayaguez took the lead with a run in the 5th and 2 runs in the 6th. But in the bottom of the 6th, Caguas loaded the bases on three walks. Figueroa's 3-RBI double cleared the bases and gave Caguas the win.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Leones del Caracas 6, Tiburones de La Guaira 2

Venezuelan League teams who are in the playoffs can draft players from non-playoff teams to replace players on the roster. 1B Hector Gimenez had been playing for Los Tigres de Aragua, but he was drafted by Los Tiburones de La Guaira and started for them in their first playoff game. Gimenez smacked the second of two singles to lead off the 2nd inning, but he was forced out at second on a subsequent play. La Guaira scored one run on an RBI double, and another runner was thrown out at the plate. Gimenez doubled to lead off the 4th inning, and he scored on another double. Caracas tied the score in the bottom of the 4th on a double and two singles, and they took the lead in the next inning on a hit batter, a bunt, and an RBI single. In the 8th inning, with Ronald Belisario on the mound for La Guaira, Caracas scored 3 insurance runs. C Carlos Maldonado led off with a walk, and after two throwing errors, two wild pitches by Belisario, two singles, and a double, Caracas had a definitive lead.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Tomateros de Culiacan 6, Mayos de Navojoa 5

2B Luis Cruz went 3-for-5 with an RBI for Culiacan. Cruz's RBI single plated Los Tomateros' first run in the 2nd inning. Navojoa took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 5th, but Culiacan came back with 3 runs in the top of the 6th. After a walk, Cruz beat out a grounder to third for the second of four singles. Cruz singled again to open the 8th inning, and scored again when his teammates added 3 more singles. Navojoa scored twice in the bottom of the inning, but Culican held on for the win.

Neal Huntington used his first couple of years with the Pirates to replace Dave Littlefield’s aging core with a younger version of his own....

Toros del Este 3, Tigres del Licey 1

Licey was held to just 4 hits, including one by CF Jose Bautista and one by Indy-area native 1B Jake Fox. Their two hits plus a double by LF Eric Byrnes (Diamondbacks) came in the 2nd inning, when Bautista also had the lone RBI for Licey, to plate Byrnes. After that RBI single, the next 11 Licey batters made outs, including 6 straight strikeouts. The remaining Licey single, plus a walk, came in the 6th inning, and they were followed by 9 more outs, including 3 strikeouts in the 7th. C Ronny Paulino was 0-for-3 with one of the 9 total strikeouts. Los Toros scored one run in each of the 3rd, 7th, and 8th innings.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas 8, Leones de Ponce 4

SS Luis Figueroa went 0-for-4 for Caguas, but he still collected an RBI with a ground out in the 2nd inning, and walked and scored in the 3-run 9th inning. CF Luis Matos smacked an RBI double in the 5th inning. Ponce remained scoreless until the 7th inning, when they got onto the scoreboard with a lead-off homer. Los Leones added 3 runs in the 8th inning, on two walks and four singles. Greg Picart pinch-ran in the 8th and advanced as far as third base, but was out at home on a force play. He remained in the game to play third base in the 9th inning. Reliever RJ Rodriguez pitched to one batter in the 9th inning for Ponce, but they didn't bring him in until Caguas had already scored 3 runs. Rodriguez came on with runners on first and second base and got the final out of the inning.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Yaquis de Obregon 4, Algodoneros de Guasave 2

3B Yurendell de Caster had two of Guasave's four hits and added his 15th RBI of the season. He singled in the 1st and 8th innings but was left on base both times. The RBI came in the 6th, the only inning in which Guasave scored. After a walk and a single, de Caster's ground out brought in the runner from third base, and an RBI single added the second run. Obregon scored one run in the 1st inning on two singles and a stolen base, and three runs in the 4th on a double, two walks, and a bases-clearing triple.

Winter League play resumed on Saturday evening...Pirates' players and friends got into the action in the Dominican and Venezuelan Leagues' playoffs, but not in the Mexican Pacific or Puerto Rican League games. It was a rare night off for Culiacan's (Mexican Pacific League) Luis Cruz. Both the Mexican Pacific League and the Puerto Rican League finish their regular seasons on Dec 30th.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Tigres del Licey 4, Gigantes del Cibao 0

C Ronny Paulino went 3-for-3 at the plate, including two doubles and a walk, as Licey held Los Gigantes to just 3 hits. Paulino led off the 3rd inning with his first double, then scored on a single and an error. He singled again in the 5th inning and advanced to third base on another single and a bunt, but was out at the plate on a fielder's choice, and Licey did not score in that inning. They did score again in the 7th when Paulino led off with his second double, and went to third on a sacrifice bunt. A fielder's choice had Paulino out at the plate, but another grounder and a single by DH Wily Mo Pena brought in a run. In the 8th inning, two doubles plus walks to CF Jose Bautista and Paulino brought in one run and left the bases loaded with no outs. Los Gigantes brought reliever Juan Perez in to pitch, but Perez gave up an RBI single before getting a double play and a ground out to end the inning.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Aguilas de Zulia 3, Cardenales de Lara 1

Reliever Romulo Sanchez suffered the loss for Lara when he surrendered the walk-off single to Zulia in the bottom of the 9th. Los Aguilas had scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning on two singles and two errors. Lara couldn't capitalize on a bases-loaded situation in the 5th inning, but a 2-RBI double in the 7th after the bases had been loaded with a single and two hit batters, tied the game at 2-2. That tie lasted into the bottom of the 9th. Sanchez entered the game with two outs and a runner on second base in the 8th and got the final out of the inning. He struck out the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 9th, then walked two batters and struck out the next batter. A single filled the bases with Zulia runners, and another single brought in the winning run.

The two winter leagues who are still in their regular season play, the Mexican Pacific League and the Puerto Rican League, have a couple of days off.

Here's a list of Sports Illustrated's thoughts on the top prospects in all of baseball, naming the Pirates' Pedro Alvarez as Number 7.

Best wishes to all for a happy holiday season!

The Venezuelan League wrapped up their regular season on Wednesday, and the Puerto Rican and Mexican Pacific Leagues will begin a short break for the Christmas holiday.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes de Carolina 7, Criollos de Caguas 3

Carolina scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning and 6 runs over the first three innings to take and hold the lead throughout the game. SS Luis Figueroa led off the game with a single, and came around to score on two more singles and a double play. Caguas added one more run with a solo homer in the 6th, and another run in the 9th.

Leones de Ponce 4, Lobos de Arecibo 3

Shane Youman suffered his second loss of the season, as he allowed 4 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks in 3.2 innings for Arecibo. The first run came in the 3rd inning on a walk and two singles. In the 4th, Youman began the inning by giving up two singles and a walk to load the bases. A ground out brought in one run, and two more singles added two more runs for Ponce, and at that point Youman was relieved. Arecibo scored one run in each of the 1st, 4th, and 9th innings. Reliever RJ Rodriguez pitched 3 innings for Ponce. He let two batters get on base -- with a single and a walk -- but erased both of them with double plays.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Naranjeros de Hermosillo 9, Tomateros de Culiacan 4

Hermosillo scored 3 runs in the early innings, 3 in the middle innings, and 3 in the late innings to get the win over Culiacan. Los Tomateros couldn't keep up the pace. They scored one in the 1st and another in the 2nd inning. In the 6th, a lead-off walk, a single by 2B Luis Cruz, followed by two more singles brought in that lead runner and Cruz with Culiacan's last two runs.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Cardenales de Lara 9, Leones de Caracas 2

Los Leones began the scoring with 2 runs in the 2nd inning, on three singles. But their roar was cut short as Los Cardenales started scoring in the 5th and continued scoring for 4 consecutive innings. C Carlos Maldonado went 0-for-3 in this final game.

Navegantes del Magallanes 4, Tigres de Aragua 3

C Wilson Ramos and 1B Hector Gimenez led off the 2nd inning with back-to-back homers for Aragua, and two singles with a sacrifice bunt sandwiched between them added another run in the 3rd. They led Magallanes 3-1 until the bottom of the 7th, when Los Navegantes batted around and took advantage of 4 walks and a fielding error, combined with two singles, to collect 3 more runs and take the win. SS Ronny Cedeno had two singles for Aragua. SS Argenis Diaz went 0-for-4 for Magallanes.

Aguilas de Zulia 4, Bravos de Margarita 2

Zulia scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st, with 3 doubles and 4 singles. They didn't have a lot of offense after that, though they held on to get the final win of the season. Margarita scored their two runs in the bottom of the 8th on three straight singles and an RBI grounder. Chris Hernandez earned his 16th save of the season for Zulia with a perfect 9th inning, including a strikeout and two pop outs to his first baseman. RF Jonel Pacheco went 0-for-4 for Margarita.

Final standings: Los Leones de Caracas and Los Navegantes del Magallanes finished the regular season tied with a 41-22 record. Los Tiburones de La Guaira came in third with a 32-31 record, and Los Bravos de Margarita also made the playoffs with a fourth place finish and a 30 -33 record.

Among the players who were big winners: Jean Machi, Chris Hernandez, Ronald Uviedo, Ronny Cedeno, Hector Gimenez, and Mike Ryan

Some stats:

Chris Hernandez (Aguilas de Zulia): 23 relief appearances, 0-3 record with 16 saves and a 2.49 ERA; 21.2 innings, 25 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 BB, 14 K; opponents batted .278 against him.

Jhonatan Ramos (Bravos de Margarita): only one relief appearance (Nov 12th), when he pitched one inning and allowed one hit, no BB, no K.

Edgar Gutierrez (Bravos de Margarita): two relief appearances, one when he gave up a hit to the only batter he faced, and one when he gave up one hit and got two outs; neither time did he allow a run.

Derek Hankins (Cardenales de Lara): 5 games, 4 starts, 0-1 record with a 9.15 ERA; 20.2 innings, 25 hits, 21 runs, 10 BB, 12 K; opponents batted .301 against him.

Ronald Uviedo (Leones del Caracas): 21 relief appearances, 3-0 record with a 2.63 ERA; 24 innings, 17 hits, 7 earned runs, 6 BB, 24 K; opponents batted .202 against him.

Corey Hamman (Navegantes del Magallanes): 11 relief appearances, 0-1 record and a 1.42 ERA; 6.1 innings, no hits, one run, 3 BB, 2 K; opponents couldn't get a hit off him.

Jean Machi (Navegantes del Magallanes): 31 relief appearances, 2-0 record and 16 saves, and a 1.25 ERA; 36 innings, 22 hits, 5 earned runs, 6 BB, 27 K; opponents batted .177 against him.

Rafael Quintero (Tiburones de La Guaira): only one relief appearance, in which he pitched 1.2 innings and gave up 2 runs (one earned) on 3 hits and a walk.

Bobby Livingston (Tiburones de La Guaira): 6 starts, 1-1 record, with a 7.58 ERA; 19 innings, 29 hits, 16 earned runs, 6 BB, 9K; batters went wild hitting .367 against him.

Wil Ledezma (Tigres de Aragua): 11 starts, 2-4 record, with a 4.89 ERA; 49.2 innings, 54 hits, 32 runs (27 earned), 20 BB, 44 K; opponents hit .278 against him.

Neil Walker (Bravos de Margarita): 34 games, avg .267 (almost the same as he had in Indianapolis, .264), 9 doubles, 4 homers, 16 RBI, 17 BB, 24 K, 1 stolen base

Jonel Pacheco (Bravos de Margarita): 26 games, avg .214, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 12 K, 1 stolen base

Adenson Chourio (Caribes de Anzoategui): 11 games, 0-for-4, one run scored, no walks or strikeouts, one stolen base.

Gorkys Hernandez (Caribes de Anzoategui): 33 games, avg .245, 4 doubles, 1 homer, 9 RBI, 13 BB, 32 K, 3 stolen bases

Argenis Diaz (Navegantes del Magallanes): 47 games, avg .194, 3 doubles, 5 RBI, 9 BB, 26 K, 2 stolen bases

Mike Ryan (Navegantes del Magallanes): 54 games, avg .322 (10th in the league), 12 doubles, 2 triples, 9 homers (5th in the league), 45 RBI (3rd in the league), 24 BB, 33 K, one stolen base

Ronny Cedeno (Tigres de Aragua): 40 games, avg .300, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers (tied for 4th in the league), 20 RBI, 6 BB, 24 K, 3 stolen bases

Hector Gimenez (Tigres de Aragua): 62 games, avg .319 (11th in the league), 14 doubles, 8 homers, 40 RBI, 39 BB (4th in the league), 57 K (2nd in the league -- oops!)

The Pirates have added another lefty reliever to the mix. Today they signed 31-year old Jayson (Jack) Taschner to a minor league contract, and invited him to big league spring training. Taschner is a Wisconsin native, who was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 1999 draft. Taschner moved up through the Giants' organization, and by the time he reached the AA level, he was moving from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He reached the major league level for the first time in 2005, when he made his debut in June, and that was the first season in which he pitched entirely in relief. The 2005 season was a good one for Taschner. He made 44 appearances in AAA Fresno, with a 3-0 record and 10 saves, and a 1.64 ERA. In 49.1 innings, he gave up 30 hits, 24 walks, and struck out 62 batters. For the Giants, he had no saves, but earned a 2-0 record and a 1.59 ERA, with 22.2 innings pitched, 15 hits, 13 walks, and 19 strikeouts. Taschner also split 2006 between the AAA and major league level, but without such good results-- more hits, more runs, and higher ERA (3.65 in Fresno and 8.38 with the Giants), though more saves (14).

Taschner pitched for the Giants for all of the 2007 and 2008 season, making 130 appearances over those two years. He had a combined 6-3 record, no saves, though he finished 23 games. In 98 innings, he earned a 5.14 ERA, with 101 hits, 53 walks, and 90 strikeouts. He was mostly used as a lefty specialist, doing well against right-handed batters. In March 2009, Taschner was traded to the Phillies in exchange for former Pirate catcher Ronny Paulino. He began the season with the Phillies, but had an up-and-down few months. In April (7 games), he allowed 6 runs in 10.1 innings (ERA 5.23), and in June (5 games), he allowed 7 runs in 6 innings (10.50 ERA). May wasn't bad: 3 runs in 10.1 innings (0.87 ERA). But it added up to a 1-1 record and a 5.20 ERA with 34 hits, 20 walks, and 17 strikeouts, and Taschner was designated for assignment on July 3rd. Things were better in AAA Lehigh Valley, where he did not allow more than one run in any of his 20 appearances, and kept his opponents scoreless in his last 7 appearances. He had two saves and an 0-2 record, with a 1.80 ERA in July and a 2.31 ERA in August. In 21.1 innings, he allowed 16 hits, 10 walks, and 15 strikeouts.

Taschner got a September call-up and rejoined the Phillies for the last month of the season. He appeared in 3 games, going 1.2 innings without allowing a run or a walk. He did give up 4 hits and struck out 2. Taschner was outrighted to AAA at the end of the season and became a free agent. Taschner will have a shot at a bullpen spot with the Pirates, but it's a long shot. He and his change-up will be more likely to be in Indianapolis in 2010.

Tuesday's action in the winter leagues with Pirates' players and friends.... starting to get a little thin, as the Dominican League has finished their regular season, and the other leagues are slowing a bit for the upcoming holiday. The Venezuelan League ends their regular season with their final games on Dec. 23rd.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Indios de Mayaguez 7, Leones de Ponce 4

Mayaguez scored 3 runs in the 2nd and another 3 runs in the 4th, and despite Ponce scoring 3 runs in the 7th, they couldn't catch up. All of Ponce's runs came on two homers -- a solo shot in the 4th and a 3-run blast in the 7th. SS Greg Picart was hitless in 3 trips to the plate.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Leones del Caracas 10, Tigres de Aragua 4

Ronald Uviedo earned his 3rd win of the season, and it only took him one batter. Uviedo took the mound for Caracas with a runner on second base and two outs in the 6th, and he got a ground out to end the inning. Caracas' starting pitcher, Franklin Morales, gave up all 4 of Aragua's runs and was in danger of giving up more when Uviedo came in, and Uviedo was the pitcher of record when Caracas scored the winning run. Aragua scored their first run in the top of the 1st, on a single, a sacrifice bunt by SS Ronny Cedeno, a ground out, and a wild pitch. C Raul Chavez doubled to lead off the 2nd inning, went to third on 1B Hector Gimenez's ground out, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Cedeno gave Aragua two more runs in the 3rd inning on a 2-run homer, his 10th of the season. But that was all the scoring that Aragua would do, and just as they wound down, Caracas was gearing up. A solo homer gave Los Leones their first run in the bottom of the 3rd. They scored 3 runs in the 5th on three singles, a walk, and a double. Two doubles brought in another run in the 6th. Then they burst out with 5 runs in the 7th inning, which featured 3 doubles, including DH Carlos Maldonado's second double of the game, and a 2-run homer.

Cardenales de Lara 8, Navegantes del Magallanes 6

Each team had a 4-run inning, but it was a 2-run 6th that gave Lara the edge. SS Argenis Diaz went 1-for-3 with a single for Magallanes, but did not score. Jean Machi pitched a perfect top of the 9th for Magallanes, including 2 strikeouts. Romulo Sanchez pitched 1.2 innings for Lara, giving up a walk and a single, and striking out 3 batters.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Yaquis de Obregon 2, Algodoneros de Guasave 1

3B Yurendell de Caster got the game started with a solo home run for Guasave in the top of the 1st inning. Unfortunately, that was the only run Guasave would score, and it was also their only extra-base hit of the game. They had only 4 more hits, plus one walk, scattered over the rest of the game. After de Caster's single in the 6th, the next 11 batters went down in order to finish the game. Obregon tied the game with a run on a hit batter and two singles in the 2nd, and scored the winning run in the 5th on a single and an RBI double.

Tomateros de Culiacan 8, Naranjeros de Hermosillo 2

Culiacan got down to business in the bottom of the 1st inning with 5 runs on two singles, a walk by 2B Luis Cruz and three doubles. Five straight singles to lead off the 4th gave Los Tomateros two more runs, and they added one more on a walk, a stolen base, and a single in the 6th. Cruz was 0-for-3 in his other plate appearances, but he started two double plays.