PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

It has been seventeen years since the Pirates finished .500. Everyone knows that. Let's have a look at the top 10 things that contributed...

The Pirates have reportedly acquired second baseman Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Rays for reliever Jesse Chavez. Dejan Kovacevic is reporting that the...

The Arizona Fall League has announced the 2009 Rising Stars roster -- kind of the all-stars of the all-stars. Three of the Pirates' AFL participants have been named to the Rising Stars team:

OF Jose Tabata

IF Chase d'Arnaud

LHP Danny Moskos

Other members of the Scottsdale Scorpions who were named to the Rising Stars roster:

C Buster Posey -- Giants

1B Brandon Allen -- Diamondbacks

OF Domonic Brown -- Phillies

RHP Andrew Johnston -- Rockies

RHP Toru Murata -- Japanese league

LHP Matt Reynolds -- Rockies

The Rising Stars game will be played on Saturday Nov 7th at 6:15 pm (MT -- 8:15 pm Eastern). It will be broadcasted live on the MLB network.

Tabata currently has a .348 average in 15 games with the Scorpions, along with 3 doubles, 2 triples, a home run, and 11 RBI, plus two stolen bases.

D'Arnaud is hitting .200 in 9 games, with 3 doubles, a triple, and 2 RBI.

Moskos has made 7 relief appearances for Scottsdale, going 9.1 innings and allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 14 hits, 7 walks, and 9 strikeouts.

Pitcher Donnie Veal was named the AFL Pitcher of the Week for Oct 26- Nov 1. Veal made two starts for the Scottsdale Scorpions during the week, and in a combined 7.2 innings he did not allow a run. He gave up 5 hits and 2 walks, and struck out 7 batters in those two games. Veal has a 2-0 record and a league-leading 0.71 ERA. Hitters have a .159 average against him (2nd best in the league).

OTHER NOTES: Former Indy Indians' hitting coach Hensley (Bam Bam) Meulens has been named the hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants. Meulens coached the Giants' AAA team in 2009.

Peoria Javelinas 6, Scottsdale Scorpions 4

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A 4-run Peoria 7th inning, which included two Scottsdale errors, led to a Scorpions' loss on Monday afternoon in Arizona. The inning began with a 2-2 tie, and Craig Baker (Rockies) on the mound for the Scorpions. The first batter of the inning reached base safely on a throwing error by 3B Darin Holcomb (Rockies). The next batter, Team USA's C Lucas May (Dodgers), belted a 2-run homer over the right center field wall, giving the Javelinas a 4-2 lead. After a strikeout, Holcomb made a fielding error to put another runner on base. That runner scored on a double, and the next batter singled to bring in the 4th run of the inning, lifting the score to 6-2. The batter was out at second, on the throw in from CF Jose Tabata, and a ground out ended the inning.

The Scorpions had scored first, when RF Domonic Brown (Phillies) singled to lead off the 2nd inning, and C Buster Posey (Giants) followed with his second home run of the AFL season. The Javelinas tied the game with a single and a double for one run in the 5th, and two singles and a double for another run in the 6th. With Peoria ahead in the bottom of the 7th, the Scorpions got one run back. 1B Brandon Allen (Diamondbacks) walked with two outs, and a single by Brown and a walk to Posey loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed Allen to scramble home, to make the score 6-3. They added one more run in the 8th inning. Darin Holcomb walked, and Jose Tabata singled, moving Holcomb to third base. SS Hector Gomez (Rockies) slapped a grounder back to the mound, which ricocheted off the Javelina's pitcher and over toward third base. Holcomb was able to score before the third baseman could get to the ball, but that was all the Scorpions could get.

Jose Tabata also singled to lead off the 1st inning, but was out in a double play. He led off the 3rd inning with another single, and stole second base, but was left stranded there when the inning ended. 2B Chase d'Arnaud walked in the 4th inning, but was out in his three other trips to the plate.

Scorpions' starter Michael Cisco (Phillies) faced only one batter over the minimum for his first 4 innings -- a double to lead off the 2nd inning. He gave up a single in the 5th inning, along with two outs, and that runner became the Javelina's first run of the game, and the only run charged to Cisco. Edgar Garcia (Phillies) gave up the double to May in the 5th, then ended that inning. He pitched the 6th, and was responsible for the run scored in that inning. Craig Baker was responsible for 4 runs (one earned) in the 7th. Andrew Johnston (Rockies) pitched a scoreless 8th inning, and Danny Moskos allowed a walk and a single in the scoreless 9th. The winning pitcher for the Javelina's was former Pirate farmhand, now with the Dodgers, Eric Krebs.

The Mexican Pacific, Venezuelan, and Dominican Leagues all had a scheduled day off on Monday.

Pirates' players and friend in Sunday's winter ball action

VENZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita 7, Cardenales de Lara 6

Former Pirate Romulo Sanchez suffered the loss for Lara, as he gave up the winning run in the bottom of the 7th. A fielding error, a ground out, and RF Rene Reyes' third hit of the game pushed the go-ahead run across the plate. Former Indy Indian Tim Harikkala got the start for Margarita, and he allowed 6 runs on 11 hits over his 5.2 innings. He allowed 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning on 5 singles plus his own throwing error. Reyes scored Los Bravos' first run in the 2nd inning, when he was hit by a pitch, moved to second and then third on two walks, and scored on a sacrifice fly. 3B Neil Walker tied the score in the 4th inning with a 2-run homer following Reyes' first single. Lara went ahead with a home run in the top of the 5th, and Margarita countered with a run on a hit batter, a walk, and Reyes' second single in the bottom of the inning. A two-run homer again gave Los Cardenales the lead in the top of the 6th. Again Los Bravos caught up with C Henry Blanco's two-run homer in their half of the inning. That set up Reyes to be the hero in the 7th. CF Jonel Pacheco went 0-for-4 for Margarita.

Navegantes del Magallanes 10, Tiburones de La Guaira 8

Jean Machi earned his 5th save for Magallanes with a hitless and scoreless 9th inning (there was a fielding error). LF Mike Ryan had a single and scored for Magallanes in their 5-run 3rd inning, which included two home runs. Ryan walked in the 5th inning, when Los Navegantes again scored 5 runs, though he was forced out at second base. Two singles, two walks, and two doubles accounted for the scoring in the 5th. La Guaira scored in four consecutive innings -- two in the 5th, 4 in the 6th, and one each in the 7th and 8th -- but could not catch up.

Caribes de Anzoategui 9, Aguilas de Zulia 6

Los Caribes took an early lead with 4 runs in the 1st inning and 3 more in the 2nd, then held off Los Aguilas for the win. CF Gorkys Hernandez went 0-for-4, with a fly out and three ground outs.

Leones del Caracas 9, Tigres de Aragua 3

Los Leones also snatched an early lead with a 4-run 1st inning, including a triple by Team USA's Josh Kroeger (White Sox). A homer, a double, and Kroeger's RBI single in the 2nd inning gave Caracas a 6-0 lead. Los Leones added another run in the 4th on three singles (another by Kroeger), and two more in the 6th on a two-run homer. Los Tigres scored one run in the 3rd on a lead-off double by C Alex Delgado followed by a second double. They did not score again until the 9th inning. Two singles, the second by LF Jorge Cortes, a wild pitch, and another single gave Aragua 2 more runs. Cortes was 1-for-4 in the game. 1B Hector Gimenez went 0-for-3 with a walk. Delgado went 1-for-2, and SS Ronny Cedeno had a single in three trips to the plate.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan 7, Tomateros de Culiacan 3

Mazatlan too scored 4 runs in the 1st inning, on a single, a walk, an RBI single, and a three-run homer by DH Robert Saucedo. LF Rogelios Noris singled after the homer but was left on base. Saucedo doubled to lead off the 3rd inning, and score on an RBI single. Culiacan scored one run in the bottom of the 3rd on a solo home run. They added two more in the 7th, after loading the bases with a single, a walk, and a single by CF Luis Cruz. A double brought in two runs, to make the score 5-3. 2B Brian Bixler got a small rally started for Los Venados in the 8th inning with a one-out single. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and moved up to third after two walks. A hit batter forced Bixler in with a run, though Los Venados left the bases loaded with a fly out to end the inning. Rogelios Noris hit his first home run of his rookie season in the top of the 9th inning. Bixler singled again after Noris' homer, and he also walked twice. Noris went 3-for-5 in the game, and has a .368 average. Luis Cruz was 2-for-4; he doubled in the 5th inning.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes del Cibao 6, Aguilas Cibaenas 4

Ramon Aguero pitched 1.2 innings for Los Aguilas. He took the mound to begin the 7th inning and gave up a single and a double, but got a ground out and a line out to third to end the inning, then retired two batters in the 8th. Los Gigantes' Juan Perez pitched to one batter in the 7th -- he struck out Kevin Barker (Reds).

Toros del Este 7, Estrellas de Oriente 3

2B Pedro Lopez had two singles for Los Estrellas, including a single to lead off the top of the 9th. Two more singles and a 3-RBI double got Los Estrellas closer to Los Toros, but they could not catch up to a 4-run 4th and a 3-run 8th by Los Toros. Robinzon Diaz pinch-hit in the 8th inning for Los Estrellas, but grounded out. He remained in the game to catch the last inning. Former Indy Indian Roberto Giron came on in relief for Los Estrellas in the 4th and got the final out, then gave up a double and a walk with two outs in the 5th.

Saturday's winter ball action with the Pirates' players and friends:

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Aguilas de Mexicali 8, Naranjeros de Hermosillo 4

Ty Taubenheim made the start for Hermosillo and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks over 4.2 innings. Two consecutive singles followed by two consecutive hit batters forced in a run in the 2nd inning. Taubenheim kept Mexicali from scoring in the 3rd and 4th innings. A walk and two singles in the 5th gave Mexicali two more runs, and Taubenheim was relieved. Hermosillo scored two runs in the 4th and two more in the 6th, and after 6 innings, the score was tied at 4-4. Mexicali scored 4 more runs in the 8th inning to take the win, and Taubenheim was not involved in the decision.

Venados de Mazatlan 3, Tomateros de Culiacan 2

LF Brian Bixler opened the game with a double for Mazatlan, and scored on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Bixler also reached base in the 3rd inning, on a fielding error by Pirates' teammate 2B Luis Cruz, but Bixler was left stranded that time. Culiacan took a 2-1 lead in the 4th on two walks, a double, and a sacrifice fly. Mazatlan tied it up in the next inning, on a walk and a dobule. CF Ruben Rivera gave Los Venados the winning run with his solo homer in the 8th. Cruz singled in the 9th inning, but did not score.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes 5, Leones del Caracas 3

Jean Machi earned his 4th save for Magallanes with a scoreless 9th inning. LF Mike Ryan had two singles and SS Argenis Diaz contributed one single to Los Navegantes' cause. A double and three singles, one by Ryan, got Magallanes started in the bottom of the 1st inning. A double and a single gave them another run in the 2nd. A walk, a single by Ryan, and a 2-RBI double in the 3rd made it 5-0 for Magallanes. Caracas picked up their three runs on four walks, forcing in a run, and a 2-RBI single in the 4th inning.

Tiburones de La Guaira 7, Tigres de Aragua 6 (11 innigs)

Aragua more than doubled La Guaira's hit count, but it was Los Tiburones who finally took a bite out of Los Tigres for the extra-inning win. A walk-off home run by La Guaira's 3B Oscar Salazar was the difference. Bobby Livingston made his fourth start for La Guaira, going into the 4th inning and allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Livingston gave up 2 runs in the 2nd inning, on a lead-off walk to Aragua's 1B Hector Gimenez, an error, and three singles, including one by LF Jorge Cortes. Livingston opened the 4th inning with another walk to Gimenez and a single, and he was relieved. A single scored Gimenez, a double by Cortes brought in two more runs, and another RBI single plated Cortes.

Los Tiburones picked up one run in the 3rd on a solo homer, and made it a 6-5 game with 4 runs in the 5th. SS Jorge Velandia singled, and after two walks, a triple brought in 3 runs, and a sacrifice fly added one more. La Guaira remained behind by one run until the bottom of the 9th, when a fielding error, a double, and a wild pitch tied the game and sent it into extra innings. Livingston did not factor into the decision. Hector Gimenez had the two walks but no hits in the game. DH Raul Chavez went 1-for-5. Jorge Cortes was 2-for-5. SS Ronny Cedeno had 6 hitless trips to the plate.

Bravos de Margarita 2, Cardenales de Lara 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)

Scott Strickland gave up a run in the top of the 9th, but held on to earn his 5th save for Margarita. Los Bravos scored their first run in the 5th. 1B Dennys Abreu walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a single. Another sacrifice bunt allowed Abreu to score, but an alert play by the Lara first baseman made it a double play by throwing back to third base (covered by the shortstop) to get the trailing runner out. Margarita scored the winning run in the bottom of the 6th on two doubles. 3B Neil Walker was 0-for-3 in the game.

Bravos 4, Cardenales 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)

3B Neil Walker led Los Bravos with two hits and a walk to win the nightcap. Lara scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st, but Margarita came back with 3 in the bottom of the inning. A double and two singles brought in one run, and a sacrifice fly tied the game. Walker's RBI single plated the go-ahead run. A solo homer for Lara tied the game again in the top of the 4th. Walker got Los Bravos rally started in the bottom of that inning with a walk. He moved to second base on a single, and scored on an RBI double. Walker also led off the bottom of the 6th with a double, and he was removed in favor of a pinch runner. That runner got to third base as a hit batter and an intentional walk loaded the bases, but was doubled off third base in an inning-ending line out that turned into an unassisted double play.

Aguilas de Zulia 4, Caribes de Anzoategui 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)

Chris Hernandez also collected his 5th save of the winter season for Zulia, when he entered the game in the 7th inning with one out and two runners on base, and got two quick outs to end the game. Los Caribes CF Gorkys Hernandez was 0-for-2, as his teammates managed only 5 hits.

Aguilas 4, Caribes 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)

Gorkys Hernandez went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts in the nightcap, as Los Caribes lost both ends of the double header. Los Caribes scored one run on a single and a double in the 2nd, and another run on a triple and a single in the 4th. Zulia posted only 5 hits, but three of them were home runs, accounting for all of their runs.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Aguilas Cibaenas 10, Estrellas de Oriente 6

C Robinzon Diaz and 2B Pedro Lopez each had two hits for Los Estrellas, including a home run for Diaz. Lopez led off the 3rd inning with a double, and came around to score the first of two runs that inning. Diaz doubled begin the 4th inning, but was left on base. His solo homer led off the 6th inning, and two singles, including one by Lopez, and a sacrifice fly added another run in that inning.

Scottsdale Scorpions 6, Peoria Saguaros 0

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Donnie Veal pitched 4 shutout innings and earned his second AFL win on Saturday afternoon. Veal allowed only 2 hits and did not walk a batter in his 4 innings, while striking out 5 Saguaros. He had to work around runners on base in each of the first three innings. A fielding error by RF Domonic Brown (Phillies) and a hit batter put two runners on base in the 1st. One batter singled in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings, but in each instance, Veal bore down and got the outs he needed. Then he struck out two of the batters he faced in the 1-2-3 4th inning.

CF Jose Tabata and 3B Brandon Crawford (Giants) led the Scorpions at the plate with 3 hits each -- all singles. Of the 12 Scorpions' hits, only Domonic Brown had an extra-base hit, a double in the 7th inning. Tabata singled to open the game, but was caught stealing moments later. He also singled in the 4th inning, but was out on a force play at second base.

Tabata started the rally in the 3rd inning, though without a hit. Peoria's 3B Carlos Rivero (Cleveland Indians) made throwing errors on back-to-back plays, putting Tabata and 2B Pedro Ciriaco (Diamondbacks) on base. Brown followed with his double, scoring both Tabata and Ciriaco, and LF Thomas Neal (Giants) plated Brown with an RBI single. All three runs were unearned.

The Scorpions scored again in the 6th inning. Brandon Crawford singled, then stole second base. C Tuffy Gosewisch (Phillies) singled, and Crawford advanced to third base. SS Troy Hanzawa (Phillies) grounded to the second baseman, but the Peoria SS Brandon Hicks (Braves) covering second base could not handle the flip, and Crawford scored on the error.

Another error contributed to the Scorpions' rally in the 8th inning. With one out, Hanzawa reached base on SS Hicks' fielding error. Tabata singled and Ciriaco was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Domonic Brown plated Hanzawa and Tabata with a line drive double into center field. Ciriaco tried to score from first base but was thrown out at the plate.

Three more pitchers contributed to the shutout. Japan's Takanobu Tsujiuchi and Matt Reynolds (Rockies) each pitched 2 scoreless innings, and Scott Mathieson (Phillies) added a scoreless 9th.

Friday's winter league action featuring Pirates' players and friends:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita 11, Cardenales de Lara 1

3B Neil Walker started the scoring for Los Bravos, with his second homer of the winter season, a solo blast over the left field wall to begin the 2nd inning. Two singles, a wild pitch, an RBI grounder, and a home run by CF Frank Diaz gave Margarita another 3 runs in the 5th inning. Walker led off the 6th inning with a line drive double into left. He scored on another double, and two more singles added two more runs, and Margarita had a 7-1 lead. A walk, two singles, and a 3-run homer by 1B Dennys Abreu in the 7th inning added 4 more runs to Margarita's total. LF Jonel Pacheco went 0-for-3, with a sacrifice bunt, and he also reached base on a throwing error. Former Indy Indian Michael Tejera earned his second win with 6 innings of work, allowing only one run on a double and a single in the 4th inning.

Tigres de Aragua 7, Leones del Caracas 2

SS Ronny Cedenomade his winter league debut for Aragua with a home run to lead off the 4th inning. After the homer, a fielding error and two singles, one by DH Raul Chavez loaded the bases for Los Tigres, and a walk forced in the second run of the inning and tied the score at 2-2. Aragua added 5 more runs in the 5th inning, on back-to-back homers: a grand slam by Raul Chavez, followed by a solo blast by 1B Hector Gimenez. Cedeno had singled in the inning and scored with the grand slam.

Navegantes del Magallanes 13, Tiburones de La Guaira 5

Magallanes recorded 18 hits and took advantage of 6 errors by Los Tiburones, though they committed 3 errors of their own. SS Argenis Diaz did not have one of the 18 hits, but he walked, and reached base on a throwing error when he dropped down a sacrifice bunt. LF Mike Ryan did not have a hit, but he also reached on an error. 2B Jorge Velandia entered the game when La Guaira's starting second baseman left the game in the 2nd inning (not sure if it was due to an injury or something else). He had a walk in three trips to the plate.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan 8, Tomateros de Culiacan 7 (10 innings)

CF Ruben Rivera's 2-run homer in the top of the 10th broke a 6-6 tie for Mazatlan. Los Venados still had to hold off Los Tomateros in the bottom of the inning, though. DH Luis Cruz led off the bottom of the frame with a single. Cruz was forced out at second on a grounder to short. Two wild pitches put the remaining base runner on third base. An RBI single brought that runner home, and another single put Tomateros on the corners with two outs. A pop up to 2B Brian Bixler ended the game and preserved the win for Mazatlan.

Culiacan had scored first, with a homer in the 1st inning. Mazatlan's 3B Freddy Sandoval had tied it up with a home run in the 4th inning. Los Venados took the lead with 4 runs in the 5th inning. Three singles, including one by LF Rogelios Noris brought in one run. Brian Bixler loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Another single scored two runs, including Noris, and Sandoval's RBI single brought in Bixler, giving Mazatlan a 5-1 lead. Culiacan made it 5-4 with three runs in the bottom of the 5th. Bixler led off the 7th with a single, and scored after another single and an RBI ground out. Culiacan came back with 2 runs on a walk and three singles in the second half of the inning, to tie the score at 6-6 and set up the showdown in the 10th.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Estrellas de Oriente 5, Leones de Escogido 3

Los Estrellas did most of their damage in the 7th inning, when they led off the inning with three consecutive singles, including one by C Robinzon Diaz. LF Nelson Teilon followed the singles with a grand slam. They added one more run in the 8th inning on a walk and two singles. Diaz went 1-for-4 at the plate. 2B Pedro Lopez was hitless in 3 trips to the plate.

Scottsdale Scorpions 5, Mesa Solar Sox 5

tied after 11 innings

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Friday evening's game between the Scorpions and the Solar Sox was declared a tie after 11 innings. The Scorpions were the last to score, with a run in the bottom of the 6th innings, and neither team could push a run across over the next 5 innings.

The Solar Sox got the scoring started in the 3rd inning. Scottsdale starter Joe Martinez (Giants) had begun with two scoreless innings, but got into trouble in the 3rd. Three of the first four batters in the inning singled, with one run scoring. After another out, Martinez gave up a 3-run home run to 1B Chris Parmelee (Twins). He walked the next two batters after the homer, and was relieved by Cesar Valdez (Diamondbacks).

CF Jose Tabata put the first Scorpions' run on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning. His two-out double was followed by an RBI single by RF Cole Gillespie (D'backs), and Mesa's lead was cut to 4-1. The Scorpions tied the score in the bottom of the 4th inning. With one out, C Buster Posey (Giants) singled and LF Steve Susdorf (Phillies) walked. 3B Darin Holcomb (Rockies) brought both of them in with a 2-RBI double, and he went on to third base on a throwing error. 2B Pedro Ciriaco's (D'backs) sacrifice fly scored Holcomb, tying the score at 4-4.

Mesa took the lead again in the 5th inning, on a home run by C Hank Conger (Angels). Buster Posey countered with his solo homer in the bottom of the 6th, and that was the end of the scoring for the rest of the game.

Tony Watson took over on the mound for Cesar Valdez, who had given up the homer in the 5th. Watson gave up a walk in the 6th, and retired the side in order in the 7th inning. He threw 33 pitches, 19 for strikes. Danny Moskos relieved Watson and began the 8th inning with a single, a wild pitch, and a walk. After a visit from the pitching coach, Moskos settled down and retired the next three batters. He walked the first batter he faced in the 9th inning, but promptly picked him off first base. Moskos gave up another single, but after another coaching visit, he ended the inning with a fly out. Moskos threw 38 pitches, with 22 strikes. Michael Schwimer (Phillies) replaced Moskos to pitch the final two scoreless innings, allowing two walks.

After Posey's homer, the Scorpions did not record another hit in the game. Jose Tabata reached base in the 7th on a fielding error, but was erased with a double play. 1B Brandon Allen (D'backs) walked in the 8th, and he was also erased with another double play. Both Tabata and Allen walked in the 10th inning, and Steve Susdorf walked in the 11th, and they were all left standing on base when the inning ended.

The Pirates have claimed lefty reliever Justin Thomas off waivers from the Mariners, adding him to the 40-man roster. The 25-year old Toledo, Ohio native was drafted by the Mariners in the 4th round of the 2005 draft. He reached the AA level in 2007, where he made 24 starts for West Tennessee, with a 4-9 recored and a 5.51 ERA in 119.1 innings, with 100 strikeouts.

Thomas returned to West Tennessee in 2008, and made 17 starts, but then moved to the bullpen in late July. He'd pitched 99.1 innings as a starter, with a 5-6 record and a 4.80 ERA, but in 8 relief appearances, his ERA dropped to 1.86 with a 2-1 record over 19.1 innings. Thomas also made 7 appearances for AAA Tacoma (one start), getting that promotion in mid-August. He picked up a save in Tacoma, along with a 2-1 record and a 3.71 ERA. He pitched 17 innings there, and then added 4 more innings for the parent Mariners, appearing in 8 games for them. It was not a stellar major league start -- he allowed 9 hits and 3 runs in those 4 innings, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Thomas spent all of the 2009 season back with Tacoma, entirely out of the bullpen, but did not enjoy as much success in relief as he had in 2008. He had an up-and-down year, but finished with a 2-4 record and a 4.48 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. He started off hot in April, making 9 appearances for 8.2 innings, with 6 strikeouts and a 1.04 ERA. Batters hit .194 against him in April, but that soared to .390 in May. In 12.2 innings, he allowed 13 earned runs on 23 hits, and his ERA ballooned to 9.24. Things got a little better in June -- 9.1 innings in 9 appearances, and 7 runs on 12 hits for a 6.75 ERA with batters going .316 against Thomas. The July heat brought happiness again: 15 innings in 11 appearances, and only one earned run. That meant a 0.60 ERA and a .182 average against him. Thomas slipped a little again over the rest of the season, finishing out the year with 14.2 innings in 14 appearances, with a 4.91 ERA. He had the most strikeouts in July (17) but also had 12 in an otherwise poor May, and had 11 in August.

Thomas lives by his slider, and his fastball in in the 88=92 mph range. He will be competing for a bullpen spot with the Pirates for 2010. He still has two options left, so if they need to, he can be sent to Indianapolis. His inconsistent 2009 season suggests he's not ready for a major league bullpen yet.

The Pirates have announced a deal that is very near completion, which would trade A+ level affiliates with the Cincinnati Reds. �The Reds will be taking over the affiliation with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League. �The Pirates will be acquiring the Reds' affiliate in Sarasota, in the Florida State League, and moving them to Bradenton (only about 15 miles away), where they will play at McKechnie Field at Pirate City.

This trade isn't without precedent -- the Red Sox and Astros made a similar move in 1999. �The change has been prompted by the Reds' recent shift of their spring training site from Sarasota to a brand new beautiful facility (I've seen it) east of Phoenix, where they will share a stadium with the Cleveland Indians. �The Reds no longer need to have their A+ team in Florida, and the Pirates have wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. �With new lighting at McKechnie Field, the FSL night games are now possible. �The Bradenton Pirates would continue to play their games, which are primarily during the day, at McKechnie Field as well, and the two teams' schedules would be coordinated.

The switch would let the Pirates �A+ team be able to use the spring training facilities and have access to training personnel (medical and developmental). �Rehabbing players from upper levels would also be able to get in some rehab assignment games with the A+ team right there on site.

The Hillcats are being very nice about the whole thing. �The affiliation agreement signed between the Pirates and Lynchburg at the end of last year was for 2 �years instead of the usual 4 years, because both sides knew that this kind of deal was going to be a possibility. Lynchburg officials are graciously not forcing the Pirates to stay through the 2010 season. �Hillcats had also began some preliminary discussions with officials from Seattle and Houston, but the fact that they are geographically closer to Cincinnati made the Reds a better fit. � �The Hillcats' name and logo will not be changed with the new affiliation, and they have already had Reds' representatives visiting their facilities.

The new Bradenton team will also be called the Pirates, making things a bit confusing for the GCL Bradenton Pirates.

It's not absolutely a done deal just yet. �The Florida State League needs to approve the deal, though FSL chairman Chuck Murphy feels that the other 11 teams will go along with the trade. �A two-thirds vote is needed for approval, and that vote will probably happen on Nov 10th at the FSL meetings. �The Pirates and Bradenton have a few legal issues to work on too, but they are not expected to be overwhelming.

Thursday's (abbreviated) winter league action involving Pirates' players and friends...

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Naranjeros de Hermosillo 4, �Venados de Mazatlan 2

Los Venados did not score until the bottom of the 9th, when they brought in their only two runs on a double, a single, a wild pitch, and another single. �Brian Bixler played left field for the second time, and went 0-for-4 at the plate, including an inning-ending strikeout with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning.

Aguilas de Mexicali 6, �Tomateros de Culiacan 4

Luis Cruz was in center field for Culiacan (he typically plays the outfield in winter ball). �He singled twice -- once in the top of the 2nd inning, when he was left stranded, and again in the 4th, when he was out at second on a force play. �Two homers in the 5th gave Culiacan 3 runs in that inning, and they scored in the 7th on two singles and a walk, but it wasn't enough to catch up to Mexicali.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Caribes de Anzoategui 7, �Cardenales de Lara 6 �(12 innings)

Derek Hankins made the start for Lara. �He sailed through the first two innings, but gave up a 2-run homer and a triple followed by his Altoona teammate CF Gorkys Hernandez's sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning. �He came out to begin the 6th inning, but gave up a lead-off homer, and was relieved by Romulo Sanchez. Sanchez finished the 6th, but gave up another run in the 7th on a single, a bunt, and a fielding error. �At the same time, the Lara batters were keeping up with Los Caribes. �Los Cardenales scored one run in the 2nd, hit back-to-back solo homers in the 5th, and scored two on a double-error play with the bases loaded in the 6th.

With the score tied at 5-5, and neither Hankins nor Sanchez in line for either the win or the loss, the game went into extras. �Los Cardenales scored one run in the top of the 12th, on a walk, a single, and a grounder with a throwing error. �Los Caribes came back in the bottom of the frame, scoring 2 runs with a walk and two doubles for the walk-off win.

The Dominican League was off on Thursday.