The World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament started this weekend, with round-robin group play that has Team USA in action down in Mexico.
Representing Team...
The DSL Pirates teams ended their seasons this week, which brings the rookie-level affiliates to an end.
I've been reviewing the best performing hitting and...
The minor leaguers and non-roster invitees took on the Dutch team this afternoon, as the various national teams are warming up for the World Baseball Classic, which begins later this week. �The Dutch team included former Pirates Randall Simon (born in the Netherlands) and Yurendell de Caster (from Curacao in the Netherlands' Antilles), and former Indy Indians' coach Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens (also from Curacao) is on the coaching staff. �
RF�Garrett Jones�was the offensive hero. �He had two of the Pirates' 6 hits, both RBI singles. �He drove in both runs in the 1st inning and one of the runs in the 3rd. �1B Andy Phillips' double brought in the other run in the 3rd. �The Pirates' final run came on CF Jeff Salazar's solo homer in the 8th. �
Pedro Alvarez got his first start of the year at third base. �He went 0-for-4 at the plate with 2 strikeouts. �2B Luis Cruz doubled in the bottom of the 1st, and came around to score on Jones' single, but he was clearly not comfortable running, and thought that the leg might be getting tight. �He came out of the game but was checked out ok. �
DH Craig Monroe had the other hit in the game, also a double. �LF�Ruben Gotay made his first appearance for the spring, as did C Miguel Perez.
The Pirates used 8 pitchers in the game. �Ross Ohlendorf made the start and went 2 innings. �He allowed 4 hits and one run, but got out of both innings with a double play. He got the win. ��Denny Bautista allowed a solo home run in the 4th inning, and Jesse�Chavez gave up a run on one hit in the 5th.��Daniel Haigwood gave up one run on 2 hits and a walk in the 9th inning, getting the save. ���Matt Capps, �Donnie Veal, Romulo Sanchez, and Jeff Sues each pitched one inning, and each gave up at least one hit (2 for Sanchez), but did not allow a run. �
More notes:
Pirates' reliever John Grabow has been asked to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. �Not on the original roster, Grabow is taking the bullpen spot of Brian Fuentes (Angels), who was not going to be able to play at least in the first round, because of family issues. �
I saw a bit of the game between Team Canada and the Blue Jays, and caught a quick glimpse of former Altoona manager Tim Leiper in the Canada dugout. �Dave Davidson picked up the save with a perfect 9th inning (one strikeout) in Canada's 6-4 win. �Former Pirate TJ Beam pitched the 5th inning for the Blue Jays, allowing one hit and striking out one. �
Pirates'�Eliecer Navarro pitched 2 innings for Panama, and allowed one hit and one walk. �Atlanta beat Panama 11-2. �
Ian Snell started for Puerto Rico, and pitched 3 scoreless inning, giving up a hit and striking out 3. �The Twins beat Puerto Rico 3-2. �Ramon Vasquez played third base and had an RBI single. �
More WBC team exhibition games tomorrow. �Also tomorrow, the Pirates' game is scheduled to be audio broadcast by mlb.com. on the Pirates' website.
Pirates' reliever Jesse Chavez was the team leader in Saves in AAA Indianapolis in 2008, and it's a title he would gladly relinquish -- he'd much rather be getting those Saves in Pittsburgh.
Chavez, a California native, was drafted by the Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2002 draft, and steadily moved up through their organization.
