Minor League Update

Here is a little update about the Buccos farm league since April 11.

AAA Indianapolis

• 2-3 in their last 5 games.
• Andrew McCutchen is currently batting .273, including going 0-5 twice in three games. Went 3-6 April 14th and was a home run shy of the cycle.
• Shelby Ford made his season debut on the 14th and went 1-4 with a homer. Followed by a 0-3 performance yesterday.
• Neil Walker went 3-5 on April 11th, but is 1 for his last 14 since Monday.

AA Altoona

• Lost their last 3 games, bringing their season record to 0-6. It may have been 0-7 but Tuesday's game was rained out and scheduled for a double header April 24th against Akron.
  
• Jose Tabata went 0-4 on the 11th; 2-4 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored on the 13th, and went 0-3 yesterday.
  
• Jeff Sues pitched 4 relief innings in the last two games. 2 on Saturday where he gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and struck out 2, and 2 yesterday where he shined a little more brilliantly, posting 4 Ks and no hits in his relief appearance.

A Lynchburg

• Won 3 of their last 5 bringing their season record to 5 wins, 2 losses.
• Since Saturday, Pedro Alvarez is 1-5. After going 3-4 in the season opener, Alvarez is 1-22 with a batting average of a measly .154. It's not a good thing when your top prospect whom everyone is anxiously awaiting his arrival to the big leagues is not performing up to expectations. However, the season is young. Once Alvarez gets going, he will exceed expectations and display his talent that will surely bring him up to the Pirates roster in no time. Hopefully.
• Pitcher Bryan Morris was placed on the 7 day DL.
  

My Cousin: The Ball Boy

This is my cousin Jimmy
Interview coming soon

W,L,W,L,W,L,W,L

With yesterday off, the Buccos returned to action today against the Astros in the 2nd of a 3 game series. Ross Ohlendorf was on the mound looking to even out his record at 1-1, but it was a rocky start for Ohlendorf. 4 straight pitches put Michael Bourn on first with a leadoff walk, followed by back to back singles by Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman to load the bases. Carlos Lee then sacrificed in Bourn, for his first of 3 RBIs, snapping an 18 inning scoreless streak for the Astros, which was followed by a Hunter Pence sacrifice fly to score Tejada. Two more runs in the 3rd proved to be enough to win the game for the Astros as they defeated the Pirates 4-1.

On the plus side, Nate McLouth is starting to heat up, going 2-3 with a walk. Also, it's April and Adam LaRoche is batting .267, continuing to produce that last few games. These two consistently contributing to the heart of the Buccos' order will play a large role in the success of this season. LaRoche hit his 3rd home run in four games in the bottom of the 9th to erase the shutout. While we are on the subject of Adam LaRoche and consistency.....Ramon Vazquez started tonight's game at shortstop due to a bruised middle finger on the glove hand of Jack Wilson, which means Andy LaRoche was back in the lineup at 3rd base. Andy LaRoche is probably baseball's most consistent player so far this season. Going 0-2 tonight continued his streak of being o-the season as he is still looking for his first hit through 16 at-bats.

Game Notes

• Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Doumit both went 0-4.
• Craig Morgan got his first start as a Pirate in right field, goes 1-4.
  
• Buccos leave 7 stranded on base.
• Ohlendorf: 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 K's

Through the first 8 games of the season, the Pirates have alternated wins and loses for a record of 4-4. The last game of this series is tomorrow afternoon at 12:35. Jeff Karstens is scheduled to take on Russ Ortiz.
Despite tonight's loss, the city of Pittsburgh may not be completely heart broken as the Penguins made the Flyers look like some n00bs in 4-1 victory.

21 Reasons the MLB Should Retire Roberto Clemente's Number

As baseball today honors Jackie Robinson and his #42 across the league, we take a look at an idea that we feel very strongly about and should be taken into serious consideration by Major League Baseball, the retirement of the #21 that was worn by The Legendary Roberto Clemente

1. Died trying to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
2. After his death, The Baseball's Writer Association of America immediately waived the customary five-year wait and voted Roberto Clemente into the Hall of Fame, with 93% of the vote; one of the highest percentages of all time
   
3. 1st Latino elected to the Hall of Fame
4. 1 of 4 players to have 10+ Gold Gloves. He has 12, and was awarded one every year possible.
5. The main Trail-Blazer for Latin Americans to play baseball in the USA
6. Hit safely in every World Series game he appeared in
7. Did not play winter ball in '58-'59 because he was serving in the United States Marines
8. In his home country of Puerto Rico, no amateur baseball players are permitted to wear #21
9. 1st Hispanic to ever wear win a World Series as a starter, win the regular season MVP, or World Series MVP
10. To this day he is a Hero to the Latin America community
11. Puerto Rico named their official athletic coliseum in his name
12. Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago, IL
13. Hit .300 13 Times, including over .350 3 Separate Times
    
14. 4-Time National League Batting Champion
15. 1st Latino to win a batting title
16. Sporting News ranked him #20 on their list of top 100 baseball players. The highest ranked Latino player
17. Only player in history with a walk-off inside the park grand slam
18. Pittsburgh has honored him with a bridge, park, museum, charter school, and statue all in his name
19. Was the most dominate player throughout the 1960's
20. The "Roberto Clemente Award" is the highest award in baseball for sportsmanship and community activism
21. September 18th is known in baseball as "Roberto Clemente Day"

Astros Get Blass-ted

Opening Day for the Buccos saw preliminary ceremonies delay the game for 12 minutes, but for good reason. Former Pirate pitcher and current broadcaster Steve Blass was honored for his 50 years in the organization. Also, there were heavy hearts by the many as "Amazing Grace" sounded throughout the stadium in remembrance of the 3 police officers recently killed in action. Even the players weren't exempt from the emotional seen as they bowed their heads in a moment of silence.

Nick B.

As for the game itself, Zach Duke was magnificent...again. Duke hurled a complete game shutout while giving up only 4 hits. Duke's shutout was the first by a Pirates pitcher in a home opener since John Candelaria beat the Cubs 1-0 on April 7, 1978. Duke could of given up 6 runs and still would have gotten his second victory of the season. The Pirates offense gave Duke 7 runs behind 14 hits coming from everyone in the lineup. Yes, everyone, including a deep double by Duke. Alliterations aside, Adam LaRoche was good, Ryan Doumit was good, and Freddy Sanchez was maybe the best. Sanchez got it started with his first double in the 1st inning setting the table for Doumit to drive him in to give the Bucs the early 1-0 lead. However, The Pirates really broke it open in the 3rd inning, an inning that Astro starter Brian Moehler would not get out of. Once again a Sanchez double gets it going, McLouth then singled him home, then LaRoche launched one into the right field bleachers breaking the game open. After Ramon Vazquez and Jack Wilson base hits and a Duke walk. Nyjer Morgan has a base hit to drive home 2 making it 6-0 Pirates. Pirates then scattered hits here and there to close the game out including a boneyard blast by Doumit in the 8th. It was Dukes day though, as he cruised to the shutout and was a huge part of the Pirates 2nd opening day win since 2004.

Game Notes

• Doumit - 2-5, HR, 2 RBIs, 1 R
• LaRoche - 3-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 1 R
• Sanchez - 3-5, 3 2b, 2 R
• Duke - CG, 4 H, 5 SO, 2 BB, 0 ER
• Opening Day= Good
• Andy LaRoche not in starting lineup=Better
• Andy LaRoche getting booed during opening ceremonies= Priceless
  

Home Sweet Home

Opening Day at PNC Park is merely 12 hours away. The good news is, Zach Duke is coming off a solid performance in a win against the Cardinals to face Brian Moehler, who gave up 7 earned runs in 1.2 innings in his season debut against the Cubs. The bad news is, the Buccos haven't won an opener since 2004 when they defeated the Phillies 2-1. Do the math. That's a 4 game losing streak for the first game of the season on the North Side for the Bucs. The last time these teams met in the Pirates home opener, in 2000, the Astros won 5-2. On another positive note however, the Astros are 1-5 and coming into Pittsburgh on a 4 game losing streak including a 3 game sweep by the Cardinals.


The Pirates will be donning a new look for tomorrow's game, wearing "PBP" on their caps and a similar patch on their left sleeve to commemorate the three Pittsburgh officers killed in the line of duty protecting our city. Also, Nate McLouth will recieve his Gold Glove before the game, and the team will honor Steve Blass who is now in his 50th season with the Bucs. Blass will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Manny Sanguillen, battery mates on the 1971 World Series team. 4 Apache Helicopters will make their way over PNC Park immediately following the Junior Mendelsshon Choir's rendition of the National Anthem.

It's Like Playing Hopscotch

That seems to be the theme of the Pirates season thus far. Win a great game, crushed, win, almost get no hit, 10 runs, then get shutout.
I mean there were two bright spots today. One was Snell, who other than one badly placed 87 mph fastball he might get a win. The other would be Nyjer Morgan. The Buccos had 3 hits, he had two of them. Through his first 6 games on the road as an everyday player, he's hitting .423 with 5 R.B.I.'s and 3 stolen bases. In retrospect, he stole 9 all of last year.
Imagine the uproar from people, including this blog about bringing McCutchen to the majors if Nyjer was not producing. With him being able to be a serviceable lead off man this is letting McCutchen get even more work in AAA before he does come up in early June.

Notes

• The bullpen looked good, even though Chavo got saved by a triple play in the bottom of the 8th
  
• Harang looked phenomenal, just ran into him on a day where he had it rollin.
• A Key to the series was McLouth and Doumit. In the win they were a combined 5-8, 2 HR's, 7 R.B.I.'s. In the loss, 0-7 with 3 K's.
• I truly hope the Pirates do keep to the key of the season.. and Happy Easter
  

The Great American Beat Down.

Link to Box Score and Video Highlights

The Pirates came out of the gate swinging, and never looked back which led to a dominating 10-2 win in Cincinnati Saturday afternoon.

A ton of positives to come out of this game, including:

• Nyjer Morgan having an out of this world game, going (deep breath) : 3-4, reaching base 4 times, stealing 2 bases, having an rbi, scoring 2 runs, and most impressively, considering he isn't the biggest guy, running over catcher Ramon Hernandez at home plate AND breaking up a double play in the 9th inning which eventually gave Doumit and LaRoche the ability to go back-to-back with 2 outs.
• Paul Maholm continuing his dominance throwing 7 innings giving up 1 run. His ERA this year is 1.32. This year's Cliff Lee? - they seem to have the same qualities..
• Ryan Doumit having a break out game, going 3 for 5 with a Grand Slam.
• Nate Mclouth continuing to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, hitting his 2nd home run and adding 3 RBIs.
  
• Adam LaRoche, though only 1-5 today, finally hitting a home run. He had another extra base hit / possible home run robbed by Willy Tavares earlier in the game and also hit another ball to the warning track. It looks like he saw the ball well all day today.
  
• Bob Walk. He has been money throughout this season with in-game predictions. Predicted the LaRoche home run and Nyjer almost hitting the cover off of the ball in the 9th inning.
• Andy LaRoche's consistency. 0-5 today - .000 average for the season. All you can do is laugh.
  

In closing :

• Did any of you guys catch Peter Gammons say the Pirates were going to the World Series? Happened on Baseball Tonight earlier this week but was never posted. Basically said the key to geting to the World Series is Eric Hinske, as he's been in the World Series the last two years as a member of the Red Sox and Rays. Obvisually this was a joke, but when was the last time anyone with any credibility on ESPN mentioned the Pirates and World Series in the same sentence? 1992? 1997? .. Something to think about ..
• Happy Easter and Go Pens.