Saturday, July 26, 2008

Saturday pre-game

MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes take on the Bucco deal:
The return is not terribly impressive for Nady and Marte. I don't like the idea of the Bucs taking Tabata as the centerpiece - there is too much projection involved with him. If Ohlendorf and Ian Kennedy could've been had, I would've opted for that.

Neal Huntington's view:
We feel like we are adding quality depth to our organization. As we talked about from the beginning, in order to be a successful, sustainable, championship-caliber organization that plays meaningful games into September and October, we need to have options.

Unfortunately, we've not had the necessary depth to be able to sustain injury, to be able to sustain less than ideal performance. This deal, if it goes through, will begin this process of beginning to accumulate that necessary depth.

> A couple of other trade notes: Ross Ohlendorf was initially acquired by the Yankees when they sent Randy Johnson back to Arizona in 2007, and is expected to be the only player in the deal to land on the Pirate roster immediately.

> Doug Mientkiewicz, who played one year in the Yankees organization, referred to Tabata as "a little Manny Ramirez." We don't know if that's a compliment or not.

> Phil Coke pitched the first inning for Trenton before he was pulled. He struck out the side.

> George Kontos was a fifth-round selection in the 2005 draft and has moved up a level in the Yankees farm system in each of the last three years. So he should be in Pittsburgh in 2010, right?

> Today's question - do they start the Andrew McCutchen era and call him up, or do they take the safe route and bring back Nyjer Morgan to take Nady's spot in the lineup? Both add some speed and top-of-the-lineup presence. One's clock is already ticking; the other has yet to have his clock wound.

Do the suits a) think Cutch is ready, and more importantly, b) want to delay his MLB service time by a year by keeping him at Indy?

And with Ohlendorf looming, do you think this is a big start for JVB?

On the minor league front: Gorzo (1-1, 3.27 ERA) won his first game with Indy. He allowed five hits and one run in five innings. LF Nyjer Morgan (.278) had three hits, including a double, two runs scored and an RBI. CF Andrew McCutchen (.282) had two hits and two RBI.

> RHP Jimmy Barthmaier, struck by a line drive on his right wrist Thursday night, did not sustain a fracture, according to X-rays taken yesterday. He's listed as day to day and might be able to take his pitching turn next week.

> CF Chris Duffy (inner ear infection) has been placed on the minor league DL and sent to Bradenton. He could be out another seven to 10 days.

> LF Melvin Dorta (.292) went 2-4 and drove in all three runs for Altoona with a two-run home run in the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth in its loss tonight.

> 2B Shelby Ford returned to the Curve roster from the DL yesterday. He had been on ice since July 12 because of a high ankle sprain.

> Lynchburg went down 4-2. 2B Jim Negrych (.371) had two hits and an RBI.

> State College won 4-3. RHP Brian Leach (1-0, 4.05 ERA) allowed just three hits and struck out five in five innings of relief to pick up the win.

3B Jeremy Farrell (.339) was 2 for 4, including his third double this season and an RBI. 2B Chad Rice (.239) was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. LF Quincy Latimore (.211) and CF Ciro Rosero (.222) each had two hits and a stolen base.

> Spike's OF Cole White and C Chris Simmons have been recalled to active duty by the United States Army. The military changed its stance on allowing athletes to serve their stint as recruiters. The Pirates retain their rights, but how long they'll stay in khaki instead of Bucco black and gold isn't known.

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