Sunday, July 27, 2008

Sunday pre-game

In their Yankee debuts last night, Xavier Nady, batting seventh and playing LF, went 0-for-3 with a run scored, a BB and a HBP. Damaso Marte came out of the bullpen in the seventh inning and struck out David Ortiz, the only batter he faced.

> Ken Rosentahl of Fox Sports says that in an interesting twist, the A's have had regular conversations with the Pirates about Jason Bay. He notes the A's are hoping that other teams will balk at the asking price.

> Jeff Karstens will join the rotation when he arrives in Pittsburgh. Ross Ohlendorf will report to Indy for 3-4 starts to "stretch him out" before he's expected to join the Bucs, and Daniel McCutchen will join him there. Jose Tabata will report to Bradenton for rehab but should be ready to play within a week.

> The Pirates tried to pry OF Austin Jackson, the top Yankee position prospect, or Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' top pitching prospect, from NY to Pittsburgh, but were told they were untouchable, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Post Gazette.

> Sixth-round HS draft pick OF Robbie Grossman worked out Saturday afternoon at PNC Park for director of player development Kyle Stark and other team officials. He wants more money or he's headed to the U of Texas. That pot of gold depends on Pedro Alvarez and Tanner Scheppers, we assume.

> Barney Dreyfuss, at long last, enters the HOF today. As owner, president and general manager of the Pirates from 1900-32, he reigned over one of the most successful eras in Pittsburgh baseball history. The team won two World Series titles, six NL pennants and had only five losing seasons, led by SS Honus Wagner.

Goose Gossage gets his bust displayed in the Hall today, too. he wasn't in Pittsburgh very long, but was one of the first of the dominating power closers.

> Five games behind the Cubs at the break, the Brewers have since won eight of nine - nine of 10, overall - to grab a share of the lead. The two teams open a much anticipated four game series in Milwaukee on Monday with 60-44 records. CC Sabathia was the boost the Brew Crew needed; his presence made them believers.

Sabathia, btw, is 4-0 in Milwaukee, with 3 complete games, a shutout, and 1.36 ERA.

On the minor league front:
Indy lost 6-5. 1B Ryan Mulhern (.261), 28, a Cleveland pick-up, went 2-4. RHP Ty Taubenheim (4-9, 5.60) was torched again, allowing four runs and five hits in 2-2/3 innings. RHP Evan Meek (2.70) continued his good work, pitching 1-1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

> Altoona won 10-8. RHP Juan Mateo, 25, (5-1, 2 saves, 2.86 ERA) blew a save chance and then watched the Curve rally to get him the win. SS Angel Gonzalez (.357), 22, went 2-5 with a home run and 2 RBI to lead the attack.

> Lynchburg stranded 10 and lost 5-4. CF Alex Presley (.259), 2B Jim Negrych (.372), RF Miles Durham (.250), and C Kris Watts (.303) all had a pair of hits.

> Hickory pounded out a 12-8 victory. LF Albert Laboy (.276), 3B Matt Hague (.330) and OF Erik Huber (.261) had three hits apiece. DH Danny Bomback (.254), 2B Greg Picart (.242) and OF Keanon Simon (.200) added two knocks each to the cause. SS Jordy Mercer (.179) homered, his second of the campaign. The win ended a 10 game skid for the Crawdads.

> State College lost 7-3. CF Ciro Rosera (.249) had three hits including a double and all three Spike RBI.

> The GCL Pirates won 8-4. 2B Adenson Chourio (.326) had two hits, a run and an RBI. C Juan Garcia (.259) had a pair of hits and an RBI. CF Edward Garcia (.179) hit his first homer.

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