Buc Bats Return to Normal

Hey, GW got home from the shop, hit MLB.com, and thought that Ian Snell got a call back up. The pitching line he saw was four innings, five runs, and ten hits. Four of the five runs came after two were out.

But no, Snell's still baffling AAA batters at Indy. It was Charlie Morton's turn to take his spot, but geez, he didn't have to have such an eerie resemblance, ya know?

Ah, well, we've got all summer to find out if that was just a blip or not. One thing that's not a blip is the Pirate attack. They wrung out just five hits while going down quietly to Wandy Rodriguez and the Astros 5-0.

The Bucs are off tomorrow, and then cruise into the All-Star break against the Phils. Here's the probable starters from MLB.com.

-- Jen Langosch of MLB.com thinks the Bucs may not get blown up at the trade deadline as completely as some have thought (or hoped.) She writes:

"The interest in (Adam) LaRoche -- especially considering the type of package the Pirates will seek in return -- has not picked up yet, and we sit only three weeks away from the Trade Deadline. I'm not sure if the opportunity to move him at the Deadline will be there even if the Bucs were interested in sending him out.

Similar to the situation with LaRoche, though, there don't seem to be teams waiting in line for (Jack) Wilson right now, so I'd suspect he'll remain."

-- Ryan Doumit served as Indy's DH yesterday. He went 0-for-5, and is now 0-for-17 in his five rehab games. Hopefully, he's saving it up for his return to PNC after the All-Star break.

-- The story on the Bradenton pitchers: If all goes well, LHP Phil Dumatrait will begin his minor league rehab stint after All-Star week. RHP Tyler Yates is throwing without pain, and RHP Craig Hansen isn't throwing; his neck pain is still a mystery.

-- The GCL Bucs got a look at the big boys yesterday: 3B Neil Walker and LF Lastings Milledge are both playing for Bradenton while on rehab. Walker had a sprained knee and Milledge just recovered from a broken finger.

-- GW isn't the only thing that's green around here; so are the Bucs. For every home run hit by a Pittsburgh player at PNC Park this season, the Pirates and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will plant a tree in a local park. Of course, it better be a small park; they've only hit 27 at home so far.