Sunday, August 1, 2010

New Look Roster

The Bucs called up Justin Thomas to take the extra bullpen spot. James McDonald will complete the pen whenever he arrives. We don't think it'll be a long stay in the outfield for McD; once the coaches get a look at him and how he ticks, he'll be the fifth man in the rotation.

Don't expect to see him or Chris Snyder today; both will report straight to Pittsburgh, probably tomorrow although it's possible McDonald won't join the team until Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh pitching roster will be: Maholm, Ohlendorf, Duke, Karstens, McCutchen, McDonald, Gallagher, Ledezema, Jackson, Thomas, Meek and Hanrahan. McCutchen is on thin ice; when McDonald is ready to start, he'll be replaced or sent to the pen.

There's a lot of opportunity there if anyone is capable of grabbing the bull by the horns.

Ryan Doumit will join Indy on Monday to begin his rehab, and is expected to play both C & OF. He's eligible to come off the DL on Friday. The Pirate suits indicated that they'll keep three catchers when Snyder reports, so Snyder/Dewey can pinch hit or be pinch run for in late innings.

The position players now are: McCutchen, Tabata, Walker, Jones, Alvarez, Milledge, Snyder (Jaramillo today), Cedeno, Young, LaRoche, Diaz, Clement, and Kratz. It'll be interesting to see who goes down when Dewey returns, and what happens to Steve Pearce when he's healthy. The suits would like to drag his return out until September, but that's unlikely.

We expect John Bowker, Brandon Moss (assuming he makes the 40-man roster), Joe Martinez and Pedro Ciriaco to be sure September call-ups, and probably Brad Lincoln; with outside shots for Jonathan Von Every, Alex Presley, Bix, (none are on the 40-man roster), JJ and whoever gets the short straw when Dewey returns. Might have to add some seats to the dugout.

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