Bits And Pieces

-- Chuck Finder of the Post Gazette reports that the Pirates interviewed 25-year organization veteran Jeff Banister, JR's interim bench coach, and Monroeville native Ken Macha, late of the Brewers.

-- Jen Langosh of MLB.com wrote than Ron Wotus, bench coach of the Giants and one-time back-up infielder of the Bucs, has expressed interest in the skipper's job, but isn't known to have a face-to-face set up with the FO. He joins Andy Van Slyke and Phil "Scrap Iron" Garner as guys hoping for a call from Neal Huntington.

-- Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors has his take on the upcoming Pirate arbitration class.

-- Baseball America selected its Top Twenty International League prospects; Buccos on the list are Pedro Alvarez (#9), Brad Lincoln (#15) and Jose Tabata (#16).

-- Bill Mazeroski will be honored by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Pirate Charities when they unveil a sidewalk plaque honoring Maz's 1960 homer in a ceremony at the intersection of Schenley and Roberto Clemente Drives in Oakland tomorrow.

In keeping with the October 13th tradition, started by Saul Finkelstein in 1985, a tape of the original radio broadcast of the game will be played at the Forbes Field wall and in Schenley Plaza. A half dozen or more of the 1960 Buccos are supposed to be there; the festivities start at noon.

The Post Gazette reports that the first telecast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series since it was played fifty years ago will air on the MLB Network on December 15th, and early Christmas present for Pirate fans.

-- BTW, old Bucco skipper Lloyd McClendon will get an interview for Seattle job.

-- The Rangers' Cliff Lee added to his October resume, striking out 11 in a 5-1, six-hit victory over the Rays. Weird series; the road team won every game, a first in major league history.

Now the championship series are set; San Francisco at Philly and the Yankees at Texas.