Another Day In Camp

-- Pedro was back in camp yesterday; his sore neck back to normal. But you can add Jose Ascanio to the walking wounded list; he has a tight right elbow. The Bucs will shut him down down for a couple of days, although it's not thought to be anything serious.

Ascanio, part of the return from the Cubs in the Grabow/Gorzo deal, is in the mix for a bullpen spot in camp. The elbow pain is unrelated to his 2010 injuries, which started with shoulder surgery and ended with a bruised hand. Both are OK; he pitched some winter league ball.

-- The Pirates did announce some pitching assignments. For their exhibition against Manatee College on Friday, Clint Hurdle will send out Aaron Thompson, Tyler Yates, Jeff Locke, Michael Crotta, Justin Wilson, Kyle McPherson, and Rudy Owens for an inning each, in that sequence.

-- Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review revisits Charlie Morton's nightmare year and his quest for redemption in 2011.

-- Jen Langosch of MLB.com has a piece on Tony Sanchez.

-- Young pups get some love, too: John Drecker of Pirates Prospects interviewed C Joey Schoenfeld, a 2009 draft pick, and Kristy Robinson of Hands Off My Pirates Booty talked to 2010 pick RHP Logan Pevny. Both were selected directly out of high school.

-- For early draft followers, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweeted that he thinks Anthony Rendon, front runner for the #1 selection by Pittsburgh in this year's draft, would be among the Top Five Prospects in the minors right now in ability.

-- In that vein, Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLB Trade Rumors has an interview posted with Vandy RHP Sonny Gray, one of the college pitchers who could go in the top spot of the draft.