Notes On A Day Off

No game, but the beat goes on, starting with this Bucco intro (Heeeeere's Clint)...

• Yesterday was the fifth time this year that the Bucs won after trailing in the seventh inning or later, the most comeback wins in 2013 MLB. They were terrible at late rallies last year, winning only three games after being down in the seventh.
• The Pirates don't need to use a fifth starter until May 11th in New York when Francisco Liriano is slated to return thanks to a couple of off days, so we'll see how Clint juggles his rotation. Jose Contreras is expected to join the club tomorrow, which will require the Bucs to send down a pitcher.
• No Neil Walker updates today; the Pirates should decide tomorrow whether he's close enough to recovery to carry or whether to DL him and add another warm body to the bench. The DL date would be postdated to April 27th when he was hurt, taking him out of action until May 11th. We'll find out about JT after his exam today, and Travis Snider should be good to go.
• Four runs is Pittsburgh's magic number: The Bucs are 12-4 when scoring more than four and 4-8 when scoring fewer.
• Phil Irwin climbs the bump for Indy. He hasn't pitched since the Reds beat him up in a spot start on April 14th, suffering from dead arm. Irwin had a forearm issue while working in the Arizona Fall League last off season, and hopefully that's not related.
• Jameson Taillon was on the mound for Altoona. After a hot start, the last couple of outings have been rocky, so he was looking to get back on track. He got banged around in the first, giving up four hits, but cleaned up nicely to post a line of six IP, three runs (two earned), a walk and six K while tossing 92 pitches. 
• Stetson Allie made Matt Eddy's April All-Prospect Team in Baseball America.
• Paul Risso, a RHP drafted by the Bucs in the sixth round in 1973, never had a big league career thanks to a shoulder injury. But he wants to give ball another go; after pitching in a senior league for the past few years, the 60 year old is trying out for St. Paul, an indy minor league team. Dreams never die...