Campfire Notes...

Tidbits and Teasers...

• Hidden Vigorish reports that stat-wise, Edinson Volquez fits in the AJ - Francisco mold. But he goes a step further, noting that both Burnett and Liriano had extended spring trainings due to AJ's wayward bunt and Frankie's broken arm, and wonders if that extra time to retool was the difference maker.
• Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune Review reports that Jordy Mercer and Clint Barmes complement rather than compete with one another.
• The Kendrys Morales market heats up, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
• Tom Singer of MLB.com notes that Gregory Polanco has been turning heads in camp.
• Pittsburgh has seven farm hands in this years Top 100 Baseball America list. They are: OF Gregory Polanco (#10), RHP Jameson Taillon (#22), RHP Tyler Glasnow (#46), OF Austin Meadows (#48), RHP Nick Kingham (#64), SS Alen Hanson (#76) and C Reese McGuire (#81). In a similar vein, Marc Normandin of Sports on Earth selected his breakout players for 2014 and included Taillon among the group.
• Battlin' Bucs has made its choices for the almost modern-day All-Time Pirate team (1947-68).
• Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects tells how the Bucs are regaining their chops in Latin America.
• Ex Bucs: FA Jeff Karstens tossed a side session in Pirate City, and may be ready to go in another month. Matt Capps has a strained right shoulder and will be shut down for two weeks as he fights for a bullpen spot in Cleveland.
• The Pirates will have 10 spring games televised live on the MLB Network.