Notes: Rumors, Honors, Robo-Umps & Stuff

Stuff happening outside the lines:

• Jon Morosi of MLB.com: How high is the Pirates price on Felipe Vázquez? Sources say Pittsburgh likely would ask the LA Dodgers for at least two of the Keibert Ruiz/Gavin Lux/Dustin May/Will Smith group (their top four prospects) if talks ever advanced. Another source told him that the Pirates remain unsure if they want to sell at all.

Should he stay or should he go...? - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• There's also been pretty pure speculation on bringing Mad Bum to Pittsburgh, initiated by MLB's Jonathan Mayo and further examined by the Trib's Tim Benz.
• Archie dumped the two-seamer and plans on upping his slider usage. Now to throw the fastball where he wants it...
• BTW, guess who joined the twitter crowd - Mad Dog Bill Madlock. Seems like Sangy twisted his arm a bit...
• Neil Walker won the American Legion Graduate of the Year Award; it's not that well known but trust us, it's a biggie, as Greg MacAfee of the Trib reports.
• OF Austin Hendrick of West Allegheny HS was the only Pennsylvanian selected to the Under Armour prep All-America Game. He's a power-hitting lefty projected to be a RF when he turns pro and is committed to Mississippi State. The game is at Wrigley Field on July 22nd and will be shown on the MLB Network.
• The indie Atlantic League used robo-umps for ball/strikes for the first time last night - here's how it worked and how it worked out, per Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press.
• The Pirates play three at Wrigley and three more at Busch; then they return home to face the Phils three times and play a four-gamer against the Cards. Road trips against the Mets and Reds carry them to the trade deadline.