Notes: Injuries, AJ, Temp Agreements, Help the Cause

Life goes on...

• The wounded pitcher report: Steven Brault, shut down since 3/2, (shoulder) isn't throwing yet, Clay Holmes, injured on 2/29, (foot fracture) is throwing from 75-90' on one knee, and Jameson Taillon (TJ surgery) is throwing from 120'; he was at 90' during camp. Needless to add, Brault and Holmes both would have missed original Opening Day by quite a bit.
• AJ Burnett visited 93.7 The Fan and had some solid tidbits to drop in his chat w/Dan Zangrilli. Among other topics, he compared the old days to today, tipped his cap to Frankie, and said he'd like a shot at coaching - for the Pirates, of course. Jason Mackey of the Post Gazette transcribed the highlights.

AJ - 2013 Topps Archives

• MLB and MLBPA agreed on a couple of things: The season can start when crowd/travel restrictions are lifted, and the medicos give their OK. They also agreed on a myriad of other topics (pay, rosters, service time, draft, etc); Jay Jaffe of Fangraphs has the rundown. One agreement that allows players to accrue service time w/o play bites teams like the Pirates that field a young roster and see both years of control and arb time tick away, and also bangs clubs that picked up expiring contracts.
• Steven Brault did his bit to help the cause, singing in a virtual music funder to raise CV funds. The Pirates players, as usual, have been good citizens, paying for hospital meals (well, pizza), making contributions to first responders, etc while the team has donated food and money through its Pirates Charities arm, and the effort filters all the way down to Bradenton..