Notes: Bad Week; More Moves; Buc Snips; MiLB Update

It goes on...

Notes:

• The Bucs came home and lost to Boston, and pulled a spring camp move; they either switched or put a new player at every position except for C Jason Delay in the eighth inning. To add insult to injury, Bosox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley threw some on-air shade at the organization, zinging it as a “hodgepodge of nothingness” and how “pathetic” the franchise is with its “no-name lineup.” Not very professionally presented, but at this point of the season, certainly accurate. Boston won the second game too, but Bryan Reynolds took over in the finale with a pair of homers to salvage the last match. The Reds visited next with same result - the Pirates dropped 2-of-3 to stay in the cellar.
• After missing the Giants series, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes was placed on the 10-day IL, retro to August 13th, with a back muscle strain (so far, he's on schedule to return on Tuesday). Recently claimed IF Kevin Padlo was called up from Indy to replace him. Pedlo is a 3B by trade, but has spent time at first/second base and started at first upon arrival to PNC Park. He's the 60th different ballplayer the Bucs have used this year. The record is 64, set last year.
• RHP Roansy Contreras was recalled from Indy and started Wednesday, with Austin Brice being DFA'ed to clear a spot. C Tyler Heineman returned from the IL and Jose Godoy was optioned to Indy.

Roansy's back - 2022 Topps 35th Anniversary

• The Pirates selected the contract of LHP Cam Vieaux. RHP Yohan Ramirez was optioned to Indy to make room on the active roster, and to open a spot on the 40-man, C Jose Godoy was DFA'ed.
• Mitch Keller was pulled after two innings on Tuesday with shoulder fatigue. Chase De Jong, Austin Brice and Manny Bañuelos followed with seven scoreless, hitless innings of relief, the first time in Pirates history (since 1893) those bullpen numbers have been posted, per Elias Sports Bureau. Mitch reported that he felt fine after the game and will be pushed back a day or two in the rotation.
• Ben Cherington told the press gang that yes, Derek Shelton is under contract for next year and that he expects him back for the 2023 season.
• Bryan Reynolds muffed a fly on Tuesday, snapping his streak of 180 consecutive games without an error. He was approaching the franchise OF record (since 1901), held by Andrew McCutchen with a 189-game errorless streak. In a brighter note, he hit the 3,000th big fly in PNC history, his third dinger in two games.
• After a phone hearing with the league, IF Rodolfo Castro was suspended for one game and fined for having a cell phone in his back pocket during a contest last week. That's just slap on the wrist for Castro, so the MLB apparently agreed it was an inadvertent violation. Nevertheless, he appealed it; seems like delaying the inevitable. 

Nick Mears back in action - 2021 photo/Pirates

• RHP Nick Mears completed his rehab (elbow), was removed from the 60-day IL and optioned to Indy, filling the 40-man roster.
• MLB Pipeline's updated Top 100 Prospects includes No. 20 - C Henry Davis,  No. 30 - IF Termarr Johnson, No. 47 - RHP Quinn Priester, No. 65 - IF Liover Peguero and No. 99 - 2B Nick Gonzales.
• Bradenton's SS Tsung-Che Cheng, who had two three-hit games, was named the Player of the Week and RHP Valentin Linarez, who pitched six scoreless innings with seven K, was named as the Pitcher of the Week for the Florida State League.
• Pirates prospects in this year's Arizona Fall League will play for the Surprise Saguaros. The AFL hosts a 30-game schedule, with games starting on October 3rd.
• The Yankees placed closer Clay Holmes on the 15-day IL due to back spasms.