Saturday: Pirates Drop Slugfest; Twins Visit - Pitching, Lineup; Notes

Today: The Twinkies visit McKechnie Field, with the game on at 1:05. The game is radio only on 93.7 The Fan.

The pitching: Jon Niese will start against the Twins' Tommy Milone. Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Neftali Feliz, and Eric O'Flaherty are slated for work after Niese.

The lineup: Jordy Mercer SS, Cutch CF, Josh Harrison 2B, Starling Marte LF, Michael Morse 1B, Sean Rodriguez 3B, Gregory Polanco RF, Stew C, Niese P. The reserves are Cole Figueroa, P-Flo, Jason Rogers, Danny Ortiz, Antoan Richardson, Ed Easley and others TBD.

Jordy gets his look at leadoff today (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Yesterday: Kyle Lobstein put up three goose eggs while Charlie Morton didn't have such a good day; he left with the score 5-0, tormented by Matt Joyce, who doubled and homered. Red hot P-Flo also went long. The Phils took their turn and put up nine runs in the fourth. It's probably safe to say that Wilfredo Boscan won't break camp with the big boys after he allowed seven hits and eight runs while getting one out. The next inning wasn't much better as Trey Haley, who had been lights out so far in camp, gave up six runs including a grand slam to Ryan Howard while retiring a pair. Pittsburgh tried to rally behind the scrubs but dropped a 15-12 decision. Minor league hitman Jose Osuna had a nice day with two hits, including a dinger. Here's yesterday's box score.

There was some good news from Pirate City. Though he was nicked for a run, Gerrit Cole went three frames, tossing 50 pitches (sitting mid-to-upper 90s) in a minor league game against the AAA Yankees. He expects to be be ready to go in the first week of the season. Jung Ho Kang batted (although he didn't take the field or run), going 1-for-4.

• Austin Meadows had his orbital fracture surgery; the timetable for a return to baseball activities is 6-8 weeks.

3/19: HBD Paul & Jose; O'Brien Bonus Babies; Bye Bye Bill

• 1931 - 1B/OF Paul Smith was born in New Castle. He was used sparingly in his Buc career (1953, 1957-58), though his stick was solid, hitting .275 for Pittsburgh. He was among the local boys such as Ron Kline, Ron Neccai, Tony Bartirome and Bobby Del Greco that Branch Rickey brought to camp to try out for a spot on the club in 1952 and cracked the roster the following season, hitting a career best .283 in 110 games.
• 1953 - The Pirates signed bonus baby twins Eddie and Johnny O’Brien, multi-talented basketball (They were both All-America, led the team to a pair of tournaments and even beat the Harlem Globetrotters!) and baseball stars at Seattle University for a reported $25,000 each. They could both pitch and play infield, but neither made much of a mark with the Bucs.

Edfdie O'Brien, manager Fred Haney, Johnny O'Brien (photo David Eskenazi)

• 1981 - 2B Jose Castillo was born in Las Mercedes, Venezuela. He was considered the long-term answer at second, but after four Bucco years (2004-07) and a .256 BA, he was released and replaced by Freddy Sanchez. He closed out his baseball career with gigs in Taiwan and Japan.
• 1992 - The Pirates released RHP Bill Landrum, who had won 13 games and saved 56 more over the prior three seasons, tossing to a 2.39 ERA. He was due $1.7M, and by releasing him this early in camp, the Bucs were on the hook for just a quarter of his salary. That caused a bit of a media & fan kerfluffle, but Landrum only lasted two more years in the show after his release. Performance, along with wear & tear (he was thought to have shoulder and knee problems) also played into the decision to let him go.

Friday: Bucs Lose To Yanks, Phils On Deck; The Turk Chops 10 More

Today: Pittsburgh heads to Clearwater to take on the Phils at 1:05.

The pitching: Kyle Lobstein gets the nod. After him comes Wilfredo Boscan, Jim Fuller and  Jorge Rondon. Ground Chuck starts for the Philadelphia nine. Gerrit Cole is due today and they're working him in the back lots in a minor league game.

The lineup: Greg Polanco RF, Fran Cervelli C, David Freese DH, Matt Joyce LF, Jason Rogers 3B, Jake Goebbert 1B, Cole Figueroa SS, Danny Ortiz CF, P-Flo 2B.

Gregory Polanco "Uh, Clint, I can leadoff too, ya know..." (photo via ESPN)

Yesterday: The dog days Jeff Locke showed up, giving up five runs in five frames, and that's not very good news with the season knockin' on the door. Cutch hammered another homer; apparently when his knee is right, you can bat him anywhere. John Jaso added a pair of singles, and that was the story in a 7-2 loss. The counting numbers are here.

• Cut-down day: 1B Josh Bell, OF Willy Garcia, 2B Alen Hanson, IF Max Moroff. SS Gift Ngoepe,
  P John Holdzkom and P Nick Kingham were sent to Indy, while 3B Juan Diaz, IF Dan Gamache and
  IF Adam Frazier were assigned to minor league camp. Big John was a surprise, although he hadn't been seeing much Grapefruit League work. His velocity is down quite a bit; the FO hopes it's a mechanical, not physical, issue though they're not sure. Now there are 45 players in camp.
• JJ Cooper of Baseball America explains the Pirate way with pitchers and checks out some minor league guys.
• The Cleveland Indians signed OF'er Marlon Byrd, 38, to a minor league contract.

3/18: HBD Nixey, Elbie, Dick & Brian

• 1874 - Pirate skipper Jimmy “Nixey” Callahan was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Callahan was the Buc manager in 1916 and part of 1917, never sniffing the first division and replaced midway through his second year by Honus Wagner after compiling an 85-129 record at the helm. He was a nice ballplayer (tho he never suited up for the Pirates). In 1902, Callahan pitched the first no-hitter in American League history and is the only pitcher to have collected five hits in a game three times; he was exclusively used as an outfielder in the latter stages of his career. Nixey was a childhood nickname of undisclosed origin which Callahan himself didn’t use as an adult, although newspapers often referred to him by that moniker.
• 1916 - 1B Elbie Fletcher was born in Milton, Massachusetts. He played first for Pittsburgh for seven seasons (1939-43, 1946-47) with two years off during WW2. Elbie put together a line of .279/79/616 as a Bucco, and was an All-Star in 1943. Fletcher began his big league career in 1934 with Boston after contest was held to determine which local high school player was most likely to reach the major leagues, with the winner receiving an invitation to the Braves' spring training camp. With the considerable help of the votes from his large family, Fletcher won, and then actually made the team on his own merit.

Elbie Fletcher 1941 Goudey

• 1926 - LHP Dick Littlefield was born in Detroit. The workmanlike southpaw toiled from 1954-56 for some pretty sad Pirate teams and put up a 15-23 record with a 4.29 ERA. Littlefield was the poster boy for journeymen as he played for nine teams in his nine year MLB career.
• 1962 - RHP Brian Fisher was born in Honolulu. A second round draft pick of the Yankees, the Bucs traded for him in 1987. He was a workmanlike starter for two years, but suffered from knee problems in 1989 and was released by Pittsburgh after a Bucco line of 19-22/4.72 ERA. He lasted in the show until 1992 when his knees finally gave out. He was a second round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves, and had a fastball that touched 97 MPH.

Thursday: Bucs Drilled By Birds; Yanks Next Up, Pitching & Lineup; Notes

Today: The Buccos welcome the NY Yankees to McKechnie Field for a 1:05 game. No radio, but it will be on Root Sports and MLB.TV.

The pitching: Jeff Locke gets the starting nod. Behind him are Cory Luebke, making his first spring appearance, Mark Melancon, Eric O'Flaherty and AJ Schugel, with Wilfredo Boscan in reserve. Masahiro Tanaka gets the ball for the Bronx Bombers.

David Freese makes his Bucco debut (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

The lineup: John Jaso 1B, Cutch CF, David Freese DH, Starling Marte LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Michael Morse RF, Jordy Mercer SS, Stew C, Locke P. Jaso is at leadoff again and Cutch is hitting second; there are many that believe the two hole is where the best hitter should bat.

Yesterday: Juan Nicasio is really having a spring to remember; 10 K (he only faced 14 hitters) in four shutout innings is pretty impressive, even in Florida. For Jared Hughes and Arqie Camanero, tho, not so hot...both were touched up for three run dingers. The result was a 9-3 spanking given by the Birds. The good news - Cutch clobbered his second homer, a no doubter off Kevin Glausman, and had two of the six Pirate knocks. Here's the box score.

• Speedy OF'er Antoan Richardson, a FA signing who has been MIA while recovering from a broken foot, saw his first action of the spring in the minor league camp.
• LHP Jesse Biddle, who is out this year after TJ surgery, cleared waivers and is a FA. The Bucs would like to keep him, but now that there's no 40-man roster requirement, the former 31 pick may be popular in the marketplace.
• If you were wondering, the Bucs keep their staff's pitching schedule straight during the spring by working them at the minor league camp. Jon Niese made his last start there, and Frankie Liriano tossed 70 pitches in four innings yesterday.
• Bronson Arroyo, trying to make a MLB comeback, tore his labrum.

3/17: John Smiley - HBD Deal; HBD Rod; Venezuela Series; Charley Passes On

• 1956 - LHP Rod Scurry was born in Sacramento. Scurry tossed for the Bucs for six years, (1980-85) going 17-28-34 with a 3.15 ERA. The first round pick of 1974 was using coke during his playing days, and never could kick the habit; he died in 1992 of suspected cocaine-induced heart failure.
• 1965 - LHP John Smiley was born in Phoenixville, near Valley Forge. He spent his first six seasons (1986-91) in Pittsburgh with a 60-42/3.57 line. 1991 was his best season, going 20-9 with a 3.08 ERA and All-Star selection. In the off season, he was traded to Minnesota for Denny Neagle, and went on to win 126 games in his 12 year career.
• 1972 - The Bucs watered their Latin roots by playing and sweeping a three game pre-season series against the Reds in Caracas, Venezuela. The final game was delayed when kids hopped the fence to get Vic Davillo’s autograph - in the sixth inning! It took about ten minutes for play to resume. Beloved in his homeland, “Vitico” (Little Victor) played in the Venezuelan League before turning pro and returned when his MLB career was done, playing until he was 50 years old.

Vitico - 1972 Topps

• 1992 - The Pirates traded LHP John Smiley (on his birthday!) after a 20-8 season to the Twins in exchange for LHP Denny Neagle and OF Midre Cummings. Smiley went on to toss eight more seasons, mostly with the Reds, while Neagle won 43 games in his 4-1/2 year Bucco stint and would pitch until 2003. Hot prospect Cummings ended up a bench player who got parts of 11 MLB seasons to his credit.
• 2014 - Long time (1966-86) Post Gazette Pirate beat writer Charley Feeney, known for calling everyone “Pally” (he didn’t have a good memory for names) passed away at the age of 89. He was inducted into the writer’s wing of the Hall of Fame in 1996. After his selection, he told the PG’s Ron Cook that “I'm in and Bill Mazeroski isn't. It's unbelievable." Maz joined him in Cooperstown five years later.

Wednesday: Off to Sarasota; Lineup & Pitching v Orioles; Injuries, Notes

Today: The Bucs hop the bus to Sarasota & Ed Smith Stadium to take on the Orioles. The game will be carried on MLB.TV and 93.7 The Fan.

The pitching: Juan Nicasio is scheduled to take the hill. He'll be followed by Jared Hughes, Arquimedes Caminero, Curtis Partch, Jim Fuller and Jorge Rondon. Kevin Gausman gets the call for the Birds.

The lineup: John Jaso 1B, Fran Cervelli, Cutch CF, Starling Marte LF, Greg Polanco RF, Josh Harrison 2B, Cole Figueroa 3B, Jordy Mercer SS, Nicasio P. Interesting that a pair of OBP beasts top the order. Reserves are Juan Diaz, Josh Bell, Elias Diaz, Adam Frazier, P-Flo, Ed Easley, Dan Gamache, Willie Garcia, Alen Hanson, Jake Goebbert, Max Moroff, Michael Morse, Gift Ngoepe...well, it goes on. Pedro will DH for El Birdos.

John Jaso - leadoff dude? (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

• Corey Luebke, who tweaked a hammy, is expected back in action during this coming week. Might be a tad late...
• JHK isn't baserunning yet. David Freese is looking better and better as a pickup by the FO.
• Austin Meadow's orbital fracture was confirmed. He'll have surgery next week with no timeline for recovery offered.
• Looks like it just might be the end of the road for Adam LaRoche.
• Bryan Bullington, 2002 Bucco first rounder, has spent the last five years in Japan, where he's carved out a pretty nice career.

3/16: HBD Patsy, Little Poison & Abraham; Pie Passes Away

• 1865 - OF Patrick “Patsy” Donovan was born in Queenstown, Ireland. He played for the Pirates from 1892-99, hitting .307, and spent 17 years in the big leagues with a lifetime .301 BA. He put up six consecutive .300+ seasons and served as player-manager from 1897-99. Patsy managed in the show for 11 seasons, became a minor league skipper and eventually a high school coach at Phillips Academy in Andover, where he coached the future 41st President, George H.W. Bush.
• 1906 - OF Lloyd “Little Poison” Waner was born in Harrah, Oklahoma. The Hall-of-Fame OF had a .319 BA over 17 seasons with Pittsburgh. Lloyd and Paul Waner set the record for career hits by brothers in MLB. Lloyd worked as a scout for the Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles after retiring as a player and was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1967.

Little Poison from The Sporting News Archives

• 1972 - Pie Traynor, enshrined in Cooperstown, died at age 72. The 3B played 17 years for the Pirates with a .320 BA and had a second career as the "Who Can? Ameri-can" spokesman. He managed the Bucs after he hung ‘em up and later served as a Pirate scout. Traynor took a job as a radio sports director in 1944. His show (he was on KQV, hosting the The Pie Traynor Club) was popular with fans and he remained at the job for 21 years. In 1948, Traynor was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, being the first third baseman to be chosen by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 1969, as part of the centennial of professional baseball, Traynor was named the third baseman for Major League Baseball's all-time team.
• 1976 - IF Abraham Nunez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The utility man - he played SS, 2B and 3B - spent eight seasons (1997 - 2004) with Pittsburgh and hit .238. His big league career ended in 2008, and after a 2010 fling in the indy leagues, Nunez retired.

Tuesday: Day of Rest After 3-1 Win Over Tigers; Notes

Today: It's the first off day of the spring; the club is back at it tomorrow afternoon when they visit the Oriole's.

Yesterday: Pablo Sandoval tried to bunt against a shift and couldn't get the ball between the lines; two pitches later, he clobbered one over the fence. That 0-2 pitch was Ryan Vogelsong's only miscue in four pretty decent innings of work. In fact, it was the only run the Buccos surrendered as the Jolly Roger wafted in the Florida breeze once again thanks to a 3-1 win. Kyle Lobstein and Trey Haley both escaped bases-loaded jams while Eric O'Flaherty, John Holdzkom and Daniel Bard worked stress-free frames.

P-Flo is smokin' this spring!

Cole Figueroa continued to play strong ball both in the field and at the dish, while P-Flo banged a two run single (guess who's hitting .316 and leads the club in RBI with eight this spring? Yah, me too...) The Bucs again drilled 11 hits - all one-baggers - and stranded nine, but put together five of the knocks in the sixth to ring up the three spot. Jake Goebbert drove in the other tally; he and Figueroa each had a pair of hits. Here's the box score.

• The Pirates are 5-8-1 in Grapefruit action so far this month. Starling Marte (.500/.500/.813) and Michael Morse (.333/.429/.500) have the best starts for regular players while Juan Nicasio (6 IP, 4 H, 0 R) has stood out among the pitchers.
• Michael Dixon of Sportsnaut (carried on Yardbarker) thinks this is a make-or-break year for several clubs, the Buccos included.
• Reliever Vic Black, a free agent who was DFA'ed by the Mets after last season despite a 2.60 ERA in 41 outings, had a scope done on his shoulder. The Bucs sent him to NY along with Dilson Herrera in 2013 as part of the Marlon Byrd/John Buck deal.

3/15: HBD Nellie; Bucs Sign Jim & Ian; Scrap Iron, Hit Man Deals

• 1928 - Nellie King was born in Shenandoah, near Pottsville. As a righty, he had a four year (1954-57) MLB career, all spent in Pittsburgh, going 7-5-6/3.58. He later was Bob Prince’s announcing sidekick from 1967-75 on KDKA, and moved on to work at Duquesne University as their long-time Sports Information Director. Nellie returned to the Pirates' broadcast booth as a guest commentator for the final game at TRS on October 1st, 2000.

Nellie King 1957 Topps

• 1977 - IF Phil Garner, P Chris Batton and IF Tommy Helms were traded to the Bucs by Oakland for OF Tony Armas, P Doug Bair, P Dave Giusti, P Rick Langford, P Doc Medich and 1B Mitchell Page. "Scrap Iron" (a moniker earned through his scrappy, hard-nosed approach to the game) was a mainstay of the 1979 World Series infield. But he came at a high price - Armas, Bair, Langford and Medich had long, solid post-Pirate careers, with just Giusti at the end of his string.
• 1978 - The Pirates signed free agent RHP Jim Bibby. In five years with the Bucs, the big righty went 50-32 with a 3.53 ERA. Originally inked to be a closer, he instead became a key member of the 1979 World Series rotation and was an All-Star in 1980. He missed all of 1982 with a shoulder injury that in effect ended his career. He put up a 6.69 ERA in 1983 and was let go; he pitched eight more times afterward before hanging up the spikes.
• 1979 - The Pirates sent minor leaguers George Hill and Martin Rivas along with cash to the Red Sox to get back OF Mike Easler, who had been sold to Boston during the off season. Good thing the FO had a change of heart. Easler ended up a .302 hitter with the Bucs between 1979-83 and was a key bench/platoon player for the 1979 World Series club, also earning an All-Star bid in the short 1981 season. The “Hit Man” (so named because of his sweet gap-to-gap swing and .293 lifetime BA) went back to Boston after the ‘83 season for P John Tudor. 

Mike Easler between teams - 1979 O-Pee-Chee

• 2008 - Five days after unilaterally renewing his contract, the Pirates signed RHP Ian Snell to a three-year deal worth $8M with options for 2011-12. The 26-year old, who was arbitration eligible after 2009 season, had a 24-26 record after two years in the show. He was dismal in 2008, and was sent to Class AAA at his request. Snell was traded to Seattle in 2009 at the deadline for a boatload of prospects, the best being Ronny Cedeno.