Monthly Archives: October 2009

Friday’s winter league action featuring Pirates’ players and friends:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita 11, Cardenales de Lara 1

3B Neil Walker started the scoring for Los Bravos, with his second homer of the winter season, a solo blast over the left field wall to begin the 2nd inning. Two singles, a wild pitch, an RBI grounder, and a home run by CF Frank Diaz gave Margarita another 3 runs in the 5th inning. Walker led off the 6th inning with a line drive double into left. He scored on another double, and two more singles added two more runs, and Margarita had a 7-1 lead. A walk, two singles, and a 3-run homer by 1B Dennys Abreu in the 7th inning added 4 more runs to Margarita’s total. LF Jonel Pacheco went 0-for-3, with a sacrifice bunt, and he also reached base on a throwing error. Former Indy Indian Michael Tejera earned his second win with 6 innings of work, allowing only one run on a double and a single in the 4th inning.

Tigres de Aragua 7, Leones del Caracas 2

SS Ronny Cedenomade his winter league debut for Aragua with a home run to lead off the 4th inning. After the homer, a fielding error and two singles, one by DH Raul Chavez loaded the bases for Los Tigres, and a walk forced in the second run of the inning and tied the score at 2-2. Aragua added 5 more runs in the 5th inning, on back-to-back homers: a grand slam by Raul Chavez, followed by a solo blast by 1B Hector Gimenez. Cedeno had singled in the inning and scored with the grand slam.

Navegantes del Magallanes 13, Tiburones de La Guaira 5

Magallanes recorded 18 hits and took advantage of 6 errors by Los Tiburones, though they committed 3 errors of their own. SS Argenis Diaz did not have one of the 18 hits, but he walked, and reached base on a throwing error when he dropped down a sacrifice bunt. LF Mike Ryan did not have a hit, but he also reached on an error. 2B Jorge Velandia entered the game when La Guaira’s starting second baseman left the game in the 2nd inning (not sure if it was due to an injury or something else). He had a walk in three trips to the plate.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan 8, Tomateros de Culiacan 7 (10 innings)

CF Ruben Rivera’s 2-run homer in the top of the 10th broke a 6-6 tie for Mazatlan. Los Venados still had to hold off Los Tomateros in the bottom of the inning, though. DH Luis Cruz led off the bottom of the frame with a single. Cruz was forced out at second on a grounder to short. Two wild pitches put the remaining base runner on third base. An RBI single brought that runner home, and another single put Tomateros on the corners with two outs. A pop up to 2B Brian Bixler ended the game and preserved the win for Mazatlan.

Culiacan had scored first, with a homer in the 1st inning. Mazatlan’s 3B Freddy Sandoval had tied it up with a home run in the 4th inning. Los Venados took the lead with 4 runs in the 5th inning. Three singles, including one by LF Rogelios Noris brought in one run. Brian Bixler loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Another single scored two runs, including Noris, and Sandoval’s RBI single brought in Bixler, giving Mazatlan a 5-1 lead. Culiacan made it 5-4 with three runs in the bottom of the 5th. Bixler led off the 7th with a single, and scored after another single and an RBI ground out. Culiacan came back with 2 runs on a walk and three singles in the second half of the inning, to tie the score at 6-6 and set up the showdown in the 10th.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Estrellas de Oriente 5, Leones de Escogido 3

Los Estrellas did most of their damage in the 7th inning, when they led off the inning with three consecutive singles, including one by C Robinzon Diaz. LF Nelson Teilon followed the singles with a grand slam. They added one more run in the 8th inning on a walk and two singles. Diaz went 1-for-4 at the plate. 2B Pedro Lopez was hitless in 3 trips to the plate.

Scottsdale Scorpions 5, Mesa Solar Sox 5

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Friday evening’s game between the Scorpions and the Solar Sox was declared a tie after 11 innings. The Scorpions were the last to score, with a run in the bottom of the 6th innings, and neither team could push a run across over the next 5 innings.

The Solar Sox got the scoring started in the 3rd inning. Scottsdale starter Joe Martinez (Giants) had begun with two scoreless innings, but got into trouble in the 3rd. Three of the first four batters in the inning singled, with one run scoring. After another out, Martinez gave up a 3-run home run to 1B Chris Parmelee (Twins). He walked the next two batters after the homer, and was relieved by Cesar Valdez (Diamondbacks).

CF Jose Tabata put the first Scorpions’ run on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning. His two-out double was followed by an RBI single by RF Cole Gillespie (D’backs), and Mesa’s lead was cut to 4-1. The Scorpions tied the score in the bottom of the 4th inning. With one out, C Buster Posey (Giants) singled and LF Steve Susdorf (Phillies) walked. 3B Darin Holcomb (Rockies) brought both of them in with a 2-RBI double, and he went on to third base on a throwing error. 2B Pedro Ciriaco’s (D’backs) sacrifice fly scored Holcomb, tying the score at 4-4.

Mesa took the lead again in the 5th inning, on a home run by C Hank Conger (Angels). Buster Posey countered with his solo homer in the bottom of the 6th, and that was the end of the scoring for the rest of the game.

Tony Watson took over on the mound for Cesar Valdez, who had given up the homer in the 5th. Watson gave up a walk in the 6th, and retired the side in order in the 7th inning. He threw 33 pitches, 19 for strikes. Danny Moskos relieved Watson and began the 8th inning with a single, a wild pitch, and a walk. After a visit from the pitching coach, Moskos settled down and retired the next three batters. He walked the first batter he faced in the 9th inning, but promptly picked him off first base. Moskos gave up another single, but after another coaching visit, he ended the inning with a fly out. Moskos threw 38 pitches, with 22 strikes. Michael Schwimer (Phillies) replaced Moskos to pitch the final two scoreless innings, allowing two walks.

After Posey’s homer, the Scorpions did not record another hit in the game. Jose Tabata reached base in the 7th on a fielding error, but was erased with a double play. 1B Brandon Allen (D’backs) walked in the 8th, and he was also erased with another double play. Both Tabata and Allen walked in the 10th inning, and Steve Susdorf walked in the 11th, and they were all left standing on base when the inning ended.

The Pirates have claimed lefty reliever Justin Thomas off waivers from the Mariners, adding him to the 40-man roster. The 25-year old Toledo, Ohio native was drafted by the Mariners in the 4th round of the 2005 draft. He reached the AA level in 2007, where he made 24 starts for West Tennessee, with a 4-9 recored and a 5.51 ERA in 119.1 innings, with 100 strikeouts.

Thomas returned to West Tennessee in 2008, and made 17 starts, but then moved to the bullpen in late July. He’d pitched 99.1 innings as a starter, with a 5-6 record and a 4.80 ERA, but in 8 relief appearances, his ERA dropped to 1.86 with a 2-1 record over 19.1 innings. Thomas also made 7 appearances for AAA Tacoma (one start), getting that promotion in mid-August. He picked up a save in Tacoma, along with a 2-1 record and a 3.71 ERA. He pitched 17 innings there, and then added 4 more innings for the parent Mariners, appearing in 8 games for them. It was not a stellar major league start — he allowed 9 hits and 3 runs in those 4 innings, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Thomas spent all of the 2009 season back with Tacoma, entirely out of the bullpen, but did not enjoy as much success in relief as he had in 2008. He had an up-and-down year, but finished with a 2-4 record and a 4.48 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. He started off hot in April, making 9 appearances for 8.2 innings, with 6 strikeouts and a 1.04 ERA. Batters hit .194 against him in April, but that soared to .390 in May. In 12.2 innings, he allowed 13 earned runs on 23 hits, and his ERA ballooned to 9.24. Things got a little better in June — 9.1 innings in 9 appearances, and 7 runs on 12 hits for a 6.75 ERA with batters going .316 against Thomas. The July heat brought happiness again: 15 innings in 11 appearances, and only one earned run. That meant a 0.60 ERA and a .182 average against him. Thomas slipped a little again over the rest of the season, finishing out the year with 14.2 innings in 14 appearances, with a 4.91 ERA. He had the most strikeouts in July (17) but also had 12 in an otherwise poor May, and had 11 in August.

Thomas lives by his slider, and his fastball in in the 88=92 mph range. He will be competing for a bullpen spot with the Pirates for 2010. He still has two options left, so if they need to, he can be sent to Indianapolis. His inconsistent 2009 season suggests he’s not ready for a major league bullpen yet.

The Pirates have announced a deal that is very near completion, which would trade A+ level affiliates with the Cincinnati Reds. �The Reds will be taking over the affiliation with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League. �The Pirates will be acquiring the Reds’ affiliate in Sarasota, in the Florida State League, and moving them to Bradenton (only about 15 miles away), where they will play at McKechnie Field at Pirate City.

This trade isn’t without precedent — the Red Sox and Astros made a similar move in 1999. �The change has been prompted by the Reds’ recent shift of their spring training site from Sarasota to a brand new beautiful facility (I’ve seen it) east of Phoenix, where they will share a stadium with the Cleveland Indians. �The Reds no longer need to have their A+ team in Florida, and the Pirates have wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. �With new lighting at McKechnie Field, the FSL night games are now possible. �The Bradenton Pirates would continue to play their games, which are primarily during the day, at McKechnie Field as well, and the two teams’ schedules would be coordinated.

The switch would let the Pirates �A+ team be able to use the spring training facilities and have access to training personnel (medical and developmental). �Rehabbing players from upper levels would also be able to get in some rehab assignment games with the A+ team right there on site.

The Hillcats are being very nice about the whole thing. �The affiliation agreement signed between the Pirates and Lynchburg at the end of last year was for 2 �years instead of the usual 4 years, because both sides knew that this kind of deal was going to be a possibility. Lynchburg officials are graciously not forcing the Pirates to stay through the 2010 season. �Hillcats had also began some preliminary discussions with officials from Seattle and Houston, but the fact that they are geographically closer to Cincinnati made the Reds a better fit. � �The Hillcats’ name and logo will not be changed with the new affiliation, and they have already had Reds’ representatives visiting their facilities.

The new Bradenton team will also be called the Pirates, making things a bit confusing for the GCL Bradenton Pirates.

It’s not absolutely a done deal just yet. �The Florida State League needs to approve the deal, though FSL chairman Chuck Murphy feels that the other 11 teams will go along with the trade. �A two-thirds vote is needed for approval, and that vote will probably happen on Nov 10th at the FSL meetings. �The Pirates and Bradenton have a few legal issues to work on too, but they are not expected to be overwhelming.

Thursday’s (abbreviated) winter league action involving Pirates’ players and friends…

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Naranjeros de Hermosillo 4, �Venados de Mazatlan 2

Los Venados did not score until the bottom of the 9th, when they brought in their only two runs on a double, a single, a wild pitch, and another single. �Brian Bixler played left field for the second time, and went 0-for-4 at the plate, including an inning-ending strikeout with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning.

Aguilas de Mexicali 6, �Tomateros de Culiacan 4

Luis Cruz was in center field for Culiacan (he typically plays the outfield in winter ball). �He singled twice — once in the top of the 2nd inning, when he was left stranded, and again in the 4th, when he was out at second on a force play. �Two homers in the 5th gave Culiacan 3 runs in that inning, and they scored in the 7th on two singles and a walk, but it wasn’t enough to catch up to Mexicali.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Caribes de Anzoategui 7, �Cardenales de Lara 6 �(12 innings)

Derek Hankins made the start for Lara. �He sailed through the first two innings, but gave up a 2-run homer and a triple followed by his Altoona teammate CF Gorkys Hernandez’s sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning. �He came out to begin the 6th inning, but gave up a lead-off homer, and was relieved by Romulo Sanchez. Sanchez finished the 6th, but gave up another run in the 7th on a single, a bunt, and a fielding error. �At the same time, the Lara batters were keeping up with Los Caribes. �Los Cardenales scored one run in the 2nd, hit back-to-back solo homers in the 5th, and scored two on a double-error play with the bases loaded in the 6th.

With the score tied at 5-5, and neither Hankins nor Sanchez in line for either the win or the loss, the game went into extras. �Los Cardenales scored one run in the top of the 12th, on a walk, a single, and a grounder with a throwing error. �Los Caribes came back in the bottom of the frame, scoring 2 runs with a walk and two doubles for the walk-off win.

The Dominican League was off on Thursday.

Surprise Rafters 3, �Scottsdale Scorpions 0

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The Scottsdale Scorpions were missing their sting on Thursday afternoon in the Arizona Fall League. �The Rafters held the Scorpions to just 5 hits, and the Scorpions hurt their own cause by committing 3 errors.

The two Pirates’ prospects who got into the game, SS Chase d’Arnaud and CF Jose Tabata, each had one of the hits. �D’Arnaud’s triple in the 6th inning was the only extra-base hit the Scorpions posted. �He also collected the only walk for the Scorpions. �The Scorpions managed only two hits over the first five innings, when C Tuffy Gosewisch (Phillies) and 2B Pedro Ciriaco (Diamondbacks) had back-to-back singles with two outs in the 3rd inning. �Both were left on base when Chase d’Arnaud struck out to end the inning. �DH Wilin Rosario (Rockies) singled in the 7th inning, but was erased when 1B Brandon Allen (D’backs) bounced into a 3-6-3 double play.

The only other threat by the Scorpions came in the 9th inning. �With one out, d’Arnaud walked, and Tabata followed with a single. �A fielding error by the Rafter’s first baseman on a ball hit by RF Domonic Brown (Phillies) loaded the bases. �But a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning and the game, preserving the shutout for the Rafters.

Bryan Augenstein (D’backs) made the start for Scottsdale. �He pitched 3 innings and allowed one run in the 1st, on a single and a double by the first two batters of the game. �Augenstein retired the next 6 batters in order. �Then two singles and two throwing errors — by Augenstein on a pickoff attempt, and by 3B Brandon Crawford (Giants) on an infield ball — loaded the bases with one out. �Augenstein held on, though, and got out of the inning with a double play, started by Chase d’Arnaud.

The Rafters scored again in the 5th inning, off Japan’s Ken Nishimura, on a walk, a stolen base, a grounder, and an RBI single. �Daniel Turpen (Giants) took the mound for the 6th and 7th innings, and he allowed the third Rafters’ run, on a triple and a double and another fielding error in the 6th inning. �Tom Layne (D’backs) and Steve Edlefsen (Giants) each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the game.

Pirates’ players and friends in Wednesday’s winter league action:

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan 2, �Naranjeros de Hermosillo 1

A walk-off RBI single by RF Christian Quintero won the game for Mazatlan. �With the score tied 1-1 and a runner on first, rookie LF Rogelio Noris dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. �SS Heber Gomez was intentionally walked, and 2B Brian Bixler flied out to center field. �That set up Quintero for his single into right field, allowing the winning run to score from second base.

Bixler scored Mazatlan’s first run in the 6th inning. �He led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, and Quintero bunted him to second base. �Bixler scored on 3B Freddy Sandoval’s double. �Los Venados missed the chance to score again in the inning, though. �After Sandoval’s double, a walk and another hit batter loaded the bases, but a fly out and a ground out ended the inning with all three runners still on base. �Bixler reached third base again in the 7th inning, when he and Quintero hit back-to-back singles, but both were left on base. �Rogelio Noris singled in the 3rd inning, and advanced to third base on a wild pitch and a ground out, but he could not score either.

Tomateros de Culiacan 3, �Aguilas de Mexicali 1

2B Luis Cruz went 0-for-4 for Culiacan in his third game of the winter season. �Culiacan scored one run in the 1st inning on three singles, and another run in the 5th on a solo homer. �They scored one more in the 9th with some help from the Mexicali team — two singles, a fielding error, a walk, and a hit batter.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tiburones de La Guaira 18, �Bravos de Margarita 17

It’s too bad that Neil Walker had this game off, because everyone got to boost his batting average — the two teams combined for 44 hits and 35 runs. �Margarita had a 7-run 2nd inning and a 6-run 3rd inning. �La Guaira had a 7-run 7th inning. �All of that scoring was done with only two homers, both for La Guaira. �CF Jonel Pacheco came in as a late-inning defensive replacement for Margarita and grounded out in his only plate appearance. �3B Jorge Velandia was also a late-inning replacement and did not come to the plate. �Not such a good game for the pitchers’ stats, of course. �La Guaira used 9 pitchers and Margarita used 7.

Tigres de Aragua 7, �Aguilas de Zulia 1

1B Hector Gimenez had an RBI single and came around to score in Aragua’s 4-run 3rd inning, which featured a hit batter and five singles. �Los Tigres also had a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning and another run on three singles in the 9th. �Jorge Cortes pinch-ran in the 7th inning for Aragua, but was forced out in a double play. �C Alex Delgado went 0-for-4.

Navegantes del Magallanes 6, �Leones del Caracas 3

SS Argenis Diaz and LF Mike Ryan each had 2 hits for Magallanes. �Los Navegantes scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning with a solo homer by RF Richard Hidalgo, then singles by Ryan and 3B Jesus Merchan, followed by a homer by C Robinson Chirinos. �Diaz singled to begin the 5th inning, and he scored on an RBI double. �Diaz also singled and stole second base in Magallanes’ 9th inning rally, which scored one run. �Ronald Uviedo pitched the 9th inning for Caracas, and gave up that run on two singles. �Jean Machi pitched the 9th for Magallanes, and gave up 2 runs on 2 singles and a double.

Caribes de Anzoategui 9, �Cardenales de Lara 8

Lara had an early 7-2 lead after scoring 5 runs in the 3rd inning, but Los Caribes kept chipping away at the lead, mostly thanks to RF Daniel Dorn (Reds). �They scored 2 in the 2nd inning on back-to-back solo homers by 2B Niuman Romero (Clevelan) and Dorn. �Dorn homered again for 2 runs in the 4th inning, an popped a 3-run homer in the 6th. �Reds’ teammate LF Lew Ford got in on the homer party in the bottom of the 9th, when he tied the score at 8-8 with a solo home run. �A single by 1B Luis Gonzalez and a walk-off RBI double by 3B Travis Metcalf (Rangers) gave Los Caribes the win. �CF Gorkys Hernandez had one hit in the game.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Leones del Escogido 7, �Aguilas Cibaenas 6

CF�Starling Marte went 1-for-3 with a walk for Los Aguilas. �Escogido scored early, with one run in the 1st, three runs in the 2nd, and one run in the 3rd inning. �They threatened again in the 4th inning, with former Pirate Franquelis Osoria on the mound. �Osoria loaded the bases with two singles and a walk before recording an out on a pop-up/infield fly rule. �Osoria was relieved, and the new pitcher got out of the inning with a timely double play. �Another former Pirate farmhand, Franklyn German took the mound in the 6th, and he gave up two more runs on two walks, a wild pitch, and a 2-RBI single. �The rest of the bullpen kept Escogido quiet, including Ramon Aguero, who struck out the side in the 8th inning. �Los Aguilas’ batters didn’t get started until the 6th inning, when they sent 10 batters to the plate and scored 5 runs, including a grand slam by 3B Nelson Castro. �Marte walked in the inning. �Castro also had an RBI single in the 7th inning for Los Aguilas’ only other run. �Marte led off the 8th inning with a swinging bunt that turned into a single and a throwing error by the catcher. �Marte stole third base, but was out at the plate on a subsequent fielder’s choice grounder to short.

Estrella de Oriente 12, �Gigantes del Cibao 3

Los Estrellas scored 3 runs in each of four innings, with a total of 16 hits. ��2B Pedro Lopez walked and scored in the 3rd inning. �C Robinzon Diaz led off the 4th with a single, but was out at second on a force out. �Lopez also walked in the 4th, but was out at the plate on a fielder’s choice. �Lopez hit an RBI double in the 5th inning. �Diaz also doubled in the 2nd inning, but did not score in that inning.