Monthly Archives: January 2011
2011 Top Pirates Prospects: #9 – Zack Von Rosenberg
The Pirates Prospects 2011 Prospect Guide was released last week, featuring 237 prospect reports, interviews with Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, Zack Von Rosenberg, and Zack Dodson, the 2011 top 50… Read more
Jim Callis on Jameson Taillon
Jim Callis had his weekly mailbag at Baseball America today, withtwo questions touching on Jameson Taillon. Here is a summary of the notes: -Callis rated Taillon #2 on his “Pitching… Read more
Vote: The Next Video Recap
Last week I did a video recap of new Pirates prospect Aaron Thompson, showing him going up against his new teammates from the 2010 Altoona Curve. I’m planning on doing… Read more
Caribes Take Venezuelan Championship
The final playoff game of the Caribbean winter leagues was played on Sunday, finishing up the Venezuelan League championship. The Caribbean Series begins on Wednesday and lasts six days (Feb 2nd – 7th), and from there, spring training will be right around the corner.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui 8, Tigres de Aragua 7 – Los Caribes held on for the win in Game 7 of the Venezuelan championship series, despite a 9th inning rally by Los Tigres. Los Caribes had an early 6-0 lead, thanks to back-to-back homers (2-run and solo) in the 1st inning, and a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning. Los Tigres got onto the scoreboard in the top of the 3rd, using only one hit. A single, a hit batter, and a walk loaded the bases. Two runs were forced in, on when LF Lastings Milledge was hit by a pitch, and one when 1B Hector Gimenez walked. A wild pitch and a missed catch error by Los Caribes’ pitcher allowed 2 more runs to score, and the score was 6-4. Los Caribes gained more ground in the 4th with two singles, a walk, and a 2-RBI single. A solo homer by Los Tigres in the top of the 5th put the score at 8-5. Los Caribes threatened in the bottom of the 6th, with a single and a double, but an on-target throw from Milledge in left field to C Raul Chavez let Chavez tag the lead runner out at the plate. Wil Ledezma came on in relief at that point. He walked the first batter he faced, then got a fly out. Ledezma was relieved, and after another walk to load the bases, a pop out ended the inning without a run scoring. Los Caribes also loaded the bases in the 7th inning, but a strikeout ended that inning and left all three on base. Los Tigres rallied in the top of the 9th, with two singles, including one by Chavez. Chavez was replaced by a pinch-runner. Two singles drove in two runs, bringing Los Tigres within one run of Los Caribes. That was as far as Aragua could get, though, and the game ended with runners on the corners. Los Caribes will advance to the Caribbean series.
2011 Top Pirates Prospects: #10 – Colton Cain
The Pirates Prospects 2011 Prospect Guide was released last week, featuring 237 prospect reports, interviews with Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, Zack Von Rosenberg, and Zack Dodson, the 2011 top 50… Read more
Hall of Fame Push for the Deacon
The following is from Pirates Prospects contributor John Dreker, as part of his ongoing Pirates History feature. The feature focuses on the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and every Sunday,… Read more
Winter League Playoff Wrap Up
Catching up with a few days’ worth of winter league playoff results:
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas 7, Leones de Ponce 5 – Los Criollos won the Puerto Rican League championship with a win in Game 7 of the series. Los Leones got onto the scoreboard first, scratching out a run in the top of the 1st. Los Criollos took a 4-1 lead in the 3rd, with an RBI double and a 3-run homer. Ponce answered with their own 3-run homer in the top of the 4th, tying the game. Each team scored one run in the 5th. Ponce loaded the bases with a walk and two singles, then had their run forced in with a walk. Los Criollos scored when SS Luis Figueroa led off with a single, raced to third on another single, and scored on a sacrifice fly. After two quiet innings, Los Criollos rallied again in the bottom of the 8th. A single and a fielding error put two runners on base, and a fly out and a stolen base moved both runners into scoring position. A line drive into right field for a single drove in the go-ahead run and an insurance run.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Algodoneros de Guasave 5, Yaquis de Obregon 4 – Los Yaquis took the early lead with a 2-run homer in the 2nd and a solo homer in the 3rd. They scored a 4th run in the 5th inning. Guasave got their offense going in the 5th inning with 2 runs, then tied the score with a pair of solo homers, including one by 1B Yurendell de Caster in the 8th. De Caster also singled in the game. In the top of the 9th, Gusave scored the winning run on a throwing error by the Obregon shortstop. That tied the series at 3 games each, and forced a seventh game.
Yaquis de Obregon 5, Algodoneros de Guasave 2 – A 4-run 4th inning pushed Los Yaquis over Guasave. A lead-off homer, plus 3 more runs and a 2-RBI single drove in those 4 runs. Both of Guasave’s runs came on solo homers by Marshal McDougall. The win gave the championship to Obregon.
Meeting with Maholm, Huntington and Coonelly
As I am sure you have seen on a few other sites, the Pirates invited a few of us bloggers to PirateFest Friday night for a chance to pick the brains of Frank Coonelly, Neal Huntington and Paul Maholm. I am not going to go too in-depth, but I thought I would touch on a few subjects that came up.
Piratefest 2011 – Backstage Blogger Q&A (2 of 2)
Click here to read part one. As the 7 p.m. General Public Q&A was starting to wind down, I made my way to side of the stage to meet up… Read more
Piratefest 2011 – General Public Q&A (1 of 2)
On Friday, I went down to the Convention Center to represent Pirates Prospects at Piratefest 2011. The goal was to take in the general feel of the event and sit… Read more
