Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman posted an interesting tweet earlier today.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweeted something interesting earlier today about the Pittsburgh Pirates and their activity during the first day of the free...

AFL West Stars� 3,� AFL East Stars� 2

The AFL's Rising Stars Game turned into a pitching duel in the desert on Saturday night.� The hitting stars managed only 13 runs total --� 6 for the East and 7 for the West.� The most important of those hits came in to bottom of the 9th, when the West's lead-off batter RF Leslie Anderson (Saguaros/Rays) ended the game with a walk-off home run.

Nine members of the Mesa Solar Sox were named to the East team.� C Tony Sanchez was the only representative from the Pirates' group.� Infielders Andrew Romine (Angels),� Jordany Valdespin (Mets), and Josh Vitters (Cubs) were on the team, as well as pitchers Chris Carpenter (Cubs), Robert Carson (Mets), Justin De Fratus (Phillies), Brad Holt (Mets), Eddie McKiernan (Angels), and Josh Zeid (Phillies).

The East team got the game started with a run in the top of the 1st, on two walks, a wild pitch by West starter Mike Montgomery (Rafters/Royals), and an RBI ground out by LF Brandon Laird (Desert Dogs/Yankees).� The West answered with a run in the bottom of the 2nd.� Three consecutive singles, including one by Anderson, had a West runner racing for home, but he was cut down at the plate by a throw in from East's RF Marc Krauss (Scorpions/Diamondbacks) to C Austin Romine (Desert Dogs/Yankees).� The East was almost out of the inning unscathed, but a fielding error by 3B Ryan Adams (Scorpions/Orioles) let Anderson score from third base to tie the score at 1-1.

The East took the lead again in the top of the 3rd.� Two walks and a single by Austin Romine� (at least the brothers were on the same All-Star team) gave the East a short-lived 2-1 lead.� Sure enough, the West tied it up again in the bottom of the inning, again taking advantage of the East team's miscues. A single, a throwing error by 3B Adams, and a passed ball by Austin Romine tied the game again.

The tie lasted for the next 5.5 innings.� East starter Manuel Banuelos (Desert Dogs/Yankees) pitched 2 innings and was responsible for the first unearned run.� Solar Sox' Robert Carson pitched the 3rd inning and was charged with a Blown Save, giving up the second unearned run.� Solar Sox' Josh Zeid pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th, and Chris Carpenter pitched a scoreless 7th, allowing just a double.� Justin De Fratus pitched to one batter in the 8th inning, and got a fly out.

Tony Sanchez, Jordany Valdespin, Andrew Romine, and Josh Vitters entered the game in the 6th inning.� Andrew Romine walked and Valdespin singled in the 7th inning, but did not score.� Sanchez flied out in the 8th inning, and that was his only plate appearance.�� The East team made one last attempt at a rally in the top of the 9th.� Andrew Romine singled and stole second base, then CF Trayvon Robinson (Desert Dogs/Dodgers) also singled, moving Romine to third base.� Valdespin grounded to second base, and a fielder's choice had Romine out at the plate.� 1B Brandon Belt (Scorpions/Giants) walked to load the bases, but a strikeout by Brandon Laird ended the threat.

The AFL takes Sunday off, as usual, then gets back to work on Monday.

The Mesa Solar Sox went 3-2 this week, and currently sit 12-10, two games behind the Scottsdale Scorpions.  Here is how the Pirates prospects...

A few winter league games with Pirates' players and friends on Saturday...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Aguilas de Zulia� 2,� Caribes de Anzoategui� 1�� (Game 1 and Game 2)� -- No kidding, the same score in both games.� Zulia recorded 6 hits in both games also.� In the first game, Los Caribes were held to just two hits, and their only run scored on a walk, a ground out, and an RBI double in the 2nd inning.� Zulia scored a run in the 1st on a pair of singles and a throwing error.� The tie-breaker scored in the 4th inning on two singles and a double play.� Adenson Chourio came in to pinch run for Los Caribes in the top of the 7th after a walk.� He got as far as third base on a bunt and a ground out, but was left there when the game ended.� The second game began with Los Aguilas scoring 2 runs on two walks and a 2-RBI single in the 1st inning.� Los Caribes had 7 hits in this game, but still scored only one run, again on two singles and a double play.� Chourio made the start at shortstop in this game, but went 0-for-2 at the plate.

Leones del Caracas� 8,� Tiburones de La Guaira� 6� -- A 3-run homer made the difference for Caracas in the 8th inning.� Los Leones scored their first run in the 1st on a walk and an RBI single.� They added 2 more in the 4th, on a double, and two RBI singles, one by C Carlos Maldonado.� Maldonado ended the inning when he was thrown out trying to steal second base -- something that would not surprise Indy Indians' fans.

Navegantes del Magallanes� 4,� Cardenales de Lara� 0� -- Los Cardenales posted just 3 hits in the shutout.� Los Navegantes scored 2 runs in the 4th, on three singles, a walk, and two wild pitches.� They added another pair in the 7th, when they got a single and a walk off Lara reliever Romulo Sanchez.� Sanchez was relieved, but two more singles drove in the 2 runs.� DH Mike Ryan went 0-for-3 for Los Navegantes.

Bravos de Margarita� 6,� Tigres de Aragua� 4� -- Los Tigres got onto the scoreboard first with 3 runs in the 3rd inning.� A walk and a single opened the inning.� SS Ronny Cedeno struck out, but a wild pitch on strike three let the runners advance one base.� LF Lastings Milledge hit a fielder's choice to his Pirate teammate 3B Andy LaRoche, who threw to the plate to get the lead runner out.� But moments later, LaRoche's error at third let a run score, and two mroe runs came in on an RBI single.� Los Bravos came back with 5 runs in the top fo the 4th.� LaRoche hit the middle of three consecutive singles to open the inning, scoring a run.� A walk loaded the bases, and C Henry Blanco cleared them with a grand slam.� Aragua got one run back with a homer in the bottom of the 4th, to make the score 5-4, with Margarita ahead.� Blanco singled in the 9th, and scored again for Margarita, on a fielding error by Cedeno.� Ronald Belisario came on to pitch for Margarita in the 9th inning.� He earned his 5th save, despite giving up two singles, including one to pinch-hitter Hector Gimenez. A double play ended the inning for Belisario.� C Raul Chavez also had a single for Aragua.

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The MLB Free Agency period began at midnight, meaning that teams can now sign any player eligible for free agency.  Don't expect much action...

Yesterday, Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects noted that this year’s cut-off for Super Two arbitration eligible players is about eight days earlier than it has ever been before. There is now a strong possibility of Andrew McCutchen reaching arbitration a year earlier than expected.

Rob Biertempfel has an article looking at the Pirates' search for pitching this off-season.  Biertempfel highlights two pitchers who could be a fit for...

The New York Post reported today that the New York Mets have started their manager search, and included a note about Clint Hurdle: Alderson evidently...

Two days ago the Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves, and in the process, re-signed left handed relief pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma, avoiding...

Mesa Solar Sox� 13,� Surprise Rafters� 5

The Solar Sox started and ended the game with a bang on Friday afternoon in Arizona.� They plated 5 runs in the top of the 1st, and 4 in the top of the 9th, with 2 more in both the 2nd and 5th innings, as they recorded 16 hits.� The Sox' pitchers held the Rafters to 7 hits.

The top of the 1st began with a double by 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) and a single by 3B Josh Harrison, which moved Valdespin to third base.� CF Jeremy Moore's (Angels) sacrifice fly brought in Valdespin.� DH Brandon Wood (Angels) lined a single into right field, where the Rafters' right fielder made a throwing error.� That let Harrison score and put Wood on second base.� C Tony Sanchez walked, and RF/CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) doubled, scoring Wood.� SS Jordy Mercer bounced back to the mound, and the runners had to hold.� Then 1B Josh Satin (Mets) lined another single into right field, and both Sanchez and Nieuwenhuis scored, though Satin was thrown out trying to reach second base on the throw in to the plate.

The Rafters scored one run in the bottom of the inning on a double, a ground out, and a sacrifice fly, making the score 5-1.� Mesa came right back to add 2 runs in the 2nd, again sparked by Valedspin and Harrison.� This time it was Valdespin who singled and Harrison who doubled (ground rule).� A fielder's choice and a throwing error by Surprise 1B Eric Hosmer (Team USA and Royals) allowed both runners to score.

Surprise continued to battle, scoring a run in the 3rd on a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI single.� A walk, a triple, and a single gave them 2 more runs in the 4th, and the score was 7 - 4 with the Solar Sox still ahead.� The Solar Sox got 2 runs back in the 5th.� Sanchez and Nieuwenhuisled off the inning with a pair of doubles, and Mercer followed with a single, then stole second base.� LF Tim Kennelly's ground out drove in Nieuwenhuis, to give the Sox a 9-4 lead.

Pitchers took over for the next several innings.� Aaron Pribanic pitched the 6th and 7th innings for Mesa, and he allowed the only two base runners over 4 innings for Surprise.� A single in the 6th was erased by a double play, and a walk in the 7th was left on base.� Harrison had the only hit for the Solar Sox, a single to lead off the 6th.

The Australians are beginning their third iteration of the Australian Baseball League this weekend.� The Aussies have had two leagues before -- both had to shut down due to financial issues.� This time, the ABL is going to be a partnership between MLB and the Australian Baseball Federation.� MLB has been sponsoring the Australian Academy Program since 2001, and several Pirates' farmhands (Jarryd Sullivan, Mitch Fienemann) have participated.� This academy works with young Australian and Asian players, similar to the work done by the Dominican and other Caribbean academies.

The new ABL has six teams:� the Adelaide Bite (think: shark), the Brisbane Bandits, the Canberra Cavalry, the Melbourne Aces, the Perth Heat, and the Sydney Blue Sox.� The season will run into January, with each team playing 40 games.� Of course Australian players will be featured, but there are some other "imports" as well.� Here's the official ABL site, and you can see the resemblance to many other US minor league sites.

The good news:� some Pirates' farmhands are going to be playing

Adelaide Bite:� RHP Mitch Fienemann, LHP Paul Mildren (former Altoona Curve), C Dylan Child, OF Quincy Latimore;� the team manager is Pirate international scout Tony Harris.� Also on the team is a second baseman named Dayle Child.... I'm guessing he's Dylan's brother, but I've not confirmed it.� The Bite play their first game on Thursday.

Canberra Cavalry: LHP Rinku Singh

Sydney Blue Sox: RHP Jarryd Sullivan

The Calvalry and Blue Sox open on Saturday Nov 6th at 7:30 AEST in Sydney... which is 4:30 am EST in the US, as best as I can tell.� (I will not be up.)

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And on to Friday evening's winter league games: