The first cuts from major league camp came today, and the first games in minor league camp start this afternoon. I’ll be covering the home games at Pirate City, which will include the Triple-A and Double-A teams, and possibly an intra-squad game with the short-season players. For now, here’s some notes.
**I talked with Duke Welker after he arrived from major league camp. Welker mentioned that he had some stiffness in his shoulder the last few days. He will start throwing today after taking four days off. The shoulder isn’t considered too serious, and the Pirates were being cautious giving him time off. He said that if it was the middle of the year, he’d be playing.
**Jameson Taillon will be throwing a bullpen today at Pirate City.
**Today is the first day of games at minor league camp. Jeff Karstens will be throwing two innings against the Philadelphia farm system. Karstens will be pitching for the Triple-A team today, going two innings. He will be followed by Brandon Cumpton, who will also be throwing two innings.
**Here are the lineups for the home games today:
Triple-A: Drew Maggi (6), Oscar Tejeda (DH), Andrew Lambo (9), Matt Curry (3), Jeremy Farrell (5), Adalberto Santos (4), Jeff Larish (7), Brett Carroll (8), Charlie Cutler (2), Justin Howard (DH)
Double-A: Gift Ngoepe (6), Mel Rojas Jr. (8), Jarek Cunningham (4), Alex Dickerson (3), Stefan Welch (5), Andy Vasquez (7), Carlos Mesa (9), Chris Lashmet (DH), Elias Diaz (2), Benji Gonzalez (DH)
**And the lineups for the road games:
High-A: Alen Hanson (6), Walker Gourley (7), Gregory Polanco (8), Willy Garcia (DH), Francisco Aponte (4), Eric Avila (5), Jordan Steranka (3), Taylor Lewis (DH), Wyatt Mathisen (2), Junior Sosa (9)
Low-A: Jimmy Rider (DH), Max Moroff (6), Barrett Barnes (8), Josh Bell (9), Stetson Allie (3), Eric Wood (5), Luis Urena (7), Dilson Herrera (DH), David Valesente (2), Jin-De Jhang (DH)
**That’s not a mis-print on those lineups. There are ten hitters in each game, with two designated hitters.
**The Pitchers for today’s game, with the innings they’re scheduled to throw:
Triple-A: Jeff Karstens (2), Brandon Cumpton (2), David Bromberg (2), Mike Colla (1), Jason Townsend (1), Philippe Valiquette (1)
Double-A: Casey Sadler (2), Eliecer Navarro (1), Quinton Miller (2), Zach Thornton (1), Porfirio Lopez (1), Zach Foster (1), Josh Poytress (1)
High-A: Adrian Sampson (2), Matt Benedict (2), Orlando Castro (1), Jordan Cooper (1), Josh Smith (1), Mike Jefferson (1), Robbie Kilcrease (1)
Low-A: Clay Holmes (2), Joely Rodriguez (2), David Jagoditsh (1), Logan Pevny (1), Alex Lukashevich (1), Cesar Lopez (1), Isaac Sanchez (1)
**I wouldn’t read too much into the lineups and pitching orders. For the most part players will be playing on their 2013 teams. Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco, for example, will both be in Bradenton this year, so they’ll both be playing on the high-A team throughout camp. Some players might play up a level. A lot of those situations come as a result of what is happening in big league camp. As players get cut from major league camp, the rosters will start to shape up. I’d be extremely surprised if Wyatt Mathisen was playing on the high-A team this year, but he’s there today. Same with Elias Diaz in Double-A. Right now it looks like all of the catchers are playing up a level, probably because the Triple-A catchers are still in big league camp.
**The short-season teams might be playing an intra-squad game today. Luis Heredia is scheduled to throw, but I’m not sure if that’s in the game or if it’s just a bullpen.
