Blogs

CHICAGO — X-rays taken early this morning on Matt Capps’ right elbow were negative, and the Pirates’ closer will be re-evaluated before tonight’s game against the Chicago Cubs. In the ninth inning Monday, Capps was struck on the elbow by a line drive off the bat of Geovany Soto. Capps immediately left the field with [...]

CHICAGO — Frustrated by a run of strikeouts and pop-ups, Freddy Sanchez shortened his swing two days ago. The tweak paid off tonight, as he became the first Pirate in 19 years to get six hits in a game. Sanchez’s 6-for-6 night accounted for three RBI. It included a two-run homer in the fourth inning [...]

CHICAGO — Derrek Lee is ill and was scratched from the Cubs’ lineup tonight. Here’s the new-look batting order: PIRATES — 1.Nyjer Morgan lf, 2. Freddy Sanchez 2b, 3. Nate McLouth cf, 4. Adam LaRoche 1b, 5. Brandon Moss lf, 6. Andy LaRoche 3b, 7. Jason Jaramillo c, 8. Jack Wilson ss. 9. Paul Maholm [...]

CHICAGO — Craig Hansen underwent tests on his neck, shoulder and upper back today in Pittsburgh, but the results were not immediately available. “It could be tomorrow,” general manager Neal Huntington said via e-mail. Hansen went on the disabled list with spasms in his neck. Last week, he had a setback while rehabbing at the [...]

CHICAGO — Nobody’s hitting, it’s Sunday and the Pirates have lost three in a row and have been shut out for 20 straight innings. Why not shake up the lineup? Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche both get the day off. Robinzon Diaz will get his first start since Wednesday. • The White Sox have won [...]

CHICAGO — The Pirates today extended their agreement with Double-A Altoona by four years, through the 2014 season. The Curve have been a Pirates affiliate since the club’s formation in 1999. Of the 25 players on the active roster, 11 played in Altoona. The Curve have sent 75 players to the majors. • After last [...]

CHICAGO — Andy LaRoche is fine; today is just a breather. Manager John Russell planned on giving Ramon Vazquez a game at third base during this series and, with lefties pitching Saturday and Sunday, tonight was the best time to do it. • Reliever Craig Hansen, on the disabled list due to neck spasms, was [...]

CHICAGO — Andy LaRoche is not in the lineup today against the White Sox. In the ninth inning last night against the Nationals, Ramon Vazquez pinch-hit for LaRoche (who was 1 for 3 with an RBI). So far, there is no indication that anything’s wrong physically with LaRoche; might be just a day off. I’ll [...]

WASHINGTON — Talk about the possibility of Jack Wilson being traded to the Mariners has died down. I never sensed great enthusiasm for the deal — a straight-up swap of Wilson for Yuniesky Betancourt — among the Pirates’ end. Geoff Baker, the Seattle Times beat writer who first blogged about the proposed trade, today wrote [...]

WASHINGTON — So much for getting a night off. Matt Capps and John Grabow both pitched Wednesday night against the Nats, as manager John Russell’s hand was forced by a tight game in the late innings. Grabow faced two batters and needed just eight pitches to get out of the eighth inning and notch the [...]