Blogs

As inglorious moments in spring training history go, they don’t get much lower than the Pirates’ 6-4 loss last year against Manatee County Community College.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Wet, wet, wet. Cold, cold, cold. Blech, blech, blech. The Pirates had to move today’s workouts under cover, due to a steady, driving rain and temps in the 40s. Pitchers threw live batting practice in the batting cages. However, the pitchers “warmed up” outside in the rain, where every breath came out [...]

BRADENTON, Fla. — One of the lasting images of the Pirates’ magical 1979 season is Kent Tekulve sidearming a pitch to Baltimore’s Pat Kelly, whose fly ball to center was the final out of Game 7. Teke’s unusual delivery — the ball coming from down under, amid a tangle of lanky arms and legs — [...]

It was a good day for the Pirates’ bullpen, even though nobody picked up a ball.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Joel Hanrahan, who’s been sidelined this week by a sore elbow, got the best possible news today from orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who cleared the right-hander to resume a normal throwing program. Hanrahan could be ready to go for Opening Day. Hanrahan was examined by Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. Andrews found no [...]

“It’s Groundhog Day,” Donnie Veal said this morning, kibitzing at his locker with fellow pitcher Chris Jakubauskas. “It’s still only 8:30? I checked the clock an hour ago and it was 8:30.”

BRADENTON, Fla. — It was a refreshing change today to hear ownership talk about the Pirates adding players in mid-season instead of trading guys away. During a 50-minute team meeting this morning, principal owner Bob Nutting and president Frank Coonelly addressed the players. Their message was that the roster revolution is over and if — [...]

Neither Brendan Donnelly nor Octavio Dotel will spend a lot of time on the mound for the first couple weeks of spring training.

All 66 players invited to big league camp are present and accounted for. The final cluster of position players checked in to Pirates City about a half-hour ago, and it looks as if everyone will participate in today’s workout.

I noticed something odd this morning as I wandered through the Pirates’ clubhouse. It was awfully quiet over by Octavio Dotel’s locker.