By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates vs. Tampa Bay Rays, exhibition
Starters: LHP Jeff Locke vs. RHP Roberto Hernandez
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Site: Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, Fla.
Radio: 93.7 The Fan
Here is the official live box score.
Here is the TribLIVE’s Pirates page. Rob Biertempfel is on the scene.
And here is a TribLIVE video interview with Travis Snider …


Hallelujah! PLAY BALL!!!!!
+1,000
My thoughts EXACTLY!
JAL’s I Could Have danced All Night Morning Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTa7Hm2AXEk
GENERAL DAILY UPDATED BASEBALL SITES
1- MLB Transactions
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
2-MLB Trade Rumors-Pirates
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/pittsburgh_pirates/
3 Go Buccos- Pirate News (from external sources)
http://gobuccos.com/pittsburgh-pirate-news/
4 Pittsburgh Pirates 2013 Spring Training Tracker
http://www.piratesprospects.com/st2013
BLOGS and such
5—Pirates Prospects
Draft Prospect Watch: No-Hit Outing For Crawford
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/02/draft-prospect-watch-no-hit-outing-for-crawford.html
6 Yahoo Sports
Fight! Three players ejected in wild college baseball brawl
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/fight-three-players-ejected-wild-college-baseball-brawl-075616660–mlb.html
7 USA Today
Baseball greats to headline summer river cruises
http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/02/22/baseball-greats-river-cruise/1938295/
8 WHYGAVS
Cole and Taillon will start Black and Gold game
http://www.whygavs.com/pittsburgh-pirates/february-2013/today-is-intrasquad-scrimmage-day.html
9 Rumbunter
Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Starling Marte Lead The Pittsburgh Pirates Charge Into Spring
http://rumbunter.com/2013/02/22/gerrit-cole-jameson-taillon-starling-marte-lead-the-pittsburgh-pirates-charge-into-spring/
Pirates Spring Training Pics: Tony Sanchez, Jameson Taillon
http://rumbunter.com/2013/02/22/pirates-spring-training-pics-tony-sanchez-jameson-taillon/
10 Green Weenie
Bucs Get After It today
http://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2013/02/bucs-get-after-it-today.html
I Could Have Danced All Night My Fair Lady 1964. Sung by Julie Andrews in the 1956 stage version, Audrey Hepburn performs the song in the movie but the singing is done by Marni Nixon, who also did the singing for Deborah Kerr in the King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story, and many others.
NEWSPAPERS and MAGAZINES and Other Media
11 Bradenton Herald
Spring training | Veteran Brandon Inge plans to make Pirates’ roster, help young players
http://www.bradenton.com/2013/02/22/4403924/spring-training-veteran-brandon.html
12 Rant Sports
NL Central Closers
http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2013/02/22/2013-fantasy-baseball-nl-central-closers/
13 KDKA
Notebook: Pirates Black-Gold Scrimmage
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/02/22/notebook-pirates-black-gold-scrimmage/
14 Twins Territory
Correia hopes to bring durability, stability to rotation
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130222&content_id=41882346&vkey=news_min&c_id=min
15 Bleacher Report
Complete Guide to WBC
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1534367-complete-guide-to-the-2013-world-baseball-classic
16 Boston Herald
Why Joel Hanrahan believes he’s the Red Sox’ best golfer?
http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/clubhouse_insider/2013/02/why_joel_hanrahan_believes_hes_the_red_sox_best_golfer
17 Sweetspot
Best defensive seasons for each franchise
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/33240/best-defensive-seasons-for-each-franchise
18 PBC SITE
Bucs hope Alvarez takes ownership of cleanup spot
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130222&content_id=41883390&c_id=pit
SPORTS WEBSITES
19 Baseball Prospectus
Pitcher Profile Aroldis Chapman
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=19689
20 Fangraphs
The Rockies Want Josh Fogg, And It Makes Sense
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-rockies-want-josh-fogg-and-it-makes-sense/
BTW, baseball thread so baseball links
Good morning DK,
I still have a question from your Fridays column. You mentioned that Hurdle lost his clubhouse to some players last year. Can you identify the players? Are they still with the Team?
We knew last season that Correia was not pleased with how he was handled. As for others, Barajas and Hanrahan the only two not back this season.
I know you’re just stating facts re the last two. But I can’t imagine Barrabbas being one of the little lost souls.
First, Hurdle mostly stuck with B despite ineffective hitting. Which B made up for with ineffective D.
Second, at the conclusion of the season, B let it be known that he’d like to return.
No. What we need to do is find out who worshipped teary-eyed at the shrine of the martyred Saint McGehee.
I think it was Thunder.
Agree, did not mean to imply those two were discontent, just that they are the only other players with the team after the trade deadline who are not back. Barajas should have been pleased to play as much as he did with his hitting stats.
Amen to that last sentence.
Also his throwing out runners percentage.
I think it seems to be more of players just questioning/ wondering about some of Hurdles moves and strategy. I didn’t get the sense (from DK’s comments) that he lost part of the clubhouse.
Maybe some of the players thought Hurdle should have spoken up and had the skeet shooting trip cancelled.
I think I’m gonna cry
Alas, McGehee will play this season for Japan’s Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ($1.5M 1-year contract) which, thus, makes the Yankees completely tank this season.
Alas.
Tho Mrs. Thunder is THRILLED about it. Thunder is taking her to Japan this year.
For some reason
You should have heard what Mrs. Thunder yelled at the TV the other night when a repeat Pirate game was on and they showed McGehee playing first base.
“TAKE ME TO JAPAN, THIMBLE-CRACK !!! “
Different season…Different team..Different scenario …. Different Regime.
Stuart, from yesterday AM:
- Thanks
- I’m going to McKechnie to watch next Sunday’s game, May 3. Sharing a season ticket again. I take most of the weekend games. Great seat: behind home plate, seven rows back, in the first raised row behind the concourse (sidewalk).
i share the seat location each year because if anyone comes to a game, look me up. It is one of the easiest seat locations in the building to get to and find. And besides, I’m easy to spot. Only person in first two rows behind the concourse who is 1) under 70 or 2) wearing a restraining order.
Did everyone notice that it is one, singular seat.
Doesn’t Mrs. Drew want to make the trip?
My money is that if she went she would like one singular seat in a different section.
Drew, I’m looking forward to it.
Stuart
Stuart, are you coming down? or did you mean my next report?
All, can any of you PROVE that there IS a Mrs Drew?
(I have something else to add about that, but it is too nice a day for that.)
There’s a picture of her at a “gathering.”
Governor Spitzer had pictures, too.
Unfortunately for him.
Drew, Coming down? I wish. No you are the surrogate. Many of us will be living vicariously.
Stu
Many of you are in trouble
My wife says I’m a surrogate, too.
I wonder what she means.
Snider looks fairly svelt in that vid, considering all the eating he tweets about. Must have worked out hard in the offseason.
And Drew, why aren’t you in Port Charlotte today with 24/7 covering this game? BTW, next Sunday is NOT May 3rd.
+10
I’ve been wondering all morning how someone could think it’s May already.
Must seem like it in Florida.
Don’t MAKE me give a weather report.
(don’t really need to. just look at my avatar.)
(( but don’t stare into it without sunglasses ))
((( love Arriba’s Pittsburgh snowman avatar )))
today’s lineup card
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/485066_10151498015667931_880811861_n.jpg
Let the lineup criticism begin . . .
Arriba, remind me to buy you a beer.
Pedro still not confident enough to bat cleanup…even in ST.
It’s after 10 AM and nobody has asked about the size of his butt.
Yet.
I’ll bite, How big is Pedro’s butt and while I ‘m at it, How about Tabata’s? I’m dreaming of a big year for Jose.
Like +1
Pertinent to lineup criticism, and I know you were kidding, I don’t see a possible scenario where that lineup is ever used during the season unless Cutch is hurt and Barmes goes even further below the Mendoza line. It’ll change by the 3rd inning anyway. There. It wouldn’t be right if someone didn’t say one negative about the lineup.
That’s the beauty of Spring Training. You see things you’ll never see (hopefully) during the regular season.
Trying to renew my subscription to MLB.TV
Love the product.
Absolutely HATE the customer service.
As someone who loves to mix his metaphors, I’ll say what I say everyday at work right before I get started… Lets get this ball on the road!
Glad I checked in today because I had no idea there was a radio game. I had planned on going to Marshalls to buy some desperately needed pants today, but the prospect of resting my tired and sore body parts during a rare day-off from work while listening to a Pirate game might just trump that decision.
Good to see Piglegs. Now, if we can get bob hasis out of hibernation, we’ll be ready for baseball.
Strasburg pitching for the Nats today vrs the Mets.
Will they shut him down when spring training ends?
No, they will wait until the pennant race heats up
No video today for the Pirates game on MLB.TV
Dejan. When your packing for Bradenton. Don’t forget the tape measure.
We expect hard news reports. Real numbers.
Butts and waists. Butts and waists.
Mets’ former player & broadcaster Keith Hernandez has shaved off his moustache.
(No word about his waist, Drew…)
^^ Poor apostrophe placement. Apologies.
Dejan. Please also measure the size of Dav’es apostrophe.
I hope you have a wife or daughter named Maria.
Cause then she’d be D’aves Maria.
THE GAME IS ON!!
THE GAME IS ON!!
Happy New Year, TC!
Hello Baywatch!! And Happy New Year to you too
First time I’ve been back since last season. Muddling through the new look, trying to figure out how to put an image in my avatar. Someone like to walk me through it?
go to gravatar.com
Surprised Martin isn’t playing SS to get him ready for the WBC.
What are the odds he gets hurt playing outta position during the WBC and the Bucs goota promoate Sanchez? I’m thinking muscle pull, hammy or oblique, and a long stint on the DL.
And I am being optimistic this year……..
BTW, let me be the first, now that the baseball seaon is officially underway…..
Fire Neal Huntington!!!! Yesterday!!!
After listening to ten old-people commercials regarding nursing homes and joint relief, I get Kevin Casey talking about hoops. Thought game was on 93.7 The Fan?
Stuart
It is on the radio but not on-line version. forced to watch CSI NY from last night
Stuart,
It is on 93.7 the fan.
Just heard Martin will NOT be playing SS during the WBC! Sure glad someone showed some baseball/common sense, both of which are uncommon in the PBC FO.
Thanks Pat, apparently they are not streaming today. I’m a little too far away to hear it on the radio sigh
Stuart
If Danielle Steel wrote a book about Burnett’s second Pirates season, she would title it
The Two Eyes of AJ
(I have no earthly idea why I thought of that)
No doubt too much exposure to the sun!
Stuart
+1
Pulitze prize and cy Youngs awards
Thought someone might do Play by Play on the blog. Kind of interested to see how that will go with new format.
Did the Twins start Correia and Ryan Doumit as their battery today?
The Buccos have thrown out a baserunner and Marte has stolen a base….who are these guys?
Still 0-0, Locke seemed to pitch well in his 3 innings.
Snider just beat a throw which would have DPed him.
Buccos lead 1-0! Marte scored from third on a ground out by Jones.
go bucs
Such a joy to hear Tim “There’s A Drive, Way Back … But The Ballpark’s Gonna Hold It” Nevertt again!
did fireworks go off?
This is one of the pictures I’m particularly interested in the spring
Pitchers
Not sure if it took: Anyone like to help walk me through how to put an image inside my avatar box?
Go to gravatar.com. I hear it’s easy. Even DK was able to do it.
Groovy. Thanks Wilver!
And why haven’t you done it?
I’ve hit a snag, 21s. It’s asking me for my username, I gave it Baywatch, but have forgotten my password. When I did the “lost password” thing, it said it was going to send me an e-mail to do it over but it hasn’t come to my box yet.
AW
Didn’t you used to have an avatar of an old football helmet or something?
No, my most recent one was a picture of Kick Ass from the movie of the same name.
Underrated comic book film. I like it.
Malkin out indefinitely with “concussion like symptoms.”
isn’t this a baseball thread? sorry have been waiting to write that. Just kidding
I like going against the grain.
Grain. Ha Ha. cause I sell bread.
3-0 Pirates.
Read that again.
Three Nothing PIRATES.
This game will define them.
LOL!
At what point does the Mercy Rule take effect?
Mercy Rule? We have made it through 20 years. If they were gonna use the mercy rule I would have hoped for sooner
Party pooper
Wait how am I a party pooper? I’m sorry I was trying to be humorous not poopy
i LOVE humor.
Say something funny
See? The first freakin game, the first freakin FAKE game.
And already I’m mean.
Middle of August, the past two years
like
Where is the season’s first post on how “real” Pirate fans should think?
I’ll take it as a compliment. Means somebody thinks we think.
J in O
Have we had one yet today that says were stupid if we give Nutting our money and buy tickets to Pirate games?
I love being called stupid and a thinker all in one thread
Stinker for short
TC
Was saving that one for next weekend!
And the boycott one for the following weekend….
Where’s Robert Forever?
The PBC does not want fans to think. Neal has told us we are stupid, in terms of baseball, so our thinking is dangerous.
They want us to FEEL! Feel GOOD, EXCITED, like buying a season ticket, and feel PLEASED that Pittsburgh has an MLB franchise.
Oops, we should also feel BAD that Mr. Nutting owns a team in such a small market that he cannot possibly afford to compete.
And, we should feel proud that the value of the PBC has tripled (or more) since the Nuttings bought the club.
When exactly do you think the Nuttings bought the pirates?
Really want to go there? They’ve turned a $1 mil loan in 1996 into an asset worth $336 Mil as of last year’s Forbes report, with them owning the Lion’s share of that.
But they are still the Nuttins
Likes to all!
Balk! Balk!
The most exciting play in baseball.
Didn’t they change the rules on Balks?
They did. Rays announcers just mentioned that.
Followed by the classic Lost The Ball In The Sun.
3-2
Should have invoked that mercy rule…….
Raise the Jolly Roger!
I predict the Pirates don’t lose a game all year.
Me and DK agree with you.
Dejan thinks they’ll lose to Winnipeg.
Well. He hopes.
Hope, but, you know, expect…..
About Winnipeg??
About, just about anything here
pop the champagne