By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (9-11) vs. Minnesota Twins, exhibition
Starters: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Cole De Vries
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Site: Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers, Fla.
Radio: MLB.com
Here is the official live box score.
Here is the TribLIVE’s Pirates page. Rob Biertempfel is on the beat.
If the MLB really wants to expand their international audience, I suggest they put a better product into the WBC tournament. Two good starting pitchers does not a world class team make. Need more of everything, but especially more offensive fire power. Oh, and hold competition in October/November when ALL countries players are in equal condition. Was a sad joke listening to the MLB Network trying to promote the remainder of the WBC to the American audience right after Team USA got the boot. I hope their ratings fall through the floor and sponsors demand their money back.
And while I’m at it, I’m feeling all broken up that the Broncos lost Elvis Dumervil. Elway tried to play a Frank Coonelly-style game of chicken with Dumervil and his agent, and saw it backfire on them not too much differently than Coonelly did when he thought he was smarter than Scott Boras. Hope Dumervil ends up getting his $8 mil, though. Whether from Denver, or somewhere else.
“Them” in “backfire on them” was supposed to refer to Elway. I made a mess. Bedtime for me.
JAL’s When Irish Eyes Are Smiling Morning Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHSV8igDiEo
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
Prospect Notebook: A Look at Nick Kingham’s Constantly Increasing Velocity
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/prospect-notebook-a-look-at-nick-kinghams-constantly-increasing-velocity.html
Pirate City Notes: Oliver to be a Starter; When will Heredia be in West Virginia?
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/03/pirate-city-notes-oliver-to-be-a-starter-when-will-heredia-be-in-west-virginia.html
6 Bucs Dugout
Jonathan Sanchez, Jeanmar Gomez dominate Astros
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2013/3/15/4109460/jonathan-sanchez-jeanmar-gomez-dominate-astros
On Jameson Taillon, Gerrit Cole and developing prospects: (Moderately) slow and steady (usually) wins the race
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2013/3/15/4109596/on-jameson-taillon-gerrit-cole-and-developing-prospects-moderately
7 WHY GAVS
Is there any upside left to Jose Tabata?
http://www.whygavs.com/pittsburgh-pirates/march-2013/is-there-any-upside-left-to-jose-tabata.html
8 Bleacher Report
Should a Strength of Schedule Metric Be Used to Seed MLB Playoff Teams?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1568588-should-a-strength-of-schedule-metric-be-used-to-seed-mlb-playoff-teams
9 Rumbunter
“This is the (Pirates’) Year”- Mark Melancon
http://rumbunter.com/2013/03/15/this-is-the-pirates-year-mark-melancon/
Pirates Jonathan Sanchez Now A Darkhorse For Rotation?
http://rumbunter.com/2013/03/15/pirates-jonathan-sanchez-now-a-darkhorse-for-rotation/
Ken Rosenthal Isn’t Sold on 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates
http://rumbunter.com/2013/03/16/ken-rosenthal-isnt-sold-on-2013-pittsburgh-pirates/
10 Green Weenie
Bucs Hold Off ‘Stros 3-2
http://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2013/03/bucs-hold-off-stros-3-2.html
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling The Irish Tenors Formed in 1998 they have 6 albums and tour regularly
NEWSPAPERS and MAGAZINES and Other Media
11 Bradenton Herald
Jay Bell stoked to be Pirates hitting coach
http://www.bradenton.com/2013/03/16/4438439/jay-bell-stoked-to-be-pirates.html
12 Yahoo Sports
Why the Future Is Now for the Pittsburgh Pirates
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-future-now-pittsburgh-pirates-145900015–mlb.html
13 Morning Sun
Has Tigers’ Jim Leyland already earned a ticket to Cooperstown?
http://www.themorningsun.com/article/20130315/SPORTS03/130319718/has-tigers-jim-leyland-already-earned-a-ticket-to-cooperstown-
14 KDKA
Watson Works And Waits
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/03/15/watson-works-and-waits/
15 Elon Pendulum
MLB Preview 2013
http://www.elonpendulum.com/2013/03/mlb-preview-2013/
16 CBS Sports
Figueroa helps Puerto Rico oust US from WBC, 4-3
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/21886619/figueroa-helps-puerto-rico-oust-us-from-wbc-43
17 Sweetspot
Pirates’ future rests on Cole, Taillon
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/33824/pirates-future-rests-on-cole-taillon
18 PBC SITE
Jones’ return lifts Pirates behind solid Sanchez
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130315&content_id=42795028&vkey=news_pit&c_id=pit
Notebook: Jones proves healthy, productive in return to field
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130315&content_id=42805260¬ebook_id=42807158&vkey=notebook_pit&c_id=pit
SPORTS WEBSITES
19 Baseball Prospectus
Do Spring Speeds Matter?
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=19897
20 Fangraphs
Positional Power Rankings: Second Base
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/positional-power-rankings-second-base-2/
In the Pirates notebook it said Jonathan Sanchez has until the 24th to opt out. Please one more week then either get rid of this guy or let him walk.
The opt out clause can be exercised if he not placed on the 40 man roster by that date. Pirates have no openings on the 40 today but will have when they put Morton on the 60 day DL
Critical game.
Must get to .500 soon or The Season Is Lost
Any truth that Sanders has signed an offer sheet from the Patriots? Seeing it was like 4yrs at 13mil total.
Report of, but no announcement yet…
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/3/16/4111650/patriots-sign-emmanuel-sanders
Sanders.
Does he have any options left or is he a Rule 5 guy?
He’s a dumpster dive
Reggie’s little brother.
There is an update to the article; states that Sanders contrary to the Post Gazetter report that he has left New England without signing an offer sheet.
That money they invested in brown is going to look like a huge waste if he doesn’t have anyone else around him.
Waste or no choice?
Will we look back after the upcoming season and ask why did they bother or thank heaven they did?
If he stays healthy, Brown’s doesn’t seem to be a cement-shoes contract. And I tend to give this management group the benefit of the doubt that I might not to, umm, another.
+ 1
Fantasy Leagues
Everyone is welcome
All Yahoo
ID – 25576
Password – 1203
ID – 25595
Password – 1203
Welcome Lunatics, if you don’t see your current location below, please add a reply to this post
Dejan’s Lunatic Nation – at the Trib,
Arizona – Tucson, Chandler, Phoenix, Sunnyslope, Davis-Monthan AFB*
Arkansas – Rogers
Austrailia – Mackay
California – Bakersfield, San Francisco, UNION CITY, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Yuba City, Solana Beach, Yorba Linda, Yuba City*, Edwards, Long Beach, Modesto, Davis
Canada – Toronto, Winnipeg, Moncton – New Brunswick, Ontario – Muskoka
China – Beijing
Colorado – Ft Collins, Estes Park*, Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs
Connecticut – Cos Cob, Bridgeport, Wallingford, Norwalk, NEWTOWN
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Delaware – Newark
Denmark – Greenland – Thule*
District of Columbia
Florida – Palm Harbor, Orlando, Valrico, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Oviedo, Tampa, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Palm Beach Gardens, Cape Coral, Coco Beach (Major Nelson and Mary Ann), Niceville (Red Neck Rivera), St Petersburg, Pembroke Pines, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens, Hallandale Beach
Georgia – Marietta, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Acworth
Germany – Leverkusen/Cologne
Hawaii – Honolulu
Idaho – Mountain Home, Coer d’Aline, Mountain Home AFB*
Indiana – Indianapolis, Burns Harbor, South Bend, Bicknell, Ft Wayne
Iowa – Bettendorf, Humboldt
Illinois – La Salle, Peru, Payson, Chicago, Palatine (3 inmates there), Lincoln Park, Grayslake, Algonquin
Japan – Tokyo
Kentucky – Louisville, Bowling Green, Lexington
Louisiana – Slidell
Maine – Bangor
Maryland – Arnold, Odenton, Severn, Baltimore, Waldorf, Hagerstown, Chevy Chase, Hampstead
Massachusetts – Boston, Tygnsboro
Michigan – Kalamazoo, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor
Minnesota – Yinzer
Mississippi – Biloxi
Missouri – St Peters***
Montana
Nebraska – Omaha
New Hampshire – Barrington
New Jersey – Chesterfield, Princeton, Roxbury, Lebanon, Lincoln Park, Berkeley Heights, Somerville, Hammock, Barrington, Delran, Pennsville
New Mexico – Mike
New York – New York, Smithtown, Manhattan, Long Island, Nyack, Brooklyn
Nevada, Las Vegas
North Carolina – Asheville, Hickory, Charlotte, Raleigh, Charleston, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, High Point
North Dakota
Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbiana, Westerville, Green, Hilliard, Toledo, Louisville, Columbus, Perrysburg, Pickerington, Youngstown, Cleveland, Olmsted Township, Liberty Township, Warren, Oregon, Wintersville, Austintown, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base*, New Philadelphia, Powell, Canton, Salem, New Albany, Bloomingdale
Pennsylvania – Downtown, Hopewell, Indiana, North Wales, Franklin Park, Forest Hills, Lansdale, Philadelphia, Du Bois, Reading, Crafton, Arnold, Wexford, Mt Lebanon, Canonsburg, Lancaster, Huntington, York, Boiling Springs, Philly suburbs, Morningside, Harrisburg, Lawrenceville, Bradfordwoods, Norristown, Hanover, Clearfield, Sewickley, DuBois, Plum Boro, Slippery Rock, Wilks-Barre, Sharpsville, Bessemer, Greensburg, Washington, Imperial, South Side, Duncansville, Newville, Sheppton, Grove City, Butler, Allentown, Ross Township, Blairsville, Flood City (Johnstown), Overbrook, Danny’s Hoagies, Baldwin, Economy, Sharpsville, Erie, North Huntington, Bellfonte, West Mifflin, Kennywood, Pleasant Hills, Beechview (Mad Turk, No 200), Macgunie, Mechanicsburg, Uptown, Cambria County, Mon Valley, Salisbury, Coraopolis, Emsworth, Cranberry Twp, Garrett, O’Hara Township, McCandless Township, 115 Federal Street, Bethel Park, Harrison City, Penn Hills, Kittanning, Dover, Lebanon, Upper St Clair, Rennerdale, Oakland, Scranton, Moon (RMU), State College, Erie, Penn Twp, Stowe, Elizabeth, Hermitage, Easton, Carlisle, Finleyville, Belle Vernon, Madison, Sellersville, Waynesburg, Warren, Beaver Falls, Chambersburg, Green Castle, East Freedom, Leechburg, Banksville City, Ellwood City (named after one of the Blues Brothers??)
The Philipines
Rhode Island
Singapore
South Carolina – Duncan, Longs, Columbia, Bluffton, Greensville
South Korea – Seoul, Mike
Sweden
Tennessee – Smithville, Nashville
Texas – Tyler, San Antonio, Belton, Houston, Katy, Plano, El Paso
Utah – Salt Lake City, Provo
Vermont – North Bennington
Virginia – JAL, Hampton, Rescue, Richmond, Front Royal, Woodbridge, Suffolk, Warrenton, Springfield*, Virginia Beach, Fairfax, Arlington, Yorktown, Henrico, Aldie, Manassas, Newport News
Washington – Seattle, Nine Mile Falls, Spokane, Sammamish
West Virginia – Martinsburg, Morgantown, Wheeling, Mt Olivet
Wisconsin – Madison, Oshkosh, Hortonville
Wyoming – Caspar, Lander
317 locations represented in the blog,
Honorary members, people that have, in our opinion, made a difference
Beano
Lemonade Guy
The Gunner, Mr Bob Prince
The Great One
Mike Lange
Myron Cope
The Honorable Mayor Richard Caliguiri
Kevin Mcclachety
Mike Emerick
Commander Hadfield, courtesy of the Space Station
Fred Rogers
Wilver Dornell Stargell, No 8
Maz
13 countries
44 states, plus the District of Columbia, missing 6 states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, Alabama, Kansas and Oklahoma
Two planets, at least confirmed, and the Space Station
Honorable mention, England – London – Lisa
Asterisks denote confirmed hero’s, military, police officers or firemen/ladies
3/16/2013 10:37 AM
I just walked the beach to Cape Canaveral and back. Does a three minute visit count?
That may have been confusing for somebody.
For Dejan:
beach
/bēCH/
Noun
A pebbly or sandy shore, esp. by the sea between high- and low-water marks.
Verb
Run or haul up (a boat or ship) onto a beach: “a rowboat was beached”; “crews would not beach for fear of damaging craft”.
Synonyms
noun. shore – seashore – strand – seaside – coast – sands
verb. ground – strand
DK: For Drew:
Wal-Mart
Noun
The place to go shopping when your life has hit its absolute nadir, owned and operated by ruthless people obsessed with killing smaller private businesses worldwide. Can be spotted every other block in a state called Florida. Soon to be named state mascot.
On my way to the airport. Going to see some spring training games and investigate this thing they call ‘the sun’.
Oh, and I’ll see my in-laws too.
DK: Send us a postcard from Wal-Mart!
Have a great trip. Say hello to your father-in-law Drew for me.
ewww
ewww
ewww
Airport closed. Snowed in.
But don’t worry.
Your inlaws caught the last plane to Piittsburgh.
They’re coming to YOU
If that meant you had to shovel snow in Fla, I would almost go for that
Almost
If I stand with my back to mainland and look to the water, the sky is bright, cloudless blue.
If I look to mainland, there is some haze.
So the lesson – Always look to the water, Grasshopper.
Cole through four innings: 1 run (earned), 5 hits, 4 SOs, 0 BBs
I’m listening to the mlb.com broadcast today. It must be free for everyone because I never paid for anything. Just thought I’d check since it can’t be heard any other way today.
Good outing for Gerrit Cole so far. Wandy is pitching good today for the world thing too.
Talking with co-workers last couple days and we all agree that they better get Garrett Jones some time in right field now because the rest of the right field candidates are sucking, especially Tabata.
The best lineup right now has Gaby Sanchez at first base and Jones in right. Gaby is having a very good spring, if this is for real he needs to play everyday. Jones & his power needs to be in there as well to protect Cutch. Otherwise Cutch will lead the league in walks and be a totally wasted bat.
Looks like Barmes is in April form already. Just today, 2 throwing errors, one strikeout, no hits.
Do you have a ticket yet for Opening Day, AW?
No.
Let me check with the lady, she doesn’t like baseball that much, just goes cause I do.
Will you be upset if I park at the casino
I won’t be upset, but I may tell you know who. Take the lady!
Biz. Tell him “that’s no lady. That’s my wife.”
Please
Please
I’m living vicariously through your response.
Pleassssssse
No, she’s not, yet
I’ll talk to her tonight, AW, or tomorrow if she’s in a testy mood
Not that she ever is…..
But look who she lives with….
Has a pitcher ever beaned his own shortstop?
Pirates losing 2-1 and batting in the top of the 9th.
The WHOLE SEASON is on the line.
And they got some 14 year old batting.
Named “Go Dirt”
I’m not kidding.
Nice outing for Justin Wilson today. That 0.90 era and that Goose Gossage-like strikeout pitching looks like he should be on the relief staff for certain. Even better that he’s a lefty.
I’ve always loved his potential. He has such good talent that he will not only overcome the wildness but even use it to his advantage. That is the mark of a good pitcher.
I see a John Smiley-like future for him, beginning as a reliever the first year and then moving into the starting rotation the next year, just like how Smiley did it. That is, unless he becomes their next hotshot closer, which he is also capable of doing.
Believe you’re right, Pigsy.