Left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett may finally be ready to fulfill the potential the Pirates saw when they made him their first-round draft selection in 2000.
The 25-year-old Burnett, who missed the entire 2005 season after Tommy John elbow surgery and shoulder surgery and has scuffled the past two seasons at Triple-A Indianapolis, was enthused by how he felt after pitching two innings of relief Friday against the Phillies.
Burnett gave up three hits and a run and had a strikeout. "It's never been a talent issue or stuff-wise," Burnett said. "The aches and pains I've had coming back from two surgeries -- now that it's two years they say it takes to get over, I'm over it. I'm ready to go."
Burnett, whose 150 game appearances in the Pittsburgh organization consist of 147 starts, said he'll be glad to work out of the bullpen if manager John Russell decides that is how he can best help the team.
"It seems like the five guys in the rotation, barring injury, are pretty set," Burnett said. "I just have to fight for a bullpen job, let them know I'm willing to go there and prove that I can bounce back day-to-day."
Burnett said he almost felt too strong Friday. That manifested itself in the fourth inning when he scrambled from the mound to field a slow roller by Pedro Feliz, got up from his knees and rifled a throw to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz for the out.
"Pitchers aren't athletes, so they say," Burnett said, laughing. "When you let go of the ball, you're an infielder and anything you can do to help the team or yourself, you have to do. Doug made a heck of a play to stay on the bag and it worked out."
Friday, February 29, 2008
Burnett looks like he's on the right track
First pitch is a throwback: Blass to Sanguillen
Almost 39 years to the day after they teamed as battery mates in the Pirates' first spring-training game at McKechnie Field -- a victory against the defending world champion Detroit Tigers on March 6, 1969 -- Pittsburgh greats Steve Blass and Manny Sanguillen took part in the traditional first-pitch ceremony.
Two years later Blass, now a Pirates broadcaster, defeated the Orioles 2-1 in Game 7 of the World Series, the first of Pittsburgh's two titles in the decade. Sanguillen is a spring training instructor for the Pirates.
The toss from the mound by Blass didn't have much on it, but it cut the center of the plate. Among those watching was Sanguillen's 9-year-old grandson Isaiah, who flew down from Pittsburgh.
More hoopla
The Pirates marked the beginning of their 40th year at McKechnie Field on Friday with a pre-game ceremony hosted by play-by-play announcer Greg Brown.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly presented Louisville Slugger bats to several city officials who helped cement the team's new 30-year deal with Bradenton, including Mayor Wayne Poston, state Senator Mike Bennett, city council members Marianne Barnebey, Gene Gallo and Harold Byrd Jr. and Pirate Booster Club president Henry Perry.
On-key and sounding sharp
Fourth and fifth-graders from the Wakeland Elementary School choir sang the national anthem.
"Coming over here, they were so ecstatic," said the children's music teacher, Amelia Twinem. "They're a little nervous, but they'll get over it."
The crowd gave the choir rousing applause when they got to "home of the brave." Singers included Dakota Shaw, Wyatt Knopfke, Joshua Crispin, Savannah Dunsmore, April Velasquez, Chantel Espy, Jasmine Galarza, Yesenia Diaz and Noemi Diaz.
Morning glories
The Phillies won Friday morning's "B" game against the Pirates at Pirate City in seven innings, 4-3. Former Rays pitcher Casey Fossum hurled two perfect innings for the Pirates, striking out one. Jimmy Barthmaier started and took the loss, giving up three runs -- two earned -- in two innings.
Greg Golson was 2-for-3 for the Phillies, including a seventh-inning home run. Chris Gomez, Neil Walker and Jorge Velandia had two hits apiece for the Pirates. The Phillies had only four hits.
Up next
The Pirates travel to Ed Smith Stadium to face the Reds at 1:05 p.m. Zach Duke is scheduled to start for the Pirates against Aaron Harang. Also slated to pitch for Pittsburgh are Ty Taubenheim, Dave Davidson, Ronald Belisario, Jonah Bayliss, Daniel Moskos and Marino Salas. The Phillies return to Clearwater to play the Yankees.
Good feelings, for now
Left-handed pitcher Phil Dumatrait and righty Jaret Wright, part of a seeming cast of thousands of candidates for mound spots, came away from Thursday's 11-6 victory against the Phillies in Clearwater feeling upbeat about their chances.
Dumatrait, who was claimed off waivers from Cincinnati, pitched two one-hit scoreless innings. Highlights included a strikeout of slugger Ryan Howard and a ground-ball double play on a curve to Geoff Jenkins.
"I was able to throw quality strikes down in the zone, and (catcher Ronny) Paulino did a good job keeping guys off-balance," Dumatrait said.
"I just want to give myself an opportunity, and yesterday was a good start."
For Wright, 10 seasons have passed since he started Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for Cleveland against Florida (he did not get a decision in the Marlins' 3-2 victory). He was injured much of last season before getting released by Baltimore.
Wright allowed a walk and no hits in his inning of work. "I thought it went alright," he said. "I threw a couple of alright sinkers, got some ground balls. I hadn't been in a big-league atmosphere for a while, so it felt good."
Just like old times for Sanguillen
Pirates catching great Manny Sanguillen was feeling the old adrenaline this morning in the McKechnie Field clubhouse. The spring-training instructor was preparing himself mentally to catch the ceremonial first pitch from former batterymate Steve Blass, now a Pirates broadcaster.
"Special," Sangy replied when asked about his feelings on the assignment. "I hope I catch the ball. I'm going to make Steve Blass look good."
Sanguillen's 9-year-old grandson Isaiah flew down from Pittsburgh to be at the game.
"I don't get nervous," said Sanguillen, who is working with Ronny Paulino, Ryan Doumit and the rest of the Pittsburgh catchers in camp. "I get relaxed."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Ace bandage? Gorzelanny scratched at last minute
Pirates left-hander Tom Gorzelanny was scratched from Thursday's scheduled start against the Phillies at Bright House Networks Field because of minor shoulder irritation. Gorzelanny (14-10, 3.88 ERA last season) is scheduled to pitch in relief Sunday against the Rays at McKechnie Field.
Left-hander Phil Dumatrait, who was claimed off waivers from Cincinnati in October, replaced Gorzelanny. Dumatrait pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out two batters, including Ryan Howard.
"It (Gorzelanny's shoulder) hasn't hurt him off the mound, but it hasn't felt completely right the last couple of days," said general manager Neal Huntington, who added the cold weather made the decision easier. "We toyed with the idea of having him pitch an inning, but decided it was better to be overly cautious. If it was April 1 (the regular season), we wouldn't even think about it. It won't affect his timetable at all."
Gorzelanny also sounded relatively unworried.
"Might as well do it now instead of try to push through it," he said. "I'm not trying to be a hero in spring training. I'm trying to get ready for the season."
Quote of the day
"This ain't cold. You can actually go out on your back porch, get a blanket, sit in a chair and just fall asleep. Up north, you can't do that. You'd get frostbite. You might freeze to death." — Pirates pitcher and Bradenton resident Ian Snell on the "cold front" that invaded the area this week.
Up next
The Pirates play their official spring training home opener at 1:05 p.m. today/Friday at McKechnie Field against the Phillies. Ian Snell is expected to start for Pittsburgh against Chad Durbin. Other Pirates expected to pitch are Sean Burnett, Elmer Dessens, Evan Meek, Franquelis Osoria, T.J. Beam and Romulo Sanchez.
Shades of the past
The "bad-news" Pirates resurfaced in the bottom of the third inning of Thursday's 11-6 victory against the Phillies, when relief pitcher Bryan Bullington surrendered five runs. The problems began when third baseman Chris Gomez dropped a foul pop-up by Greg Dobbs, who took advantage by lining a single. Carlos Ruiz then lifted a high fly to left, which Nyjer Morgan lost in the sun for a ground-rule double.
After a run-scoring grounder by Jimmy Rollins and a walk, Chase Utley knocked in a run with a double. Ryan Howard followed by driving a pitch from Bullington through the teeth of a strong wind in the direction of Hillsborough County for a three-run home run and a 5-1 Phillies lead.
"(Bullington) could have been out of the inning (without the defensive lapses)," said Pirates manager John Russell. "He just got some balls elevated, and he needs to continue to work on getting the ball down and getting a little more sink on it."
Two for one
In addition to the game at McKechnie, the Pirates face the Phillies in a "B" squad game at 10 a.m. today at Pirate City. Scheduled Pirates pitchers include Jimmy Barthmaier, Masumi Kuwata, Casey Fossum, Adam Bernero, Mike Thompson, Hector Carrasco and Jesse Chavez.