Pirates-Blue Jays notes

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Kevin Thompson, a long-time member of the New York Yankees organization claimed off waivers by the Pirates from Oakland in December, is in the starting lineup in left field for today's game against the Blue Jays at McKechnie Field.
The 28-year-old Thompson has been a bright spot in the Pirates' 1-6 start, batting .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles and four RBIs.
"I feel pretty good," said Thompson, who spent the majority of the 2007 season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit .281 for the Yankees' Triple-A team with 18 doubles and a team-high 24 stolen bases in 77 games.
"I am not going to sit here and worry about what they (Pirates management) are thinking or what might happen in the future. All I can control is how hard I play," Thompson said.
Thompson said his time with the Yankees helped him realize what he needs to do to be on a big-league roster. "When it comes to guys like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, what I learned from them is helping me do what I'm doing here," Thompson said.
"I have the utmost confidence in my ability. I know I can play all facets of the game," he said. "I know I'm going to be rewarded, whether it's the big leagues or something else, because I have the temperament to be successful."

Then there were 63: The Pirates have reassigned pitcher Josh Sharpless and catcher Carlos Maldonado to their minor-league camp. That leaves 63 players in the big-league camp, including 37 pitchers, five catchers, 13 infielders and eight outfielders.

Up next: The long-awaited first night game in McKechnie Field history is at 7:05 p.m. on Friday against the Reds. Paul Maholm has drawn the starting pitching assignment against Bronson Arroyo.
The National League Central rivals also play a split-squad game at 1:05 p.m. on Friday at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. John Van Benschoten starts for Pittsburgh against Johnny Cueto.