Notes from Pirates-Reds

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com
BRADENTON – The battle rages on to earn a spot in Pittsburgh’s bullpen.
Closer Matt Capps and set-up guys John Grabow and Tyler Yates are set. But everything else is up for grabs, said general manager Neal Huntington.
“There are guys that have pitched themselves into a lead at certain times,” Huntington said. “There are guys who have pitched out of that at other times.
“We’d rather have guys just go out and perform they way on to the club – whether it’s stuff, whether it’s performance, whether it’s a combination, to show that they belong on the major league level.”
Guys such as Chris Bootcheck, Sean Burnett, Donnie Veal and Craig Hansen have had up-and-down springs, while Evan Meek has posted a 3.48 ERA in a team-high 11 games. Huntington said Meek has a tired right shoulder and will be shut down for about a week.
“We need some guys to go out and show us why they should be on this major league team.”
Huntington isn’t ruling out an external solution – the Pirates acquired Yates in late March last year, and he became one of their most reliable relievers.
“As we do for every position – not just the bullpen,” Huntington said. “Maybe we come across another Tyler Yates…If not, than we need some guys to step forward.”
DAVIS HAVING A GOOD SPRING: Jason Davis threw two shutout innings Saturday, lowering his spring ERA to 0.82 in eight spring games.
Huntington said Davis has an outside chance of earning the fifth spot in the starting rotation, but could also land in the bullpen as a middle reliever.
“He’s doing some good things,” said manager John Russell said. “He’s progressing nicely, and he’s throwing the ball very well. We’ll keep giving him the opportunity to go out there.”