Notes from the McKechnie Finale

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com
BRADENTON – John Russell was the Pirates third base coach in 2005, when a rookie named Zach Duke broke into the bigs.
Duke went 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA that season – but has struggled since, going 18-37.
Friday, Duke threw five scoreless innings against the Twins, capping a spring training where he posted a 3.86 ERA and had one bad start, which came last weekend against the New York Yankees.
“He started gaining some confidence last year, and I think he carried it over into spring training,” Russell said. “He really committed himself this year…He feels good about his arm, he feels good about being able to use his pitches on both sides of the plate.”
Duke went 5-14 with a 4.82 ERA last year, but earned a spot in the rotation this spring. He is scheduled to make his first start of the regular season Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
DON’T EXPECT MUCH: Russell said the Pirates starters will get a maximum of one at-bat Saturday, when the Pirates play their last game of the spring against the Twins in Fort Myers.
“We don’t want to get anybody hurt,” he said.
WINNING SPRING: The Pirates have already clinched a winning spring for the first time since 2003, and their 17 wins are the most they had in an exhibition season since the 1994 squad went 19-10.
SEE YOU AGAIN: The Pirates play the Twins for the seventh and final time this spring Saturday, and will face Minnesota June 16-18 during Interleague Play.

Pirats-BoSox, April 1

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com
BRADENTON – The Pittsburgh Pirates rounded out their rotation Wednesday by awarding the final slot to Jeff Karstens.
Karstens went 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in seven appearances – three starts – this spring in beating out Virgil Vazquez (1-2, 7.62). Vazquez was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis prior to Wednesday’s game with the Boston Red Sox.
“At times, Jeff threw very well, at times, he didn’t. Virgil (was) the same way,” said manager John Russell. “But we know what Jeff can bring, and we feel Virgil has some things to accomplish.”
Aside from Vasquez, the Pirates optioned pitchers Denny Bautista, Chris Bootcheck and Jason Davis, catcher Erik Kratz, outfielder Jeff Salazar, infielder Andy Phillips and first baseman Garrett Jones prior to Wednesday’s game.
STREAK SNAPPED: Paul Maholm’s run of 18 2/3 scoreless innings ended when Boston’s Chip Ambres hit a three-run home run off Maholm in the fourth inning. Maholm went 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA this spring.
GOOD DEFENSE: The Pirates have committed 16 errors in 32 games this spring, which is the lowest in the majors.
NYJER ON FIRE: Nyjer Morgan went 3-for-4 Wednesday and cracked a pair of doubles, raising his average to .237. Following a poor start, Morgan has hit in four straight games and six of his last seven.