Free agent addition Kevin Correia makes his sixth start as a Pirate tonight and he carries a 3.48 ERA into Pittsburgh's contest with the Rockies and their high-powered offense. Here's the latest on the Pirates…
- The Pirates expect waiver claim Xavier Paul to play all three outfield positions, according to Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Manager Clint Hurdle told Dunlap that he's confident Paul can cover lots of ground on defense, a skill the Pirates appear to value more than John Bowker's hitting ability at the moment.
- Hurdle told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the Pirates didn't have much use for Bowker. "He was my third left fielder, my third right fielder, my third first baseman," Hurdle said.
- Though newcomer Brandon Wood has started three consecutive games at shortstop, Hurdle told Biertempfel that Ronny Cedeno hasn't necessarily lost his job. Cedeno failed to run out a ground ball this week and has been struggling at the plate.
- Earlier this morning, the Pirates returned Rule 5 pick Josh Rodriguez to the Indians.
Cedeno never was going to be a legit starter. When he was for the Cubs in 2006, I couldn’t stop groaning.
Hurdle’s comment about Bowker was a bit from the hip, but I really think the Pirates are starting to take themselves seriously, and it’ll be great for baseball when their core allows them to really give the NL a run for their money.
…so long as they always lose to my Cubs :)
Agreed on both points. I’d love to see a strong Pirates team in the NL Central, as long as they always finish second to the Cubs. And I’d take Wood over Cedano any day. Cedano has had his chance, time for Wood to get his.
Your comments are true. Being a Buc fan I say thank God for the Cubs, because the Bucs have had their number the last couple of seasons.
i’m feeling the love from cub fans but just remember u guys stink and always will stink,the pirates own u!