Bullington back in the bigs

The Pirates have recalled former No. 1 pick Bryan Bullington and demoted reliever Marino Salas to Class AAA.

The move apparently was made in light of the recent string of bad starting pitching by the Pirates (are you reading Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny) and the need for more long relievers.

Bullington certainly hasn't blown anyone way in Indianapolis, going 3-6 with a 5.68 ERA, but he has come on as of late. He has made several good starts in a row recently and was named the league's Pitcher of the Week last week. His most encouraging statistic is the strikeout-to-walk ratio of 46-18.

This will be a big call-up for Bullington, who like John Van Benschoten is 27 and nearing the end of his prospect status. Though he has been plagues by injuries (like Van Benschoten) Bullington hasn't performed all that well when healthy. He may not get too many more chances at the big-league level and needs to show something soon before he gets cast away to triple-A purgatory like Van Benschoten.

Jack's back

It's clear to see after watching Jack Wilson's return Tuesday night just what he can bring to the Pirates' lineup.

Many reasons as to why Wilson was needed back were mentioned Sunday. http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/streetstory/05-25-08-sunday-bb-column

But is impact was felt in his first at bat Tuesday night. Wilson put down an excellent bunt and beat the throw to first with a head-first slide. A bad throw allowed Wilson to get to second and put runners on second and third with no outs. Though the Pirates didn't get a run in that inning, Wilson put the Pirates in an excellent position to score.

It's that kind of energy the lackluster Pirates' offense needs if it will make any run at that magical .500 mark before the team is dismantled before this year's July 31 trade deadline.

Pirates-Reds: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week during the Pirates series at Cincinnati (Hint: Jack Wilson is back and it should be fun to watch the debut of Cincinnati outfield prospect Jay Bruce):
Tuesday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Johnny Cueto (Cincinnati):
Snell hasn't won since April 12. He is 0-3 with four no-decisions since. … The Pirates supposed best strikeout pitcher, Snell has only 38 so far this season and is on pace for 118. … Ken Griffey Jr. is 6-for-14 with a home run and four RBI vs. Snell. … Cueto was racked for five runs in six innings in his first start vs. Pittsburgh. … Xavier Nady and Ryan Doumit each hit home runs off Cueto.

Wednesday: Tom Gorzelanny vs. Bronson Arroyo:
Gorzelanny won his first game of the year April 13 vs. Cueto. He pitched six scoreless innings before allowing a run in the seventh. … Gorzelanny is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts vs. the Reds. … Arroyo has won three of his last four decisions and got a no-decision in his first start against the Pirates this season. … Doug Mientkiewicz is 6-for-9 lifetime with a home run and three RBI vs. Arroyo.

Thursday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Aaron Harang (Cincinnati): Adam Dunn is 5-for-9 with a home run and three RBI vs. Duke. … Duke is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts vs. the Reds. … Duke pitched like the Duke of 2007 in his last start, allowing 10 hits and five runs in four innings. … Jason Bay is 15-for-40 with four home runs and seven RBI. … Nady is also 8-for-22 with a home run. … Harang threw four scoreless innings of relief during the Reds' 18-inning loss at San Diego Sunday.

Bay clutch again

Jason Bay has been criticized in the past for not producing in the clutch.

That hasn't been the case this season. Bay proved that again Saturday when he hit a two-run homer to give the Pirates their first lead of the game. He followed that up with the game-winning single in the bottom of the 14th to give the Pirates a 5-4 win.

This isn't the first time of late that Bay has produced in the clutch. His two-run homer Thursday spurred the Pirates past Milwaukee and he even hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer at St. Louis May 15 also gave the Pirates a win.

Bay has rebounded after a disappointing 2007 season. He has the top on-base percentage on the team, and the third highest slugging percentage. He also leads the team in walks – by 13 – and is tied for the team lead with 12 home runs.

His start has been overshadowed a bit by the strong starts of fellow outfielders Nate McLouth and Xavier Nady but make no mistake, Bay is once again one of the most productive outfielders in the National League.

Pirates-Cubs: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this weekend during the Pirates series at home against the Chicago Cubs (Hint: Aramis Ramirez will get booed heavily again for no reason):

Friday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Carlos Zambrano (Chicago):
The Pirates touched up Zambrano for five runs and seven hits in four innings last Saturday. … Jason Bay is 5-for-16 against Zambrano with five home runs and 16 RBI. … Xavier Nady is batting .364 with seven RBI. … Pittsburgh has won the last three games duke has started, including last Saturday's matchup against the Cubs. … Alfonso Soriano is batting .556 with two home runs and three RBI against Duke.

Saturday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Jason Marquis (Chicago):
Both of Marquis wins this season have come against the Pirates. … Bay is batting .350 with four home runs and nine RBI vs. Marquis. … In his last start, Dumatrait lost the control he had in his previous two starts. He walked seven in 4 2/3 innings. … Ramirez is 3-for-7 with a home run off Dumatrait.

Sunday: Paul Maholm (Pittsburgh) vs. Ted Lilly (Chicago):
Maholm has lost three of his last four starts. … Ramirez (.385-2-4) and Soriano (.400-2-3) both have had success against Maholm. … Lilly has won his last four starts. … Pittsburgh's Ronny Paulino is 6-for-8 with atwo doubles and a home run.

Snell needs to step up

This was supposed to be Ian Snell's year to move into the ace's role of the Pirates' starting rotation. Instead, he is floundering with a rising ERA and batting average against while watching his win total stagnate.

Snell, who signed a contract extension two weeks before the season started, has not earned much of that contract as of yet. Snell hasn't won since April 12 – his third start of the year. Since then he is 0-3, he has allowed eight or more hits in six of eight starts and his ERA has jumped from 3.93 to 4.84.

There's no doubt that Snell has the stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. His fastball is consistently in the mid-90's and he has the ability to be a high-strikeout pitcher. And, to Snell's defense, he hasn't had every break this season. That included Wednesday when the usually sure-handed Adam LaRoche made an error which led to two unearned runs and gave Milwaukee the lead for good.

Snell isn't he only starter not producing. Thursday's pitcher, Tom Gorzelanny, is 3-4 with a 6.64 ERA.

For the last couple of seasons, the organization has pointed toward this group of young starting pitchers to be the ones to carry the Pirates toward a winning season. So far, they haven't done so. And if they don't show improvement soon, the future may soon turn into the past.

Pirates-Brewers: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week during the Pirates series at home against Milwaukee (Hint: A former Pirates pitcher could hurt the Bucs):

Tuesday: Pittsburgh (Paul Maholm) vs. Milwaukee (Manny Parra):
Parra had his longest start of the season in his last outing (6 2/3 innings). … This will be his first start against the Pirates. … Maholm is 14-9 with a 3.50 ERA in his career at PNC Park. … Bill Hall is 8-for-14 with two home runs and seven RBI against Maholm.

Wednesday: Pittsburgh (Ian Snell) vs. Milwaukee (Ben Sheets):
Sheets allowed six runs, including three home runs, during the seventh inning of his last start. … Xavier Nady is batting .538 with two home runs and eight RBI against Sheets. … Jason Bay is batting .391 with a home run and four RBI. … Prince Fielder is 6-for-12 with a home run against Snell.

Thursday: Pittsburgh (Tom Gorzelanny) vs. Jeff Suppan (Milwaukee)
Suppan, who pitched for the Pirates in 2003, is 10-3 with a 3.95 ERA in 18 appearances against his former team. … Suppan is 2-for-2 batting against Gorzelanny. … Nate McLouth is 5-for-10 with two home runs and three RBI against Suppan. … Bay is batting .129 against Suppan but has six RBI.

Houston's hitting machine

Lance Berkman is loving the month of May.

The Houston Astros first baseman has hit safely in every game since the calendar turned; in fact, he's on a 17-game hitting streak that started April 30.

But this isn't your typical late-blooper-to-keep-it-alive streak. In 12 of the 17 games, Berkman has had two of more hits, highlighted by a cumulative 20-for-27 cumulative binge from May 3-10.

Since the start of May, Berkman has upped his average by 104 points, up to .399. He's hit seven home runs this month, upping his league-leading total to 16, and also tops the NL with 44 runs batted in, 19 of them so far in May.

And he's struck out only 20 times in 163 at bats this year.

Berkman is no overnight sensation. This is his 10th season, and he's put together a stellar career in relatively quiet fashion, overshadowed at first by teammates Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, and more recently by the Astros' fade into the second division. He has has five seasons of topping both 30 home runs and 100 RBI, and he hit over .300 in three of those years. His latest power surge brings his lifetime homer total to 275.

Although he might cool off any day, Berkman looks like a shoo-in for National League Player of the Month.

Wilson just about ready

Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson should make his return to the team Tuesday when the Pirates begin a six-game home stand against Milwaukee and Chicago.

Wilson, on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis, is bating .444 (4-for-9) with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. He is recovering from a strained calf which he suffered in the Pirates third game of the season.

Once Wilson is reinstated from the DL, the question becomes who will go? The choices are Luis Rivas and Brian Bixler.

The younger Bixler seems like the choice to go out. He's batting only .181 with no home runs and two RBI. He has also struck out 19 times in 72 at bats. Rivas is batting .222 with no homers and four RBI. He has stuck out only seven times in 63 at bats.

Both were brought onto the roster primarily for their defense and neither has played stellar defense. Bixler has made six errors and has a .951 fielding percentage while Rivas has made four errors but has a paltry .934 fielding percentage.

Though I believe it would be better for the Pirates if Bixler stays and Rivas gets demoted, the thought here is that the opposite will happen. Just like when center fielder Nyjer Morgan was sent down, I think general manager Neal Huntington will say that Bixler needs to play every day and that won't happen when Wilson returns. Rivas, a veteran used to spot duty, would be better served for the utility role than Bixler, a former No. 2 draft pick whose skills could rust sitting on the bench. Bixler is only 24 and could use a little more seasoning in the minors.

Even though he's shown he is capable of playing in the majors, don't expect Bixler to be around once Wilson returns.

McLouth = McAwesome

So much for being a fourth outfielder.

That's what former general manager Dave Littlefield and field manager Jim Tracy thought of Nate McLouth while they were in charge of the Pirates.

The only reason McLouth got any kind of shot last season was due to injury and he responded with an August similar too … well the streak he's on now. It showed then, just like now, that all McLouth needed was playing time to prove he belongs in the majors.

Saturday's game in Chicago was no exception. His two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning broke a 5-5 tie and helped the Pirates to an eventual 7-6 victory.

If you look at the National League leaders tomorrow you'll see that McLouth is fourth in the National League in home runs with 12 and tied for second – with teammate Xavier Nady – with 36 RBI. The guy is on pace for 46 home runs and 138 RBI.

Maybe he's more than a fourth outfielder after all.

Pirates-Cubs: Here's what to look for:

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week during the Pirates series at Chicago against the Cubs (Hint: Could be a big weekend for Jason Bay):

Friday: Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh) vs. Sean Gallagher (Chicago):
In his last start at Wrigley Field earlier this season, Gorzelanny allowed seven runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings. … Chicago's Derrek Lee is 7-for-12 with two home runs and five RBI vs. Gorzelanny while Geovany Soto is 6-for-9 with four RBI. … Gallagher is making his second major-league start.

Saturday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Carlos Zambrano (Chicago)
Duke is 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA this month. … Lee and Aramis Ramirez are both 9-for-26 with a home run off Duke and Alfonso Soriano is 7-for-15 with a home run. … Zambrano is 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA at home this season. … In his last four starts he is also 5-for-10 batting with a home run and a double. … Bay is 12-for-34 with five home runs and 16 RBI vs. Zambrano while Xavier Nady is 8-for-20 with seven RBI.

Sunday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Jason Marquis (Chicago):
Despite allowing a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Dumatrait pitched well and threw 88 pitches. … Ramirez is 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI vs. Dumatrait. … Bay is 14-for-37 with four home runs and nine RBI vs. Marquis. Nate McLouth is 5-for-13 with a home run and three RBI.

A small-town boy

Lonaconing is the type of town that you could miss if you blinked.

It's a small cluster of homes and a few businesses along Route 36 in the mountains of Maryland, about 7 miles from the nearest supermarkets and restaurants (Frostburg) and maybe 15 to the nearest marginally big city (Cumberland).

Lonaconing would be just another dot on the map, except for two occurrences in its history.

Back in the 1830s, the Georges Creek Coal and Iron Co. built a pioneering iron furnace that still stands in a park in the center of town as a testament to early American industry.

In front of the furnace, near the entrance to the park, is a plaque bearing the name of Lonaconing's most famous son, Robert Moses Grove.

Baseball fans will recognize Robert Moses as Lefty Grove, one of the greatest of pitchers. In fact, some call him the greatest: Statistical guru Bill James, in his original "Historical Baseball Abstract" (1985), gives Grove the accolade, citing the impressive numbers he compiled before he started pitching in the majors.

As it is, Lefty's big-league record is jaw-dropping. Pitching in the Lively Ball Era, the 1920s-'30s equivalent of the Steroid Era when it came to offensive statistics, Grove won an even 300 games and compiled an earned-run average of 3.06. During the period he pitched (1925-41), the American League's ERA was a cumulative 4.53, nearly a run and a half more than Grove's.

To put that in perspective, Sandy Koufax posted an impressive 2.76 lifetime ERA. But to equal Grove in comparison with the rest of his league, Koufax would have had to drop that number to around 2.15.

Grove led the league in ERA a record nine times, strikeouts eight times (his first eight seasons in the majors), wins four times, winning percentage four times and – believe it or not – saves once. In his era, the ace pitcher often was brought in to finish games whether or not he primarily was a starter. Think of Randy Johnson in the seventh game of the 2001 World Series, and multiply that by a dozen or more times during a season.

James gives the edge to Grove because of what he did before he joined the Philadelphia Athletics in 1925.

As a native of Maryland, it perhaps was inevitable that Grove first caught the eye of Jack Dunn, owner of the Baltimore Orioles (and the guy who also discovered a kid named George Herman Ruth). Back then, the Orioles were in the International League, which everyone considered a minor league … except for Dunn. He ran the team like his big-league counterparts, acquiring the best talent available in an effort to maximize local attendance.

Naturally, Dunn's Orioles absolutely dominated the IL in the early '20s, and Grove was a big part of the equation. After joining the team in mid-1920 at age 20, he compiled won-lost records of 12-2, 25-10, 18-8, 27-10 and 27-6.

These days, Grove would have stamped his ticket to the majors about a month or two into that second season. But the concept of the farm system was in its rudimentary stages back then, and Dunn was having none of it. So Lefty stayed in Baltimore, enjoying a good paycheck and lots of success … and costing himself, let's say, around 75 major-league victories.

With 375 big-league wins, Grove would have placed just ahead of the co-holders of the National League record, Christy Mathewson and Grover Cleveland Alexander (373). Keep in mind that Mathewson hurled his entire career and Alexander about half of his in the Dead Ball Era, which favored pitching statistics like no other period in baseball history.

The 375 total would have ranked Grove behind only Walter Johnson (417) and, of course, Cy Young (511). Johnson played the majority of his career in the Dead Ball Era, and Young's career started so early that for a time he pitched 50 feet from home plate, instead of 60 feet, 6 inches.

For Grove, scoring his 300th win wasn't the easiest of tasks. In 1941, pitching for the Boston Red Sox at age 41, he was the oldest player player in the league, and he'd struggled considerably compared with the past.

On July 25, he pitched at Fenway Park. According to an Associated Press account:

After staggering momentarily, Robert Moses Grove recovered today and trudged sturdily into the company of baseball's immortals, achieving the 300th victory of his fabulous major league career as the Boston Red Sox surged from behind to defeat Cleveland's Indians, 10 to 5.

Twice the Sox had rallied from four-run and two-run handicaps to tie, but it remained for Jimmy Foxx … to provide the pay-off clout in the eighth inning, a triple with two on.

From then on Old Mose just breezed to his well-earned triumph, which he had been twice denied in two previous attempts to gain the select circle.

Robert Moses Grove died May 22, 1975, in Norwalk, Ohio.

It was my honor to be photographed next to his plaque in the town of his birth.

Doumit on DL

The Pirates put catcher Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and recalled catcher Raul Chavez from Class AAA Indianapolis.

Doumit fractured his left thumb during the first inning of Tuesday's 8-4 Pirates win in St. Louis. He is batting .350 this season with five home runs and 15 RBI.

Chavez is 35 and has spent parts of nine major league season with four organizations - Montreal, Seattle, Houston and Baltimore. He was last in the majors with the Orioles in 2006, when he batted .179 in 16 games. Chavez is a career .212 hitter with four home runs and 40 RBI.

This season, Chavez is batting .306 with three home runs and 13 RBI with Class AAA Indianapolis. He is also a very good defensive catcher with a strong arm.

It will be interesting to see what kind of impact Doumit's injury has on the Pirates' offense. Doumit has really responded to increased playing time this season. His power numbers are up and his average has not dipped below .311 the entire year, consistently staying around his present mark.

Ronny Paulino, who lost the starting job in spring training to Doumit, has fared well in spot duty especially recently. For the season, Paulino is batting .224 with no home runs and 13 RBI. He has drive in fve runs in his last three games, including the game-winner Tuesday in the 10th inning.

Paulino must raise his batting average and show consistency on both offense and defense to match Doumit's production. This injury, and it's not known yet how long Doumit will be out, could have a major impact on the Pirates' lineup.

End of an era?

Former Mets general manager Steve Phillips, now an ESPN baseball analyst, made some interesting statements today on the network's "Mike and Mike in the Morning."

Referencing the Mitchell Report, the result of the congressional investigation into performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, Phillips said its effects are being seen this season as players apparently have been "scared straight." At the current pace by which home runs are being hit, the major-league total for 2008 would be down by nearly 1,000 compared with 2006.

A look at the leader board helps tell the story. In the National League, Lance Berkman and Chase Utley are tied for the home-run lead with 13, and after a surge this week, Dan Uggla has 12. About a quarter of the way into the season, those project to some healthy final totals, in line with what we've been accustomed to seeing the past 15 years but nothing to rank in the Bonds-McGwire-Sosa realm.

Now, look at the American League. The home-run leader is a guy named Carlos Quentin, who didn't even have a starting job wrapped up for the White Sox coming out of spring training. Quentin has nine, trailed by established sluggers Manny Ramirez and Carlos Pena with eight each.

At that rate, the AL leader at year's end would have fewer than 40. For anyone who followed baseball closely in the 1970s and '80s, such league-leading totals were commonplace. But we haven't seen a fewer-than-40 American League home-run champ since Toronto's Fred McGriff in 1989, and that includes the 1994 strike season.

(McGriff, coincidentally, also is the last National Leaguer to accomplish the same feat, for San Diego in 1992).

Phillips pointed out that doubles and triples also are down in the majors, and he concluded his observations by stating that maybe this marks the beginning of the end of the so-called Steroid Era.

In that case, baseball historians can consider putting their own asterisks, if not official, on the period of 1995-2007, from the first post-strike season to the issuance of the Mitchell Report.

Goodbye, Barry. Welcome back, Henry and Roger!

Pirates-Cardinals: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week during the Pirates series at St. Louis against the Cardinals (Hint: Could be another big week for Albert Pujols):


Tuesday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Kyle Lohse (St. Louis)
Dumatrait is coming off his first major-league victory. ... St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina is 4-for-4 with two doubles and a home run off Dumatrait. ... Rick Ankiel and Pujols are each 2-for-3. ... Lohse gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings his last time out. ... Chris Gomez is 5-for-11 with three doubles while Ryan Doumit has homered in four at bats off Lohse.

Wednesday: Paul Maholm (Pittsburgh) v. Todd Wellemeyer (St. Louis):
Maholm has a 2.28 ERA in three starts vs. the Cardinals but only a 1-2 record. ... Pujols is 3-for-9 with a home run and two RBI while Jason LaRue is 3-for-8 with a home run off Maholm. ... Wellemeyer has quietly gone 3-1 this season. ... Jason Bay is 2-for-7 with a home run and three RBI and Ronny Paulino is 2-for-4 with two RBI lifetime vs. Wellemeyer.

Thursday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Joel Pineiro (St. Louis):
Snell deserved a win in his last start in which he allowed one run in seven innings but had to settle for a no decision. ... Pujols owns Snell. He is 11-for-19 with four home runs and seven RBI against Snell. Molina is also 6-for-15 with a home run. ... Bay is 4-for-8 with a home run off Pineiro. Xavier Nady has also homered off Pineiro and Gomez is 6-for-19 lifetime with two doubles.

J.V.B. is O.U.T.

The Pirates gave John Van Benschoten another chance to prove he could be a starting pitcher in the majors Monday, and again, Van Benschoten showed that he couldn't.

The Pirates optioned Van Benschoten back to Class AAA Indianapolis after Monday's game in which Van Benschoten allowed seven runs (six earned) in four-plus innings.

Van Benschoten was recalled April 27 and was 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA in four outings.

The Pirates will not make a move until Tuesday, but two names to keep in mind are right-handed relievers Jesse Chavez and Marino Salas.

Chavez, 23, came to the Pirates in 2006 from Texas in the Kip Wells trade. Chavez is 1-1 with a 1.61 ERA at Indianapolis. He has given up 10 hits, struck out 23 and walked only five in 22 1/3 innings.

Salas, 28, came to the Pirates this past offseason in the Salomon Torres deal from Milwaukee. Salas is 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA and has given up 17 hits and seven walks while striking out 20 in 23 1/3 innings.

One last time

Now that Greg Maddux has earned his 350th major-league victory (without a hint of any kind of implication in any kind of performance-enhancing substance), the sports pundits are saying no one will approach that mark again.

Repeating the feat doesn't seem likely, not in an era when pitchers who make 33 starts and pitch 230 innings are considered iron men. And in the six-plus decades since World War II, only one other hurler, Warren Spahn, has passed the 350 mark … OK, two pitchers, but Spahn is the only one who didn't have to testify before Congress.

With pitchers' 20-win seasons becoming fewer and further between, 15 seems to be the new 20. Let's say a pitcher averages 13 victories per year. He'd have to pitch 27 years to reach 350.

By coincidence, Nolan Ryan pitched 27 years, which is a major-league record. And he didn't come close to winning 350 games.

Talk has been of Maddux retiring after this season. But if he hangs around for a couple of more years, he could challenge the National League mark for victories co-held by Christy Mathewson and Grover Cleveland Alexander. (Mathewson died in 1925, and Alexander's last win was in '29). Now, that's a record I never thought would be approached.

Talk also has been of the possibility of Maddux and his former Atlanta Braves teammates Tom Glavine and John Smoltz all retiring after the season, meaning they all would go into the Hall of Fame at the same time. And that certainly would be appropriate, considering that they constitute the most successful pitching trio for a sustained period in major-league history.

I once assembled a chart of their comparative pitching statistics from 1993-99, the seven years when they dominated the Braves' rotation. Click here to check it out.

It certainly puts the likes of Snell, Gorzelanny and Maholm in their place!

McLouth not starting

For the first time this season, Nate McLouth is not in the starting lineup for the Pirates.

Manager John Russell said with two day games to finish the series before a six-game road trip beginning Tuesday, he felt that it was best to give McLouth a rest tonight.

"He's played every day, played hard. It was a good time just to let him relax a little bit."

Jason Michaels, the Pirates newest acquistion, is starting in McLouth's place and batting third behind Freddy Sanchez and Jose Bautista.

Though he loves playing every day McLouth, who is battting .315 with nine home runs and 29 RBI, doesn't mind the rest.

"I knew it was going to happen eventually," McLouth said. "It's fine."

MLB disciplione is a joke

The more Major League Baseball suspends players for on-field actions, the more I realize how much of a joke their system is.

Their latest suspension of Seattle's Richie Sexson is proof of just how meaningless their "discipline" system is. Sexson was suspended six games and fined "for his violent and aggressive actions, which incited the bench-clearing incident" Thursday night against Texas.

To recap, Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard threw a pitch at eye level to Sexson. It wasn't at Sexson's head, as a matter of fact it weas clearly over the plate though it was at the eye level of Sexson, who stands 6-8.

Sexson took offense and charged the mound. Once he got there, he didn't just want to fight Gabbard, but he spiked his batting helmet into Gabbard. It's one thing to go out and fight man-to-man, but the video shows Sexson had clear intent to hit Gabbard with the helmet, which he did.

If that were on the street, that could be classified as assault with a weapon.

For Sexson to only get six games is pathetic. First of all, he's appealing the suspension, therefore he gets to play until he gets a hearing. The MLB discipline council almost always reduces the suspensions they hand out after an appeal hearing. Which means that Sexson is like to get only a three or four-game suspension for assault with a weapon and being not manly enough to fight Gabbard one-on-one without spiking his helmet into him.

Until Major League Baseball starts handing dowen some real suspensions, this kind of chicken-(hearted) behavior will continue and be a black eye on the game.

Wieters already torching Pirates

For those of you who thought that Matt Wieters, the catcher everyone thought ex-Pirates G.M. Dave Littlefield should have drafted instead of pitcher Dan Moskos, wouldn't ever really hurt the Pirates because he's on an American League club, think again.

Wieters, drafted by Baltimore immediately after the Pirates took Moskos, went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI Friday for Frederick, Baltimore's Class A team, against Lynchburg. Wieters hit both home runs off Brian Holliday, a Moon High School product.

In fairness to Moskos, Wieters only went 1-for-3 off Moskos Thursday night.

Wieters, who was deemed a sure-fire major league prospect before he was drafted, is batting .340 in his first full season in the minors with five home runs and 18 RBI in 31 games. While Moskos is off to a nice start (3-1, 3.72 ERA), he isn't the kind of prospect that Wieters is, at least not yet.

Just one more reason why Littlefield left the Pirates, and their minor league system, in dismal shape and why it will take new G.M. Neal Huntington years to fix all of Littlefield's mistakes.

Pirates-Braves: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this weekend during the Pirates series at home against Atlanta (Hint: Atlanta's Chipper Jones and Brian McCann could have big series.):

Friday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Tom Glavine (Atlanta)
Glavine is still looking for his first win of the season. … Glavine is 12-12 with a 3.12 career ERA against the Pirates. … Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche is 6-for-10 with a home run against his old teammate Glavine. … Jason Bay (.368, two home runs, four RBI) and Freddy Sanchez (.375) also have had success against the veteran. … McCann is 7-for-12 with three home runs and seven RBI vs. Snell while Jones is batting .333 with a home run.

Saturday: Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh) vs. Chuck James (Atlanta)
James is expected to be recalled from Class AAA in time for Saturday's game. He has been battling a weak shoulder all season that also hampered him last year. … Gorzelanny returns to the Pirates' rotation after missing a start with stiffness in his lower back. … Gorzelanny also has to work out control issues. He has walked 16 batters in his last 12 2/3 innings.

Sunday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta)
Duke has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last two starts. … Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur is 6-for-11 with a home run while Jones is 5-for-13 against Duke. … Jurrjens is one of the top rookie pitchers in the majors. He was nearly traded to Pittsburgh last year by Detroit for shortstop Jack Wilson but then-general manager Dave Littlefield pulled out at the last minute and instead traded for Matt Morris.

Monday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Tim Hudson (Atlanta)
Hudosn has allowed only three runs and nine hits in his last 16 innings. … Chris Gomez is 9-for-22, Bay is 5-for-11 with a home run and Jose Bautista is 3-for-8 with two doubles lifetime against Hudson. … Dumatrait won his first major-league game Wednesday. … Mark Teixeria has a three-run homer in his only at bat against Dumatrait and McCann had a grand slam the only time he faced Dumatrait.

Pirates acquire Michaels, send Morgan down

After Thursday's game with San Francisco, the Pirates acquired outfielder Jason Michaels and cash considerations from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later.

Michaels was designated for assignment by Cleveland earlier this week. He is batting .207 with no home runs and nine RBI this season.

"We had a chance to get an established major-league player, albeit one that's struggling a little bit this year," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "He's a guy that brings a quality, veteran presence to the clubhouse. He can play right (field), he can play left (field) and he can spell Nate (McLouth) in center. He's a guy that (bench coach) Gary Varsho and (manager) John Russell have a lot of familiarity with and he's an established major-league player."

Though Michaels has a $2.2 million salary, Cleveland is taking part of the salary. Though Pirates general manager Neal Huntington wouldn't say how much, he did say it was enough that "made it a very easy decision to bring Jason aboard."

This was Michaels' third season in Cleveland. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1998 draft by Philadelphia and played parts of five seasons with the Phillies. In 632 major-league games Michaels has a .277 average with 37 home runs and 203 RBI. He is expected to join the club in time for Friday's game at home against Atlanta.

To make room on the roster, the Pirates optioned outfielder Nyjer Morgan to Class AAA Indianapolis.

Morgan wasn't getting much playing time due to the hot starts of McLouth and Xavier Nady. In 22 games, Morgan batted .161 (5-for-31) with no home runs or RBI and one stolen base. Huntington said the move was made in part so that Morgan can play every day instead of sitting on the bench.

"I'm not hurt, it's just part of the process," Morgan said. "I just get to work on my game a little more. I'll be back. This isn't the end of Nyjer."

What's your number?

A friend of mine came up this week from Princeton, W.Va. to watch two games of the Pirates-Giants series and, sadly, he left with an empty feeling.

No, it wasn't because of the sub-par baseball he was watching. It was, as he told me after Wednesday's game, "Doug, I lost a little bit of my childhood tonight."

When I asked why, he said it was when he heard the P.A. announcer say in the top of the sixth inning: "Now pitching for the Giants, number 22 Keiichi Yabu."

It's not that my friend, Norm Vaughan, has anything against Yabu personally, but it's the number he's wearing. Norm grew up a huge Will Clark fan and that's what made him a Giants fan, even in Princeton, W.Va., was because of Clark. He also compared it to the Pirates giving Willie Stargell's number to Masumi Kuwata. Though Stargell's number is retired, the point was well taken.

So it got me to thinking: Is there a player that you associate with one number for one team and that team has given his number to a lesser player. Send me your suggestions.

Zito to start vs. Pirates

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy announced before the start of Tuesday's gave at Pittsburgh that pitcher Barry Zito, demoted to the bullpen a week ago, will return to the starting rotation Wednesday night against the Pirates.

Zito, who is 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, is in the second year of a seven-year, $126 million contract. He did not make any relief appearances.

Zito is only the third pitcher since 1956 to have an 0-6 record by May 1. The other two were Texas' Dave Stewart in 1984 and Detroit's Mike Maroth in 2003.

A game to remember

When someone mentions the anniversary of an event, the reaction often is:

"Wow! Was it that long ago?"

That's how I felt when I heard that 10 years ago today, Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood tied the major-league record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game.

I happened to be home from work that Wednesday and tuned in to WGN on cable to watch the broadcast of the game with the Astros. Wood was making only his fifth start for Chicago but already was drawing a lot of attention as possibly the next pitching sensation. (Plus, I'd lucked into getting him on my Rotisserie League team.)

On May 6, 1998, he seemed to validate the predictions by pitching one of the great games in history. The only hit by Houston was Ricky Gutierrez's bouncer that Cubs shortstop Jeff Blauser couldn't quite handle. Wood also hit Craig Biggio with a pitch, but other than that, the Astros didn't reach base.

Going into the top of the ninth inning, Wood had recorded 18 strikeouts, one short of the National League record first set in the modern era by Steve Carlton. When Bill Spiers swung at the third strike for No. 19, I remember shouting the news to my wife, who didn't care.

Biggio hit a grounder for the second out, and the Wrigley Field crowd booed him. Then Derek Bell strode to the plate.

Pittsburgh fans know Bell for his career-ending "Operation Shutdown" during spring training in 2002, when he said he wasn't going to give his full effort if he was going to be competing for a job. That followed a season in which he hit .173, so the Pirates said goodbye and ate the remainder of his two-year contract (which turned out so badly that it helped get GM Cam Bonifay fired).

Facing Wood in '98, Bell made another ignominious place in baseball history for himself by becoming Kerry's 20th strikeout victim. That tied the record set twice by Roger Clemens … yeah, I know, but we're not going to get into any of that.

During WGN's postgame interview, I thought I saw Kerry Wood giving a bit of a nervous shake, which was understandable considering that he wouldn't turn 21 for another month. His future seemed as bright as a pitcher could have, especially when he copped Rookie of the Year honors for '98, also setting a new record (since broken) for most strikeouts per nine innings during the season.

After Aug. 31, though, he pitched only once more in 1998, a five-inning stint against the Braves in the playoffs. And after that, he didn't pitch in the majors again until May 2, 2000.

A seemingly endless series of arm problems has sapped the promise of immortality that Wood showed on May 6, 1998. He still is with the Cubs, entering this season as the team's closer, an indication that the team still has faith in his abilities.

But anyone who watched his gem of a decade ago has to be disappointed that he didn't have more one-hitters or 20-strikeout games in his right arm.

Pirates-Giants: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week during the Pirates series at home against San Francisco (Hint: Good shot for Pirates to win series against an equally bad opponent):

Tuesday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (San Francisco)
Duke has been a hard-luck loser of late. He's had good chances at victories this season but a lack of run support hasn't helped. In four of his six starts he's allowed three runs or less. ... Rich Aurilia is 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBI vs. Duke. ... Sanchez has never started against the Pirates and has had only two short relief outings against them.

Wednesday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Pat Misch (San Francisco)
Dumatrait had a big lead in his last start - his first as a Pirates pitcher - but went only four innings and could not earn the victory. ... Dumatrait has never faced San Francisco. ... Both Dumatrait and Misch are looking for their first major-league victory. Misch has never faced the Pirates.

Thursday: Paul Maholm (Pittsburgh) vs. Matt Cain (San Francisco)
Aurilia had two doubles and two RBI in 14 at bats lifetime against Maholm. ... Maholm won his only career start against the Giants, though he gave up five runs and 11 hits. ... Cain left his last start due to a tight right hamstring.

Burnett up, Meek out

Before Sunday's game with the Nationals, the Pirates recalled left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett and designated pitcher Evan Meek for assignment.

Burnett, who was the last roster cut in spring training, excelled at Class AAA Indianapolis just as he did in Bradenton, Fla. this spring. With the Indians, Burnett was 1-1 with three saves and a 1.04 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. This was the first time Burnett worked solely out of the bullpen, something which he will do in Pittsburgh as well.

This marks Burnett's first appearance in the majors since 2004 when he had to undergo Tommy John surgery after going 5-5 with a 5.02 ERA in 13 starts.

Meek was a Rule 5 draft selection by the Pirates over the winter and impressed enough in the spring the team gave him a shot on the 25-man roster. Meek, however, looked overmatched during much of his tenure. He allowed 11 runs and 12 walks in 13 innings. He was scored upon in five of his first six outings, though he did not allow a run in his last three appearances spanning six innings.

Now, Meek must first clear waivers in which all other 29 teams have a chance to claim him. If they do so, they must keep Meek on their major-league roster or offer him back. If Meek clears waivers, a likely scenario, then the Pirates must offer him back to Tampa Bay, Meek's original team. If the Rays wish to take him back, he would not have to go on their major-league roster, the Rays then must pay the Pirates $25,000. However, if the Pirates truly wish to keep Meek in their system, something general manager Neal Huntington expressed Sunday, then the Pirates and Rays must work out some sort of compensation for Meek, either a player or other cash considerations.

Gorzelanny out, Wilson has setback

Pirates pitcher Tom Gorzelanny will miss his next scheduled start Tuesday.

Gorzelanny has been dealing with a strained lower back for the last couple of starts. The injury explains somewhat as to why Gorzelanny has been so erratic the last month. In his last four starts spanning 19 innings, Gorzelanny has allowed 11 runs on 13 hits but walked 20.

He is expected to start Saturday at home against Atlanta.

Also, shortstop Jack Wilson had a setback during his rehabilitation in Florida and will not begin playing in minor league games in Class AA Altoona until some time late next week.

Wilson has missed all but three of the Pirates first 30 games because of his calf injury.

Bad strategy leads to loss

I haven't seen many tactical mistakes from new Pirates' manager John Russell this early in his tenure, but I did during Thursday's 3-2 loss to Washington.

The game was scoreless in the second when Washington put runners on second and third with one out. Russell pulled the infield in with Wil Nieves, the Nationals' No. 8 hitter at the plate.

If the Pirates play back, they allow only one run in the inning as Nieves hit a grounder to second. However, with a drawn-in infield, the ball got past Freddy Sanchez and into right field for a two-run single.

There was no need to bring the infield in that early in the game. It will be interesting to hear Russell's postgame comments as to why he pulled the infield in but the look on his face afterward looked like a man who realized he clearly made a mistake.

Pirates-Nationals: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this weekend during the Pirates series at Washington against the Nationals (Hint: With little to go on, at least the ballpark is new):

Tonight: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Odalis Perez (Washington):
Duke has only had one career start vs. Washington. … Washington's Ryan Zimmerman is 3-for-7 lifetime against Duke. Nick Johnson is 2-for-6 and Lastings Milledge is 2for-3. … Pittsburgh's Jason Bay is only 2-for-9 against Perez but has a team-high three RBI. … Freddy Sanchez is 3-for-5 vs. Perez. Adam LaRoche is 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.

Friday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Matt Chico (Washington):
There's not much of a book on either of these guys. This will be Dumatrait's first start since replacing Matt Morris in the rotation and seventh career major-league start. … Zimmerman and Ronnie Belliard are each 2-for-2 with an RBI. Belliard has doubled twice off Dumatrait. … Sanchez is 2-for-6 with a home run and two RBI against Chico. Ronny Paulino is 2-for-4.

Saturday: Paul Maholm (Pittsburgh) vs. John Lannan (Washington):
Milledge has a home run against Maholm and Paul LoDuca is 4-for-9 against the Pittsburgh left-hander and new father. … This will be only Lannan's 12th major-league appearance. He has never faced the Pirates.

Sunday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Tim Redding (Washington):
Milledge is 3-for-5 and Zimmerman is 2-for-8 with two doubles lifetime against Snell. … Bay is one of four active Pirates to face Redding and he is 2-for-7. … Sanchez, LaRoche and Xavier Nady are a combined 0-for-5.