May 25: Pirates (20-24) @ Cubs (21-21)
Not exactly the nicest of days here in the Windy City. For some reason, it seems like the weather just can’t turn the page to spring/summer temperatures. The forecast calls for rain tonight, but it looks like there might be a window around game time. Tomorrow’s thunderstorms are a lot more ominous. It’s supposed to rain on Wednesday, too, so we’ll see how all this goes. The Pirates do come back here two more times later in the year, so there will be plenty of time for a make-up, if necessary.
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A few Minor League notes of interest… I spoke with both GM Neal Huntington and farm director Kyle Stark over the weekend for a story I’m working on later in the week on the pitching depth in the Minor League system. (You can look for that on Thursday). But while talking to both, I also got updates on some guys rehabbing from injuries.
Bryan Morris (right shoulder injury) has thrown two rehab starts in extended Spring Training and has two more rehab starts left. Morris has not had any setbacks since returning to the mound.
Jose Tabata (strained right hamstring) is heading to Bradenton on Tuesday and will begin moving toward game progression there immediately.
While we’re talking Minor Leagues, I wanted to make a plug (shameless, I know) for Scott McCauley’s Indianapolis Indians blog, which can be found here. McCauley is one of the Indians’ two broadcasters, and though I’ve had his blog listed on the links section here for a while, I thought I’d specifically recommend it. Anyone looking for the daily scoop on your Triple-A club, this is a good site to start. He’s got the team covered, and his insight is great for those of us who don’t have the luxury of seeing those guys play…
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As for your Major League club, no one was complaining about these travel arrangement which had the Pirates go from the South Side to the North Side without having to board a flight or change hotels. That’s an unusual luxury, appreciated by yours truly as well.
After last season’s pace, it’s kind of odd that this is the first time the Cubs and Pirates have met this year. The two teams had faced each other 12 times at this point in the season last year. The Cubs are in the middle of a six game losing streak — good or bad sign? who knows — and have scored only five runs in those six games.
“They can score quickly,” manager John Russell said pregame, putting down the notion that the Pirates can take advantage of Chicago’s slump. “It only takes two or three swings. I don’t think anyone is saying we’ve got them at the right time. Hopefully we can get out of here with a few wins.”
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Little else in the way of news… Everyone is available in the bullpen, thanks in large part to the starting pitching over the weekend. … Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche are back in the lineup after a day off on Sunday. … No update yet on Craig Hansen (neck spasms), who was scheduled to have another doctor’s visit in Pittsburgh today. Huntington said he was unsure of whether the results of that visit will come today or tomorrow, but as soon as I’ve got any info., it will be passed along. …And the rain has stopped here. Good news.
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Pirates lineup:
- Nyjer Morgan (LF)
- Freddy Sanchez (2B)
- Nate McLouth (CF)
- Adam LaRoche (1B)
- Brandon Moss (RF)
- Andy LaRoche (3B)
- Jason Jaramillo (C)
- Jack Wilson (SS)
- Paul Maholm (LHP)
Cubs lineup:
- Alfonso Soriano (LF)
- Ryan Theriot (SS)
- Milton Bradley (RF)
- Reed Johnson (CF)
- Geovany Soto (C)
- Micah Hoffpauir (1B)
- Ryan Freel (3B)
- Aaron Miles (SS)
- Ryan Dempster (RHP)
