June 25: Indians (30-43) @ Pirates (32-39); Vasquez to start Friday
UPDATE 6:55 pm: Virgil Vasquez will make the start on Friday in place of Charlie Morton. Morton is then scheduled to step into Snell’s spot in the rotation and pitch Sunday. Though Morton said he felt fine to go on Friday, this move gives the right-hander two extra days to let his left hamstring heal a bit more.
Vasquez went 5-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 14 starts with Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Well, the rest of the news around here certainly pales in comparison to the big move of the day, that being the Pirates’ decision to send Ian Snell to Triple-A Indianapolis. There will be much more on how this decision came about and who made it on the main website shortly (some quotes are below in the previous entry), but I wanted to set up another link here with the rest of the afternoon’s news…
- There is still no final decision made on who Friday’s starter is going to be. Charlie Morton (strained left hamstring) continues to tell us that he feels just fine and is ready to make his start on Friday, but the staff wanted to see Morton go through some workouts this afternoon before making a final decision. We should know what’s going on before the end of the night.
- If Morton can pitch on Friday, then Virgil Vasquez (who is on his way up from Indy as I type) will pitch in Snell’s spot on Sunday. If the Pirates want to be cautious with Morton’s situation, Vasquez will pitch tomorrow. Your Sunday starter could then be Morton.
- Catcher Ryan Doumit was out running the bases earlier this afternoon, but the biggest news is that he has now progressed to the point where he can take batting practice in the cage. Still no word on when a rehab assignment would begin.
- There’s a story on the main site with this information, but in case you missed it, both Brad Lincoln and Pedro Alvarez have been selected to participate in the All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis. Each organization can have up to two players selected (last year Pittsburgh had just one — Andrew McCutchen). I will be out in St. Louis covering the All-Star Game, so I’m pumped to get to see the two farm system studs play.
- Speaking of Alvarez, he went deep again on Thursday for Double-A Altoona with a two-run shot in the first. Alvarez also doubled in the game, scored twice and drove in three.
- As expected, catcher Tony Sanchez, the No. 4 overall pick in this summer’s Draft, has been promoted to low Single-A West Virigina. He’ll arrive on Saturday after attending the Johnny Bench award ceremony in Kansas
- Another promotion to note: Chase d’Arnaud, the club’s fourth-round pick in last year’s Draft, has been promoted to Single-A Lynchburg. D’Arnaud recently played in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game and hit. 291 with 14 doubles, three triples, three homers and 31 RBIs in 62 games with low-A West Virginia.
- Also worth noting that manager John Russell gave Brandon Moss the start in right on Thursday against a left-handed pitcher. Moss has gotten the day off against lefty starters all season, but it’s hard to argue that Delwyn Young and Steve Pearce (both of whom have had their defensive issues in the outfield) would be better options. As Russell joked: “It’s time to take the training wheels off.”
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Pirates lineup:
- Andrew McCutchen (CF)
- Nyjer Morgan (LF)
- Freddy Sanchez (2B)
- Adam LaRoche (1B)
- Andy LaRoche (3B)
- Brandon Moss (RF)
- Jason Jaramillo (C)
- Jack Wilson (SS)
- Ross Ohlendorf (RHP)
Indians lineup:
- Jamey Carroll (2B)
- Mark DeRosa (RF)
- Victor Martinez (1B)
- Shin-soo Choo (LF)
- Jhonny Peralta (3B)
- Ben Francisco (CF)
- Luis Valbuena (SS)
- Kelly Shoppach (C)
- Cliff Lee (LHP)
