August 14: Pirates (46-68) @ Cubs (58-55)

Welcome back to the Friendly Confines, where the weather is warm and humid, but beautiful for a summer baseball game. This is the first of nine more games between the Pirates and Cubs this season (six in Chicago, three in Pittsburgh). The Pirates are 2-4 against the Cubs so far in ’09.

Both teams come into Friday’s contest scuffling. Pittsburgh has lost 10 of 11 and has just two wins since the Trade Deadline passed. The Cubs are coming off an ugly sweep at the hands of Philadelphia and have lost five straight and seven of eight.

So does Chicago’s recent struggles bode well for the Pirates?

“We’ve got enough hills to climb not to worry if a team is hot or not,” said a candid John Russell earlier this morning. “We’re just trying to get better. We’ve got a long way to go as far as things we’re working on – getting more consistent, getting our guys in position to drive runs in. We really can’t worry about if a team is struggling or they’re hot. We’ve got to go out and play.”

As for today’s news, notes and randomness (as well as a few old ones from my recent time off)…

• Lefty Donnie Veal (sprained left index finger) returned to the mound on Thursday for a short side session. He’s scheduled to pitch another on Saturday before being reevaluated in Pittsburgh on Monday. Veal will go out on a rehab assignment, Russell confirmed, and that assignment could start as early as late next week.
• Russell also confirmed that the Pirates plan to send Veal to the Arizona Fall League to pitch as a starter. Rosters for the AFL have not been announced, but Veal’s name has been submitted. The lefty pitched there last fall.
• Catcher Ryan Doumit is out for the second straight day as a precautionary measure for his banged up right wrist. Doumit had X-rays on the wrist and those came back negative. He’s not expected to miss extensive time.
• When asked if he expected righty Evan Meek (strained left oblique) to pitch again this season, Russell said it was too early to make that determination. By all indications, Meek will be out at least a month and possibly longer. 
• Friday’s game begins a stretch in which the Pirates play 25 of 28 games against teams from the National League Central. Pittsburgh is just 14-29 against divisional opponents this year.
• The Pirates announced that the organization will celebrate the 80th birthday of golfer and Western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer on Sept. 8. Palmer will be recognized in a pregame ceremony and bobbleheads of the golf Hall of Famer will be given to fans in attendance.
• Three players on the short season State College team will be representing the Spikes in next week’s NY Penn League All-Star Game, which is to be played in State College. Infielder Brock Holt (ninth round, 2009 Draft), right-hander Phillip Irwin (21st round, 2009 Draft) and right-hander Zach Foster (49th round, 2008 Draft) are the three selections.
• Both Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow seem to be settled into their new blue uniforms and doing well. More on Gorzelanny on the main site later, as he is set to face Zach Duke here on Saturday in his first home start since joining the Cubs.

Pirates lineup:

1. Andrew McCutchen (CF)
2. Ronny Cedeno (SS)
3. Garrett Jones (1B)
4. Delwyn Young (2B)
5. Lastings Milledge (LF)
6. Brandon Moss (RF)
7. Andy LaRoche (3B)
8. Jason Jaramillo (C)
9. Charlie Morton (RHP)

Cubs lineup:

1. Ryan Theriot (SS)
2. Milton Bradley (RF) Sam Fuld (CF)
3. Derrek Lee (1B)
4. Aramis Ramirez (3B) Jake Fox (3B)
5. Kosuke Fukudome (CF) (RF)
6. Alfonso Soriano (LF)
7. Jeff Baker (2B)
8. Koyie Hill (C)
9. Randy Wells (RHP)

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