October 2: Pirates (61-97) @ Reds (76-83); Ascanio undergoes surgery
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com
The biggest news out of the clubhouse today deals with right-hander Jose Ascanio, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Friday morning. He was found to have a tear in his labrum after originally being diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis back in August. You’ll remember that Ascanio stopped throwing last week as he was trying to work back into position to pitch out of the bullpen before the season ended.
There is no timetable for Ascanio’s return — not even a range apparently for me to pass along. If/when more details are passed on to us, I’ll pass them along to you. The Pirates had intended to build Ascanio up as a starter in Spring Training next year, but a lengthy recovery time might nix that plan. He is out of options.
As for today’s news, notes and randomness…
- Manager John Russell announced that Jeff Karstens will start Sunday’s game on three days rest. Karstens threw just 61 pitches on Wednesday, so it isn’t that big of a deal that he’s not getting more than three days in between starts. He’ll likely pitch about 3-4 innings and then give way to a crowded bullpen to do the rest.
- The decision not to go with Kevin Hart on Sunday was not made due to him reaching any sort of pitch/inning limit. He has a ribcage strain that bothered him a bit in his last start, and the Pirates felt no need to risk greater injury by sending him back out there.
- Craig Hansen underwent his monthly medical test last week to see if the nerve in his neck had regenerated at all. GM Neal Huntington said that the test showed improvement, but Hansen is still not to the point where he can get ready to start throwing again. I imagine this wait-and-see mode has to be the most frustrating thing for the right-hander, who, too, is out of options.
- Shortstop Ronny Cedeno is unlikely to see any more playing time this year, Russell said.
- The Pirates are 4-11 against the Reds this season and have gone 1-5 at Great American Ball Park.
- This will be right-hander Daniel McCutchen’s final chance this year to get his first Major League win. McCutchen is 0-2 in his first four big-league starts.
- Oh, and advice for the next time you travel: Don’t leave your credit card in an airport. It turns out to be quite the task to try and track in down. Yes, it’s been that kind of day.
Pirates lineup:
- Andrew McCutchen (CF)
- Andy LaRoche (3B)
- Garrett Jones (1B)
- Ryan Doumit (C)
- Lastings Milledge (LF)
- Brandon Moss (RF)
- Delwyn Young (2B)
- Ramon Vazquez (SS)
- Daniel McCutchen (RHP)
Reds lineup:
- Drew Stubbs (CF)
- Paul Janish (SS)
- Joey Votto (1B)
- Brandon Phillips (2B)
- Scott Rolen (3B)
- Jay Bruce (RF)
- Wladimir Balentien (LF)
- Craig Tatum (C)
- Justin Lehr (RHP)
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with Ascanio undergoing arm surgery it now makes a bad trade even worse. Pirates give up one of top left handed releivers in N.L. and a young lefty starter who won 14 games 2 years ago for a last place team. In return we get a starter who went 1-7 with Pirates with a 7 or 8 era, damaged goods Ascanio, and a A ball minor league player.