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Inside pitch | Notes, quotes, anecdotes
Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield made his second trade for pitching with the Chicago White Sox in three months Wednesday (March 27), dealing left-handed reliever Damaso Marte and minor-league infielder Edwin Yan for top right-handed pitching prospect Matt Guerrier.
The move of Marte leaves the Pirates with 33 players remaining in camp. The Pirates assigned Guerrier to Class AAA Nashville. Guerrier was ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the White Sox's deep farm system coming into spring training by Baseball America magazine. Meanwhile, Marte was not going to make the Pirates' Opening Day roster and would have had to clear waivers to be sent to Nashville. That makes the deal look like a potential steal for the Pirates, who acquired right-handers Josh Fogg, Sean Lowe and Kip Wells from the White Sox in a Dec. 13 trade for right-hander Todd Ritchie and minor-league catcher Lee Evans. Fogg and Wells will begin the season in the Pirates' starting rotation, and Lowe will work out of the bullpen. Guerrier, 23, has been impressive ever since Chicago selected him in the 10th round of the 1999 amateur draft from Kent State, compiling a 26-8 record with 38 saves and a 2.80 ERA in 105 games, 27 starts, in three minor-league seasons. Marte, 27, came to spring training with a good chance of making the team. However, he walked seven batters in 8 2/3 innings with a 4.15 ERA. The Pirates acquired Marte from the New York Yankees last June in a trade for infielder Enrique Wilson. Marte was 0-1 with a 4.71 ERA in 23 games with the Pirates after going 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four games with Nashville. PROBABLE ROTATION Villone gets the Opening Day start by default because he is the lone veteran in a young rotation, though he has thrown well this spring. Wells is showing signs of possibly turning into the dominant starter the Chicago White Sox once hoped he would become. Anderson needs to consistently keep the ball low in the strike zone or he will be elsewhere in 2003. Williams has great poise for a young pitcher and should have a solid second year in the majors. Fogg, the only rookie on the Opening Day roster, surprisingly won a starting spot with a good curveball and outstanding poise. BULLPEN Beimel has showed much improvement in his second spring after having a rough rookie season. Sauerbeck hopes to rebound from a poor season and again be the top lefty in the bullpen. Boehringer has had a steady spring and should provide solid work in the middle innings. Fetters, who lost 30 pounds in the offseason, will be the top set-up reliever after finishing last season as the closer, though he has been slowed by a strained muscle in his left rib cage late in camp. Lincoln has been slowed by an infected finger on his pitching hand this spring, and his best hope of making the club may be if Fetters has to be disabled. Lowe should be valuable in a number of relief roles, including long man, after barely missing out on a spot in the starting rotation. McKnight is out of options, giving him at least a slim chance of sticking, though he hasn't pitched well this spring. Williams isn't a dominant closer but provides stability at the back end of the bullpen for a non-contending team. CATCHER Kendall should rebound to his usual .300 batting average after playing almost all of last season with a torn left thumb ligament. Osik is a solid catch-and-throw guy but provides little offense. INFIELDERS Young has looked better this spring than he has since 1999 with physical and personal problems behind him. Reese has been slowed by a strained elbow ligament but provides great defense, and the Pirates believe his offense will pick up. Ramirez has scalded the ball late in the spring and seems poised to take another step forward in his rise toward stardom. Wilson makes great plays in the field and is hitting the ball with more authority after adding 16 pounds in the offseason. Benjamin has looked rusty at times after missing last season because of reconstructive elbow surgery and could be at the end of the line. Meares has never recovered from his left hand surgery in 1999, and the Pirates have a tough decision to make on eating the final two years and $7.5 million left on his contract. Nunez has become a solid utility infielder and is no longer an automatic out at the plate. OUTFIELDERS Giles is likely the most underrated player in baseball and will again put up big numbers for a bad club. Brown played only eight games last season before having shoulder surgery and has been rusty all spring but is the Pirates' only option in center. Wilson will likely start the opener against New York Mets LHP Al Leiter but share time in right field with Rios. Hermansen, a perennial prospect, is out of options and has a strained buttocks muscle but has looked like a new man this spring with better plate discipline and outfield instincts. Hyzdu is a journeyman but has played extremely well this spring. Mackowiak bulked up over the winter and is particularly useful because he can play every position but shortstop and center field. Rios has been slow to recover from last August's reconstructive knee surgery and also has been banged up late in camp but figures to see a lot of playing time in right field when healthy. PROBABLE BATTING ORDER DISABLED LIST Copyright (C) 2001 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved. |
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