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Notes and quotes from the week in Bradenton
Sunday, March 05, 2006
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On the bubble
Peter Diana, Post-Gazette photos
Victor Santos: 17-33 in parts of five major-league seasons.
Click photo for larger image.
Starting rotation: The loss of Kip Wells expanded not only the openings available but also the field of candidates. Beforehand, Pirates' management was citing only Victor Santos, Ryan Vogelsong and Ian Snell. Now, Sean Burnett, Tom Gorzelanny and Brandon Duckworth are in the mix as well. The pitcher who clearly moves to the top of the list now is Santos, given he is the only one who can replace Wells' experience.
Advantage: Santos
Bullpen: Vogelsong showed enough positives Thursday to illustrate why the team kept him this winter, but he will be bullpen-bound if he is not consistent all spring. If he is back in relief, that would leave one vacancy. Terry Adams and Scott Strickland have been impressive in the early going, but Jorge Vasquez did himself no favors with four walks yesterday.
Advantage: Vogelsong, Giovanni Carrara
Utilityman: The Pirates say they will keep an eye on Yurendell DeCaster while he plays in the World Baseball Classic, but his absence leaves more playing time for Jose Hernandez right under the staff's nose. Also, do not dismiss from this competition Mike Edwards, a Jim Tracy bench stalwart last season in Los Angeles. He had an outfield assis and the winning sacrifice fly yesterday.
Advantage: Hernandez
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On the spot
Three questions for infielder Freddy Sanchez:
Q. Your favorite part of spring training?
A. The very beginning. Just walking out onto that field, getting back out there, you know the season is going to be starting soon. It's only six weeks, and that's exciting.
Q. Most annoying part?
A. I'd have to say it's getting up in the morning. During the season, we have night games. During the offseason, we sleep in. Man, that first morning down here when you hear that alarm clock going off, that's tough for me. It's a different world.
Q. What do you do away from the field? Head to the beach at all?
A. I don't do much. I have my wife, Alissa, and my 10-month-old, Evan, so I basically go home and play dad. We might go out to dinner once in a while or go out and sit by the pool. The beach? No, I'm not a big fan of the beach. I can handle the swimming pool.
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On the way up
Reliever Matt Capps, 22, was perhaps the most surprising of the Pirates' September callups last season, given that he never pitched above Class AA Altoona. But really, not much about Capps should sneak up on anyone.
He is a two-pitch pitcher -- fastball and changeup -- and he did not begin developing a slider until the second half of last season.
Moreover, he throws those pitches in pretty much the same spot every time.
"I throw strikes," Capps said. "I challenge hitters. That's my game."
His control numbers support that contention convincingly: In 52 appearances between Class A Hickory and Altoona, plus four in Pittsburgh, he struck out 68 while walking only six. He posted a 2.44 ERA in the minors, 4.50 with the Pirates.
He said he took the most from his time in the majors.
"It meant so much, just knowing I can go out and compete at that level. Whether I go back to Pittsburgh right away or not, I can take that confidence from my time there, feeling like I belong there. If I make it, great. If not, I'm going to fight all year until I get back there."
Capps will return to Altoona to open the year.
On deck
Wednesday: As if practicing and playing games for 40 of 41 days is not enough, the Pirates will double their workload with their first of four split-squad doubleheaders. In the afternoon, one group will make the short ride south to Sarasota to take on the Cincinnati Reds. (Think Sean Casey will be one of them?) In the evening, another group will head north to Tampa to take on the New York Yankees.