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Pirates Caravan Rolls In |
The young people who went through the line and collected autographs of Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, pitchers Daniel McCutchen and James McDonald, and broadcaster John Wehner smiled from ear to ear on Thursday night during the team’s Winter Caravan stop at Cabela’s in Ohio County. What they didn’t realize is they weren’t the ones getting the bigger thrill. ”It’s awesome,” said McCutchen, who didn’t meet his first Major League Baseball player until he was a junior in college. Article PhotosPhotos by Andy Lloyd Photos by Andy Lloyd It wasn’t until McCutchen was playing baseball at the University of Oklahoma when he met his first big leaguers in former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Reggie Willits and veteran MLB pitcher Jamey Wright, a couple of Oklahoma natives who worked out with some of the Sooners players. ”I know how big of a deal it was to me,” McCutchen said. The Pittsburgh Pirates try not to let anyone in their fan base wait anywhere near that long for that star-crossed moment. ”The Pirates organization has been as aggressive in a good way as any of the three organizations I’ve been,” Hurdle said. ”The (Texas) Rangers were awesome. The (Colorado) Rockies were awesome. The Pirates, we’re connected to the community so many different ways – fundraisers for all different sorts of charities, book reads, clothes handouts, school visitations, hospital visitations – and there are a lot of individual foundations that players have set up. But we are absolutely trying to find our way to get more involved in the community. It’s a blue-collar town fan base and we love the interaction.” Among Thursday’s Caravan stops was a clinic in Pittsburgh for special needs kids. ”That was really special to see those kids and see how excited they would get and all of the emotions they were spilling out there,” McCutchen said. That’s something that isn’t uncommon for McCutchen and his teammates. ”I probably went to the (Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh) five or six times during the season,” McCutchen said. ”We tried to do it every homestand. That’s something that we really like to do.” Hurdle said when something comes up, the Pirates are never short on volunteers. ”Whenever we’ve had an ask, we’ve been able to meet the need,” he said. ”That hasn’t always happened (in his previous stops). Our players understand. We need to get out. We need to let (the fans) know we appreciate them showing up. And through the months of June and July, (PNC Park) was rocking. The fan base was back; it was special. And we need to build that so we can have enthusiasm, that energy, for a six-month period.” Jim Trdinich, the director of Pirates media relations, said it’s the same way throughout the entire organization. ”They all give back in some way,” he said. ”We have a program not only with the big-league club, but every minor league team has to devote a particular amount of hours to community service. Every year, we have a person at each level, including the major leagues, who spends the most time in the community who does the community service above and beyond.” As Hurdle said, it’s not like that everywhere. That’s why he loves seeing those smiling faces as much as they enjoy seeing his. ”It’s an opportunity for us to give something back,” he said. ”Our fan base is critical. We know it comes from a three-state region. We know how important it is for the fans in West Virginia to associate with our ballclub. For us to come down here, make some eye contact, shake a hand, it’s special. I think it personalizes the relationship.” Pirates Charities was integral to the Miracle Field of the Ohio Valley effort. A groundbreaking ceremony for the special needs facility was held in October at the J.B. Chambers Youth Sports Complex in Elm Grove. Leave any suggestions in the comment box. Posted in pirates-news | Comments Off
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Bucs hope to build on first 4 months of 2011… |
The Pittsburgh Pirates 2012 Caravan came to the Millcreek Mall Wednesday evening, with members of the organization believing the success for the first 100 games in the 2011 season can carry on longer in 2012. Outfielder Jose Tabata, starting pitcher Jeff Karstens, first base coach Luis Silverio and announcer Greg Brown greeted fans, and were enthused about the possibilities of improving on a 72-89 record, Pittsburgh’s 19th straight losing season, a record for not only major league baseball but all four of the top professional leagues. The Pirates were 53-47 after 100 games and 54-49 until going on a 10-game losing streak as everything spiraled downward for the rest of the season. The organization has added veteran catcher Rod Barajas, veteran shortstop Clint Barmes, starting pitcher Erik Bedard, slugging third baseman Casey McGehee and former Pirates All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth. The organization has added veteran catcher Rod Barajas, veteran shortstop Clint Barmes, starting pitcher Erik Bedard, slugging third baseman Casey McGehee and former Pirates All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth. Comment Below!. Posted in pirates-news | Comments Off
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Santa Cruz native McGehee letting trade to Pirates… |
One day after third baseman Casey McGehee was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Santa Cruz native was still absorbing the deal. The Pirates acquired McGehee for reliever Jose Veras late Monday night, hours after the Brewers agreed to terms with Chicago Cubs free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez. In recent weeks, McGehee’s future at third base in Milwaukee became questionable. The Brewers spoke of McGehee seeing action at first base, if free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder signed elsewhere. “The last 24 hours have been pretty hectic,” said McGehee, a Soquel High alum, on Tuesday. “I saw the writing on the wall and put two and two together. But it moved a lot quicker than I thought it would. In some ways, I feel relieved to have an end to it. It’s starting to sink in a little bit, but it hasn’t hit home yet.” McGehee, 29, had a strong rookie season in 2009 and a big year in 2010, but slumped at the plate in 2011 and lost his starting job to Jerry Hairston Jr. late in the season. McGehee batted .223 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs for the NL Central champions in 2011 after hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs in 2010. The Dodgers signed Hairston Jr., a free agent, in December. “Casey McGehee adds a quality option for us at both corner infield positions and adds depth to our position player group,” said Neal Huntington, Pirates general manager, in a statement. McGehee will enter spring training competing for the starting job at third base with Pedro Alvarez. McGehee could also split time at first with Garrett Jones and is an option to play outfield. The Sentinel’s All-County Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000, McGehee views the competition as wide open. “I’m going to go in and do what I’ve always done,” he said. “And if that’s the case, things will work out like they’re supposed to. … I’m going to go in with a fresh mindset. I think I learned a lot about myself last year. You can’t make up for what happened in the past all at once. You’ve got do things day-by-day and be patient.” Brewers general manager Doug Melvin called McGehee on Monday evening and informed him of the trade. After that, McGehee took calls from Huntington and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. “He seems like a great guy, like my kind of guy,” McGehee said of Hurdle. “It seems like we hit it off good, but that’s just an assessment of 20 minutes of conversation.” McGehee is a .265 career hitter with 52 home runs and 242 RBIs in three-plus major league seasons. He was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 10th round of the 2003 draft and made his big league debut with Chicago on Sept. 2, 2008. Milwaukee claimed him off waivers on Oct. 29, 2008. Ramirez, who started his career in Pittsburgh, was the starting third baseman in Chicago while McGehee climbed through the minors. And Ramirez was the player who ultimately led to McGehee’s trade Monday. “I don’t begrudge him one bit,” McGehee said. “If your best friend was offered $36 million over three years to do your job, he’d take it. It’s ironic because he started his career in Pittsburgh. If you look at the back of our baseball cards, we’ve played for all the same teams, but in just a little different order.” McGehee is hoping he can rekindle his offensive approach and stroke from two years ago and find himself in the heart of the Pirates’ batting order daily. He is a career .219 hitter [14 for 64 in 21 games] with five extra-base hits at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. “That’s such a small sample size,” said Barry Meister, McGehee’s Illinois-based agent. “I think the Pirates value his right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup. And he has an opportunity to get at-bats at first and third. It’s a bigger park, but if he goes the other way and hits gap-to-gap, it has a chance to be a good place for him.” Meister said three other teams expressed interest in McGehee on Monday — two from the AL and one from the NL. But the Pirates it was. McGehee said he thinks they are on the cusp of doing something special. They had a 53-47 record and were in first place on July 25 last season before going 19-43 in their final 62 games. “I think they’ve gotten to the point where they’re not rebuilding anymore,” he said. “They’re adding pieces to go to the next level. They’ve got enough talent. If everything falls into place, there’s no reason to believe that this year couldn’t be the year they make the playoffs. … The park is beautiful, one of the nicer parks and kind of out of the mold of the [San Francisco] Giants’ stadium. I remember as a visitor thinking this would be an unbelievable place to play when they’re doing well.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Comment Below!. Posted in pirates-news | Comments Off
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MLB: BC grad Resop gets good news from Pittsburgh… |
Help the Resop family fight pediatric cancer by sponsoring Kara Resop as she competes in the Naples Daily News Half Marathon on Jan. 15. Checks can be made out to: Diamond Dust LLC C/O Chris Resop P.O. Box 275 Naples, FL, 34106 Note: 100 percent of the donations will be given to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation for research. Receipts are available upon request.
NAPLES — The Barron Collier High graduate was waiting to see whether the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team he went 5-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 76 appearances with during the 2011 MLB season, had tendered him a contract for 2012. The Pirates and every other MLB team had until 11:59 p.m. Monday to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players like Resop and six of his teammates. At 11:55 p.m., Resop finally got the message he had been waiting for when his agent texted him and informed him that the team had tendered him a contract. “My agent read it on Twitter and let me know,” Resop said with a laugh. “All (seven) of the guys (who were arbitration eligible) found out that way. I don’t have a Twitter so I didn’t know. “It’s a relief. My family and I are happy to be going back to Pittsburgh.” The tender means the right-handed relief pitcher will avoid free agency and, unless he is traded, will be back in his role in the Pirates’ bullpen. Resop’s wait may have been caused by the Pirates’ brass working on a trade that sent relief pitcher Jose Veras to the Milwaukee Brewers for third baseman Casey McGehee. “They may have been trying to get that trade wrapped up before making any (arbitration) decisions, who knows?” Resop said. “It’s nice to be going back to a familiar city.” Players and their agents have the next few weeks to discuss potential salary figures with teams. Any player who was been tendered a contract and is still unsigned on Jan. 18 will exchange desired salary figures with his team. Arbitration hearings will then be scheduled during the first three weeks of February for any player that still has not come to an agreement. Resop is hoping to avoid arbitration at all costs. The hearings could fall after Pirates pitchers and catchers are due to report for spring training in Bradenton. “I don’t think it’s going to take that long,” Resop said of getting a contract finalized. “Nobody wants to go to arbitration. It’s something you just don’t want to worry about.” Resop and his family will be doing some fundraising work with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation prior to the 2012 baseball season. Resop’s wife, Kara, will be competing in the Naples Daily News Half Marathon on Jan. 15 at Cambier Park. The Resops are looking for people to sponsor Kara’s run by making donations, big or small, to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Donations can be made through the Diamond Dust LLC, care of Chris Resop at P.O. Box 275, Naples, FL, 34106. Receipts are available upon request for tax purposes. “Any donation is great because 100 percent of it goes to pediatric cancer research,” Chris Resop said. “There are so many different circumstances out there with children’s cancer that just aren’t fair. Kara has run the half marathon a couple times but this is a little more meaningful to us.” Subscribe to our feed!. Posted in pirates-news | Comments Off
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Pirates Acquire 3B McGehee from Brewers |
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired third The move came hours after the Brewers agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Monday.
McGehee had a strong rookie season in 2009 and a big year in 2010 but then slumped at the plate in 2011 and lost his starting job to Jerry Hairston Jr. late in the season. McGehee batted .223 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs for the NL Central champions, a year after hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs. Veras was 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA and one save in a career-high 79 Both players are eligible for arbitration.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Pirates Acquire 3B McGehee from Brewers |
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired third The move came hours after the Brewers agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Monday.
McGehee had a strong rookie season in 2009 and a big year in 2010 but then slumped at the plate in 2011 and lost his starting job to Jerry Hairston Jr. late in the season. McGehee batted .223 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs for the NL Central champions, a year after hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs. Veras was 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA and one save in a career-high 79 Both players are eligible for arbitration.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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