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PrintCINCINNATI -- Victor Santos -- not Shawn Chacon -- will start tomorrow for the Pirates.
Manager Jim Tracy said Chacon's right knee, which will require surgery in the offseason at the latest, is OK.
The Pirates simply want to have pitching coach Jim Colborn work with Chacon on his mechanics and having the right-hander work out of the bullpen is "a much more feasible way to do this," Tracy said.
Tracy and Colborn watched Chacon pitch for the Colorado Rockies in previous seasons.
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INDIANAPOLIS (67-59) lost to Charlotte, 6-1. RHP Matt Ginter (2-3, 3.90) allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings. 3B Chris Truby (.236) went 2 for 3 with a walk."There were times he pitched extremely well," Tracy said. "But basically there were just ups and downs."
Colborn's extra work with Chacon is designed to eliminate that inconsistency.
Tracy emphasized that Chacon will not remain in the Pirates' bullpen for the rest of the season.
"We do foresee the possibility that Shawn Chacon is going to start some more games before the season ends," Tracy said.
Maybe when -- or if -- the Pirates go to a six-man starting rotation to save wear and tear on the young arms of Ian Snell, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Tom Gorzelanny?
"We feel we have four very, very special entities," Tracy said. "If we do this, they'd each miss one start. So they're still pitching in September and they are continuing to build up innings, but they also are getting an extra day's rest."
Tracy also emphasized that the six-man rotation is not a done deal.
"It is something we're looking at," Tracy said. "Is it on the table and is it being discussed? Yes, it is. But I don't know when. And I don't know if."
Gorzelanny would be the first young starter whose workload would be reduced.
"They want to protect us," Gorzelanny said. "I wouldn't be mad if they went to a sixth man, but I'm just going to go out there every time they give me the ball and do what I need to do."
AAA duty for Van Benschoten
John Van Benschoten, coming back from multiple arm surgeries, has been recalled from his rehabilitation assignment with Class AA Altoona and reinstated from the disabled list.
The right-hander has been optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis and is scheduled to start the second game of the Indians' doubleheader against Richmond tonight.
Bay, Wilson back in lineup
Jason Bay and Jack Wilson, who didn't start most of the Milwaukee series, returned to the lineup last night.
Wilson missed two starts because of a bruise on his right hand. Bay, whose streak of having started 307 consecutive games ended last Monday, didn't start any of the three games against the Brewers.
"Being on the bench was something new to me," Bay said. "I didn't want to push anything. I feel good and now I can get back to normal. It was basically three or four days off, so it was kind of like an All-Star break that I never got. I anticipate going out there and feeling a little younger."
Doumit 0 for 14
Ryan Doumit, rehabbing his torn hamstring, went 0 for 1 and was hit by a pitch yesterday playing for Bradenton in the Gulf Coast League. It was Doumit's second consecutive start at catcher. Doumit is 0 for 14 in his first week of playing for Bradenton.
Reds find fortune
The Cincinnati Reds were 73-89 last season and finished fifth in the National League Central -- 27 games out of first place.
They entered last night's game 62-59, in second place in the division and leading the wild-card race by a game.
"It shows how quickly the fortunes of a ballclub can turn around if you're interested in going through the process correctly and growing together," Tracy said. "They're offensively oriented. They win a lot of games 7-6, 8-7, 6-5. They've got to score some runs. And they can bop you. They can put up multiple runs very quickly."
