BRADENTON, Fla. -- Notes, quotes and anecdotes from the Pirates' spring training ...

Day 8: The Pirates' workout spanned three hours yesterday, under sunny skies and steamy 80-degree heat at Pirate City. The drills included extensive work on popups, situational hitting, following signs and sliding.

Also, the team announced it has added a "B" game against Philadelphia at 10 a.m. Friday at Pirate City. The rest of the squad will face the Phillies' split-squad that afternoon at McKechnie Field.

Today: The pitchers go back to the mounds after a day off, beginning at 10 a.m.

Camp roster: 65, with 38 pitchers, 6 catchers and 22 position players. Reliever Byung-Hyun Kim still did not sign his one-year contract, but that is expected today. When he signs, a player will have to come off the full 40-man roster.

Injury updates: Reliever Damaso Marte (flu) threw a 29-pitch bullpen session, his first work off the mound this spring. He will have another tomorrow. ... Second baseman Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) slightly ramped up his throwing in infield drills.

Battle lines: Nyjer Morgan, bidding for the center-field job with Nate McLouth, found out yesterday how closely the new coaching staff wants its instructions to be followed.

The closing drill of the day required players to slide on their backsides into a foam platform. Morgan slid instead on his side, prompting bench coach Gary Varsho to ask, "What was that?"

Morgan replied that he preferred not to slide on his backside.

As other players got back in line, Varsho noticed Morgan heading to the clubhouse -- thinking he was done -- and yelled out, "Nyjer, what are you doing?" It was an order for him to return. Morgan did and completed the slide as instructed.

Fun in the sun: The Pirates might have to dash any thoughts they had about suiting up old No. 9 to face the New York Yankees this summer.

Bill Mazeroski said he has committed to participating in Mario Lemieux's annual charity golf tournament June 25-26, which might keep him -- bat and glove aside -- from appearing at PNC Park during the Pirates' June 24-26 series against the team he beat with one legendary swing Oct. 13, 1960.

The series will mark the Yankees' first visit to Pittsburgh since that game.

"I hadn't realized they never came back after that," Mazeroski said. "I think it's exciting. It's going to be great for Pittsburgh."

Overheard: Players are being ordered to shout, "I got it!" three times while a popup is in the air, perhaps for a reason. Consider what was heard from first baseman Adam LaRoche as he dropped one: "I got it! I got it! Oh, my!"

Countdown to Atlanta: 38 days.