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Wednesday, February 20, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Catcher J.R. House, one of the Pirates' top minor-league prospects, received an injection for a torn muscle in his abdomen and was held out of catching and running yesterday for the second consecutive day.

House, picked to play in the Futures All-Star Game last summer, had a muscle torn in the inner wall of his abdomen while lifting weights about six weeks ago and aggravated the injury in the past few days. He can take batting practice, but the quick movements required in catching cause him pain.

The injury is one that is slow to heal, and House listed his availability as "week to week." If the injection does not remedy the situation, he said he will fly to Pittsburgh next week for a magnetic resonance imaging test and possible surgery.

Manager Lloyd McClendon is unsure when House might return to practice. Although House was not projected to be ready to make the jump to the big leagues, the Pirates hoped to have him benefit from being in the major-league camp.

Now they want to make sure he's sound for the season, whether he plays again in Altoona or is promoted to Class AAA Nashville.

"I think one thing this young man understands is that it's important that he plays," McClendon said. "If he has to sit out down here, then so be it. But he needs to get a full year under his belt. If we can get him healthy leaving spring training, I think that's the important thing."

Faster pace

All of the position players are expected to take part in the first full squad workout, and it will feature live batting practice.

In past years, hitters got a day or two in the cages or against batting practice pitchers. But because exhibition games begin next week, McClendon said the schedule was accelerated.

He also will give his state of the Pirates address to the players.

"I know last year was a very tough year in a lot of ways. It was particularly tough on my players," McClendon said. "I just want them to get back to having fun. Do the things you're supposed to do out on the field but have fun doing it. I think if we can get back to that, we'll be on the right track."

Pirates hire Stewart

Andy Stewart, who spent the past two seasons coaching in the Toronto organization, has been named manager of the Class A Williamsport Crosscutters.

Stewart, 31, assisted hitting instructor Cito Gaston and worked with the major-league catchers for Toronto last spring.

A former catcher and first baseman, Stewart made his major-league debut with Kansas City in 1997 and play in a total of five games.