Pirates Notebook: Bautista's gash lands him on DL
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ATLANTA -- When Jose Bautista tried to steal third base Saturday night at Turner Field, his left palm caught the cleats of Atlanta's Chipper Jones, causing a deep, wide gash and heavy bleeding.
It brought a highly unusual sensation, too.
"I could feel the wind in my hand," Bautista said. "That's not a good feeling."
He might have felt worse yesterday upon learning that his cut was serious enough for the Pirates to place him on the 15-day disabled list. And he surely will feel worse still if, as expected, he is not ready to return until early August rather than when he is eligible July 31.
Bautista's stitches must remain in place for 10 days, and he is forbidden any activity with the hand for the first five of those days. From there, he must show he can swing a bat through a minor-league rehabilitation, and the positioning of the cut could make that a challenge.
"That's my bottom hand on the swing, so it's going to take some stress," Bautista said.
There were three other roster moves on the day: Reliever Salomon Torres was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list, the contract of utilityman Don Kelly of Mt. Lebanon was purchased from Class AAA Indianapolis, and reliever John Wasdin was designated for assignment.
Jose Castillo, who has languished on the bench most of the season, will take Bautista's place at third base.
"This is his opportunity," manager Jim Tracy said. "This is what he's here for."
Tracy apparently gave no consideration to switching his infield as it was last season, with Castillo at second base and Freddy Sanchez at third.
"There's no question he can play the position," Tracy said of Castillo. "He's shown us that more than once this year."
Castillo made one throwing error yesterday that led to an Atlanta run, but he also turned in a superb diving stop on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia bouncer down the line.
Torres a 'good soldier'
Torres, who recently demanded a trade and accused general manager Dave Littlefield of deceiving him in contract talks, sounded eager to set all that aside upon rejoining the team yesterday.
"I'm going to be a good soldier right now," Torres said. "If they treat me fairly, I'm going to do the same with them. Let's see how it goes."
Torres spoke by phone with Littlefield during his rehabilitation time in Bradenton, Fla., and that apparently was enough for now.
"I just want to focus on being here, having my arm feel great and helping my team," he said. "I was going crazy on that rehab, and I'm so happy to be back. I'm not here to start controversy."
Torres was placed on the disabled list June 9 because of severe inflammation in a right elbow ligament. Management mapped out a rehabilitation plan that could have taken until the end of July, but he made three exemplary minor-league appearances, and a fourth that was scheduled with Indianapolis yesterday was scrapped.
He pitched for the first time since June 8 yesterday, giving up a run in the seventh inning. He retired his first two batters, but two walks and a Jeff Francouer single followed. Only nine of his 21 pitches were strikes.
Buyer or seller?
Littlefield put the onus on the players, as he invariably does, in determining whether he will be a buyer or seller at the July 31 trade deadline.
"We've got to have the current players achieve more," he said. "I think that's really what's going to drive us, for those players to show us what direction we're going. We've played much better the past couple of weeks, but we've got to do more to get closer to the playoff hunt. I think that will give us the direction we'll go."
Buried treasure
The Pirates have 10 days to trade, waive or release Wasdin. He had a 5.95 ERA in 12 appearances, and opponents were batting .381 against him.
Kelly, back for a second stint, was removed from the 40-man roster June 12 before being demoted to Indianapolis. He batted .218 -- 12 for 55 -- in 18 games there, but he was summoned for his defense and versatility.
The 40-man roster remained full.
INDIANAPOLIS (49-44) won at Rochester, 16-3, for manager Trent Jewett's 900th professional victory. RHP Kip Bouknight (1-1, 4.50) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings. 2B Brian Bixler (.288) hit his fifth home run, a grand slam, and went 1 for 4 with a walk. 1B Yurendell DeCaster (.291) hit his sixth home run and went 2 for 6.
ALTOONA (46-45) beat Akron, 10-4. RHP Yoslan Herrera (4-5, 4.74) pitched six scoreless innings and allowed five hits. He struck out two and walked four. 3B Neil Walker (.292) went 3 for 5 with an RBI. 1B Steve Pearce (.322) went 1 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
LYNCHBURG (40-49) was off.
HICKORY (38-51) beat Lexington, 4-2. RHP Mike Crotta (5-5, 4.86) allowed two runs in seven innings. 1B Jared Keel (.289) hit his 13th home run and went 1 for 4.
STATE COLLEGE (13-12) lost to Brooklyn, 8-1. RHP Nicolas Suero (1-1, 3.20) allowed four runs, two earned, in 5 1/3 innings. 1B Justin Byler (.329) went 2 for 4.
BRADENTON (9-13) lost to the Twins, 7-4. RHP Kyle McPherson (1-1, 4.43) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. 1B John Fitzpatrick (.242) hit his fifth home run and 1 for 2 with 3 walks.
First Published July 15, 2007 11:39 pm
