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Pirates Pregame News, Notes, Lineups

Pirates Pregame News, Notes, Lineups

Happy Independence Day to all out there.

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I just got done with the manager and clubhouse --- not much to report today but I’ll do my best to give you some of the highlights….

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First – I’m sitting here watching Brandon Inge pitch to his kids and they look to be about maybe 7 and 5 – and the 7-year old is smashing the ball into the rightfield seats. Now granted, they are hitting midway out in right field but still, the kid isn’t that big and he is crushing the ball.

A pretty impressive display of hitting for the lad – but also pretty cool that he gets to hit with his Major League dad pitching to him inside a Major League park…

OK, enough holiday fluff – the news of the day is that AJ Burnett is, as we speak, throwing a bullpen session and if all goes well he is likely to get the start Sunday. If not, it will be Jeanmar Gomez but at least Burnett is to the point where he is throwing again and on the  verge of a return and I suspect we will know more about where he is at after the game.

Lineups for today:

Phillies

Ben “Don’t Call me Paul” Revere – 8

Chase Utley – 4

Jimmy “Don’t Call me Howard” Rollins – 6

Ryan “Don’t Call me Dwight” Howard – 3

Domonic “Don’t Call me Jim” Brown – 7

Delmon “Don’t Call me Neil” Young – 9

Kevin Frandsen – 5

Carlos Ruiz – 2

Cole Hamels – 1

Pirates

Starling Marte – 7

Jose Tabata – 9

Andrew McCutchen – 8

Gaby Sanchez – 3

Russell Martin – 2

Pedro Alvarez – 5

Neil Walker – 4

Clint Barmes – 6

Gerrit “Don’t Call me Robin” Cole -  1

Couple of other quick items:

** I asked Hurdle if he thinks that Pedro is an All Star based on his power numbers and he said, in a nutshell “yes, I believe he is” and then Hurdle added “when you look at the field of third baseman that are in play, that guy will be voted in by the fans, there is your starter, if you are looking at another two to add to the club you would like to have a guy on the bench that could come off and change the direction of a game with one swing of the bat, he would be as important to have as anybody.” He said the All Star game has changed so much and is more an event than a game, though the fact that the winning team gets home field advantage for its league in the World Series.  “The beauty of it now is there are three different ways to get in now, whether you are voted by the players, picked by the fans or picked by the manager so the opportunity is there,” Hurdle said.

** This weekend is the annual ‘Father/Son” trip where the Pirates and coaching staff get to bring their dads on the road trip to Chicago. Hurdle said it is something he started when he was in Colorado and for obvious reasons is very popular. “I think it is great, I am real pleased with the guys who are able to move upon it and bring their fathers,” Hurdle said. “So dads are pumped but Grilli’s dad will try to sneak into the bullpen. And we have big Tom [Walker] so we have a couple of pros with us.”

** Cole Hamels is having a tough year – he is 2-11 with a 4.58 ERA – but Hurdle said the Pirates aren’t going to fall into the trap of thinking he isn’t still capable of pitching at an elite level. “What makes him dangerous is the experience he has had, the games that he has won, the skill set that he has,” Hurdle said. “I think that it would be hard for them not to feel good when he is on the mound no matter what is going on because he has the ability to shut down the other team.”

** I thought it was very interesting – the subject of the Pirates players and Hurdle becoming more in demand for media and marketing type stuff as they win more came up and Hurdle said it is something they are aware of but they aren’t going to change who they are and what they do. “We will continue to do the same kind of monitoring of our clubhouse since we have done since opening day and we have been very good at eliminating distractions,” Hurdle said. “If it is just people asking for interviews – there are only so many you can do and just because we are winning does mean we should do more.”

** Hurdle “There is a vibe in this ballpark when it is unique and I have been in a lot of ballparks and I’ve been in ballparks that are a lot larger opportunity to have fans this is unique,” Hurdle said. “This intimate plus it is not elegant intimate, this is blue collar intimate, this is Pittsburgh and these people are grinding right there with us, they are vocal and they know the game. We feel it, we are appreciative of it, we feel we have a home field advantage when this place is full.”

First Published: March 24, 2016, 5:14 p.m.

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