BRADENTON, Fla. -- Notes, quotes and anecdotes from the Pirates' spring training ...
Day 10: The Pirates worked out for three hours yesterday, under thick clouds and 70-degree temperatures at Pirate City.
The drills included slash bunting, baserunning and pickoff moves, as well as a third day of catchers corralling throws from the outfield. Also, 18 pitchers threw batting practice, including Paul Maholm -- who again looked exceptionally sharp -- Matt Morris, Zach Duke and John Grabow.
Today: Byung-Hyun Kim, added to the roster yesterday after finally signing his contract, will participate with the team for the first time. Workouts begin at 9:30 a.m.
Camp roster: 67, with 38 pitchers -- including Kim -- 8 catchers, 13 infielders and 8 outfielders.
Injury updates: Reliever Damaso Marte (illness) threw a bullpen session and will graduate to batting practice in two or three days. He could be ready to pitch in a game March 3.
Battle lines: Duke's hold on a rotation spot probably is about the same as Ronny Paulino's status as No. 1 catcher, so many are watching him closely this spring.
He threw batting practice yesterday to Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez and started slowly, with fastball after fastball getting slapped with authority. But he found a groove with off-speed stuff shortly thereafter and began getting swings and misses, foul balls or muted contact.
When Duke was done, Wilson and Doumit each walked to the mound to offer a fist-pump.
Fun in the sun: Jim Sullivan, a Hershey resident and lifelong Pirates fan, has been making the trip to Bradenton for spring training the past 14 years, but he never had been inside the team's headquarters. So, he kiddingly asked team president Frank Coonelly last week if he could get a tour of the new one.
Coonelly obliged by taking Sullivan all through the new building Friday, then inviting Sullivan to sit in his office and discuss the direction of the franchise.
"Just me," Sullivan said. "Can you believe it?"
Inside pitch: Although the Pirates are taking many steps toward restoring tradition, those red alternate jerseys that were introduced in 2007 will remain for another year ... and probably not more.
All Major League Baseball teams are required to submit applications for uniform changes a year in advance, and new management took over after the most recent deadline. But expect that application to be filed this year.
Countdown to Atlanta: 37 days.
-- By Dejan Kovacevic
First Published: February 25, 2008, 5:00 a.m.
