locke PIRATES NOTES
*Pirates SP Jeff Locke has been optioned to Double-A Altoona. Yes, that’s how far he has fallen. The plan for the Pirates is to give him some rest and recall him on September 3rd. Locke has pitched himself out of a possible playoff rotation spot.
*Pirates GM Neal Huntington said yesterday that the PLTBNL in the Marlon Byrd/John Buck trade will make you go ouch. That player is reliever Victor Black, making the trade official: Pittsburgh received Marlon Byrd, John Buck and $250,000 in cash; New York Mets received Dilson Herrera and Victor Black. Finding relievers is like finding receivers in the NFL. Losing Black doesn’t make you go ouch.
*Closer Jason Grilli is on track to rejoin the team after Labor day. He threw a simulated game today and will pitch for Altoona on Saturday.