Pirates would like prospect Jose Tabata to begin next season in Class AAA

One of the more interesting storylines for the Pirates going into the 2010 season will be whether top hitting prospect Jose Tabata claims a roster spot coming out of spring training. Tabata, 20, was promoted up to Class AAA Indianapolis last week after batting .303 in 61 games for the Altoona Curve (AA) and is on the verge of being MLB ready. Tabata has been on a tear since early July and has continued his strong play in AAA, batting .385 in three games with Indianapolis. With the minor league season ending in early September, it has been speculated that Tabata would be a potential September call-up. Indications are that won’t be the case and infact, Tabata will not have

Pirates trade Adam Laroche to Boston for two prospects.

The Pirates have traded Adam Laroche to the Boston Red Sox. The Pirates will receive pitcher Hunter Strickland and shortstop Argenis Diaz according to Alex Spiere of WEEI. The 29-year-old Laroche is batting .247/.329/.441 this season with 12 home runs and 40 RBI and is in the final year of his contract which pays him $7.05 million per season. It is being speculated that the Pirates will pay some of Laroche’s salary. The only other known team to show an interest in Laroche has been the San Francisco Giants. The Red Sox were in pursuit of Nationals 1B Nick Johnson but the asking price for Laroche is much lower. * The first impression on the return for Laroche is that

Lack of run support has negated improvements in other areas

By Paul Ladewski CHICAGO – Leave it to home plate umpire Mark Carlson to do what the Pirates haven’t done often enough this season. Actually knock an opponent pitcher out of the box. But not even the ejection of Chicago Cubs hot head Carlos Zambrano was enough to shake the Pirates out of their latest funk in a 5-2 setback at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon. Throw out a rare 10-run outburst in the series opener two nights earlier, and the Pirates scored 13 runs in their last seven games. “We’ve been there the last few years,” said firstbaseman Adam LaRoche, who had one of the eight singles that his team totaled for the day. “It’s just one of those

Pirates shutout for second consecutive game

CHICAGO — If it’s late May, then it can’t be too early for the Pirates to look back to the future. It sure beats a look at back at what happened against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night, which to say another shutout loss, 4-0, the second for the Pirates in as many games. The Pirates were limited to five hits, and in the process, they wasted another solid performance on the mound. Starter Ross Ohlendorf allowed three earned runs in 7 2/3 innings but was stuck with the loss, anyway. “I mean, we’ve mixed in different guys,” said manager John Russell, who sounded like someone who had exhausted most if not all of his options. “The last time

Pirates complete sweep of Marlins, win 7-4

Pirates improve to 9-6 on the season Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Adam Laroche who has been among the major leagues worst hitters in the month of the April the past three seasons, is off to his best start in a Pirates uniform. Laroche went 4-for-5 while bother Andy Laroche drove in a pair of runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates (9-6) beat the Florida Marlins 7-4 Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park, to complete a three game sweep of the Marlins (11-4). The Pirates had 10 hits on the afternoon and got timely scoring as the Pirates scored runs in five different innings. Nyjer Morgan and Jack Wilson each added RBI singles. Laroche is hitting

Duke throws CG, 4-hit shutout in 7-0 win

In front of a sell out crowd, Zach Duke threw a four hit, complete game shutout leading the Pittsburgh Pirates (4-3) to a 7-0 victory over the Houston Astros (1-6), Monday afternoon at PNC Park. Duke (2-0) is off to a strong start after a 5-14 season in 2008 and credits pitching coach Joe Kerrigan for the turnaround. Duke’s complete game shutout was the first by a Pirates pitcher in a home opener since 1978 While Duke dominated on the pitchers mound, Freddy Sanchez had three doubles, starting a five run third inning for the Pirates. Adam LaRoche who is notoriously a slow starter in April had three hits including a two run homer in the third inning to give

4/9 lineup: LaRoche brothers scratched

3B Andy LaRoche and 1B Adam LaRoche will be scratched today for the Pirates. Adam LaRoche will be replaced by Eric Hinske and Roman Vasquez will remain in the starting lineup at thirdbase. Pirates Lineup Nyjer Morgan LF Freddy Sanchez 2B Nate McLouth CF Ryan Doumit C Eric Hinske 1B Brandon Moss RF Ramon Vazquez 3B Jack Wilson SS Ross Ohlendorf P