The Other Pirates Dynasty 2004

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 12:45 AM

Pirates Offseason
First off, we go with the coaches signing period. The Pirates lost pitching coach Spin Williams and A Manager Dave Clark. The Pirates signed Rick Anderson, rated outstanding, as their new pitching coach for $889k for four years, and Tom Lawless, rated outstanding in hitting and good at pitching, for $925k for three years.

The Pirates lost INF Abraham Nunez, SP Jeff Suppan, MR Dennys Reyes, RF Matt Stairs, SP Jeff D'Amico, MR Mike Holtz, 3B Robin Ventura, and 2B Pat Meares to free agency. Here's a quick preview as to how the Pirates are going to look heading into next season before free agency. The Pirates also made a few roster moves this offseason. They released relievers Mike Lincoln and Duaner Sanchez as they had run out of option years. They also moved JJ Davis, Ryan Vogelsong, and Dave Williams to the 25-man roster, as they are also out of options. The Pirates then added MR Ben Shaffar, SP Justin Reid, RF BJ Barns, and RF Jorge Cortez to the 40-man roster, as their fifth year of playing pro baseball had ended.

The starting rotation lost Suppan and D'Amico. Dave Williams will replace D'Amico as the #5 starter this season, and they hope to be able to go out and pick up a big name starting pitcher to be the ace of the staff, moving the rest of the starters down a notch in the rotation. The Pirates will return the majority of their bullpen, with the only change being Vogelsong replacing Reyes as the mop-up reliever. The catching position will remain the same with House and Cota splitting time, but they need to be careful as Doumit, a 3.5 star prospect, is just waiting for a chance in AAA. First base will return with Craig Wilson getting the majority of the starts. Second base will see Bobby Hill returning as the starter. Mackowiak will return to third base this season, though he has to watch his back as Henson, a five star prospect, is waiting in AAA for a chance to start. Jose Castillo and Marshall McDougall will battle things out in spring training for a chance at the starting shortstop position. Leftfield will see Xavier Nady returning, and the Pirates hope to get more pop out of his bat this season. Team MVP Mark Kotsay will return to start in CF. In rightfield, JJ Davis will get his final chance to prove that he belongs on a major league roster, as he is out of option years. The bench will include 1B Carlos Rivera, 2B/SS Jack Wilson, OF Tony Alvarez, and a player to backup Mackowiak at third base that the Pirates plan on signing in free agency.

Free Agency
First of all the Pirates signings for the year. The Pirates on Day 4, signed SP Sidney Ponson to $8.75M for five years. On Day 5, they signed 3B Dean Palmer for $900k for one year. In arbitration, Sauerbeck got $1,008,929; Josh Fogg got $570,000; Rob Mackowiak got $1,479,286; Jack Wilson got $318,929; Craig Wilson got $2,436,072; Humberto Cota got $300,000; Joe Beimel got $369,143; Jim Mann got $1,601,429; and Mark Corey got $685,357. The rest of the signings this offseason include:

Day 1 :

Day 2 :

St. Louis : SS Miguel Tejada, 8,095,200 per year, for 5 years.
Kansas City : 3B Placido Polanco, 718,300 per year, for 4 years.
Montreal : P Joel Pineiro, 902,700 per year, for 3 years.
Chicago (N) : P Blake Stein, 1,318,100 per year, for 3 years.

Day 3 :

San Francisco : P Pedro Martinez, 11,307,400 per year, for 7 years.
Chicago (A) : P Bartolo Colon, 7,360,800 per year, for 5 years.
Texas : 1B Brad Fullmer, 6,128,100 per year, for 4 years.
Tampa Bay : P Kevin Millwood, 6,667,100 per year, for 4 years.
Pittsburgh : P Sidney Ponson, 8,750,000 per year, for 5 years.
Minnesota : LF Todd Hollandsworth, 4,744,600 per year, for 3 years.
Milwaukee : CF Juan Encarnacion, 2,215,400 per year, for 3 years.
Baltimore : RF Reggie Sanders, 1,642,100 per year, for 5 years.
Atlanta : 3B Robin Ventura, 682,300 per year, for 3 years.
Philadelphia : CF Ricky Ledee, 885,400 per year, for 3 years.
Tampa Bay : P Cory Lidle, 2,141,700 per year, for 3 years.
Chicago (A) : SS Alex Gonzalez, 674,600 per year, for 3 years.
Colorado : P Omar Daal, 922,500 per year, for 3 years.
Tampa Bay : C Doug Mirabelli, 442,800 per year, for 3 years.
Toronto : P Nate Teut, 450,900 per year, for 1 year.
Tampa Bay : P Jose Mercedes, 446,500 per year, for 2 years.

Day 4 :

Philadelphia : SS Rich Aurilia, 6,195,400 per year, for 4 years.
Chicago (A) : 2B Luis Castillo, 3,976,800 per year, for 5 years.
Arizona : P Trevor Hoffman, 2,084,800 per year, for 5 years.
Kansas City : SS Ramon Martinez, 2,079,700 per year, for 4 years.
Cleveland : SS Shane Halter, 874,500 per year, for 4 years.
Pittsburgh : 3B Dean Palmer, 900,000 per year, for 1 year.
Cleveland : P Todd Van poppel, 1,440,800 per year, for 4 years.

Day 5 :

Cincinnati : LF Jeremy Giambi, 4,786,200 per year, for 3 years.
San Francisco : 1B Scott Spiezio, 2,643,400 per year, for 5 years.
Chicago (N) : P John Thomson, 3,423,800 per year, for 4 years.
Boston : P Jason Grimsley, 2,305,400 per year, for 4 years.
San Francisco : P Robb Nen, 4,051,300 per year, for 4 years.
Los Angeles : 1B Randall Simon, 805,100 per year, for 3 years.
Chicago (A) : 1B David Ortiz, 996,900 per year, for 3 years.
Chicago (A) : P Shawn Estes, 2,572,200 per year, for 4 years.
Boston : P Paul Byrd, 2,549,600 per year, for 4 years.
Toronto : C Michael Barrett, 450,700 per year, for 3 years.
Minnesota : P Dave Maurer, 1,256,400 per year, for 3 years.
Chicago (N) : LF Wendell Magee, 442,800 per year, for 2 years.

Day 6 :

San Diego : P Justin Speier, 2,088,500 per year, for 3 years.
Milwaukee : P Ismael Valdes, 3,711,800 per year, for 4 years.
Texas : LF Jacob Cruz, 1,298,200 per year, for 4 years.
Tampa Bay : 2B Tomas Perez, 692,600 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : RF Darren Bragg, 641,900 per year, for 3 years.
Tampa Bay : LF Bubba Trammell, 627,000 per year, for 3 years.
San Francisco : 1B Steve Cox, 518,400 per year, for 2 years.
St. Louis : C Tony Eusebio, 609,200 per year, for 4 years.
Chicago (A) : SS Mendy Lopez, 518,700 per year, for 1 year.

Day 7 :

Texas : P Jarrod Washburn, 9,670,500 per year, for 3 years.
San Diego : CF Brian Hunter, 1,152,100 per year, for 4 years.
Baltimore : P Ugueth Urbina, 1,898,400 per year, for 4 years.
New York (A) : P Ron Mahay, 2,105,400 per year, for 3 years.
Tampa Bay : 1B Eric Karros, 409,400 per year, for 1 year.
Chicago (N) : LF Dee Brown, 446,800 per year, for 1 year.
Los Angeles : P Antonio Osuna, 1,995,100 per year, for 4 years.
Toronto : P Joe Roa, 415,200 per year, for 2 years.
Chicago (N) : P Danny Kolb, 324,000 per year, for 4 years.
Colorado : P Jose antonio Nunez, 345,000 per year, for 2 years.
Colorado : P Alex Herrera, 415,200 per year, for 2 years.

Day 8 :

Chicago (N) : C Ben Davis, 2,184,100 per year, for 4 years.
Florida : 2B Jerry Hairston, 2,144,300 per year, for 4 years.
Los Angeles : 1B Brian Daubach, 1,028,900 per year, for 3 years.
St. Louis : C Javy Lopez, 790,000 per year, for 4 years.
Anaheim : P Valerio De los santos, 1,565,700 per year, for 4 years.
Detroit : 2B Miguel Cairo, 446,800 per year, for 2 years.
Oakland : SS Tony Graffanino, 460,700 per year, for 3 years.
Detroit : P Brandon Knight, 400,700 per year, for 3 years.

Day 9 :

Minnesota : RF Juan Gonzalez, 8,075,700 per year, for 4 years.
Arizona : 1B Mike Kinkade, 3,269,000 per year, for 4 years.
Kansas City : C A.j. Pierzynski, 3,374,000 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : 3B David Bell, 741,100 per year, for 3 years.
Arizona : SS Carlos Guillen, 968,600 per year, for 3 years.
Atlanta : RF Michael Tucker, 654,000 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : 2B Pokey Reese, 609,900 per year, for 4 years.
Arizona : P Jeff Suppan, 1,071,800 per year, for 5 years.
Texas : P Travis Driskill, 654,600 per year, for 2 years.
Los Angeles : P Rick White, 1,267,100 per year, for 5 years.
Philadelphia : P Willie Banks, 799,500 per year, for 4 years.
Tampa Bay : P Doug Creek, 835,800 per year, for 3 years.
Atlanta : P Brandon Villafuerte, 679,300 per year, for 3 years.

Day 10 :

Chicago (A) : CF Ruben Rivera, 2,868,000 per year, for 4 years.
Milwaukee : 2B Benji Gil, 1,349,300 per year, for 4 years.
Baltimore : SS Deivi Cruz, 823,100 per year, for 4 years.
Oakland : C Brent Mayne, 610,800 per year, for 3 years.

Day 11 :

Anaheim : LF David McCarty, 2,906,100 per year, for 3 years.
San Diego : RF Karim Garcia, 1,760,600 per year, for 3 years.
Atlanta : P Glendon Rusch, 2,884,200 per year, for 3 years.
Kansas City : P Mike Sirotka, 964,400 per year, for 4 years.
Houston : 1B J.T. Snow, 676,300 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : 3B Chris Stynes, 486,700 per year, for 1 year.
Cleveland : P Mike Williams, 2,130,400 per year, for 4 years.
Detroit : P Nelson Figueroa, 407,900 per year, for 2 years.

Day 12 :

Cleveland : LF Randy Winn, 1,659,800 per year, for 4 years.
Oakland : CF Eric Owens, 632,700 per year, for 3 years.
New York (A) : P Ricardo Rincon, 2,920,200 per year, for 4 years.
Boston : P Jeff D'amico, 1,278,400 per year, for 4 years.
Oakland : P Matt Guerrier, 666,400 per year, for 2 years.
Toronto : P Jeff Williams, 415,200 per year, for 3 years.

Day 13 :

Florida : RF Gary Sheffield, 6,989,400 per year, for 3 years.
Boston : RF Brian Banks, 4,513,000 per year, for 3 years.
Florida : 2B Todd Walker, 2,319,900 per year, for 5 years.
Oakland : LF Marty Cordova, 662,900 per year, for 4 years.
Arizona : C Brad Ausmus, 894,800 per year, for 3 years.
Philadelphia : P Luke Prokopec, 470,300 per year, for 1 year.
Toronto : P Luther Hackman, 424,800 per year, for 2 years.
Colorado : P Matt Herges, 436,600 per year, for 1 year.
New York (N) : P John Wasdin, 403,400 per year, for 1 year.
Colorado : P Vic Darensbourg, 415,200 per year, for 2 years.

Day 14 :

Seattle : SS Edgar Renteria, 5,434,000 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : 2B Frank Catalanotto, 1,278,200 per year, for 4 years.
Tampa Bay : 2B Andy Sheets, 411,700 per year, for 2 years.
San Francisco : P Justin Miller, 617,300 per year, for 3 years.
Tampa Bay : P Antonio Alfonseca, 644,400 per year, for 3 years.

Day 15 :

Cincinnati : 2B Quilvio Veras, 642,700 per year, for 4 years.
Chicago (A) : LF Orlando Palmeiro, 644,100 per year, for 3 years.
Cleveland : CF Bruce Aven, 441,800 per year, for 2 years.
St. Louis : 1B Tino Martinez, 656,200 per year, for 4 years.
Texas : P Pedro Astacio, 745,700 per year, for 4 years.
Los Angeles : P Felix Heredia, 1,407,900 per year, for 5 years.
New York (A) : P Livan Hernandez, 414,300 per year, for 1 year.

Day 16 :

Cleveland : P Kelvim Escobar, 1,755,600 per year, for 4 years.
Minnesota : P Terry Adams, 1,819,900 per year, for 4 years.
Oakland : LF Mark Smith, 523,300 per year, for 2 years.
Seattle : P Ryan Rupe, 631,700 per year, for 4 years.
Houston : C Todd Hundley, 484,600 per year, for 3 years.
Kansas City : P Mike DeJean, 1,521,300 per year, for 4 years.
New York (A) : P John Halama, 440,500 per year, for 2 years.
Houston : P LaTroy Hawkins, 1,015,700 per year, for 4 years.
Montreal : P Sterling Hitchcock, 416,100 per year, for 2 years.

Day 17 :

Cleveland : CF Lou Collier, 664,000 per year, for 3 years.
Boston : CF Jay Payton, 438,700 per year, for 2 years.
New York (A) : RF Jose Cruz Jr., 431,100 per year, for 2 years.
Seattle : LF Rondell White, 460,400 per year, for 2 years.
Arizona : P Jason Johnson, 634,400 per year, for 4 years.
Montreal : P Rett Johnson, 404,200 per year, for 1 year.
Montreal : P Ron Villone, 410,600 per year, for 1 year.
New York (A) : P Mike Buddie, 415,200 per year, for 3 years.
Colorado : P T.j. Mathews, 403,400 per year, for 3 years.

Day 18 :

Cleveland : C Ivan Rodriguez, 11,208,500 per year, for 2 years.
Milwaukee : 3B Tony Batista, 5,073,900 per year, for 3 years.
Chicago (A) : P Tom Gordon, 1,660,900 per year, for 4 years.
Boston : 2B Bry Nelson, 400,700 per year, for 3 years.
San Diego : P Amaury Telemaco, 622,700 per year, for 3 years.
Oakland : P Jason Bere, 659,300 per year, for 4 years.
Arizona : P Joey Hamilton, 554,600 per year, for 3 years.

Day 19 :

San Diego : 2B Damian Jackson, 523,300 per year, for 2 years.
Seattle : P Roger Clemens, 825,900 per year, for 1 year.
Houston : P Mike Stanton, 1,014,100 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : P Brian Mallette, 552,900 per year, for 3 years.

Day 20 :

Anaheim : 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, 1,051,500 per year, for 3 years.
Florida : CF Ray Lankford, 580,600 per year, for 2 years.
Baltimore : RF Chris Richard, 444,600 per year, for 2 years.
Houston : P Ken Cloude, 662,700 per year, for 2 years.
Florida : SS Jose Vizcaino, 487,000 per year, for 2 years.
Philadelphia : P Brian Anderson, 876,700 per year, for 4 years.
Atlanta : P Tim Worrell, 1,531,300 per year, for 4 years.
Kansas City : P Mark Guthrie, 963,600 per year, for 2 years.
New York (A) : P Nelson Cruz, 695,300 per year, for 3 years.
Atlanta : P Kent Mercker, 627,800 per year, for 4 years.
Montreal : P Scott Schoeneweis, 432,600 per year, for 2 years.

Day 21 :

Texas : 2B Bill Selby, 497,800 per year, for 2 years.
San Diego : 3B Kevin Orie, 474,000 per year, for 1 year.
Baltimore : 3B Fernando Tatis, 522,000 per year, for 3 years.
Cincinnati : P Scott Sullivan, 1,375,800 per year, for 4 years.

Day 22 :

Milwaukee : CF Carl Everett, 1,387,800 per year, for 3 years.
Houston : 3B John Valentin, 477,400 per year, for 1 year.
Oakland : P Esteban Yan, 1,642,300 per year, for 4 years.

Day 23 :

Atlanta : RF Raul Mondesi, 1,308,900 per year, for 4 years.
San Francisco : 1B Larry Sutton, 603,900 per year, for 3 years.
San Diego : P Jason Beverlin, 480,700 per year, for 2 years.
Cleveland : P Chris Haney, 1,004,200 per year, for 4 years.
Toronto : P Todd Ritchie, 446,500 per year, for 3 years.

Day 24 :

Milwaukee : LF Tom Goodwin, 452,100 per year, for 2 years.
St. Louis : P Brett Tomko, 658,300 per year, for 3 years.

Day 25 :

San Francisco : CF Jolbert Cabrera, 843,100 per year, for 3 years.
Florida : P Jimmy Haynes, 761,800 per year, for 4 years.
Tampa Bay : P Mike Fyhrie, 415,200 per year, for 3 years.

Day 26 :

Baltimore : P Bronson Arroyo, 448,900 per year, for 2 years.

Day 27 :

Day 28 :

St. Louis : 1B Robert Fick, 581,800 per year, for 3 years.
Baltimore : P Greg Maddux, 544,100 per year, for 1 year.

Day 29 :

Arizona : RF Richard Hidalgo, 532,600 per year, for 1 year.

Day 30 :

Arizona: Free agent RF Israel Alcantara has been signed to a minor league contract.
New York (N): Free agent RF Mark Quinn has been signed to a minor league contract.
San Diego: Free agent SS Mike Caruso has been signed to a minor league contract.
New York (A): Free agent RF Aaron Guiel has been signed to a minor league contract.
Florida: Free agent LF David Dellucci has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent LF Howie Clark has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent 2B Marty Malloy has been signed to a minor league contract.
Florida: Free agent LF Mario Encarnacion has been signed to a minor league contract.
San Francisco: Free agent SS Tony Womack has been signed to a minor league contract.
Milwaukee: Free agent RF Jeromy Burnitz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: Free agent LF Jesse Garcia has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent 2B Abraham O. Nunez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent 2B Lou Merloni has been signed to a minor league contract.
San Francisco: Free agent SS Rey Ordonez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C Bobby Estalella has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C Henry Blanco has been signed to a minor league contract.
Florida: Free agent 3B Mike Coolbaugh has been signed to a minor league contract.
New York (N): Free agent RF Armando Rios has been signed to a minor league contract.
Minnesota: Free agent 3B Shane Andrews has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C A.j. Hinch has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C Ken Huckaby has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C Paul Bako has been signed to a minor league contract.
Minnesota: Free agent 3B Vinny Castilla has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C Eddie Taubensee has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent 2B Jose Ortiz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent 2B Dennis Hocking has been signed to a minor league contract.
Tampa Bay: Free agent P Rick Reed has been signed to a minor league contract.
St. Louis: Free agent P Esteban Loaiza has been signed to a minor league contract.
Tampa Bay: Free agent P Tanyon Sturtze has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent 2B Eric Young has been signed to a minor league contract.
Atlanta: Free agent C Wiki Gonzalez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Tampa Bay: Free agent P Sean Douglass has been signed to a minor league contract.
Tampa Bay: Free agent P Jeremy Johnson has been signed to a minor league contract.
Tampa Bay: Free agent P Kazuhisa Ishii has been signed to a minor league contract.
Houston: Free agent P Jason Marquis has been signed to a minor league contract.
Florida: Free agent 3B Chris Clapinski has been signed to a minor league contract.
Montreal: Free agent P Erik Hiljus has been signed to a minor league contract.
Florida: Free agent 3B Russ Johnson has been signed to a minor league contract.
Montreal: Free agent SS Homer Bush has been signed to a minor league contract.
Montreal: Free agent SS Cody Ransom has been signed to a minor league contract.
Chicago (N): Free agent P Lance Painter has been signed to a minor league contract.
Colorado: Free agent P Eddie Oropesa has been signed to a minor league contract.
Colorado: Free agent P John Frascatore has been signed to a minor league contract.
Toronto: Free agent P Travis Miller has been signed to a minor league contract.
Colorado: Free agent P Nerio Rodriguez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Tampa Bay: Free agent P Mike Venafro has been signed to a minor league contract.
Detroit: Free agent P Matt Perisho has been signed to a minor league contract.
Cleveland: Free agent P Duaner Sanchez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Cleveland: Free agent P Frederick Swett has been signed to a minor league contract.
Cleveland: Free agent P Aaron Gregoire has been signed to a minor league contract.
Cleveland: Free agent P Heriberto Ocerin has been signed to a minor league contract.
Cleveland: Free agent P Rodney Singley has been signed to a minor league contract.
Chicago (N): Free agent P Robert Vasbinder has been signed to a minor league contract.

The following players retired:
Hideki Irabu retires ...
Rich Rodriguez retires ...
Paul Abbott retires ...
Yorkis Perez retires ...
Terry Mulholland retires ...
Dave Burba retires ...
Mike James retires ...
Hipolito Pichardo retires ...
Brian Shouse retires ...
Takahito Nomura retires ...
Bob Wells retires ...
Mike Trombley retires ...
Ed Vosberg retires ...
Jeff Tam retires ...
Ricky Bottalico retires ...
Alan Zinter retires ...
Gerald Williams retires ...
Randy Velarde retires ...
Ryan Thompson retires ...
B.J. Surhoff retires ...
David Segui retires ...
Henry Rodriguez retires ...
Shane Reynolds retires ...
Rodney Myers retires ...
Darren Lewis retires ...
Darrin Fletcher retires ...
Delino Deshields retires ...
Chris Brock retires ...
Clay Bellinger retires ...
Brady Anderson retires ...
Shawon Dunston retires ...
Bobby J. Jones retires ...
Tom Lampkin retires ...
Ron Gant retires ...
Jesse Orosco retires ...
Dennis Springer retires ...
Andy Ashby retires ...
Jeff Reboulet retires ...
Kevin Brown retires ...
Chad Kreuter retires ...
Dave Hansen retires ...
Paul Quantrill retires ...
Terry Shumpert retires ...
Todd Zeile retires ...
Chris Nichting retires ...
Todd Stottlemyre retires ...
Armando Reynoso retires ...
Mike Morgan retires ...
Mike Fetters retires ...
Jay Bell retires ...
Felix Jose retires ...
Matt Williams retires ...
Mike Timlin retires ...
Chuck Finley retires ...
Andy Benes retires ...
Ivan Cruz retires ...
Josias Manzanillo retires ...
Mike Benjamin retires ...
Kevin Young retires ...
Jose Cabrera retires ...
Lenny Harris retires ...
Craig Biggio retires ...
Jose Rijo retires ...
Barry Larkin retires ...
Donovan Osborne retires ...
Joe Girardi retires ...
Robert Person retires ...
Dave Hollins retires ...
Satoru Komiyama retires ...
Mike Bacsik retires ...
Mark Johnson retires ...
Graeme Lloyd retires ...
Masato Yoshii retires ...
Lee Stevens retires ...
Mike Mordecai retires ...
Andres Galarraga retires ...
Troy O'Leary retires ...
Toby Borland retires ...
Tim Raines retires ...
Darren Holmes retires ...
Keith Lockhart retires ...
Julio Franco retires ...
Anthony Telford retires ...
Bill Haselman retires ...
Kenny Rogers retires ...
Jose Offerman retires ...
Ruben Sierra retires ...
Edgar Martinez retires ...
Pat Borders retires ...
Mike Magnante retires ...
Alan Levine retires ...
Mike Jackson retires ...
Roberto Hernandez retires ...
Chuck Knoblauch retires ...
Luis Alicea retires ...
Craig Paquette retires ...
Matt Walbeck retires ...
Damion Easley retires ...
Charles Nagy retires ...
Travis Fryman retires ...
Eddie Perez retires ...
Steve Parris retires ...
Greg Vaughn retires ...
John Flaherty retires ...
Alex Arias retires ...
Alberto Castillo retires ...
John Vander wal retires ...
Ron Coomer retires ...
John Burkett retires ...
Frank Castillo retires ...
Rolando Arrojo retires ...
Rickey Henderson retires ...
He will be in the Hall Of Fame!
Carlos Baerga retires ...
Rey Sanchez retires ...
Scott Erickson retires ...
Jeff Conine retires ...
David Cone retires ...
John Franco retires ...
Cal Eldred retires ...
Jesse Levis retires ...
Omar Olivares retires ...
Tim Bogar retires ...
Willie Blair retires ...
Doug Brocail retires ...
Pete Schourek retires ...
Norm Charlton retires ...
Mark Petkovsek retires ...
Pete Harnisch retires ...
Al Martin retires ...
Doug Linton retires ...
Roberto Kelly retires ...
Scott Service retires ...
TOR: Mike Bordick retires ...
CLE: Bob Wickman retires ...
DET: Steve Sparks retires ...
TEX: Rusty Greer retires ...
TEX: Rafael Palmeiro retires ...
He will be in the Hall Of Fame!
CHN: Trenidad Hubbard retires ...
ARI: Mark Grace retires ...
SFN: Benito Santiago retires ...

Rafeal Palmeiro, Rickey Henderson, and John Franco were all inducted to the hall of fame.

Lastly, are the trades that took place this offseason.

LA got 3.5 star prospect 1B Ken Harvey from the Royals for 3.5 star prospect C Koyie Hill and 1 star prospect SS Joel Guzman.

Baltimore got 2.5 star 2B Mark Derosa from the Braves in return for 1.5 star RF Luis Matos.

The Braves got 2 star RF Reggie Sanders from the Orioles in exchange for 2.5 star 3B David Bell, 2 star prospect CF Miguel Mota, and 1 star prospect 2B Jon Scheurholz.

The Expos got 2.5 star LF Garrett Anderson and 2.5 star prospect 2B H.J. Kendrick from the Angels for 2.5 star 1B Olmedo Saenz.

The Devil Rays picked up 3 star 2B Todd Walker from the Marlins in exchange for 2.5 star CF Eli Marrero.

The A's picked up 2.5 star LF Jacque Jones, paying a big price giving up 4 star SP Tim Hudson to the Twins. Ouch!!! Who thinks Beane would've really made this move?

The Mariners got 2.5 star 3B Tyler Houston from the Phillies for 4 star reliever Ryan Franklin and 2.5 star prospect 1B Jon Nelson.

Lastly, the Angels got 2.5 star prospect C Josh Bard from the Indians in exchange for 4 star reliever Valerio DeLosSantos and 4 star prospect LF Caleb Maher. Ouch!!!!!

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 02:01 PM

Week 1
Marshall McDougall won the starting SS job during spring training. It was mostly due to the fact that he was 25 and the scouts felt he was ready for the majors while Castillo is only 23 and could still use some time in AAA. Here is my opening day roster (* means players is on 40-man roster), with the amount of years of options remaining in parenthesis next to the players name.

SP Sidney Ponson
SP Kris Benson
SP Oliver Perez
SP Josh Fogg
SP Dave Williams
MR Joe Beimel
MR Brian Boehringer
MR Mark Corey
MR Ryan Vogelsong
MR Scott Sauerbeck
MR Solomon Torres
CL Jim Mann
C JR House (1 year)
C Humberto Cota
1B Craig Wilson
1B Carlos Rivera
2B Bobby Hill (1 year)
3B Rob Mackowiak
3B Dean Palmer
SS Marshall McDougall (2 years)
SS Jack Wilson
LF Xavier Nady (2 years)
CF Mark Kotsay
CF Tony Alvarez
RF JJ Davis
*3B Drew Henson (2 years)
*SS Jose Castillo (1 year)
*C Ryan Doumit (2 years)
*MR Mike Gonzalez (1 year)
*SP John Grabow (1 year)
*LF Manuel Ravelo (2 years)
*2B Jeremy Harts (2 years)
*LF Shawn Garrett (2 years)
*MR Ben Shaffar (3 years)
*MR Justin Reid (3 years)
*RF BJ Barns (3 years)
*RF Jose Cortez (3 years)

The lineup will be the same for RHP and LHP and will be as follows:
CF Mark Kotsay
2B Bobby Hill
LF Xavier Nady
1B Craig Wilson
3B Rob Mackowiak
RF JJ Davis
SS Marshall McDougall
C JR House

The starting rotation will be as listed above in the roster list, and the bullpen will also be as listed above and anchored by closer Jim Mann.

The Pirates travel to Milwaukee for a three game series against the Brewers, and then travel to Atlanta for a three game series against the Braves to begin the season.

Game 1: Pirates 1 Brewers 3
Sidney Ponson pitched an OK game, giving up three runs in six innings for the loss, but Brewers starter Wayne Franklin did better giving up just one run in 7 innings for the win. Vizcaino pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Game 2: Pirates 6 Brewers 1
Benson picked up where he left off last year, pitching a great game while giving up just one run in six innings for the win. The Pirates got to Brewers Ismael Valdes for five runs, four earned, in 6 2/3 innings for the loss. The Pirates got homers from Craig Wilson, Rob Mackowiak and Marshall McDougall, his first career homerun.

Game 3: Pirates 3 Brewers 7
Perez got the loss in this one, giving up four runs in six innings of work. Neugebauer got the win, giving up 2 runs in six innings. The Brewers added some insurance in the bottom of the seventh with the score 4-3, by scoring three runs off of Boehringer.

Series Recap: Hard to say what this year has in store after just three games, but losing two out of three to the Brewers anytime is bad.

Game 4: Pirates 4 Braves 8
The struggles continue for Josh Fogg, as he picks up the loss giving up seven runs in 6 innings of work. The Pirates managed to score four runs against starter Glendon Rusch in 6 2/3 innings, while he got a no-decision as the score was tied 4-4 when he left the game. Buddy Hernandez picked up the win, as he earned the last out in the top of the seventh before the Braves scored 4 in the bottom half of the inning.

Game 5: Pirates 1 Braves 11
After a great spring training earning him the fifth spot on the rotation, Dave Williams fell apart, giving up 6 runs in two innings for the loss. The Braves also managed to score four runs in three innings off of Torres and another run in two innings off of Vogelsong, but it didn't matter, as Wainwright gave up just one run in 9 innings for the win.

Game 6: Pirates 8 Braves 0
Sidney Ponson had a superb game, pitching a magnificent one-hit shutout while walking just two for his first win of the year. The Pirates scored six runs, five earned, off of starter Billy Sylvester, who got the loss. The Pirates got homers by Nady, Mackowiak, and Kotsay.

Series Recap: 1 out of 3 against the Braves is better than 1 out of 3 against the Brewers, but hopefully the Pirates will start winning some games.

Around the league, on Tuesday Oakland's Barry Zito pitched a one-hit shutout against the Rangers in an 8-0 romping. On Wednesay, Texas' Jeff Zimmerman pitched in his first and last game of the season, ending his season early with a torn bicep muscle. Also on Wednesday, Woody Williams pitched a two-hit shutout against the Diamondbacks.

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 02:40 PM

Week 2
The Pirates announced no promotions for this month, as they need to watch their cash flow this season, as they only have $2M in cash reserves. This week they return home and open with a three game series against the Cubs, who are 3-3 after the first week of the season. They then travel to Cincinatti for a three-game series against the Reds who are currently 3-3.

Game 7: Pirates 3 Cubs 6
Benson lasted just 5 2/3 innings this outing, giving up five runs, four earned, all of which were scored in the first inning, and picking up the loss. Kennedy gave up three runs in 8 innings, for his second win of the season. Remlinger pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save.

Game 8: Pirates 9 Cubs 3
Perez managed not to give up a single run until the eighth inning, and finished the game, giving up just two runs in 7 2/3 innings of work for the win. Zambrano on the other hand gave up seven runs, four of which were earned, in just 5 1/3 innings for the loss.

Game 9: Pirates 7 Cubs 8
Going into the matchup, a Prior vs. Fogg match-up seemed extremely unfair to the Pirates. However the Pirates managed to score 3 runs against Prior in six innings. Fogg gave up six runs in 6 1/3 innings, but also managed to help his own cause with a two-run homerun off of Prior. The Pirates made things interesting though in the eighth inning by scoring two runs off of Dave Veres to tie the game at 5-5. But then in the top of the ninth, the Cubs scored three runs off Jim Mann to give them the lead right back. The Pirates then came back again, scoring two runs off of Remlinger, but the rally ended when Craig Wilson, with runners at first and second base, grounded into a double play to end the game and give Remlinger the save. Farnsworth picked up the win and Mann got the loss.

Series Recap: Another one out of three, but the Pirates almost pulled the upset in the last game and it's only a matter of time before they start winning some series.

Game 10: Pirates 5 Reds 4
Dave Williams did much better this outing, giving up just 3 runs in seven innings, but did not manage the win, as Sauerbeck gave up the tying run in the bottom of the eighth. The Pirates did not score any runs against rookie starter Dustin Moseley, who went 6 2/3 innings. He did not get the decision, as Jeff Austin came in in the seventh inning and gave up four runs without recording a single out. The Pirates scored the winning run in the top of the 12th, when with two outs and runners at first and second, JR House singled home Carlos Rivera. The Reds threatened in the bottom of the 12th, when Giambi lead off reaching base on an error by the shortstop. Giambi then tried to score from first on a single down the right field line, but JJ Davis nailed him out at the plate. Torres then got Mateo to fly out to end the inning, and picked up the save. Mark Corey got the win for the Pirates, and Scott Sullivan the loss for the Reds.

Game 11: Pirates 2 Reds 6 Retro Game Day at Great American Park
Ponson had a rough game, giving up six runs in seven innings of work for the loss. Oswalt scattered 9 hits, giving up just two runs in 8 2/3 innings, and striking out 16 Pirate hitters for the win.

Game 12: Pirates 4 Reds 5
Benson pitched a great game, giving up just one run in 7 2/3 innings of work. The Pirates managed four runs, three of which were earned, in 7 2/3 innings off of Danny Graves. The bullpen blew the game in the ninth inning. Mann gave up a lead off single to Giambi, and then walked Dunn. The pitcher Aramboles, then sacrificed the runners over to second and third base. Mann then got Reggie Taylor to ground out, scoring Giambi and moving Dunn to third. He then hit LaRue with a pitch, putting runners at the corners with two outs, and the Pirates still up by 2. McClendon then brought out Boehringer, who gave up a three-run walkoff homerun to Quilvio Veras that just cleared the Clemente wall in right field. Aramboles picked up the win, and Boehringer got the loss.

Series Recap: The Pirates will someday win a series. I promise. This team looks better than last years on paper, but so far isn't doing much better.

Around the league, on Friday Marlins first baseman Derreck Lee pulled up limping while running the bases and after doctors examined him, they found he had an inflamed ACL and will miss the next 5-6 weeks.

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 03:11 PM

Week 3
The Pirates this week begin a 12-game homestand, starting with a 3-game series against the Expos, who are currently 5-7. The Pirates then face the Reds for three games. The Reds are currently 7-5 and the Pirates are 1-2 against the Reds this season.

Game 13: Pirates 5 Expos 7
Montreal's Javier Vazquez gave up three runs in seven innings, but did not earn a decision. Pirates' starter Oliver Perez left the game with a 3-1 lead, having given up just one run in seven innings of work. Sauerbeck came in in the top of the eighth and gave up three runs without recording a single out, giving the Expos a 4-3 lead. The Pirates responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs off of Tucker to regain the lead 5-4. The Pirate eighth inning could have been bigger, as Craig Wilson was thrown out at the plate with nobody out, and then with the bases loaded and two outs, Kotsay flew out to deep right, where Vlad made a leaping catch to end the inning. The Expos took advantage of the situation, scoring three runs, two of which were earned, off of Vogelsong. Stewart shut down the Pirates in the ninth going 1-2-3 and earning his 6th save. Vogelsong got the loss and Tony Armas Jr got the win.

Game 14: Pirates 5 Expos 2
Fogg had a great game, giving up just two runs, only one of which was earned, in eight innings of work for the win. The winning runs came in the eighth, when Bobby Hill hit a two-run homer, and then Nady followed with his own homerun off of Song. Song went eight innings, giving up all five runs earned for the loss. The bullpen held it together this game, as Mann gave up just one hit and picked up his first save.

Game 15: Pirates 7 Expos 2
Williams had another great game, pitching a complete game and giving up just two runs for the win. The Pirates scored five runs in six innings off of Vargas, who got the loss for the Expos. JJ Davis and JR House each homered for the Pirates.

Series Recap: The Pirates luck finally turned around as they won their first series, which very well could have been a sweep if the bullpen would have held the first game. Great starting pitching by Perez, Fogg, and Williams gave them the wins.

Game 16: Pirates 2 Reds 3
This game was a real heartbreaker. Ponson pitched the complete game, giving up three runs, but picking up the loss. Graves went eight innings, giving up just two runs for the win, and Williamson came on in the ninth, going 1-2-3 for his 6th save of the year.

Game 17: Pirates 3 Reds 16
This game was closer than it looked, I swear, until the seventh inning. In the seventh with the score 2-1 Reds, the Reds scored nine runs, then picked up another in the eighth, and then four more in the ninth. Benson gave up eight runs in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. Boehringer gave up four in 1 2/3 and Vogelsong gave up the other four in 1 inning of work. The Pirates got just one run off of Paul Wilson in six innings, earning him his 4th win of the season. Dunn hit a solo homer off of Benson, Larson hit a solo shot off of Benson, Stinnett hit a solo shot against Vogelsong, and Griffey hit a grandslam off of Boehringer and a three run homer off of Vogelsong.

Game 18: Pirates 6 Reds 3
Perez redeemed the Pirates, giving up just three runs in 7 1/3 innings for the win. Reitsma gave up just three runs, two of which were earned, in six innings for the Reds, but the loss went to Jeff Austin, who gave up the other three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Mann held of the Reds in the ninth despite giving up two hits, to pick up his 2nd save of the year.

Series Recap: The Pirates salvaged one more win from the Reds and are now 2-4 against them this season.

Around the league, there was no major news to announce this week.

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 05:49 PM

Week 4
This week the Pirates finish off a 12-game homestand, starting with three games against the Padres who are 6-13. The Pirates then face the Giants, who are 13-7, in a three game series.

Game 19: Pirates 3 Padres 7
This game was no contest, as the Padres controlled the game throughout the nine innings. they scored five runs off of Josh Fogg, who pitched 6 1/3 innings and picked up the loss. The Padres got a good outing from Jake Peavy, who gave up just two runs in seven innings for the win. Giles hit a homerun against his former team, along with Castilleja, Klesko and Vazquez.

Game 20: Pirates 6 Padres 7
This was another game blown by the bullpen. Dave Williams worked just 4 1/3 innings, but gave up just one unearned run. He was pulled in the fifth inning with back spasms and will likely miss the next 3 weeks. Jason Beverlin gave up four runs in five innings. The Pirates had a 4-2 lead heading into the eighth inning. Kendall lead off the inning with a single off of Solomon Torres. Corey then came in and got Gautreau to ground into a fielders choice at first base, just beating out the double play. Jim Mann then came into the inning and surrendered a two-run homerun to Giles to tie the game at 4-4. The Pirates regained the lead in the bottom half of the eight when Mackowiak hit a solo homer off of Duncan. With one out in the top of the ninth, Mann walked Castillaja. He then got Hunter to ground into a fielder's choice to the pitcher, again just beating out a double play ball. Mann then hit Kendall with a pitch, and then gave up a three run homer to Gautreau to give the Padres the lead again. The Pirates then threatened in the bottom of the ninth, when with one out and Davis on second from a lead-off double, Kotsay smashed a ball to the nook in deep-left center field. The catch was made with Giles up against the wall, and Davis tagged to third base. Hill then singled home Davis, but Nady grounded out to end the threat and the game. Mann got the loss for the Pirates, and Duncan got the win and Speier the save for the Padres.

Williams was placed on the 15-man DL and Grabow was promoted to take his spot in the rotation.

Game 21: Pirates 1 Padres 5
A Ponson versus Brian Lawrence matchup would seem to have benefited the Pirates and meant a sure win for them. However, Pirates bats managed to get just four hits, and didn't score in Lawrence's seven innings of work. He picked up the win. The only run came from a solo homer by Craig Wilson off of Duncan in the eighth inning. Ponson gave up just five hits and two unearned runs in seven innings, but picked up the loss. Sauerbeck surrendered the other three runs in his two innings of work.

Series Recap: Getting swept by the Padres. Pitiful!

Game 22: Pirates 3 Giants 5
Pirates' Kris Benson would give anything to have the fifth inning of tonight's game back. In that inning he gave up five runs, including a grand slam to Barry Bonds. He worked a total of 4 1/3 innings, picking up the loss. The Pirates scored two runs, one of which was earned, off of starter Jerome Williams, who worked 7 1/3 innings and got the win. Felix Rodriguez gave up on unearned run in the bottom of the ninth, but held on for the save, his 7th of the year.

Game 23: Pirates 4 Giants 10
The Pirates managed to score three runs against Pedro Martinez who went six innings for the win. That didn't matter much, as the Giants managed to score five runs, four earned, off of Perez in 2 1/3 innings, and then four more runs, three earned, off of Vogelsong in 2/3 of an inning.

Game 24: Pirates 8 Giants 2
The Pirates finally redeemed themselves with a win, snapping their five game losing streak. Fogg gave up just one run in five innings, earning the win. Foppert gave up four runs, three earned in 5 1/3 innings. The Pirates added insurance in the bottom of the eighth, scoring four runs off of Chad Zerbe.

Series Recap: The Pirates have return to their ways of winning 1 out of 3. In fact that is just what they are averaging this year, as they now have a record of 8-16.

Around the league, on Wednesday, Boston's Nomar Garciaparra hit for the cycle against the Anaheim Angels. On Friday, Arizona's left fielder Luis Gonzalez hit a double in the third inning off of Cincinatti's Ty Howington, for his 2000th career hit.

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 08:37 PM

Week 5
The Pirates promoted CF Vic Butler and 3B Yurendell DeCaster from AA to AAA and promoted SP Josh Shortslef from A to AA. Butler, 23, was hitting 0.318 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs and DeCaster, 24, was hitting 0.318 with 4 HRs and 13 RBI's for the Curve. Shortslef, 22, was 2-2 with a 2.43 for the Hillcats. This week the Pirates play three in Colorado against the Rockies who are 16-9. They then travel to San Francisco to play three against the Giants who are 17-9 and whom the Pirates are 1-2 against this year.

Game 25: Pirates 4 Rockies 9
In his first major league start, John Grabow went just two innings, giving up six runs for the loss. Jason Jennings was injured in the game and pitched just four innings, giving up three runs. Matt Herges picked up the win, giving up one run in two innings. Jennings was diagnosed with bone chips in his shoulder and will miss the next seven weeks.

Game 26: Pirates 2 Rockies 7
Ponson picked up his fifth loss of the season, lasting just six innings and giving up six runs. The winner Tsao, gave up just one run in seven innings of work. Hudson, Closser and Pellow hit homers for the Rockies, while Nady hit one out for the Pirates.

April Wrapup
The Pirates played some horrible baseball this month, finishing 8-18. Despite a record of 1-5, Ponson didn't do too terrible as he was the only Pirate starter to finish below a 4.00 ERA, with an 3.68 ERA. Torres and Corey were the only members in the bullpen to finish below that mark. Craig Wilson had a good month, hitting 0.351 with 3 HRs and 19 RBI's, while no one else on the team hit above 0.285. Davis, 0.213 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs, and House, 0.211 with 1 HR and 9 RBI's, had the worst months offensively.

Around the league, Boston leads the AL East by 2.5 games, with a record of 17-11. The central is lead by Minnesota with a record of 19-8, and they are 4 games ahead of the White Sox. Oakland has the best record in the majors, and at 22-5 they lead the west by 9 games over the Angels. In the NL, the Braves lead the east with a record of 20-8, 2.5 games ahead of the Expos. The Cardinals lead the central by one game over the Cubs, with a record of 17-10. In the west, the Rockies with a record of 18-9, lead both Arizona and San Francisco by one game.

Blue Jays' Carlos Delgado hit 0.340 with 10 HRs and 33 RBIs to win the AL BOM award. Sammy Sosa won the award in the NL, belting 18 homeruns and driving in 33, while hitting for an average of 0.350. Angels' Ramon Ortiz finished the month with a record of 7-0 and an ERA of 3.86, good enough to win the POM award for the AL. In the NL, Braves' Adam Wainwright went 4-1 with an ERA of 1.72 to win the award.

Game 27: Pirates 9 Rockies 11
The Rockies continued to pound Pirates pitching, scoring five runs in four innings off of Kris Benson, who picked up the loss. The Pirates managed to score 7 runs in eight innings against Shawn Chacon, but it wasn't enough as he picked up the win. The Pirates tried to mount a comeback in the ninth. After already scoring four runs, and with a runner on second and nobody out Jose Jimenez came in and gave up just one hit, allowing one more run, before shutting things down, and picking up his 8th save of the year.

Series Recap: Problems persist in Pittsburgh. It seems to either be the pitching or the offense is just non-existent. They gotta figure a way to start winning some more games.

Game 28: Pirates 2 Giants 1
This one was a real nail biter. Oliver Perez did not give up a single run until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Cox hit a sac fly off of Mann, scoring Spiezio who led off the inning with a triple off of Perez. Likewise, Jesse Foppert gave up just one run, a solo homer by Kotsay in the sixth inning, in 7 2/3 innings of work. The two bullpens battled each other, not giving up a single run until the top of the 15th inning. Hill hit a one-out single and then stole second base. Nady then singled home Hill for what turned out to be the game winning run. Boehringer got the win for the Pirates and Zerbe the loss for the Giants.

Game 29: Pirates 2 Giants 3
Fogg did well today, giving up just three runs in seven innings of work, but got the loss. Schmidt did even better giving up just two runs, a two run homer by House in the sixth, in seven innings of work for the win. The Pirates picked up a hit, but that was it, as Felix Rodriguez closed things out in the ninth for his 8th save of the year.

Game 30: Pirates 5 Giants 6
Grabow did much better in this start, giving up five runs in 6 2/3 innings. Damian Moss also gave up five runs but in just 5 1/3 innings of work. The game winning run came in the bottom of the ninth, when after two outs, Torres gave up a single to Spiezio. Mann then came into the game and walked Alfonzo and Bonds to load the bases. He then gave up a single to Steve Cox that scored Womack, the game winning run. Torres ended up with the loss, although it should have been given to Mann, and Rodriguez got the win.

Around the league, on Tuesday Montreal's Orlando Hernandez tore a tricep muscle and will miss 5-6 weeks. On Thursday, Toronto's RF Jayson Werth inflamed his ACL and will miss the next 4-5 weeks. On Saturday, the Rangers' third baseman Mark Teixeira tore a tricep muscle throwing the ball to first base. Also on Saturday, Florida's right fielder Gary Sheffield collected his 2000th career hit in the ninth inning of Cardinals' Jason Isringhausen. On Sunday, Oakland's Barry Zito pitched a two hit shutout against the Tigers, winning the game 5-0.

Operation Shutdown · 10-08-2003, 11:49 PM

Week 6
Moving right along, hopefully this month will see some improvement for the Pirates, but so far we're not seeing much. The Pirates have announced Noddin Head Doll Day on May 9th versus the Dodgers and Fireworks Night on May 24th against the Astros as their promotions for this month. This week the Pirates start out with four games on the road in Houston against the Astros, who are 9-21. The Pirates then come home for a three game series against the Dodgers who are currently 9-23.

Game 31: Pirates 2 Cardinals 3
Ponson pitched a great game, giving up just one run in seven innings, but did not get a decision. Cards' starter Jimmy Journell pitched eight innings, giving up 2 runs, on earned, and also did not get a decision. The game was tied at 1-1 entering the eighth, when the Pirates scored an unearned run to take the lead. Mark Corey came in in the bottom of the eighth and after on out, gave up a single to Lopez. Mann then came in and walked Pujols and Drew to load the bases. Tejada then hit a sac fly, scoring Lopez to tie the game again. The in the bottom of the ninth, Rolen reached on an infield hit, and then Mann got Lee to ground into a fielder's choice, just missing the double play. Vina followed with a double down the right field line, scoring pinch runner Delgado for the game winning run. Mann got the loss for the Pirates, and Crudale got the win for the Cards.

Game 32: Pirates 10 Cardinals 6
The Pirates got to Brett Tomko, scoring seven runs in two innings off of him, as he picked up the loss. Benson, however, wasn't able to get the win, as he lasted just four innings, giving up 5 runs to the Cards. Beimel got the win, pitching two innings of scoreless relief.

Game 33: Pirates 3 Cardinals 1
Perez pitched another brilliant game, giving up just one unearned run in six innings, to secure his third win of the year. Matt Morris pitched a complete game, but gave up three runs, picking up the loss. Xavier Nady drove in all of the Pirates runs, with a solo homerun in the first inning, and then a double with two on and two outs in the third inning.

Game 34: Pirates 3 Cardinals 10
Fogg had yet another poor outing, giving up seven runs, six of which were earned, in just two innings of work, for his fourth loss of the season. Loaiza did fairly well, giving up just three runs in eight innings of work for his third win of the season.

Series Recap: The Bucs managed to split the series against a much better Cardinals ballclub. Hopefully this signals a change in luck for the Bucs.

Game 35: Pirates 10 Dodgers 5 Noddin Head Doll Day at PNC Park
John Grabow picked up his first career win, thanks in large part to a strong Pirate offense. Grabow gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win. Alvarez gave up eight runs in 5 2/3 innings for the loss, his fifth of the season. Davis homered for the Pirates, while Harvey and Green homered for the Dodgers.

Game 36: Pirates 13 Dodgers 9
The Pirate offense won another game. Ponson picked up the win, although he didn't do too well, giving up 7 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Dreifort also gave up 7 runs, but he did so in just 3 1/3 innings of work, picking up the loss. The Dodgers threatened late, scoring one in the eight off of Sauerbeck, and one in the ninth off of Vogelsong in the ninth, but Boehringer came in to finish off the ninth and pick up the save.

Game 37: Pirates 5 Dodgers 4
Benson did decent giving up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, but did not get a decision. Nomo did not pick up a decision either, though he pitched a great game, giving up just 2 runs in six innings. The Pirates were trailing 4-2 entering the seventh inning, but JR House hit a two run homer off of Osuna in the inning to tie the game. The Pirates then scored the go-ahead and eventual game winning run in the bottom of the eighth when Nady singled off of Shuey to score Bobby Hill. Mann then pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 3rd save of the year. The win went to Boehringer, while Shuey got the loss.

Series Recap: The Pirates got the much needed sweep of the Dodgers thanks to some good offense and some timely hitting in the last game.

Around the league, there was no major news to report this week.

Operation Shutdown · 10-09-2003, 12:37 AM

Week 7
The Pirates are currently 14-23 and in fourth place in the central, ahead of the Astros and Brewers. The Pirates promoted SS Taber Lee from A to AA Altoona Curve. This week the Pirates host the Cardinals for a four game series. The Cardinals are 23-15 this year, and the Pirates are 2-2 against them. The Pirates then travel to LA to play the Dodgers, who are 11-27 and whom the Pirates are against, for a three game series.

Game 38: Pirates 3 Cardinals 2
Perez had another great game, and this time was able to pick up the win, giving up just two runs in 7 innings. Loaiza got the loss, giving up three runs in 7 2/3 innings. The Cards scored their runs off of a two run homerun by Tejada, and the Bucs scored theirs from a three run shot by Hill. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 4th save of the year.

Game 39: Pirates 3 Cardinals 9
Fogg's outing wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either, as he gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, picking up his 5th loss of the season. Morris went 6 innings, giving up two runs, only one earned, for his 4th win. The score was actually tied 2-2 heading into the seventh, when Fogg gave up two runs in the seventh. The Cards then blew the game away by scoring three runs in the eighth, and then two more in the ninth off of Torres.

Game 40: Pirates 6 Cardinals 8
The Pirates defense killed them in this game, as Grabow worked eight innings, and gave up 6 runs, but only one of those runs was earned. Williams worked seven innings and gave up three runs. The Pirates actually led this game 3-0 heading into the seventh. In the seventh, Grabow gave up the only Cardinal earned run to make it 3-1. The Cardinals then scored five unearned runs in the eighth to take the lead 6-3. The Pirates then answered by scoring three unearned runs of their own off of Isringhausen in the bottom of the ninth to tie things at 6-6. But then in the top of the 11th, Mann hit Vina with a pitch and then walked Boyd to start the inning. After Lee moved the runners over with a bunt, he gave up a pinch-hit single to Lopez scoring both runners and giving the Cards the 8-6 lead. Mecir pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half of the 11th to pick up the save. Mann recorded the loss for the Bucs, and Linebrink got the win for the Cards.

The Pirates returned SP John Grabow to AAA Nashville. Grabow went 1-1 with a 6.26 ERA in his four starts with the Pirates. The Pirates also activated Dave Williams from the DL and placed him back into the starting rotation.

Game 41: Pirates 3 Cardinals 4
The Cardinals just eeked out another one. Ponson picked up his 6th loss of the year, giving up four runs in eight innings. Journell gave up just one run in six innings for his 4th win of the year. The Pirates almost came back, with two runs already, runners at first and second and just one out, Izzy got House to ground out into a fielders choice and then got Palmer to strike out looking to end the game and pick up his 12th save of the year.

Series Recap: This time just one out of four against the amazing Cardinals. Still not bad, as two of those losses could have easily gone either way.

Game 42: Pirates 3 Dodgers 1
This game took 11 innings to decide. Both starters pitched great but came away with no decisions. Benson went 8 innings giving up one run, and Dreifort went eight innings giving up just one unearned run. The Pirates took the lead, when with one on and two outs, JJ Davis homered off of Gagne. Boehringer then pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save. Gagne got the loss for the Dodgers and Corey got the win for the Pirates.

Game 43: Pirates 6 Dodgers 0
Perez pitched another gem of a game, giving up just three hits for a complete game shutout. This time the Pirates bats were there for Perez again, scoring five runs, four of them earned, off of Nomo who lasted just 3 1/3 innings for the loss. Alvarez, McDougall and House homered for the Pirates.

Game 44: Pirates 2 Dodgers 11
Fogg was doing quite well until the seventh inning rolled around. With the score tied at 1-1, the Dodgers managed to score 9 runs in the inning to take a commanding lead. Fogg gave up two of those runs off a two run homer by Roberts, to finish with 6 1/3 innings pitched and three runs given up. Vogelsong then gave up five runs without recording a single out, including a grandslam by Daubach. Corey then came in and gave up a two run homerun to Harvey, while pitching the remaining 2/3 of an inning. Beimel then gave up one more run in the ninth.

Series Recap: The Dodgers had to win at least one against the Pirates, right. Might as well be one where they can crush them. Now if only the Pirates could play the Dodgers all year, we'd have a good team.

Around the league, on Wednesday it was announced that Phillies' ace Randy Wolf would miss six weeks with a strained rotator cuff muscle which he injured in the third inning of a game against the Padres.

Operation Shutdown · 10-09-2003, 11:20 AM

Week 8
Another exciting week of Pirates baseball heading your way. The Pirates are currently 17-27 and still in fourth place in the division. This week they come back home and start with a three game series against the Reds, who are 16-18 and whom the Pirates are 2-4 against this season. The Pirates then play host to the Astros who are currently 14-29 and whom the Pirates have not yet played this season.

Game 45: Pirates 9 Reds 0
In his first start since coming off the DL, Dave Williams performed superbly, giving up no runs and just five hits for a complete game shutout. Paul Wilson gave up five runs in five innings to get the loss for the Reds. Kotsay, Nady, Craig Wilson and McDougall all homered for the Pirates.

Game 46: Pirates 3 Reds 1
Ponson had a great start, giving up just one run in eight innings of work, for his third win of the season. Reitsma did decent, working six innings and giving up three runs, but picked up the loss in this one. Craig Wilson hit a two run homerun for the Pirates. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 5th save of the year.

Game 47: Pirates 8 Reds 3
Benson had his first good game in a long time, giving up just one run in seven innings of work to pick up his second win of the season. The Pirates got to Reds starter Ty Howington, as he lasted just 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, three of which were earned.

Series Recap: The Pirates managed to sweep the formerly first place Reds. Great games with some good offense and great starting pitching. Now on to the Astros who are also on a three game winning streak.

Game 48: Pirates 6 Astros 1
Perez had yet another great outing, giving up just one run, a solo homer by Morgan Ensberg, in 7 2/3 innings for his 6th win of the season. The Pirates scored six runs, five of which were earned, off of Tim Redding, who worked 5 2/3 innings for the loss. Vogelsong came on in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, and got out of that jam and then pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.

Game 49: Pirates 3 Astros 2
The Pirates winning streak continues, as Josh Fogg pitched a great game, giving up just two runs in eight innings for the win. Contreras pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and one walk, but did not get the decision. The Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh from homeruns by JJ Davis and JR House off of Moreno, who picked up the loss. Mann pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save.

Game 50: Pirates 2 Astros 9
The Pirates winning streak ended as starter Dave Williams gave up six runs, two of which were earned, in just two innings of work for the loss. Mitch Talbot managed to give up just two runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win. Astros' CF Jason Lane hit a grandslam in the first inning off of Williams.

Series Recap: 2 out of 3 is pretty good against the Astros who were on a hot streak. Altogether a great week for the Pirates who went 5-1 in this homestand.

Around the league, on Tuesday, Devil Rays' Josh Hamilton hit for the cycle against the Anaheim Angels. Also on Tuesday, Oakland' Barry Zito pitched his third shutout of the season, this one a 2 hitter against the Twins.

Operation Shutdown · 10-09-2003, 01:16 PM

Week 9
This week the Pirates play the same opponents as they did, traveling off to Cincinatti for a three game series against the Reds who are 29-22 , and whom the Pirates are 5-4 against this season. They then travel to Houston for a three game series against the Astros who are currently 18-32, and whom the Pirates are 2-1 against this season.

Game 51: Pirates 9 Reds 10
The Pirates were dealt a significant blow, as they not only lost the game, but also lost ace starter Sidney Ponson to a fractured elbow, and he will miss the next 7 weeks. Ponson got only one out in the game before being taken out. The Pirates were leading 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but in the next three innings, the Reds scored three runs off of Torres, two runs off of Corey, and five runs off of Sauerbeck, while the Pirates managed just one more run off of Reitsma. The Pirates did managed however to attempt a comeback, scoring four runs in the eight inning to bring the game to within two runs. Reitsma gave up three of those runs and finished with 7 2/3 innings of work, giving up seven runs. The Pirates were able to pick up one mroe run in the ninth from a solo homer by Craig Wilson off of Riedling, but he held on for the save. Corey got the loss for the Pirates and Reitsma the win for the Reds.

The Pirates signed Greg Maddux to a 1-year $1M contract to take the place of Ponson. The Pirates also promoted 26 yo 1B Ray Navarette from AA to AAA. Navarette was hitting 0.353 with 2 HRs and 18 RBIs for the Curve.

Game 52: Pirates 6 Reds 8
Benson had a very poor start, giving up 8 runs in 5 2/3 innings of work for the loss. The Pirates managed to get to Oswalt as well, scoring six runs, three of them earned, off of him in 3 2/3 innings, as he got the no decision. Each bullpen, however went scoreless innings, as Austin got the win for the Reds, and after giving up two singles, with runners at the corners and one out, Aramboles got McDougall to ground into a double play to end the game and earn him the save.

Game 53: Pirates 13 Reds 6
The Pirates snapped their thee game losing streak, though Perez managed to go just 3 innings, giving up four runs. Torres got the win for the Pirates, giving up just one run in four innings of work. Zach Day on the other hand, lasted just 3 1/3 innings, and gave up eight runs to the Pirates. The Pirates also managed to tack on five runs against releiver Dustin Moseley.

Series Recap: The Bucs won just 1 out of 3, but the season series is tied 6-6 against a much better team record wise than the Pirates.

Game 54: Pirates 1 Astros 2
Fogg had another good game, giving up just two runs in seven innings of work. However it wasn't good enough, as Contreras only gave up one run, a solo homer by McDougall, in seven innings for the win, and handing Fogg his 7th loss of the year. Wagner pitched a scoreless ninth for his 8th save.

Game 55: Pirates 2 Astros 7 Fireworks Night at Minute Maid Park
Dave Williams' struggles continue as he gave up five runs in just three innings of work. Hernandez picked up the win for the Astros, giving up just 2 runs in seven innings of work.

Amateur Draft
Milwaukee selected 23 yr old C Andrea Lemmons as the first overall pick in this year's amateur draft. Lemmons was rated GGPBGA. The Pirates selected fourth in the draft and chose the following players:
SP Roy Gallucci BBAGB
C Bradley Simental AAFBAF
MR Gaston Bickel AAAGA
C George Nez FAPPAF
SS Adelardo Martinez PGGAFA
RF Jermaine Joplin FBGFAA
1B Levi Obrien AFPAAA

This draft class after the first round of picks was pretty weak. The Pirates only expect anything out of Gallucci and possibly Simental.

May Wrapup
The Pirates this month finished above .500 at 15-14 for the month, and 23-32 for the year. Perez had another great month, going 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 6 starts. Benson had another poor month, finishing with a record of 1-2 with a 6.11 ERA. Nady had a superb month, hitting 0.342 with 6 HRs and 19 RBIs. Mackowiak just wasn't seeing the ball this month and hit just 0.191 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs.

Around the league, Boston is still leading the AL East, with a record of 34-21, now four games ahead of Toronto. Minnesota, 34-22, is still leading the central, but the lead now is just by 1.5 games over the White Sox. The Oakland A's still hold the best record in baseball at 39-15 and are 14 games ahead of the Angels in the west. In the NL, the Braves are 36-19 and now lead the east by 3 games over the Expos. The Cubs are leading the tight central division by 1.5 games over the Reds, with a record of 33-22. The Rockies and Giants are tied in the west with a record of 32-24 and they lead the Padres by 4.5 games.

Mark Buehrle of the White Sox, won the award for POM in the AL, finishing the month with a record of 5-1 and a 1.79 ERA. Met's rookie Phil Seibel won the award in the NL while going 4-0 and having a measly 0.69 ERA in the month of May. A member of the White Sox also won BOM award for the AL, as Joe Borchard had a great month, going 27 for 78 (0.372) with 9 HRs and 26 RBI's. Phillies' Jim Thome won the award in the NL, hitting 0.407 with an amazing 16 HRs and 36 RBIs.

Game 56: Pirates 7 Astros 4
Greg Maddux shined in his first start as a Pittsburgh Pirate, giving up just one run in seven innings of work. Saarloos gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings for the loss for the Astros. Kotsay, Hill and Davis hit homers for the Bucs, while Kent and Lane homered in the game for the Astros.

Series Recap: The Pirates managed to squeak one win in this series, but still lead the season series 4-2 against the Astros.

Around the league, on Wednesday, Met's Mo Vaughn clubbed five hits, two singles two doubles and a homer. Also on Wednesday, the Cardinals' pulled starter Matt Morris in the fourth inning of a game against the Astros. X-Rays discovered a torn ligament in his elbow and doctors say he will miss the remainder of the season. On Saturday, Montreal's Tomo Okha pitched a two-hit shutout against the Mets, as the Expos won the game 11-0. On Sunday, the Giants got very bad news as it was discovered that their ace Pedro Martinez strained a rotator cuff muscle in the third inning in a game against the Cubs. He will likely miss the next five weeks.

Operation Shutdown · 10-10-2003, 01:11 AM

Week 10
The Pirates are currently 24-32 and still sit in fourth place in the central division, nine games behind the leading Cubs. This week the Bucs start their interleague play. They play three games at home against the Red Sox, who are 34-22, and then travel to New York to play the Mets who are currently 26-30.

Game 57: Pirates 9 Red Sox 3
Many people were wondering just when the real Kris Benson would appear, and it seems that he made an appearance in this game. He gave up just three runs against the vaunted Red Sox offense in eight innings of work for his third win of the year. The Pirates offense really knocked around Derek Lowe, scoring seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings off of him. Pirates hitters combined for a total of eight doubles in the game.

Game 58: Pirates 7 Red Sox 4
Despite being outhit 9-7 the Pirates and Perez have continued their winning ways. Perez went 7 1/3 innings, giving up four runs for his seventh win of the season. Fossum gave up five runs, four of which were earned, in six innings of work for the loss. The Pirates scored two insurance runs in the seventh off of Chad Fox to close this game out. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save of the season.

Game 59: Pirates 1 Red Sox 4
Fogg had a decent game, but it wasn't enough as he picked up his 8th loss, giving up four runs in seven innings. The Pirates bats just didn't show up for this game, as Elmore pitched a complete game scattering 7 hits and walking three, giving up just one run to earn the win.

Series Recap: The Pirates didn't let themselves get pushed around by the Red Sox. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.

Game 60: Pirates 2 Mets 10
Dave Williams really struggled in this game, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings of work for the loss. The bullpen didn't do much to help, as Vogelsong and Sauerbeck each gave up two more runs. Leiter, on the other hand, pitched quite well, giving up just two runs in six innings. The Mets bullpen held up, giving up no runs in three innings of relief.

Game 61: Pirates 7 Mets 2
This game was veteran versus young upstart, and the veteran came out on top of this one. Maddux gave up just one run in 6 2/3 innings to pick up his second straight win in a Pirate uni. Nunez, did fairly well, giving up just two runs in 4 2/3 innings, but he picked up the loss. The score was close heading into the eighth, as the Pirates lead just 3-2, but the Bucs broke things open, scoring three unearned runs in the eighth and then one more unearned run in the ninth off of Yates.

Game 62: Pirates 7 Mets 4
Benson had another pretty good game, and managed to not give up a single run until the sixth inning, where he gave up three runs. He finished with his 4th win of the year, pitching six innings and giving up three runs. Ross Peeples made his first career major league start for the Mets, and got knocked around pretty bad. He gave up five runs in just two innings to record the loss. Mann picked up the last out in the ninth, after Sauerbeck allowed a run without getting a single out, for his eighth save of the season.

Series Recap: The Pirates and Mets each scored 16 runs, but the Bucs came out on top 2 games to 1. Exactly what the Pirates need to try and work their way back into the mix of things, one game at a time.

Around the league, on Tuesday, Arizona's left fielder, 36 year old Luis Gonzalez blistered three homers against the Indians. His first was a grandslam off Dave Elder in the second inning, the second was a solo homerun off of Mike Williams in the fifth, and his last was a two run homer off of Mike Williams in the seventh. He powered his team to a 12-4 win over the Indians.

Operation Shutdown · 10-10-2003, 10:57 AM

Week 11
The Pirates are currently and in fourth place in the central division. This week they continue their interleague play, traveling first to Baltimore for a three game series against the Orioles who are 31-33. They then travel to Tampa Bay for three against the Devil Rays who are currently 31-31. The Pirates are 2-1 in interleague play so far this season.

Game 63: Pirates 3 Orioles 2
Perez did pretty well in this game, giving up just two runs in six innings of work, but did not get the win. The Pirates game-winning run came in the eighth inning when Mackowiak tagged at third on a fly ball by Rivera. Lopez got the loss, going 7 2/3 innings and giving up three runs, two of which were earned. Boehringer picked up the win and Mann picked up his 9th save of the season.

Game 64: Pirates 6 Orioles 3
Fogg pitched a superb game, giving up just three runs, two of which were earned, in eight innings of work for his 4th win of the season. Rakers got the loss for Baltimore, giving up six runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. Bobby Hill was taken out of the game in the bottom of the first after throwing a runner out, with a tight elbow and will miss the next few days.

Game 65: Pirates 10 Orioles 0 Noddin Head Doll Day at Oriole Park
Williams pitched a superb game, a two-hit complete game shutout, while walking none and striking out one batter for his third win. Eaton on the other hand, lasted just 1 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs, five of which were earned for the loss. Nady had another big game offensively, going 2-5 with 4 RBIs, and smacking his 13th homerun of the year.

Series Recap: The Pirates took care of the Orioles and are now on a five-game winning streak and are 5-1 against the AL East in interleague play.

Game 66: Pirates 4 Devil Rays 11
The Pirates winning streak was snapped, as Greg Maddux had a very poor showing, giving up seven runs in just three innings pitched for his 5th loss of the season. Zambrano pitched well for the DRays, giving up four runs in eight innings of work, for his 4th win.

Game 67: Pirates 10 Devil Rays 1
Benson had another superb game, giving up just one run in 8 2/3 innings to pick up his 5th win of the season. The Pirates scored five runs, but only one of them earned, against Bierbrodt, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings in the loss.

Game 68: Pirates 4 Devil Rays 3
This game was a match-up of young phenom pitchers. The Pirates managed to score four runs in 6+ innings against Dewon Brazelton, who got the loss. Perez did not give up a single run in 7 1/3 innings of work, picking up his 8th win of the season. In fact, the DRays were not able to score a run until the ninth inning, but they sure made things close. Grieve led off with a homerun off of Vogelsong. Mann then came in to replace Vogelsong and gave up a double to Sandberg. Walker then popped out, and Hamilton followed with a pinch-hit single to score Sandberg. On the throw home, Hamilton went to second. Crawford then flew out to left, and Valentin followed with a pinch hit single scoring Hamilton, to bring the game to within one run. Mann got Huff to fly out to left-center to end the game, picking up his 11th save of the season.

Series Recap: The Pirates continue to roll over the AL East, winning 2 out of 3 against the DRays, bringing their record to 7-2 in interleague play.

Around the league, there was no other news besides Dave Williams' two hit shutout on Thursday.

Operation Shutdown · 10-10-2003, 12:14 PM

Week 12
The Pirates are now 33-35, still in fourth place in the central division, but now only 6.5 games back of the division leading Cubs. This week the Bucs have a tough schedule and come home and play three against the Phillies who are currently 41-28 this season. The Pirates then wrap up their interleague schedule with three games against the Indians who are 42-28. The Pirates are 7-2 in interleague play this season.
The Pirates announced that they have promoted LF Manuel Ravelo from AA to AAA. Ravelo was hitting 0.287 with 4 HRs and 30 RBIs for the Altoona Curve.

Game 69: Pirates 10 Phillies 8
Neither starter fared too well in this game, as Fogg went just 2 2/3 innings giving up five runs. Brett Myers didn't do any better, giving up seven runs, four of which were earned, in 2 1/3 innings for the loss. Beimel got the win by recording the last out in the third inning. The Phillies scored five runs in the third, just to be outdone by the Pirates in the bottom half of the inning, as they scored 8. The Phillies worked the game back to within one run in the seventh inning, but the Pirates added two more insurance runs in the bottom half of the seventh. The Phillies were able to add one more in the eighth, but Mann came in to pitch a scoreless ninth, for his 12th save of the season.

Game 70: Pirates 2 Phillies 7
Dave Williams got hurt by the long ball, giving up two run homers to Thome and Byrd. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs, three of them earned. The Phillies scored three runs in the ninth for insurance, but it proved to be unnecessary, as Padilla pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs for his 7th win.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 500th career homerun. The homer came in the first inning, with one on and one out against Brewer's pitcher Neugebauer.

Game 71: Pirates 9 Phillies 5
Maddux did not give up a single run until the sixth inning, and finished the game pitching seven innings and giving up four runs for the win. Brian Anderson went just 3 1/3 innings for the Phillies, giving up six runs and picking up the loss. Humberto Cota hit two homeruns, and Nady and Palmer each had one homer. Nady extended his hitting streak to a career high 12 games.

Series Recap: The Pirates won two out of three against the first place Phillies and find themselves now just one game under .500.

Game 72: Pirates 14 Indians 2
The Pirates destroyed the Indians and starting pitcher Kurt Ainsworth, who gave up 7 runs in just two innings of work. The Pirates also managed to score six runs, five of them earned, off of former teammate Mike Williams, who lasted just 1/3 of an inning. 11 of these runs came in just the third inning of the game with the scored tied 2-2. Benson pitched a very good game, giving up just two runs in eight innings of work for his 6th win of the season.

Game 73: Pirates 0 Indians 2
This game was another one featuring a couple of good young pitchers in Rodriguez and Perez. Neither pitcher budged, as Rodriguez gave up just five hits and no runs in eight innings of work, and Perez gave up just six hits and no runs in seven innings of work. In fact, neither team managed to score a run until the 12th inning. With runners at the corners and one out in the top of the 12th, Indians Brandon Phillips doubled scoring both runs to give them the lead. Van Poppel pitched a scoreless bottom half of the inning for the save. Elder picked up the win for the Indians, while Mann got the loss for the Pirates.

Game 74: Pirates 5 Indians 3
Fogg won another close game, pitching fairly well and giving up just three runs, two of them earned, in 6 1/3 innings of work for his 5th win of the season. Dennys Baez got the loss for the Indians, giving up five runs in just four innings. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save. Nady's 14-game hitting streak was snapped as he went 0-3 today.

Series Recap: The Bucco train keeps on rolling, winning two of three from the first place Indians. The Bucs finished interleague play with a record of 9-3, and now are at .500 on the season.

Operation Shutdown · 10-11-2003, 07:13 PM

Week 13
The Pirates season continues,and this week they will play their last game in the month of June. They travel to Philadelphia for a three game series against the Phillies who are 44-31 and whom the Pirates are 2-1 against this season. They then come back home and play three against the Diamondbacks who are currently 36-41.

Game 75: Pirates 3 Phillies 8
Williams gave up six unearned runs in three innings for the loss, as the Pirates poor defensive play hurt them. Padilla pitched 7 2/3 innings, giving up three runs for the win.

Game 76: Pirates 4 Phillies 1
Maddux pitched a superb game, giving up no runs in six innings of work for the win, his 4th of the season. The Pirates scored four runs, three of them earned, against starter Brian Anderson. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 14th save of the season.

Game 77: Pirates 1 Phillies 11
Still just can't figure out Benson, one time he goes out and looks like a Cy Young candidate and then anothe start he looks like he belongs in AAA. This start was not a good one for him as he gave up five runs in just four innings of work. Torres didn't do any better in relief, giving up six runs in three innings. Madson pitched a very good game, giving up just one run in seven innings for the win.

Series Recap: The Phillies answered back in this series to tie the season at 3-3. Only Maddux pitched very well, and could quite earn himself a spot on this staff, even when Ponson comes back.

Game 78: Pirates 5 Diamond Backs 1
This game was the old vs. the new as 40 year old Randy Johnson matched up against 22 year old Oliver Perez. Both starters did quite well, as Johnson gave up just one run in five innings of work, and Perez gave up just one run in 8 2/3 innings. The score was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, when Nady singled home Kotsay, and then later in the inning, Alvarez hit a three run homerun off of Myers. The first run was charged to Koplove, who picked up the loss.

Game 79: Pirates 1 Diamond Backs 6
Fogg had some trouble in this game, as he gave up six runs, three of them earned, in 5 1/3 innings for his 9th loss of the season. Suppan blew away his former teammates, giving up just one run off of five hits in 8 2/3 innings.

Game 80: Pirates 8 Diamond Backs 4
The Pirates got to Elmer Dessens early, scoring five runs, four of them earned in four innings. Williams pitched a pretty good game. He didn't give up a single run until the sixth inning, when the DBacks scored four runs off of him, to bring the game to withing one run. The Pirates answered with one of their own in the bottom of the sixth, and then two more in the bottom of the seventh, and the bullpen pitched three scoreless innings to hold on to the win.

Series Recap: The former NL Champions have been struggling all season, and the Pirates were able to compound on their troubles winning two of three.

Around the league, on Wednesday, Toronto's DH Kevin Millar tore up the Oriole's pitching staff, smashing five hits in the game.

Operation Shutdown · 10-11-2003, 08:09 PM

Week 14
This week starts a new month for the Pirates, who are currently 40-40, in fourth place in the central just 6.5 games back of the Cardinals. This week they come home for a three game series against the Brewers who are 25-56 and whom the Pirates are 1-2 against this season. They then face the Cardinals who are currently 47-34 and whom the Pirates are 3-5 against.

June Wrapup
The Pirates were red hot this month with a record of 17-8 and are now 40-40. Maddux, 4-1 with a 3.94; Benson, 4-1 with a 3.63; Perez 3-0 with a 1.73 anchored the Pirates starting rotation this month. Nady continued his hot hands, hitting 0.316 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs. House also had a pretty good month, hitting 0.308 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs. Cota though, in limited play, hit 0.450 with 4 HRs and 10 RBIs coming mostly off the bench for those hits. Since the Pirates are close enough to the halfway point, I'm just gonna give a quick run down of the stats for all the players.

C JR House 0.275 9 HRs 39 RBIs
1B Craig Wilson 0.299 10 HRs 47 RBIs
2B Bobby Hill 0.267 6 HRs 35 RBIs 18 SB
3B Rob Mackowiak 0.246 11 HRs 49 RBIs 11 SB
SS Marshall McDougall 0.239 6 HRs 28 RBIs 3 SB
LF Xavier Nady 0.311 14 HRs 52 RBIs 1 SB
CF Mark Kotsay 0.286 7 HRs 41 RBIs 15 SB
RF JJ Davis 0.258 11 HRs 46 RBIs 6 SB
C Humberto Cota 0.258 4 HRs 14 RBIs
1B Carlos Rivera 0.214 2 HRs 9 RBIs
SS Jack Wilson 0.268 0 HRs 10 RBIs
3B Dean Palmer 0.202 1 HR 6 RBIs
CF Tony Alvarez 0.271 4 HRs 18 RBIs

SP Greg Maddux 4-5 5.08 ERA
SP Kris Benson 6-6 5.13 ERA
SP Oliver Perez 9-2 2.43 ERA
SP Josh Fogg 5-9 5.05 ERA
SP Dave Williams 4-6 4.29 ERA
SP Sidney Ponson 3-6 3.79 ERA
MR Joe Beimel 2-0 1 SV 4.05 ERA
MR Brian Boehringer 3-1 2 SV 2.97 ERA
MR Mark Corey 2-1 3.52 ERA
MR Scott Sauerbeck 0-0 9.97 ERA
MR Solomon Torres 1-1 1SV 6.60 ERA
MR Ryan Vogelsong 0-1 1SV 5.98 ERA
CL Jim Mann 0-5 14 SV 5.23 ERA

Around the league, Boston with a record of 51-31, leads the Blue Jays by 7 games. In the central, Minnesota is still leading the central with a record of 48-34, just 2.5 games above the Indians. The A's still have the best record in the majors at 51-30, and lead the west by 16 games over the Angels. In the NL, Montreal has surpassed Atlanta by a half a game, to lead the east with a record of 51-31. The Cardinals are currently the team atop the central division with a record of 47-34 and just one game above the Reds and two above the Cubs. In the west, the Padres have shot past the Rockies and Giants and now lead the division by 3.5 games over the Rockies, with a record of 46-36.

Never heard of before, Royals' pitcher Shawn Sedlacek won the AL POM award, going 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA. Padilla won his first POM award, going 5-0 with an ERA of 1.48 for the Phillies this month. White Sox RF Magglio Ordonez was red hot this month, hitting 0.385 with 11 HRs and collecting 21 RBIs to win the BOM award for the AL. In the NL, Pujols outperformed everyone, hitting 0.369 with 9 HRs and 21 RBIs to win the BOM award.

Game 81: Pirates 3 Brewers 1
Maddux continues with the hot arm, giving up just one run in eight innings of work. The score was tied 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth when the Pirates scored two more off of Franklin to take the lead. Franklin gave up a total of three runs in 6 2/3 innings, good enough for a quality start, but also picking up the loss. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save of the year.

Game 82: Pirates 4 Brewers 5
Benson went into the seventh inning with a 4-3 lead but gave up two runs in the inning to pick up the loss. Benson went a total of seven innings, giving up the five runs for his 7th loss of the season. Valdes lasted just six innings, but gave up just four runs for his 7th win. Vizcaino pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 13th save of the year.

Game 83: Pirates 6 Brewers 2
Perez pitched another really good game, giving up just one run in seven innings, but was not able to pick up the win. Neugebauer was not able to pick up the win either, despite giving up just two hits and no runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Pirates were trailing 2-0 heading into the eighth, but managed to score 6 runs off of Foster, Leskanic and Vizcaino, including a grandslam by Dean Palmer off of Vizcaino with two outs that gave the Pirates the lead. Leskanic picked up the loss for the Brewers, and despite giving up one run in the inning that he worked, Sauerbeck got the win for the Pirates.

Series Recap: Well, the Pirates finally managed to win a series against the Brewers in two years worth of play, and evened up the season series at 3-3.

Game 84: Pirates 13 Cardinals 6
The Pirates destroyed the Cardinals pitching staff, scoring 5 runs in 2 1/3 innings off of Ankiel, and then scoring 8 more off of the Cardinals bullpen. Fogg did OK in this outing, giving up four runs in seven innings and picking up his 6th win. Mackowiak hit two homers, while Nady and House each had one.

Game 85: Pirates 0 Cardinals 8
Willaims seems to alternate between good and bad outings, and this was one of his bad one. He gave up all eight runs, seven of them earned, in 7 1/3 innings. Five of those runs came in the eighth innings, four of those coming from a grandslam by Eusebio. Rookie Dan Haren picked up his fifth win, giving up just three hits in six innings of work.

Game 86: Pirates 12 Cardinals 7
Maddux had his first poor outing for a long time with the Pirates, as he got smashed giving up all seven runs, six of which were earned, in 1+ innings. The runs came from homers by JD Drew, Miguel Tejada, and Jim Edmonds. The Pirates offense answered back, scoring six in the third inning, all of those runs were unearned, 2 in the sixth to take the lead, and four more in the seventh to add some insurance. Mackowiak hit two homers, while McDougall and Palmer each had one. The Pirates bullpen pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and walking just two. Boehringer got the win for the Pirates, while Kline got the loss for the Cards.

Series Recap: This is a season of firsts for the Pirates, as this is also the first time the Pirates won a series against the Cardinals in two years.

Around the league, on Sunday Blue Jays' Dominic Rich hit for the cycle against the Orioles.

Operation Shutdown · 10-11-2003, 10:54 PM

Week 15
The Pirates are currently 44-42, and in fourth place in the central division, 4.5 games behind the Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds. The Pirates have a very tough schedule this week, going up against two of those top teams. They start out in Chicago with a four game series against the Cubs, who are 49-38 and whom the Pirates are 1-2 against this year. They then travel to St. Louis for a three-game set against the Cardinals who are currently 49-38 and whom the Pirates are 5-6 against this season.

Game 87: Pirates 4 Cubs 2
Benson seems to be possibly back on track again, as he pitched very well giving up just two runs in six innings for his seventh win of the season. The Pirates were down 2-1 until the sixth inning, when they managed to score three runs off of Kennedy to take the lead. Kennedy finished going seven innings and giving up all four earned runs for his fifth loss. Mann worked a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his 16th save of the season.

Game 88: Pirates 6 Cubs 7
Perez went six innings and gave up four runs, while Clement went 7+ innings, giving up six runs, five of them earned, but neither starter got the decision. The score was tied 4-4 heading into the eighth, and the Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out against Clement. Juan Cruz then came into the game and got Mackowiak to strike out, and Davis to ground into a fielder's choice, getting the runner out at home. It seemed the Cubs would get out of the jam, but McDougall singled to left to score Wilson and Nady, but Cota struck out to end the threat. The Cubs then answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own against Vogelsong. The Pirates then threatened in the top of the 12th inning. They had runners at second and third and no one out, but Kolb got Craig Wilson to strike out swinging. He then intentionally walked Nady, and Baker then brought Beltran in to the game. He got Mackowiak to line out to the shortstop, and then got Davis to end the inning by grounding back to the mound. The Cubs made the Bucs pay for not getting a run home, when in the bottom half of the inning, with two outs, Hee Seop Choi hit a walk-off solo homerun off of Corey to win the game. Corey got the loss for the Bucs and Beltran got the win for the Cubs.

Game 89: Pirates 5 Cubs 4
Fogg pitched a pretty decent game, picking up the win while giving up four runs, two of which were earned, in seven innings of work. Zambrano also pitched seven innings for the Cubs and gave up just two runs but did not get the decision. The Pirates were trailing 4-1 heading into the eighth inning, and led the inning off with a walk by House off of Zambrano. Kolb then came into the game and gave up a pinch-hit single to Rivera. Juan Cruz then came in and gave up a single to Kotsay that scored House and the Pirates had first and second with no outs. Nady then hit a pinch-hit three run homerun off of Cruz to give the Pirates the lead. The Pirates never looked back and the bullpen pitched two scoreless innings with Mann picking up his 17th save of the season. Cruz got the loss for the Cubs.

Game 90: Pirates 3 Cubs 1
This was another very close game that the Pirates just inched out a victory in. Williams pitched very well, giving up just one run in six innings. The score was tied at 1-1 heading into the eighth innings. With two outs and runner on first and second Wilton Chavez was pulled from the game. Cruz then came in and walked House to load the bases. Tony Alvarez then hit a pinch hit single scoring Wilson and Davis to give the Pirates the lead. Both runs were charged to Cruz, who got the loss working 7 2/3 innings. Cruz then got Kotsay to ground out to end the threat. The Cubs threatened in the bottom of the ninth, when with runners at first and second with two outs, Joe Beimel got Choi to ground out to the first baseman to end the game. Vogelsong picked up the win for the Bucs pitching a scoreless seventh inning, and Beimel got the save.

Series Recap: The Pirates are inching closer and closer in the central division, winning three of four from the former first place Cubs. It's now on to face the first place Cardinals.

Game 91: Pirates 7 Cardinals 8
This game was a very tough loss for the Pirates. Maddux went 7 2/3 innings giving up five runs, while Haren went 5 2/3 innings giving up six runs and neither starter got the decision. The Pirates were leading the game 7-2 heading into the eighth inning. Then everything went to hell after two outs in the inning. Pujols came to the plate with one man on, and hit a two run homer off of Maddux. Edmonds then followed with a single, and then Corey came in and gave up a two run homerun to Scott Rolen. Travis Lee then followed with a solo homerun, again off Corey, to tie the game at 7-7. Vogelsong then came in and got Vina to ground out to end the inning. The Pirates put up a bit of an effort in the ninth with two singles, but with two outs McDougall flew out to shallow left field to end the threat. Vogelsong then got one quick out in the bottom half of the inning, before Eusebio reached base on an error by the third baseman. Mann then came in and gave up a single to JD Drew, and followed that by giving up another single to Wilson Delgado. Eusebio scored the game winning run on a play at the plate where House was barely not able to tag Eusebio as he slid past into home plate. Vogelsong was credited with the loss for the Bucs, while Curdale got the win for the Cards.

Game 92: Pirates 4 Cardinals 7
Benson continues his rollercoaster struggles, with another poor outing, giving up five runs in six innings for his 8th loss of the season. On the other hand, Loaiza continues his story book season, picking up his 5th win, this after not even pitching last year, and giving up four runs in 7 2/3 innings. The Pirates somewhat threatened in the ninth, drawing two walks from Isringhausen after two outs, but Linebrink came in to finish things off by getting Rivera to fly out to end the game and earning him the save.

Game 93: Pirates 3 Cardinals 1
The Pirates snapped the Cardinals six game winning streak, thanks to a valiant effort by Perez, who went seven innings, giving up just one run for his 10th win of the season. The Pirates scored three runs, two of them earned, off of Jimmy Journell. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 18th save of the season.

Around the league, on Tuesday White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle threw his second shutout of the season, a two hitter against the Angels, as the White Sox went on to win the game 10-0.

Operation Shutdown · 10-12-2003, 06:52 PM

Week 16
The All-Star game will be played this week, but just before the homerun derby Monday night, the Pirates announced the trade of Josh Fogg and Solomon Torres to the Anaheim Angels for MR Scot Shields. With the surplus of good arms in AAA, the Pirates felt that neither Maddux or Fogg would be in their plans for next year, and decided to stick with the veteran Maddux for the remainder of the year. At the same time, they manage to improve their bullpen and reduce a little bit of salary. The timing was done now, because Ponson will be coming off the DL after the All-Star break.

Recently acquired Scot Shields, and Oliver Perez each made their first career appearance in the all-star game. Perez pitched two innings, and gave up four runs, though just one of them was earned, as the AL defeated the NL 7-6.

The Pirates finish this week with a four game series against the Cubs, who are 52-42 and whom the Pirates are 4-3 against.

Game 94: Pirates 0 Cubs 2
Ponson came back and in his first start since coming off the DL, gave up just two runs in nine innings, but got the loss. Prior pitched a superb game, giving up no runs in seven innings. Kolb pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Game 95: Pirates 3 Cubs 6
Benson gave up two homeruns to Mark Bellhorn and they both proved to be costly as he finished with just five innings pitched, giving up 6 runs, three of them earned. Kennedy gave up just three runs in eight innings for the win. Kolb pitched another 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second straight save.

Game 96: Pirates 0 Cubs 4
The Cubs pitching continues to shut-down the Pirates, as Zambrano gave up just two hits in 8 2/3 innings for the win. Perez gave up four runs in 8 2/3 innings for the loss.

Game 97: Pirates 7 Cubs 6
Neither starting pitcher got the decision in this game, as Maddux lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs, and Clement also gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Pirates were trailing 6-3 heading into the sixth, and scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie things up. They then took the lead in the bottom of the seventh, when JJ Davis singled home Craig Wilson. The Cubs made the game very close in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second and one out, Dave Kelton singled to center field. The third base coach sent the runner home, but the throw to the plate nailed Ben Davis for the second out. Mann then got Moises Alou to strike out looking, leaving runners at second and third, and picking up his 19th save of the year. Scot Shields got the win for the Bucs, and Beltran got the loss for the Cubs

Series Recap: That was a tough series to lose as the Pirates were starting to make a comeback in the central, but now find themselves 6.5 back of the Cardinals.

Around the league, on Thursday Rangers' staff ace Jarrod Washburn discovered bone chips in his shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. On Sunday, Minnesota's Juan Gonzalez smacked his 2000th career hit off of A's Rich Harden.

Operation Shutdown · 10-12-2003, 07:40 PM

Week 17
This week the Pirates start a very busy schedule. They start with a two game series at home against the Cardinals who are 56-42 and whom the Pirates are 6-8 against. They then travel to Milwaukee for a two game series against the Brewers who are currently 30-68 and whom the Pirates are 3-3 against. They then travel to Houston for the start of a four-game series against the Astros who are currently 41-58 and whom the Pirates are 3-3 against this season.

Game 98: Pirates 10 Cardinals 4
The Pirates bats have woken up, scoring five runs in 2 1/3 innings off of Cardinals starter Haren. They scored five more runs in 3 innings off of the Cardinals bullpen. Williams pitched a decent game, giving up just four runs, three of them earned, in eight innings, for his 5th win of the season.

Game 99: Pirates 12 Cardinals 6
Ponson did not have a great game, giving up five runs in five innings, but luckily he did not need to have his best game in this one, as he still picked up the win. The Pirates handed Woody Williams his worst loss of the season, scoring 7 runs against him in just three innings of work.

Series Recap: The Pirates managed to score more runs in two games against the Cardinals than they did in the last series in four games against the Cubs. The pitching wasn't great but it was good enough to pick up the wins.

Game 100: Pirates 2 Brewers 3
Both starting pitchers had superb games, but again neither got the decision. Benson went six innings, giving up two runs, while Valdes also gave up just two runs in seven innings of work. The Pirates threatened in the top of the tenth with runners at second and third and two outs, but Vizcaino got House to ground out back to the mound to end the threat. The Brewers ended the game when with one out, C Andrea Lemmons hit a walk-off solo homerun off of Jim Mann to end the game. Mann got the loss for the Pirates and Pember got the win for the Brewers.

Game 101: Pirates 10 Brewers 3
The Pirates blew apart Ben Sheets, scoring six runs, three of which were earned, in 1 2/3 innings, as he picked up his 8th loss of the season. Perez pitched fairly well, giving up just three runs, two of them earned, in six innings for his 11th win of the season.

Series Recap: A split against most teams is a decent job, but against the last place Brewers, it's a little hard to swallow. I guess the Brewers need to win every now and then.

Game 102: Pirates 3 Astros 7
Maddux had a bad day in more than one way. He gave up four runs in just 1 2/3 innings for his 6th loss of the season, and along the way, he was injured with a herniated back disk and will miss the next 8 weeks. Saarloos went seven innings and gave up just one unearned run for his 7th win of the season.

The Pirates placed Greg Maddux on the DL and called up John VanBenSchoten, JVB was 10-5 with a 3.01 ERA in 19 starts for the Nashville Sounds this season.

Game 103: Pirates 9 Astros 2
Williams had himself a pretty good day, giving up just two runs in six innings of work for the win. Contreras gave up four runs, two of which were earned, in 6 1/3 innings. The game was really close (3-2) until the seventh inning, when the Pirates managed to score five runs off of Contreras and Robertson.

Game 104: Pirates 4 Astros 3
Ponson had another real good game, giving up just three runs, only two of which were earned, in seven innings to pick up his 5th win of the season. The Pirates were trailing 3-2 heading into the eighth inning, but a one-out triple by Mark Kotsay scored Bobby Hill to tie the score. One out later, Xavier Nady singled home Kotsay for the go-ahead run. Astros starter Talbot was charged with all four runs, and pitched a total of 8 1/3 innings for the loss. The bullpen held the Astros scoreless, and Mann picked up his 20th save of the season.

Around the league, on Thursday Marlins' reliever Nate Bump ruptured a disk in his back and will miss the remainder of the season. On Friday, Seattle's left-hander Ryan Ketchner pitched a two-hit shutout against the Rangers as the Mariners won the game 10-0. On Sunday, Yankees' second baseman Alfonso Soriano hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox.

Operation Shutdown · 10-13-2003, 12:28 AM

Week 18
I forgot to mention that Mark Kotsay won player of the week award for the NL, hitting 0.552 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. Also, the Pirates promoted 1B Brad Eldred from A to AA. Eldred was hitting 0.255 with 18 HRs and 62 RBIs for the Hillcats. The Pirates also cut 24 year old CF Chris Duffy from their A affiliate.

With the trading deadline approaching, the Pirates are looking to possibly add another starting pitcher to replace Maddux who is injured, but that partly depends on how well VanBenSchoten does in his one start this week. This week the Pirates continue a fairly tough schedule, beginning with the last game of their four-game series against the Astros. The Pirates then come home and play three games against the Rockies, who are 53-53 and whom the Pirates are 0-3 this season. The Pirates then begin August playing host to the Diamondbacks who are currently 50-58 and whom the Pirates are 2-1 against this season.

Game 105: Pirates 9 Astros 1
Benson had another one of his great games, pitching a complete game and giving up just six hits and one run while striking out 7 batters for his 8th win of the year. Hernandez gave up six runs, four of them earned, in four innings for his 11th loss of the season. The Pirates scored eight of the nine runs from homeruns. They hit a total of six homeruns, solo homeruns by Bobby Hill, Nady who hit two solo shots, and Craig Wilson, who also hit two solo shots. JR House was the only player to homer with players on base, as he hit a three run homerun in the second inning.

Series Recap: The Pirates definitely seem to be learning how to win games, winning 3 of 4 from the Astros. Now they just need to do so on a consistent basis against the better teams in the league, and they should be able to make a run at the central division.

Game 106: Pirates 1 Rockies 7
Perez didn't do a poor job, but wasn't his normal self, as he gave up four runs, though in his defense only one run was earned, in five innings of work as he got the loss. Stark pitched a complete game, giving up just one run, which was a homerun by Nady in the sixth inning, to pick up his 10th win of the season.

Game 107: Pirates 1 Rockies 3
In his first career major league start, VanBenSchoten did pretty well, giving up just three runs in seven innings, but he did pick up the loss. The Pirates managed to score just one run in 6 2/3 innings off of the struggling Jason Jennings. Jimenez pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 23rd save of the season.

Game 108: Pirates 2 Rockies 10
Williams did not have a good start, giving up five runs, three of them earned in 3 1/3 innings for his 8th loss of the season. The bullpen didn't do much better, as Beimel gave up four more runs in 3 2/3 innings and Vogelsong gave up a run in two innings. The Pirates bats continued to struggle as they scored just one run off of starter Tsao, who lasted seven innings, and earned his 9th win of the season.

Series Recap: Just as the Pirates seem to be putting something together, something goes way south on the team, and this time it was the offense that just didn't show up in this series. Lucky for them, the rest of the central didn't do too well, and they're still just 7 games back.

July Wrapup
The Pirates went 15-13 in the month of July and are now 55-53 and in fourth place in the central division, seven games back of the Cubs. Perez continues to put up some strong numbers, going 2-2 with a 2.95 ERA in July. Ponson also did well, after coming off the DL, he went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Kotsay hit very well for the Pirates this month, batting 0.391 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs and 26 runs scored. None of the Pirates hitters did very poorly this month, as they all had a very solid effort in July, with no one hitting below 0.250 for the month.

Around the league, the Boston Red Sox still lead the AL East with a record of 67-42, ten games ahead of the Blue Jays. Cleveland has taken over the lead in the central, and with a record of 61-48, they lead the White Sox by 3 games. The A's with a record of 70-38 still hold the lead for the best record in all of baseball, and lead the Angels by 20 games in the west. In the NL, the Expos continue to lead the Braves by 2 game in the east, with a record of 66-42. The Cubs, with a record of 62-46, are the current monthly leaders in the tight central division race, and are just a half game above the Reds. In the West, the Padres, with a record of 61-48, are holding on to a 5 game lead over the Rockies.

For the second time, Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox won the AL POM award, as he went 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA in the month of July. In the NL, Montreal's Seung Song won the award, going 4-0 with a measly 0.55 ERA. Oakland's red hot 1B Erubiel Durazo hit 0.344 with 12 HRs and 26 RBIs to win the AL BOM. The award for the NL went to Pittsburgh's very own CF Mark Kotsay, who hit 0.391 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

League Transactions: I just realized that I haven't posted these all year, so I just decided to upload the file, and you can take a look at all the trades throughout the year.
2004 Transactions There were also a number of contract extensions, so I'll list the more notable players:

Boston : Nomar Garciaparra, $7,140,000 per year, for 6 years.
Boston: Derek Lowe, $5,747,500 per year, for 3 years.
New York (A): Alfonso Soriano, $9,025,000 per year, for 4 years.
New York (A): Mariano Rivera, $5,796,000 per year, for 3 years
Toronto: Carlos Delgado, $12,413,000 per year, for 6 years
Toronto: Kevin Millar, $4,598,000 per year, for 3 years
Minnesota: Tim Hudson, $5,700,000 per year, for 3 years
Oakland: Troy Percival, $4,900,000 per year, for 4 years
Seattle: Bret Boone, $5,600,000 per year, for 3 years
Montreal: Javier Vazquez, $5,885,300 per year, for 3 years
Philadelphia: Vicente Padilla, $6,308,000 per year, for 3 years
Milwaukee: Richie Sexson, $4,959,000 per year, for 3 years
St. Louis: Woody Williams, $4,788,000 per year, for 3 years
San Diego: Kip Wells, $5,263,000 per year, for 3 years

Game 109: Pirates 11 Diamondbacks 3
Ponson pitched a pretty decent game, giving up three runs in 6 1/3 innings and this time he got a lot of run support, in order to pick up his 8th win of the season. Randy Johnson's season continues to decline as he picks up his 11th straight loss, and his 14th loss of the season, giving up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. JJ Davis hit two homeruns in the game and Craig Wilson collected 6 RBIs to lead the Pirates offense.

Game 110: Pirates 2 Diamondbacks 0
Benson pitched his second real good game in a row, giving up just five hits and no runs in eight innings of work to even his record this year at 9-9. Rookie Allan Simpson gave up just three hits to the Pirates, but also walked two and gave up two runs, one a solo homer by Craig Wilson, in seven innings for the loss. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save of the season.

Game 111: Pirates 2 Diamondbacks 4
This game was decided in extra innings as both starters pitched well and got no decisions. Perez gave up two runs, just one of them earned in 6 1/3 innings, and Schmidt gave up two runs in six innings. The Diamondbacks won the game in the top of the eleventh, when Jesus Cota led off the inning with a solo homer off of Vogelsong. They added an insurance run, when Tracy doubled, and then on a fly out to deep-left center, tagged to third base and then scored on a throwing error by the left fielder. The Pirates only managed one walk in the bottom of the inning, as Mike Myers shut them down and picked up the save. Hoffman got the win for the DBacks and Vogelsong got the loss for the Bucs.

Series Recap: 2 of 3 isn't bad, but the Pirates have to make a run for it pretty soon if they want to be in the mix come September.

Around the league, on Tuesday Arizona's Randy Wolf strained a tricep muscle pitching in a game against the Brewers and will miss the next 4-5 weeks. On Friday, Indian's catcher Ivan Rodriguez collected his 2000th career hit in the third inning off of Anaheim's Danny Graves. Also, on Friday, Yankees' second baseman Alfonso Soriano tore his abdominal muscle while running towards second base and will miss at least the next seven weeks. In the same game on Friday, Yankees' Derek Jeter slammed six hits in a romp 23-3 over the Rangers. On Saturday, Cubs' center fielder Corey Patterson hit for the cycle against the Phillies. Just one day after Patterson completed the feat, Atlanta's second baseman Marcus Giles uncorked the cycle against the Colorado Rockies.

Operation Shutdown · 10-13-2003, 11:19 AM

Week 19
With just eight weeks remaining in the season, the Pirates are currently 57-54 and still in fourth place in the central division, six games behind the leading Cubs. This week the Pirates travel to San Diego to face former teammates Kip Wells, Brian Giles and Jason Kendall in a three game series against the Padres who are 63-49 and whom the Pirates are 0-3 against. They then travel to Arizona to play three against the Diamondbacks who are currently 53-61 and whom the Pirates are 4-2 against this season.

Game 112: Pirates 1 Padres 6
VanBenSchoten gave up four runs in six innings to pick up the loss. While VanBenSchoten is still looking for his first career win, he no longer needs to wait for his first career homerun, as he hit a solo homer in the third inning off of Keisler. Keisler gave up just the one run in seven innings for the win. Brian Giles hit two homeruns in the game against his former team.

Game 113: Pirates 3 Padres 7
Williams did not do to well in this outing, giving up five runs, three of them earned, in 3 2/3 innings for his 9th loss of the season. Tucker pitched a complete game, giving up three runs for his 8th win of the season. Giles and Kendall each homered in the game.

Game 114: Pirates 2 Padres 3
This is one of those rare cases when a team actually scored more runs than they got hits. Ponson held the Padres to just two hits and two walks, but gave up three runs, two of which were earned, in seven innings for the loss, his 8th of the season. Tankersely gave up two runs in four innings, but didn't get the win. The win went to Nicholas who pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Speier pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 26th save of the season.

Series Recap: The Pirates have now lost four in a row and find themselves back at 0.500 and 9 games back of first place after getting swept by the first place Padres.

Game 115: Pirates 4 Diamondbacks 6 Glove Day at Bank One Ballpark
Neither starter got the decision in this game. Benson gave up four runs, three of them earned in six innings, and Schmidt gave up just two runs in seven innings. Trailing 4-2 heading into the eighth inning, the Pirates scored two runs without recording an out against Myers in the top of the inning. Koplove came in with runners at first and second and got three quick outs to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Boehringer gave up a one out single, and then Vogelsong came in and gave up a two run homerun to Bautista to give the lead back to the DBacks. Hoffman then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 27th save of the season. Koplove got the win for the DBacks and Boehringer got the loss.

Game 116: Pirates 7 Diamondbacks 0
The Pirates snapped their five game losing streak, as Perez pitched a gem of a game, giving up no runs and just four hits in eight innings, for his 12th win of the season. Simpson gave up six runs, five of which came in the seventh inning, in 6 2/3 innings for his 3rd loss of the season.

Game 117: Pirates 12 Diamondbacks 8
The starting pitchers got hammered in this game, as VenBenSchoten gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings and Helling gave up seven runs in three innings. Boehringer gave up the other three DBacks runs in just 1/3 of an inning. The Pirates were trailing 8-7 heading into the ninth inning, but Mackowiak doubled and then one out later, House singled him home off of Hoffman. The Pirates then loaded the bases with two outs, but Prinz came in and got Nady to pop out to the catcher to end the threat. Neither team scored a run til the top of the 12th inning, when Davis hit a two run homerun off of Mike Myers. The Pirates then scored two more insurance runs off of Myers, but they proved to not be needed as Corey pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning. Corey got the win for the Pirates and Myers got the loss for the DBacks.

Series Recap: The Pirates seem to be back on track now after their losing streak, lets just hope it's not too late to make a run for it, as they're still 9 games back.

Around the league, on Wednesday Cincinatti's Rafael Soriano injured himself in a game against the Rockies and was diagnosed with an inflamed rotator cuff muscle, and will miss the next 5-6 weeks. On Thursday, it was announced that Atlanta's Matt Wright will miss the next 6 weeks with a strained rotator cuff muscle that he incurred in a game against the Diamondbacks. Alson on Thursday, Colorado's Dennis Stark gave up just two hits while recording his second shutout of the season in a 10-0 win over the Reds.

10-08-2003, 12:45 AM	#1
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	The Other Pirates Dynasty 2004 Pirates Offseason First off, we go with the coaches signing period. The Pirates lost pitching coach Spin Williams and A Manager Dave Clark. The Pirates signed Rick Anderson, rated outstanding, as their new pitching coach for $889k for four years, and Tom Lawless, rated outstanding in hitting and good at pitching, for $925k for three years. The Pirates lost INF Abraham Nunez, SP Jeff Suppan, MR Dennys Reyes, RF Matt Stairs, SP Jeff D'Amico, MR Mike Holtz, 3B Robin Ventura, and 2B Pat Meares to free agency. Here's a quick preview as to how the Pirates are going to look heading into next season before free agency. The Pirates also made a few roster moves this offseason. They released relievers Mike Lincoln and Duaner Sanchez as they had run out of option years. They also moved JJ Davis, Ryan Vogelsong, and Dave Williams to the 25-man roster, as they are also out of options. The Pirates then added MR Ben Shaffar, SP Justin Reid, RF BJ Barns, and RF Jorge Cortez to the 40-man roster, as their fifth year of playing pro baseball had ended. The starting rotation lost Suppan and D'Amico. Dave Williams will replace D'Amico as the #5 starter this season, and they hope to be able to go out and pick up a big name starting pitcher to be the ace of the staff, moving the rest of the starters down a notch in the rotation. The Pirates will return the majority of their bullpen, with the only change being Vogelsong replacing Reyes as the mop-up reliever. The catching position will remain the same with House and Cota splitting time, but they need to be careful as Doumit, a 3.5 star prospect, is just waiting for a chance in AAA. First base will return with Craig Wilson getting the majority of the starts. Second base will see Bobby Hill returning as the starter. Mackowiak will return to third base this season, though he has to watch his back as Henson, a five star prospect, is waiting in AAA for a chance to start. Jose Castillo and Marshall McDougall will battle things out in spring training for a chance at the starting shortstop position. Leftfield will see Xavier Nady returning, and the Pirates hope to get more pop out of his bat this season. Team MVP Mark Kotsay will return to start in CF. In rightfield, JJ Davis will get his final chance to prove that he belongs on a major league roster, as he is out of option years. The bench will include 1B Carlos Rivera, 2B/SS Jack Wilson, OF Tony Alvarez, and a player to backup Mackowiak at third base that the Pirates plan on signing in free agency. Free Agency First of all the Pirates signings for the year. The Pirates on Day 4, signed SP Sidney Ponson to $8.75M for five years. On Day 5, they signed 3B Dean Palmer for $900k for one year. In arbitration, Sauerbeck got $1,008,929; Josh Fogg got $570,000; Rob Mackowiak got $1,479,286; Jack Wilson got $318,929; Craig Wilson got $2,436,072; Humberto Cota got $300,000; Joe Beimel got $369,143; Jim Mann got $1,601,429; and Mark Corey got $685,357. The rest of the signings this offseason include: Day 1 : Day 2 : St. Louis : SS Miguel Tejada, 8,095,200 per year, for 5 years. Kansas City : 3B Placido Polanco, 718,300 per year, for 4 years. Montreal : P Joel Pineiro, 902,700 per year, for 3 years. Chicago (N) : P Blake Stein, 1,318,100 per year, for 3 years. Day 3 : San Francisco : P Pedro Martinez, 11,307,400 per year, for 7 years. Chicago (A) : P Bartolo Colon, 7,360,800 per year, for 5 years. Texas : 1B Brad Fullmer, 6,128,100 per year, for 4 years. Tampa Bay : P Kevin Millwood, 6,667,100 per year, for 4 years. Pittsburgh : P Sidney Ponson, 8,750,000 per year, for 5 years. Minnesota : LF Todd Hollandsworth, 4,744,600 per year, for 3 years. Milwaukee : CF Juan Encarnacion, 2,215,400 per year, for 3 years. Baltimore : RF Reggie Sanders, 1,642,100 per year, for 5 years. Atlanta : 3B Robin Ventura, 682,300 per year, for 3 years. Philadelphia : CF Ricky Ledee, 885,400 per year, for 3 years. Tampa Bay : P Cory Lidle, 2,141,700 per year, for 3 years. Chicago (A) : SS Alex Gonzalez, 674,600 per year, for 3 years. Colorado : P Omar Daal, 922,500 per year, for 3 years. Tampa Bay : C Doug Mirabelli, 442,800 per year, for 3 years. Toronto : P Nate Teut, 450,900 per year, for 1 year. Tampa Bay : P Jose Mercedes, 446,500 per year, for 2 years. Day 4 : Philadelphia : SS Rich Aurilia, 6,195,400 per year, for 4 years. Chicago (A) : 2B Luis Castillo, 3,976,800 per year, for 5 years. Arizona : P Trevor Hoffman, 2,084,800 per year, for 5 years. Kansas City : SS Ramon Martinez, 2,079,700 per year, for 4 years. Cleveland : SS Shane Halter, 874,500 per year, for 4 years. Pittsburgh : 3B Dean Palmer, 900,000 per year, for 1 year. Cleveland : P Todd Van poppel, 1,440,800 per year, for 4 years. Day 5 : Cincinnati : LF Jeremy Giambi, 4,786,200 per year, for 3 years. San Francisco : 1B Scott Spiezio, 2,643,400 per year, for 5 years. Chicago (N) : P John Thomson, 3,423,800 per year, for 4 years. Boston : P Jason Grimsley, 2,305,400 per year, for 4 years. San Francisco : P Robb Nen, 4,051,300 per year, for 4 years. Los Angeles : 1B Randall Simon, 805,100 per year, for 3 years. Chicago (A) : 1B David Ortiz, 996,900 per year, for 3 years. Chicago (A) : P Shawn Estes, 2,572,200 per year, for 4 years. Boston : P Paul Byrd, 2,549,600 per year, for 4 years. Toronto : C Michael Barrett, 450,700 per year, for 3 years. Minnesota : P Dave Maurer, 1,256,400 per year, for 3 years. Chicago (N) : LF Wendell Magee, 442,800 per year, for 2 years. Day 6 : San Diego : P Justin Speier, 2,088,500 per year, for 3 years. Milwaukee : P Ismael Valdes, 3,711,800 per year, for 4 years. Texas : LF Jacob Cruz, 1,298,200 per year, for 4 years. Tampa Bay : 2B Tomas Perez, 692,600 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : RF Darren Bragg, 641,900 per year, for 3 years. Tampa Bay : LF Bubba Trammell, 627,000 per year, for 3 years. San Francisco : 1B Steve Cox, 518,400 per year, for 2 years. St. Louis : C Tony Eusebio, 609,200 per year, for 4 years. Chicago (A) : SS Mendy Lopez, 518,700 per year, for 1 year. Day 7 : Texas : P Jarrod Washburn, 9,670,500 per year, for 3 years. San Diego : CF Brian Hunter, 1,152,100 per year, for 4 years. Baltimore : P Ugueth Urbina, 1,898,400 per year, for 4 years. New York (A) : P Ron Mahay, 2,105,400 per year, for 3 years. Tampa Bay : 1B Eric Karros, 409,400 per year, for 1 year. Chicago (N) : LF Dee Brown, 446,800 per year, for 1 year. Los Angeles : P Antonio Osuna, 1,995,100 per year, for 4 years. Toronto : P Joe Roa, 415,200 per year, for 2 years. Chicago (N) : P Danny Kolb, 324,000 per year, for 4 years. Colorado : P Jose antonio Nunez, 345,000 per year, for 2 years. Colorado : P Alex Herrera, 415,200 per year, for 2 years. Day 8 : Chicago (N) : C Ben Davis, 2,184,100 per year, for 4 years. Florida : 2B Jerry Hairston, 2,144,300 per year, for 4 years. Los Angeles : 1B Brian Daubach, 1,028,900 per year, for 3 years. St. Louis : C Javy Lopez, 790,000 per year, for 4 years. Anaheim : P Valerio De los santos, 1,565,700 per year, for 4 years. Detroit : 2B Miguel Cairo, 446,800 per year, for 2 years. Oakland : SS Tony Graffanino, 460,700 per year, for 3 years. Detroit : P Brandon Knight, 400,700 per year, for 3 years. Day 9 : Minnesota : RF Juan Gonzalez, 8,075,700 per year, for 4 years. Arizona : 1B Mike Kinkade, 3,269,000 per year, for 4 years. Kansas City : C A.j. Pierzynski, 3,374,000 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : 3B David Bell, 741,100 per year, for 3 years. Arizona : SS Carlos Guillen, 968,600 per year, for 3 years. Atlanta : RF Michael Tucker, 654,000 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : 2B Pokey Reese, 609,900 per year, for 4 years. Arizona : P Jeff Suppan, 1,071,800 per year, for 5 years. Texas : P Travis Driskill, 654,600 per year, for 2 years. Los Angeles : P Rick White, 1,267,100 per year, for 5 years. Philadelphia : P Willie Banks, 799,500 per year, for 4 years. Tampa Bay : P Doug Creek, 835,800 per year, for 3 years. Atlanta : P Brandon Villafuerte, 679,300 per year, for 3 years. Day 10 : Chicago (A) : CF Ruben Rivera, 2,868,000 per year, for 4 years. Milwaukee : 2B Benji Gil, 1,349,300 per year, for 4 years. Baltimore : SS Deivi Cruz, 823,100 per year, for 4 years. Oakland : C Brent Mayne, 610,800 per year, for 3 years. Day 11 : Anaheim : LF David McCarty, 2,906,100 per year, for 3 years. San Diego : RF Karim Garcia, 1,760,600 per year, for 3 years. Atlanta : P Glendon Rusch, 2,884,200 per year, for 3 years. Kansas City : P Mike Sirotka, 964,400 per year, for 4 years. Houston : 1B J.T. Snow, 676,300 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : 3B Chris Stynes, 486,700 per year, for 1 year. Cleveland : P Mike Williams, 2,130,400 per year, for 4 years. Detroit : P Nelson Figueroa, 407,900 per year, for 2 years. Day 12 : Cleveland : LF Randy Winn, 1,659,800 per year, for 4 years. Oakland : CF Eric Owens, 632,700 per year, for 3 years. New York (A) : P Ricardo Rincon, 2,920,200 per year, for 4 years. Boston : P Jeff D'amico, 1,278,400 per year, for 4 years. Oakland : P Matt Guerrier, 666,400 per year, for 2 years. Toronto : P Jeff Williams, 415,200 per year, for 3 years. Day 13 : Florida : RF Gary Sheffield, 6,989,400 per year, for 3 years. Boston : RF Brian Banks, 4,513,000 per year, for 3 years. Florida : 2B Todd Walker, 2,319,900 per year, for 5 years. Oakland : LF Marty Cordova, 662,900 per year, for 4 years. Arizona : C Brad Ausmus, 894,800 per year, for 3 years. Philadelphia : P Luke Prokopec, 470,300 per year, for 1 year. Toronto : P Luther Hackman, 424,800 per year, for 2 years. Colorado : P Matt Herges, 436,600 per year, for 1 year. New York (N) : P John Wasdin, 403,400 per year, for 1 year. Colorado : P Vic Darensbourg, 415,200 per year, for 2 years. Day 14 : Seattle : SS Edgar Renteria, 5,434,000 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : 2B Frank Catalanotto, 1,278,200 per year, for 4 years. Tampa Bay : 2B Andy Sheets, 411,700 per year, for 2 years. San Francisco : P Justin Miller, 617,300 per year, for 3 years. Tampa Bay : P Antonio Alfonseca, 644,400 per year, for 3 years. Day 15 : Cincinnati : 2B Quilvio Veras, 642,700 per year, for 4 years. Chicago (A) : LF Orlando Palmeiro, 644,100 per year, for 3 years. Cleveland : CF Bruce Aven, 441,800 per year, for 2 years. St. Louis : 1B Tino Martinez, 656,200 per year, for 4 years. Texas : P Pedro Astacio, 745,700 per year, for 4 years. Los Angeles : P Felix Heredia, 1,407,900 per year, for 5 years. New York (A) : P Livan Hernandez, 414,300 per year, for 1 year. Day 16 : Cleveland : P Kelvim Escobar, 1,755,600 per year, for 4 years. Minnesota : P Terry Adams, 1,819,900 per year, for 4 years. Oakland : LF Mark Smith, 523,300 per year, for 2 years. Seattle : P Ryan Rupe, 631,700 per year, for 4 years. Houston : C Todd Hundley, 484,600 per year, for 3 years. Kansas City : P Mike DeJean, 1,521,300 per year, for 4 years. New York (A) : P John Halama, 440,500 per year, for 2 years. Houston : P LaTroy Hawkins, 1,015,700 per year, for 4 years. Montreal : P Sterling Hitchcock, 416,100 per year, for 2 years. Day 17 : Cleveland : CF Lou Collier, 664,000 per year, for 3 years. Boston : CF Jay Payton, 438,700 per year, for 2 years. New York (A) : RF Jose Cruz Jr., 431,100 per year, for 2 years. Seattle : LF Rondell White, 460,400 per year, for 2 years. Arizona : P Jason Johnson, 634,400 per year, for 4 years. Montreal : P Rett Johnson, 404,200 per year, for 1 year. Montreal : P Ron Villone, 410,600 per year, for 1 year. New York (A) : P Mike Buddie, 415,200 per year, for 3 years. Colorado : P T.j. Mathews, 403,400 per year, for 3 years. Day 18 : Cleveland : C Ivan Rodriguez, 11,208,500 per year, for 2 years. Milwaukee : 3B Tony Batista, 5,073,900 per year, for 3 years. Chicago (A) : P Tom Gordon, 1,660,900 per year, for 4 years. Boston : 2B Bry Nelson, 400,700 per year, for 3 years. San Diego : P Amaury Telemaco, 622,700 per year, for 3 years. Oakland : P Jason Bere, 659,300 per year, for 4 years. Arizona : P Joey Hamilton, 554,600 per year, for 3 years. Day 19 : San Diego : 2B Damian Jackson, 523,300 per year, for 2 years. Seattle : P Roger Clemens, 825,900 per year, for 1 year. Houston : P Mike Stanton, 1,014,100 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : P Brian Mallette, 552,900 per year, for 3 years. Day 20 : Anaheim : 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, 1,051,500 per year, for 3 years. Florida : CF Ray Lankford, 580,600 per year, for 2 years. Baltimore : RF Chris Richard, 444,600 per year, for 2 years. Houston : P Ken Cloude, 662,700 per year, for 2 years. Florida : SS Jose Vizcaino, 487,000 per year, for 2 years. Philadelphia : P Brian Anderson, 876,700 per year, for 4 years. Atlanta : P Tim Worrell, 1,531,300 per year, for 4 years. Kansas City : P Mark Guthrie, 963,600 per year, for 2 years. New York (A) : P Nelson Cruz, 695,300 per year, for 3 years. Atlanta : P Kent Mercker, 627,800 per year, for 4 years. Montreal : P Scott Schoeneweis, 432,600 per year, for 2 years. Day 21 : Texas : 2B Bill Selby, 497,800 per year, for 2 years. San Diego : 3B Kevin Orie, 474,000 per year, for 1 year. Baltimore : 3B Fernando Tatis, 522,000 per year, for 3 years. Cincinnati : P Scott Sullivan, 1,375,800 per year, for 4 years. Day 22 : Milwaukee : CF Carl Everett, 1,387,800 per year, for 3 years. Houston : 3B John Valentin, 477,400 per year, for 1 year. Oakland : P Esteban Yan, 1,642,300 per year, for 4 years. Day 23 : Atlanta : RF Raul Mondesi, 1,308,900 per year, for 4 years. San Francisco : 1B Larry Sutton, 603,900 per year, for 3 years. San Diego : P Jason Beverlin, 480,700 per year, for 2 years. Cleveland : P Chris Haney, 1,004,200 per year, for 4 years. Toronto : P Todd Ritchie, 446,500 per year, for 3 years. Day 24 : Milwaukee : LF Tom Goodwin, 452,100 per year, for 2 years. St. Louis : P Brett Tomko, 658,300 per year, for 3 years. Day 25 : San Francisco : CF Jolbert Cabrera, 843,100 per year, for 3 years. Florida : P Jimmy Haynes, 761,800 per year, for 4 years. Tampa Bay : P Mike Fyhrie, 415,200 per year, for 3 years. Day 26 : Baltimore : P Bronson Arroyo, 448,900 per year, for 2 years. Day 27 : Day 28 : St. Louis : 1B Robert Fick, 581,800 per year, for 3 years. Baltimore : P Greg Maddux, 544,100 per year, for 1 year. Day 29 : Arizona : RF Richard Hidalgo, 532,600 per year, for 1 year. Day 30 : Arizona: Free agent RF Israel Alcantara has been signed to a minor league contract. New York (N): Free agent RF Mark Quinn has been signed to a minor league contract. San Diego: Free agent SS Mike Caruso has been signed to a minor league contract. New York (A): Free agent RF Aaron Guiel has been signed to a minor league contract. Florida: Free agent LF David Dellucci has been signed to a minor league contract. Seattle: Free agent LF Howie Clark has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent 2B Marty Malloy has been signed to a minor league contract. Florida: Free agent LF Mario Encarnacion has been signed to a minor league contract. San Francisco: Free agent SS Tony Womack has been signed to a minor league contract. Milwaukee: Free agent RF Jeromy Burnitz has been signed to a minor league contract. Seattle: Free agent LF Jesse Garcia has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent 2B Abraham O. Nunez has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent 2B Lou Merloni has been signed to a minor league contract. San Francisco: Free agent SS Rey Ordonez has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C Bobby Estalella has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C Henry Blanco has been signed to a minor league contract. Florida: Free agent 3B Mike Coolbaugh has been signed to a minor league contract. New York (N): Free agent RF Armando Rios has been signed to a minor league contract. Minnesota: Free agent 3B Shane Andrews has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C A.j. Hinch has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C Ken Huckaby has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C Paul Bako has been signed to a minor league contract. Minnesota: Free agent 3B Vinny Castilla has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C Eddie Taubensee has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent 2B Jose Ortiz has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent 2B Dennis Hocking has been signed to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay: Free agent P Rick Reed has been signed to a minor league contract. St. Louis: Free agent P Esteban Loaiza has been signed to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay: Free agent P Tanyon Sturtze has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent 2B Eric Young has been signed to a minor league contract. Atlanta: Free agent C Wiki Gonzalez has been signed to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay: Free agent P Sean Douglass has been signed to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay: Free agent P Jeremy Johnson has been signed to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay: Free agent P Kazuhisa Ishii has been signed to a minor league contract. Houston: Free agent P Jason Marquis has been signed to a minor league contract. Florida: Free agent 3B Chris Clapinski has been signed to a minor league contract. Montreal: Free agent P Erik Hiljus has been signed to a minor league contract. Florida: Free agent 3B Russ Johnson has been signed to a minor league contract. Montreal: Free agent SS Homer Bush has been signed to a minor league contract. Montreal: Free agent SS Cody Ransom has been signed to a minor league contract. Chicago (N): Free agent P Lance Painter has been signed to a minor league contract. Colorado: Free agent P Eddie Oropesa has been signed to a minor league contract. Colorado: Free agent P John Frascatore has been signed to a minor league contract. Toronto: Free agent P Travis Miller has been signed to a minor league contract. Colorado: Free agent P Nerio Rodriguez has been signed to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay: Free agent P Mike Venafro has been signed to a minor league contract. Detroit: Free agent P Matt Perisho has been signed to a minor league contract. Cleveland: Free agent P Duaner Sanchez has been signed to a minor league contract. Cleveland: Free agent P Frederick Swett has been signed to a minor league contract. Cleveland: Free agent P Aaron Gregoire has been signed to a minor league contract. Cleveland: Free agent P Heriberto Ocerin has been signed to a minor league contract. Cleveland: Free agent P Rodney Singley has been signed to a minor league contract. Chicago (N): Free agent P Robert Vasbinder has been signed to a minor league contract. The following players retired: Hideki Irabu retires ... Rich Rodriguez retires ... Paul Abbott retires ... Yorkis Perez retires ... Terry Mulholland retires ... Dave Burba retires ... Mike James retires ... Hipolito Pichardo retires ... Brian Shouse retires ... Takahito Nomura retires ... Bob Wells retires ... Mike Trombley retires ... Ed Vosberg retires ... Jeff Tam retires ... Ricky Bottalico retires ... Alan Zinter retires ... Gerald Williams retires ... Randy Velarde retires ... Ryan Thompson retires ... B.J. Surhoff retires ... David Segui retires ... Henry Rodriguez retires ... Shane Reynolds retires ... Rodney Myers retires ... Darren Lewis retires ... Darrin Fletcher retires ... Delino Deshields retires ... Chris Brock retires ... Clay Bellinger retires ... Brady Anderson retires ... Shawon Dunston retires ... Bobby J. Jones retires ... Tom Lampkin retires ... Ron Gant retires ... Jesse Orosco retires ... Dennis Springer retires ... Andy Ashby retires ... Jeff Reboulet retires ... Kevin Brown retires ... Chad Kreuter retires ... Dave Hansen retires ... Paul Quantrill retires ... Terry Shumpert retires ... Todd Zeile retires ... Chris Nichting retires ... Todd Stottlemyre retires ... Armando Reynoso retires ... Mike Morgan retires ... Mike Fetters retires ... Jay Bell retires ... Felix Jose retires ... Matt Williams retires ... Mike Timlin retires ... Chuck Finley retires ... Andy Benes retires ... Ivan Cruz retires ... Josias Manzanillo retires ... Mike Benjamin retires ... Kevin Young retires ... Jose Cabrera retires ... Lenny Harris retires ... Craig Biggio retires ... Jose Rijo retires ... Barry Larkin retires ... Donovan Osborne retires ... Joe Girardi retires ... Robert Person retires ... Dave Hollins retires ... Satoru Komiyama retires ... Mike Bacsik retires ... Mark Johnson retires ... Graeme Lloyd retires ... Masato Yoshii retires ... Lee Stevens retires ... Mike Mordecai retires ... Andres Galarraga retires ... Troy O'Leary retires ... Toby Borland retires ... Tim Raines retires ... Darren Holmes retires ... Keith Lockhart retires ... Julio Franco retires ... Anthony Telford retires ... Bill Haselman retires ... Kenny Rogers retires ... Jose Offerman retires ... Ruben Sierra retires ... Edgar Martinez retires ... Pat Borders retires ... Mike Magnante retires ... Alan Levine retires ... Mike Jackson retires ... Roberto Hernandez retires ... Chuck Knoblauch retires ... Luis Alicea retires ... Craig Paquette retires ... Matt Walbeck retires ... Damion Easley retires ... Charles Nagy retires ... Travis Fryman retires ... Eddie Perez retires ... Steve Parris retires ... Greg Vaughn retires ... John Flaherty retires ... Alex Arias retires ... Alberto Castillo retires ... John Vander wal retires ... Ron Coomer retires ... John Burkett retires ... Frank Castillo retires ... Rolando Arrojo retires ... Rickey Henderson retires ... He will be in the Hall Of Fame! Carlos Baerga retires ... Rey Sanchez retires ... Scott Erickson retires ... Jeff Conine retires ... David Cone retires ... John Franco retires ... Cal Eldred retires ... Jesse Levis retires ... Omar Olivares retires ... Tim Bogar retires ... Willie Blair retires ... Doug Brocail retires ... Pete Schourek retires ... Norm Charlton retires ... Mark Petkovsek retires ... Pete Harnisch retires ... Al Martin retires ... Doug Linton retires ... Roberto Kelly retires ... Scott Service retires ... TOR: Mike Bordick retires ... CLE: Bob Wickman retires ... DET: Steve Sparks retires ... TEX: Rusty Greer retires ... TEX: Rafael Palmeiro retires ... He will be in the Hall Of Fame! CHN: Trenidad Hubbard retires ... ARI: Mark Grace retires ... SFN: Benito Santiago retires ... Rafeal Palmeiro, Rickey Henderson, and John Franco were all inducted to the hall of fame. Lastly, are the trades that took place this offseason. LA got 3.5 star prospect 1B Ken Harvey from the Royals for 3.5 star prospect C Koyie Hill and 1 star prospect SS Joel Guzman. Baltimore got 2.5 star 2B Mark Derosa from the Braves in return for 1.5 star RF Luis Matos. The Braves got 2 star RF Reggie Sanders from the Orioles in exchange for 2.5 star 3B David Bell, 2 star prospect CF Miguel Mota, and 1 star prospect 2B Jon Scheurholz. The Expos got 2.5 star LF Garrett Anderson and 2.5 star prospect 2B H.J. Kendrick from the Angels for 2.5 star 1B Olmedo Saenz. The Devil Rays picked up 3 star 2B Todd Walker from the Marlins in exchange for 2.5 star CF Eli Marrero. The A's picked up 2.5 star LF Jacque Jones, paying a big price giving up 4 star SP Tim Hudson to the Twins. Ouch!!! Who thinks Beane would've really made this move? The Mariners got 2.5 star 3B Tyler Houston from the Phillies for 4 star reliever Ryan Franklin and 2.5 star prospect 1B Jon Nelson. Lastly, the Angels got 2.5 star prospect C Josh Bard from the Indians in exchange for 4 star reliever Valerio DeLosSantos and 4 star prospect LF Caleb Maher. Ouch!!!!! __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-08-2003, 02:01 PM	#2
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 1 Marshall McDougall won the starting SS job during spring training. It was mostly due to the fact that he was 25 and the scouts felt he was ready for the majors while Castillo is only 23 and could still use some time in AAA. Here is my opening day roster (* means players is on 40-man roster), with the amount of years of options remaining in parenthesis next to the players name. SP Sidney Ponson SP Kris Benson SP Oliver Perez SP Josh Fogg SP Dave Williams MR Joe Beimel MR Brian Boehringer MR Mark Corey MR Ryan Vogelsong MR Scott Sauerbeck MR Solomon Torres CL Jim Mann C JR House (1 year) C Humberto Cota 1B Craig Wilson 1B Carlos Rivera 2B Bobby Hill (1 year) 3B Rob Mackowiak 3B Dean Palmer SS Marshall McDougall (2 years) SS Jack Wilson LF Xavier Nady (2 years) CF Mark Kotsay CF Tony Alvarez RF JJ Davis 3B Drew Henson (2 years) SS Jose Castillo (1 year) C Ryan Doumit (2 years) MR Mike Gonzalez (1 year) SP John Grabow (1 year) LF Manuel Ravelo (2 years) 2B Jeremy Harts (2 years) LF Shawn Garrett (2 years) MR Ben Shaffar (3 years) MR Justin Reid (3 years) RF BJ Barns (3 years) RF Jose Cortez (3 years) The lineup will be the same for RHP and LHP and will be as follows: CF Mark Kotsay 2B Bobby Hill LF Xavier Nady 1B Craig Wilson 3B Rob Mackowiak RF JJ Davis SS Marshall McDougall C JR House The starting rotation will be as listed above in the roster list, and the bullpen will also be as listed above and anchored by closer Jim Mann. The Pirates travel to Milwaukee for a three game series against the Brewers, and then travel to Atlanta for a three game series against the Braves to begin the season. Game 1: Pirates 1 Brewers 3 Sidney Ponson pitched an OK game, giving up three runs in six innings for the loss, but Brewers starter Wayne Franklin did better giving up just one run in 7 innings for the win. Vizcaino pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Game 2: Pirates 6 Brewers 1 Benson picked up where he left off last year, pitching a great game while giving up just one run in six innings for the win. The Pirates got to Brewers Ismael Valdes for five runs, four earned, in 6 2/3 innings for the loss. The Pirates got homers from Craig Wilson, Rob Mackowiak and Marshall McDougall, his first career homerun. Game 3: Pirates 3 Brewers 7 Perez got the loss in this one, giving up four runs in six innings of work. Neugebauer got the win, giving up 2 runs in six innings. The Brewers added some insurance in the bottom of the seventh with the score 4-3, by scoring three runs off of Boehringer. Series Recap: Hard to say what this year has in store after just three games, but losing two out of three to the Brewers anytime is bad. Game 4: Pirates 4 Braves 8 The struggles continue for Josh Fogg, as he picks up the loss giving up seven runs in 6 innings of work. The Pirates managed to score four runs against starter Glendon Rusch in 6 2/3 innings, while he got a no-decision as the score was tied 4-4 when he left the game. Buddy Hernandez picked up the win, as he earned the last out in the top of the seventh before the Braves scored 4 in the bottom half of the inning. Game 5: Pirates 1 Braves 11 After a great spring training earning him the fifth spot on the rotation, Dave Williams fell apart, giving up 6 runs in two innings for the loss. The Braves also managed to score four runs in three innings off of Torres and another run in two innings off of Vogelsong, but it didn't matter, as Wainwright gave up just one run in 9 innings for the win. Game 6: Pirates 8 Braves 0 Sidney Ponson had a superb game, pitching a magnificent one-hit shutout while walking just two for his first win of the year. The Pirates scored six runs, five earned, off of starter Billy Sylvester, who got the loss. The Pirates got homers by Nady, Mackowiak, and Kotsay. Series Recap: 1 out of 3 against the Braves is better than 1 out of 3 against the Brewers, but hopefully the Pirates will start winning some games. Around the league, on Tuesday Oakland's Barry Zito pitched a one-hit shutout against the Rangers in an 8-0 romping. On Wednesay, Texas' Jeff Zimmerman pitched in his first and last game of the season, ending his season early with a torn bicep muscle. Also on Wednesday, Woody Williams pitched a two-hit shutout against the Diamondbacks. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-08-2003, 02:40 PM	#3
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 2 The Pirates announced no promotions for this month, as they need to watch their cash flow this season, as they only have $2M in cash reserves. This week they return home and open with a three game series against the Cubs, who are 3-3 after the first week of the season. They then travel to Cincinatti for a three-game series against the Reds who are currently 3-3. Game 7: Pirates 3 Cubs 6 Benson lasted just 5 2/3 innings this outing, giving up five runs, four earned, all of which were scored in the first inning, and picking up the loss. Kennedy gave up three runs in 8 innings, for his second win of the season. Remlinger pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save. Game 8: Pirates 9 Cubs 3 Perez managed not to give up a single run until the eighth inning, and finished the game, giving up just two runs in 7 2/3 innings of work for the win. Zambrano on the other hand gave up seven runs, four of which were earned, in just 5 1/3 innings for the loss. Game 9: Pirates 7 Cubs 8 Going into the matchup, a Prior vs. Fogg match-up seemed extremely unfair to the Pirates. However the Pirates managed to score 3 runs against Prior in six innings. Fogg gave up six runs in 6 1/3 innings, but also managed to help his own cause with a two-run homerun off of Prior. The Pirates made things interesting though in the eighth inning by scoring two runs off of Dave Veres to tie the game at 5-5. But then in the top of the ninth, the Cubs scored three runs off Jim Mann to give them the lead right back. The Pirates then came back again, scoring two runs off of Remlinger, but the rally ended when Craig Wilson, with runners at first and second base, grounded into a double play to end the game and give Remlinger the save. Farnsworth picked up the win and Mann got the loss. Series Recap: Another one out of three, but the Pirates almost pulled the upset in the last game and it's only a matter of time before they start winning some series. Game 10: Pirates 5 Reds 4 Dave Williams did much better this outing, giving up just 3 runs in seven innings, but did not manage the win, as Sauerbeck gave up the tying run in the bottom of the eighth. The Pirates did not score any runs against rookie starter Dustin Moseley, who went 6 2/3 innings. He did not get the decision, as Jeff Austin came in in the seventh inning and gave up four runs without recording a single out. The Pirates scored the winning run in the top of the 12th, when with two outs and runners at first and second, JR House singled home Carlos Rivera. The Reds threatened in the bottom of the 12th, when Giambi lead off reaching base on an error by the shortstop. Giambi then tried to score from first on a single down the right field line, but JJ Davis nailed him out at the plate. Torres then got Mateo to fly out to end the inning, and picked up the save. Mark Corey got the win for the Pirates, and Scott Sullivan the loss for the Reds. Game 11: Pirates 2 Reds 6 Retro Game Day at Great American Park Ponson had a rough game, giving up six runs in seven innings of work for the loss. Oswalt scattered 9 hits, giving up just two runs in 8 2/3 innings, and striking out 16 Pirate hitters for the win. Game 12: Pirates 4 Reds 5 Benson pitched a great game, giving up just one run in 7 2/3 innings of work. The Pirates managed four runs, three of which were earned, in 7 2/3 innings off of Danny Graves. The bullpen blew the game in the ninth inning. Mann gave up a lead off single to Giambi, and then walked Dunn. The pitcher Aramboles, then sacrificed the runners over to second and third base. Mann then got Reggie Taylor to ground out, scoring Giambi and moving Dunn to third. He then hit LaRue with a pitch, putting runners at the corners with two outs, and the Pirates still up by 2. McClendon then brought out Boehringer, who gave up a three-run walkoff homerun to Quilvio Veras that just cleared the Clemente wall in right field. Aramboles picked up the win, and Boehringer got the loss. Series Recap: The Pirates will someday win a series. I promise. This team looks better than last years on paper, but so far isn't doing much better. Around the league, on Friday Marlins first baseman Derreck Lee pulled up limping while running the bases and after doctors examined him, they found he had an inflamed ACL and will miss the next 5-6 weeks. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-08-2003, 03:11 PM	#4
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 3 The Pirates this week begin a 12-game homestand, starting with a 3-game series against the Expos, who are currently 5-7. The Pirates then face the Reds for three games. The Reds are currently 7-5 and the Pirates are 1-2 against the Reds this season. Game 13: Pirates 5 Expos 7 Montreal's Javier Vazquez gave up three runs in seven innings, but did not earn a decision. Pirates' starter Oliver Perez left the game with a 3-1 lead, having given up just one run in seven innings of work. Sauerbeck came in in the top of the eighth and gave up three runs without recording a single out, giving the Expos a 4-3 lead. The Pirates responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs off of Tucker to regain the lead 5-4. The Pirate eighth inning could have been bigger, as Craig Wilson was thrown out at the plate with nobody out, and then with the bases loaded and two outs, Kotsay flew out to deep right, where Vlad made a leaping catch to end the inning. The Expos took advantage of the situation, scoring three runs, two of which were earned, off of Vogelsong. Stewart shut down the Pirates in the ninth going 1-2-3 and earning his 6th save. Vogelsong got the loss and Tony Armas Jr got the win. Game 14: Pirates 5 Expos 2 Fogg had a great game, giving up just two runs, only one of which was earned, in eight innings of work for the win. The winning runs came in the eighth, when Bobby Hill hit a two-run homer, and then Nady followed with his own homerun off of Song. Song went eight innings, giving up all five runs earned for the loss. The bullpen held it together this game, as Mann gave up just one hit and picked up his first save. Game 15: Pirates 7 Expos 2 Williams had another great game, pitching a complete game and giving up just two runs for the win. The Pirates scored five runs in six innings off of Vargas, who got the loss for the Expos. JJ Davis and JR House each homered for the Pirates. Series Recap: The Pirates luck finally turned around as they won their first series, which very well could have been a sweep if the bullpen would have held the first game. Great starting pitching by Perez, Fogg, and Williams gave them the wins. Game 16: Pirates 2 Reds 3 This game was a real heartbreaker. Ponson pitched the complete game, giving up three runs, but picking up the loss. Graves went eight innings, giving up just two runs for the win, and Williamson came on in the ninth, going 1-2-3 for his 6th save of the year. Game 17: Pirates 3 Reds 16 This game was closer than it looked, I swear, until the seventh inning. In the seventh with the score 2-1 Reds, the Reds scored nine runs, then picked up another in the eighth, and then four more in the ninth. Benson gave up eight runs in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. Boehringer gave up four in 1 2/3 and Vogelsong gave up the other four in 1 inning of work. The Pirates got just one run off of Paul Wilson in six innings, earning him his 4th win of the season. Dunn hit a solo homer off of Benson, Larson hit a solo shot off of Benson, Stinnett hit a solo shot against Vogelsong, and Griffey hit a grandslam off of Boehringer and a three run homer off of Vogelsong. Game 18: Pirates 6 Reds 3 Perez redeemed the Pirates, giving up just three runs in 7 1/3 innings for the win. Reitsma gave up just three runs, two of which were earned, in six innings for the Reds, but the loss went to Jeff Austin, who gave up the other three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Mann held of the Reds in the ninth despite giving up two hits, to pick up his 2nd save of the year. Series Recap: The Pirates salvaged one more win from the Reds and are now 2-4 against them this season. Around the league, there was no major news to announce this week. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-08-2003, 08:37 PM	#6
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 5 The Pirates promoted CF Vic Butler and 3B Yurendell DeCaster from AA to AAA and promoted SP Josh Shortslef from A to AA. Butler, 23, was hitting 0.318 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs and DeCaster, 24, was hitting 0.318 with 4 HRs and 13 RBI's for the Curve. Shortslef, 22, was 2-2 with a 2.43 for the Hillcats. This week the Pirates play three in Colorado against the Rockies who are 16-9. They then travel to San Francisco to play three against the Giants who are 17-9 and whom the Pirates are 1-2 against this year. Game 25: Pirates 4 Rockies 9 In his first major league start, John Grabow went just two innings, giving up six runs for the loss. Jason Jennings was injured in the game and pitched just four innings, giving up three runs. Matt Herges picked up the win, giving up one run in two innings. Jennings was diagnosed with bone chips in his shoulder and will miss the next seven weeks. Game 26: Pirates 2 Rockies 7 Ponson picked up his fifth loss of the season, lasting just six innings and giving up six runs. The winner Tsao, gave up just one run in seven innings of work. Hudson, Closser and Pellow hit homers for the Rockies, while Nady hit one out for the Pirates. April Wrapup The Pirates played some horrible baseball this month, finishing 8-18. Despite a record of 1-5, Ponson didn't do too terrible as he was the only Pirate starter to finish below a 4.00 ERA, with an 3.68 ERA. Torres and Corey were the only members in the bullpen to finish below that mark. Craig Wilson had a good month, hitting 0.351 with 3 HRs and 19 RBI's, while no one else on the team hit above 0.285. Davis, 0.213 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs, and House, 0.211 with 1 HR and 9 RBI's, had the worst months offensively. Around the league, Boston leads the AL East by 2.5 games, with a record of 17-11. The central is lead by Minnesota with a record of 19-8, and they are 4 games ahead of the White Sox. Oakland has the best record in the majors, and at 22-5 they lead the west by 9 games over the Angels. In the NL, the Braves lead the east with a record of 20-8, 2.5 games ahead of the Expos. The Cardinals lead the central by one game over the Cubs, with a record of 17-10. In the west, the Rockies with a record of 18-9, lead both Arizona and San Francisco by one game. Blue Jays' Carlos Delgado hit 0.340 with 10 HRs and 33 RBIs to win the AL BOM award. Sammy Sosa won the award in the NL, belting 18 homeruns and driving in 33, while hitting for an average of 0.350. Angels' Ramon Ortiz finished the month with a record of 7-0 and an ERA of 3.86, good enough to win the POM award for the AL. In the NL, Braves' Adam Wainwright went 4-1 with an ERA of 1.72 to win the award. Game 27: Pirates 9 Rockies 11 The Rockies continued to pound Pirates pitching, scoring five runs in four innings off of Kris Benson, who picked up the loss. The Pirates managed to score 7 runs in eight innings against Shawn Chacon, but it wasn't enough as he picked up the win. The Pirates tried to mount a comeback in the ninth. After already scoring four runs, and with a runner on second and nobody out Jose Jimenez came in and gave up just one hit, allowing one more run, before shutting things down, and picking up his 8th save of the year. Series Recap: Problems persist in Pittsburgh. It seems to either be the pitching or the offense is just non-existent. They gotta figure a way to start winning some more games. Game 28: Pirates 2 Giants 1 This one was a real nail biter. Oliver Perez did not give up a single run until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Cox hit a sac fly off of Mann, scoring Spiezio who led off the inning with a triple off of Perez. Likewise, Jesse Foppert gave up just one run, a solo homer by Kotsay in the sixth inning, in 7 2/3 innings of work. The two bullpens battled each other, not giving up a single run until the top of the 15th inning. Hill hit a one-out single and then stole second base. Nady then singled home Hill for what turned out to be the game winning run. Boehringer got the win for the Pirates and Zerbe the loss for the Giants. Game 29: Pirates 2 Giants 3 Fogg did well today, giving up just three runs in seven innings of work, but got the loss. Schmidt did even better giving up just two runs, a two run homer by House in the sixth, in seven innings of work for the win. The Pirates picked up a hit, but that was it, as Felix Rodriguez closed things out in the ninth for his 8th save of the year. Game 30: Pirates 5 Giants 6 Grabow did much better in this start, giving up five runs in 6 2/3 innings. Damian Moss also gave up five runs but in just 5 1/3 innings of work. The game winning run came in the bottom of the ninth, when after two outs, Torres gave up a single to Spiezio. Mann then came into the game and walked Alfonzo and Bonds to load the bases. He then gave up a single to Steve Cox that scored Womack, the game winning run. Torres ended up with the loss, although it should have been given to Mann, and Rodriguez got the win. Around the league, on Tuesday Montreal's Orlando Hernandez tore a tricep muscle and will miss 5-6 weeks. On Thursday, Toronto's RF Jayson Werth inflamed his ACL and will miss the next 4-5 weeks. On Saturday, the Rangers' third baseman Mark Teixeira tore a tricep muscle throwing the ball to first base. Also on Saturday, Florida's right fielder Gary Sheffield collected his 2000th career hit in the ninth inning of Cardinals' Jason Isringhausen. On Sunday, Oakland's Barry Zito pitched a two hit shutout against the Tigers, winning the game 5-0. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-08-2003, 05:49 PM	#5
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 4 This week the Pirates finish off a 12-game homestand, starting with three games against the Padres who are 6-13. The Pirates then face the Giants, who are 13-7, in a three game series. Game 19: Pirates 3 Padres 7 This game was no contest, as the Padres controlled the game throughout the nine innings. they scored five runs off of Josh Fogg, who pitched 6 1/3 innings and picked up the loss. The Padres got a good outing from Jake Peavy, who gave up just two runs in seven innings for the win. Giles hit a homerun against his former team, along with Castilleja, Klesko and Vazquez. Game 20: Pirates 6 Padres 7 This was another game blown by the bullpen. Dave Williams worked just 4 1/3 innings, but gave up just one unearned run. He was pulled in the fifth inning with back spasms and will likely miss the next 3 weeks. Jason Beverlin gave up four runs in five innings. The Pirates had a 4-2 lead heading into the eighth inning. Kendall lead off the inning with a single off of Solomon Torres. Corey then came in and got Gautreau to ground into a fielders choice at first base, just beating out the double play. Jim Mann then came into the inning and surrendered a two-run homerun to Giles to tie the game at 4-4. The Pirates regained the lead in the bottom half of the eight when Mackowiak hit a solo homer off of Duncan. With one out in the top of the ninth, Mann walked Castillaja. He then got Hunter to ground into a fielder's choice to the pitcher, again just beating out a double play ball. Mann then hit Kendall with a pitch, and then gave up a three run homer to Gautreau to give the Padres the lead again. The Pirates then threatened in the bottom of the ninth, when with one out and Davis on second from a lead-off double, Kotsay smashed a ball to the nook in deep-left center field. The catch was made with Giles up against the wall, and Davis tagged to third base. Hill then singled home Davis, but Nady grounded out to end the threat and the game. Mann got the loss for the Pirates, and Duncan got the win and Speier the save for the Padres. Williams was placed on the 15-man DL and Grabow was promoted to take his spot in the rotation. Game 21: Pirates 1 Padres 5 A Ponson versus Brian Lawrence matchup would seem to have benefited the Pirates and meant a sure win for them. However, Pirates bats managed to get just four hits, and didn't score in Lawrence's seven innings of work. He picked up the win. The only run came from a solo homer by Craig Wilson off of Duncan in the eighth inning. Ponson gave up just five hits and two unearned runs in seven innings, but picked up the loss. Sauerbeck surrendered the other three runs in his two innings of work. Series Recap: Getting swept by the Padres. Pitiful! Game 22: Pirates 3 Giants 5 Pirates' Kris Benson would give anything to have the fifth inning of tonight's game back. In that inning he gave up five runs, including a grand slam to Barry Bonds. He worked a total of 4 1/3 innings, picking up the loss. The Pirates scored two runs, one of which was earned, off of starter Jerome Williams, who worked 7 1/3 innings and got the win. Felix Rodriguez gave up on unearned run in the bottom of the ninth, but held on for the save, his 7th of the year. Game 23: Pirates 4 Giants 10 The Pirates managed to score three runs against Pedro Martinez who went six innings for the win. That didn't matter much, as the Giants managed to score five runs, four earned, off of Perez in 2 1/3 innings, and then four more runs, three earned, off of Vogelsong in 2/3 of an inning. Game 24: Pirates 8 Giants 2 The Pirates finally redeemed themselves with a win, snapping their five game losing streak. Fogg gave up just one run in five innings, earning the win. Foppert gave up four runs, three earned in 5 1/3 innings. The Pirates added insurance in the bottom of the eighth, scoring four runs off of Chad Zerbe. Series Recap: The Pirates have return to their ways of winning 1 out of 3. In fact that is just what they are averaging this year, as they now have a record of 8-16. Around the league, on Wednesday, Boston's Nomar Garciaparra hit for the cycle against the Anaheim Angels. On Friday, Arizona's left fielder Luis Gonzalez hit a double in the third inning off of Cincinatti's Ty Howington, for his 2000th career hit. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-08-2003, 11:49 PM	#7
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 6 Moving right along, hopefully this month will see some improvement for the Pirates, but so far we're not seeing much. The Pirates have announced Noddin Head Doll Day on May 9th versus the Dodgers and Fireworks Night on May 24th against the Astros as their promotions for this month. This week the Pirates start out with four games on the road in Houston against the Astros, who are 9-21. The Pirates then come home for a three game series against the Dodgers who are currently 9-23. Game 31: Pirates 2 Cardinals 3 Ponson pitched a great game, giving up just one run in seven innings, but did not get a decision. Cards' starter Jimmy Journell pitched eight innings, giving up 2 runs, on earned, and also did not get a decision. The game was tied at 1-1 entering the eighth, when the Pirates scored an unearned run to take the lead. Mark Corey came in in the bottom of the eighth and after on out, gave up a single to Lopez. Mann then came in and walked Pujols and Drew to load the bases. Tejada then hit a sac fly, scoring Lopez to tie the game again. The in the bottom of the ninth, Rolen reached on an infield hit, and then Mann got Lee to ground into a fielder's choice, just missing the double play. Vina followed with a double down the right field line, scoring pinch runner Delgado for the game winning run. Mann got the loss for the Pirates, and Crudale got the win for the Cards. Game 32: Pirates 10 Cardinals 6 The Pirates got to Brett Tomko, scoring seven runs in two innings off of him, as he picked up the loss. Benson, however, wasn't able to get the win, as he lasted just four innings, giving up 5 runs to the Cards. Beimel got the win, pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Game 33: Pirates 3 Cardinals 1 Perez pitched another brilliant game, giving up just one unearned run in six innings, to secure his third win of the year. Matt Morris pitched a complete game, but gave up three runs, picking up the loss. Xavier Nady drove in all of the Pirates runs, with a solo homerun in the first inning, and then a double with two on and two outs in the third inning. Game 34: Pirates 3 Cardinals 10 Fogg had yet another poor outing, giving up seven runs, six of which were earned, in just two innings of work, for his fourth loss of the season. Loaiza did fairly well, giving up just three runs in eight innings of work for his third win of the season. Series Recap: The Bucs managed to split the series against a much better Cardinals ballclub. Hopefully this signals a change in luck for the Bucs. Game 35: Pirates 10 Dodgers 5 Noddin Head Doll Day at PNC Park John Grabow picked up his first career win, thanks in large part to a strong Pirate offense. Grabow gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win. Alvarez gave up eight runs in 5 2/3 innings for the loss, his fifth of the season. Davis homered for the Pirates, while Harvey and Green homered for the Dodgers. Game 36: Pirates 13 Dodgers 9 The Pirate offense won another game. Ponson picked up the win, although he didn't do too well, giving up 7 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Dreifort also gave up 7 runs, but he did so in just 3 1/3 innings of work, picking up the loss. The Dodgers threatened late, scoring one in the eight off of Sauerbeck, and one in the ninth off of Vogelsong in the ninth, but Boehringer came in to finish off the ninth and pick up the save. Game 37: Pirates 5 Dodgers 4 Benson did decent giving up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, but did not get a decision. Nomo did not pick up a decision either, though he pitched a great game, giving up just 2 runs in six innings. The Pirates were trailing 4-2 entering the seventh inning, but JR House hit a two run homer off of Osuna in the inning to tie the game. The Pirates then scored the go-ahead and eventual game winning run in the bottom of the eighth when Nady singled off of Shuey to score Bobby Hill. Mann then pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 3rd save of the year. The win went to Boehringer, while Shuey got the loss. Series Recap: The Pirates got the much needed sweep of the Dodgers thanks to some good offense and some timely hitting in the last game. Around the league, there was no major news to report this week. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-09-2003, 12:37 AM	#8
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 7 The Pirates are currently 14-23 and in fourth place in the central, ahead of the Astros and Brewers. The Pirates promoted SS Taber Lee from A to AA Altoona Curve. This week the Pirates host the Cardinals for a four game series. The Cardinals are 23-15 this year, and the Pirates are 2-2 against them. The Pirates then travel to LA to play the Dodgers, who are 11-27 and whom the Pirates are against, for a three game series. Game 38: Pirates 3 Cardinals 2 Perez had another great game, and this time was able to pick up the win, giving up just two runs in 7 innings. Loaiza got the loss, giving up three runs in 7 2/3 innings. The Cards scored their runs off of a two run homerun by Tejada, and the Bucs scored theirs from a three run shot by Hill. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 4th save of the year. Game 39: Pirates 3 Cardinals 9 Fogg's outing wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either, as he gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, picking up his 5th loss of the season. Morris went 6 innings, giving up two runs, only one earned, for his 4th win. The score was actually tied 2-2 heading into the seventh, when Fogg gave up two runs in the seventh. The Cards then blew the game away by scoring three runs in the eighth, and then two more in the ninth off of Torres. Game 40: Pirates 6 Cardinals 8 The Pirates defense killed them in this game, as Grabow worked eight innings, and gave up 6 runs, but only one of those runs was earned. Williams worked seven innings and gave up three runs. The Pirates actually led this game 3-0 heading into the seventh. In the seventh, Grabow gave up the only Cardinal earned run to make it 3-1. The Cardinals then scored five unearned runs in the eighth to take the lead 6-3. The Pirates then answered by scoring three unearned runs of their own off of Isringhausen in the bottom of the ninth to tie things at 6-6. But then in the top of the 11th, Mann hit Vina with a pitch and then walked Boyd to start the inning. After Lee moved the runners over with a bunt, he gave up a pinch-hit single to Lopez scoring both runners and giving the Cards the 8-6 lead. Mecir pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half of the 11th to pick up the save. Mann recorded the loss for the Bucs, and Linebrink got the win for the Cards. The Pirates returned SP John Grabow to AAA Nashville. Grabow went 1-1 with a 6.26 ERA in his four starts with the Pirates. The Pirates also activated Dave Williams from the DL and placed him back into the starting rotation. Game 41: Pirates 3 Cardinals 4 The Cardinals just eeked out another one. Ponson picked up his 6th loss of the year, giving up four runs in eight innings. Journell gave up just one run in six innings for his 4th win of the year. The Pirates almost came back, with two runs already, runners at first and second and just one out, Izzy got House to ground out into a fielders choice and then got Palmer to strike out looking to end the game and pick up his 12th save of the year. Series Recap: This time just one out of four against the amazing Cardinals. Still not bad, as two of those losses could have easily gone either way. Game 42: Pirates 3 Dodgers 1 This game took 11 innings to decide. Both starters pitched great but came away with no decisions. Benson went 8 innings giving up one run, and Dreifort went eight innings giving up just one unearned run. The Pirates took the lead, when with one on and two outs, JJ Davis homered off of Gagne. Boehringer then pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save. Gagne got the loss for the Dodgers and Corey got the win for the Pirates. Game 43: Pirates 6 Dodgers 0 Perez pitched another gem of a game, giving up just three hits for a complete game shutout. This time the Pirates bats were there for Perez again, scoring five runs, four of them earned, off of Nomo who lasted just 3 1/3 innings for the loss. Alvarez, McDougall and House homered for the Pirates. Game 44: Pirates 2 Dodgers 11 Fogg was doing quite well until the seventh inning rolled around. With the score tied at 1-1, the Dodgers managed to score 9 runs in the inning to take a commanding lead. Fogg gave up two of those runs off a two run homer by Roberts, to finish with 6 1/3 innings pitched and three runs given up. Vogelsong then gave up five runs without recording a single out, including a grandslam by Daubach. Corey then came in and gave up a two run homerun to Harvey, while pitching the remaining 2/3 of an inning. Beimel then gave up one more run in the ninth. Series Recap: The Dodgers had to win at least one against the Pirates, right. Might as well be one where they can crush them. Now if only the Pirates could play the Dodgers all year, we'd have a good team. Around the league, on Wednesday it was announced that Phillies' ace Randy Wolf would miss six weeks with a strained rotator cuff muscle which he injured in the third inning of a game against the Padres. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-09-2003, 11:20 AM	#9
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 8 Another exciting week of Pirates baseball heading your way. The Pirates are currently 17-27 and still in fourth place in the division. This week they come back home and start with a three game series against the Reds, who are 16-18 and whom the Pirates are 2-4 against this season. The Pirates then play host to the Astros who are currently 14-29 and whom the Pirates have not yet played this season. Game 45: Pirates 9 Reds 0 In his first start since coming off the DL, Dave Williams performed superbly, giving up no runs and just five hits for a complete game shutout. Paul Wilson gave up five runs in five innings to get the loss for the Reds. Kotsay, Nady, Craig Wilson and McDougall all homered for the Pirates. Game 46: Pirates 3 Reds 1 Ponson had a great start, giving up just one run in eight innings of work, for his third win of the season. Reitsma did decent, working six innings and giving up three runs, but picked up the loss in this one. Craig Wilson hit a two run homerun for the Pirates. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 5th save of the year. Game 47: Pirates 8 Reds 3 Benson had his first good game in a long time, giving up just one run in seven innings of work to pick up his second win of the season. The Pirates got to Reds starter Ty Howington, as he lasted just 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, three of which were earned. Series Recap: The Pirates managed to sweep the formerly first place Reds. Great games with some good offense and great starting pitching. Now on to the Astros who are also on a three game winning streak. Game 48: Pirates 6 Astros 1 Perez had yet another great outing, giving up just one run, a solo homer by Morgan Ensberg, in 7 2/3 innings for his 6th win of the season. The Pirates scored six runs, five of which were earned, off of Tim Redding, who worked 5 2/3 innings for the loss. Vogelsong came on in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, and got out of that jam and then pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save. Game 49: Pirates 3 Astros 2 The Pirates winning streak continues, as Josh Fogg pitched a great game, giving up just two runs in eight innings for the win. Contreras pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and one walk, but did not get the decision. The Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh from homeruns by JJ Davis and JR House off of Moreno, who picked up the loss. Mann pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save. Game 50: Pirates 2 Astros 9 The Pirates winning streak ended as starter Dave Williams gave up six runs, two of which were earned, in just two innings of work for the loss. Mitch Talbot managed to give up just two runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win. Astros' CF Jason Lane hit a grandslam in the first inning off of Williams. Series Recap: 2 out of 3 is pretty good against the Astros who were on a hot streak. Altogether a great week for the Pirates who went 5-1 in this homestand. Around the league, on Tuesday, Devil Rays' Josh Hamilton hit for the cycle against the Anaheim Angels. Also on Tuesday, Oakland' Barry Zito pitched his third shutout of the season, this one a 2 hitter against the Twins. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-09-2003, 01:16 PM	#10
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 9 This week the Pirates play the same opponents as they did, traveling off to Cincinatti for a three game series against the Reds who are 29-22 , and whom the Pirates are 5-4 against this season. They then travel to Houston for a three game series against the Astros who are currently 18-32, and whom the Pirates are 2-1 against this season. Game 51: Pirates 9 Reds 10 The Pirates were dealt a significant blow, as they not only lost the game, but also lost ace starter Sidney Ponson to a fractured elbow, and he will miss the next 7 weeks. Ponson got only one out in the game before being taken out. The Pirates were leading 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but in the next three innings, the Reds scored three runs off of Torres, two runs off of Corey, and five runs off of Sauerbeck, while the Pirates managed just one more run off of Reitsma. The Pirates did managed however to attempt a comeback, scoring four runs in the eight inning to bring the game to within two runs. Reitsma gave up three of those runs and finished with 7 2/3 innings of work, giving up seven runs. The Pirates were able to pick up one mroe run in the ninth from a solo homer by Craig Wilson off of Riedling, but he held on for the save. Corey got the loss for the Pirates and Reitsma the win for the Reds. The Pirates signed Greg Maddux to a 1-year $1M contract to take the place of Ponson. The Pirates also promoted 26 yo 1B Ray Navarette from AA to AAA. Navarette was hitting 0.353 with 2 HRs and 18 RBIs for the Curve. Game 52: Pirates 6 Reds 8 Benson had a very poor start, giving up 8 runs in 5 2/3 innings of work for the loss. The Pirates managed to get to Oswalt as well, scoring six runs, three of them earned, off of him in 3 2/3 innings, as he got the no decision. Each bullpen, however went scoreless innings, as Austin got the win for the Reds, and after giving up two singles, with runners at the corners and one out, Aramboles got McDougall to ground into a double play to end the game and earn him the save. Game 53: Pirates 13 Reds 6 The Pirates snapped their thee game losing streak, though Perez managed to go just 3 innings, giving up four runs. Torres got the win for the Pirates, giving up just one run in four innings of work. Zach Day on the other hand, lasted just 3 1/3 innings, and gave up eight runs to the Pirates. The Pirates also managed to tack on five runs against releiver Dustin Moseley. Series Recap: The Bucs won just 1 out of 3, but the season series is tied 6-6 against a much better team record wise than the Pirates. Game 54: Pirates 1 Astros 2 Fogg had another good game, giving up just two runs in seven innings of work. However it wasn't good enough, as Contreras only gave up one run, a solo homer by McDougall, in seven innings for the win, and handing Fogg his 7th loss of the year. Wagner pitched a scoreless ninth for his 8th save. Game 55: Pirates 2 Astros 7 Fireworks Night at Minute Maid Park Dave Williams' struggles continue as he gave up five runs in just three innings of work. Hernandez picked up the win for the Astros, giving up just 2 runs in seven innings of work. Amateur Draft Milwaukee selected 23 yr old C Andrea Lemmons as the first overall pick in this year's amateur draft. Lemmons was rated GGPBGA. The Pirates selected fourth in the draft and chose the following players: SP Roy Gallucci BBAGB C Bradley Simental AAFBAF MR Gaston Bickel AAAGA C George Nez FAPPAF SS Adelardo Martinez PGGAFA RF Jermaine Joplin FBGFAA 1B Levi Obrien AFPAAA This draft class after the first round of picks was pretty weak. The Pirates only expect anything out of Gallucci and possibly Simental. May Wrapup The Pirates this month finished above .500 at 15-14 for the month, and 23-32 for the year. Perez had another great month, going 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 6 starts. Benson had another poor month, finishing with a record of 1-2 with a 6.11 ERA. Nady had a superb month, hitting 0.342 with 6 HRs and 19 RBIs. Mackowiak just wasn't seeing the ball this month and hit just 0.191 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs. Around the league, Boston is still leading the AL East, with a record of 34-21, now four games ahead of Toronto. Minnesota, 34-22, is still leading the central, but the lead now is just by 1.5 games over the White Sox. The Oakland A's still hold the best record in baseball at 39-15 and are 14 games ahead of the Angels in the west. In the NL, the Braves are 36-19 and now lead the east by 3 games over the Expos. The Cubs are leading the tight central division by 1.5 games over the Reds, with a record of 33-22. The Rockies and Giants are tied in the west with a record of 32-24 and they lead the Padres by 4.5 games. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox, won the award for POM in the AL, finishing the month with a record of 5-1 and a 1.79 ERA. Met's rookie Phil Seibel won the award in the NL while going 4-0 and having a measly 0.69 ERA in the month of May. A member of the White Sox also won BOM award for the AL, as Joe Borchard had a great month, going 27 for 78 (0.372) with 9 HRs and 26 RBI's. Phillies' Jim Thome won the award in the NL, hitting 0.407 with an amazing 16 HRs and 36 RBIs. Game 56: Pirates 7 Astros 4 Greg Maddux shined in his first start as a Pittsburgh Pirate, giving up just one run in seven innings of work. Saarloos gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings for the loss for the Astros. Kotsay, Hill and Davis hit homers for the Bucs, while Kent and Lane homered in the game for the Astros. Series Recap: The Pirates managed to squeak one win in this series, but still lead the season series 4-2 against the Astros. Around the league, on Wednesday, Met's Mo Vaughn clubbed five hits, two singles two doubles and a homer. Also on Wednesday, the Cardinals' pulled starter Matt Morris in the fourth inning of a game against the Astros. X-Rays discovered a torn ligament in his elbow and doctors say he will miss the remainder of the season. On Saturday, Montreal's Tomo Okha pitched a two-hit shutout against the Mets, as the Expos won the game 11-0. On Sunday, the Giants got very bad news as it was discovered that their ace Pedro Martinez strained a rotator cuff muscle in the third inning in a game against the Cubs. He will likely miss the next five weeks. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-10-2003, 01:11 AM	#11
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 10 The Pirates are currently 24-32 and still sit in fourth place in the central division, nine games behind the leading Cubs. This week the Bucs start their interleague play. They play three games at home against the Red Sox, who are 34-22, and then travel to New York to play the Mets who are currently 26-30. Game 57: Pirates 9 Red Sox 3 Many people were wondering just when the real Kris Benson would appear, and it seems that he made an appearance in this game. He gave up just three runs against the vaunted Red Sox offense in eight innings of work for his third win of the year. The Pirates offense really knocked around Derek Lowe, scoring seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings off of him. Pirates hitters combined for a total of eight doubles in the game. Game 58: Pirates 7 Red Sox 4 Despite being outhit 9-7 the Pirates and Perez have continued their winning ways. Perez went 7 1/3 innings, giving up four runs for his seventh win of the season. Fossum gave up five runs, four of which were earned, in six innings of work for the loss. The Pirates scored two insurance runs in the seventh off of Chad Fox to close this game out. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save of the season. Game 59: Pirates 1 Red Sox 4 Fogg had a decent game, but it wasn't enough as he picked up his 8th loss, giving up four runs in seven innings. The Pirates bats just didn't show up for this game, as Elmore pitched a complete game scattering 7 hits and walking three, giving up just one run to earn the win. Series Recap: The Pirates didn't let themselves get pushed around by the Red Sox. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come. Game 60: Pirates 2 Mets 10 Dave Williams really struggled in this game, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings of work for the loss. The bullpen didn't do much to help, as Vogelsong and Sauerbeck each gave up two more runs. Leiter, on the other hand, pitched quite well, giving up just two runs in six innings. The Mets bullpen held up, giving up no runs in three innings of relief. Game 61: Pirates 7 Mets 2 This game was veteran versus young upstart, and the veteran came out on top of this one. Maddux gave up just one run in 6 2/3 innings to pick up his second straight win in a Pirate uni. Nunez, did fairly well, giving up just two runs in 4 2/3 innings, but he picked up the loss. The score was close heading into the eighth, as the Pirates lead just 3-2, but the Bucs broke things open, scoring three unearned runs in the eighth and then one more unearned run in the ninth off of Yates. Game 62: Pirates 7 Mets 4 Benson had another pretty good game, and managed to not give up a single run until the sixth inning, where he gave up three runs. He finished with his 4th win of the year, pitching six innings and giving up three runs. Ross Peeples made his first career major league start for the Mets, and got knocked around pretty bad. He gave up five runs in just two innings to record the loss. Mann picked up the last out in the ninth, after Sauerbeck allowed a run without getting a single out, for his eighth save of the season. Series Recap: The Pirates and Mets each scored 16 runs, but the Bucs came out on top 2 games to 1. Exactly what the Pirates need to try and work their way back into the mix of things, one game at a time. Around the league, on Tuesday, Arizona's left fielder, 36 year old Luis Gonzalez blistered three homers against the Indians. His first was a grandslam off Dave Elder in the second inning, the second was a solo homerun off of Mike Williams in the fifth, and his last was a two run homer off of Mike Williams in the seventh. He powered his team to a 12-4 win over the Indians. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-10-2003, 10:57 AM	#12
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 11 The Pirates are currently and in fourth place in the central division. This week they continue their interleague play, traveling first to Baltimore for a three game series against the Orioles who are 31-33. They then travel to Tampa Bay for three against the Devil Rays who are currently 31-31. The Pirates are 2-1 in interleague play so far this season. Game 63: Pirates 3 Orioles 2 Perez did pretty well in this game, giving up just two runs in six innings of work, but did not get the win. The Pirates game-winning run came in the eighth inning when Mackowiak tagged at third on a fly ball by Rivera. Lopez got the loss, going 7 2/3 innings and giving up three runs, two of which were earned. Boehringer picked up the win and Mann picked up his 9th save of the season. Game 64: Pirates 6 Orioles 3 Fogg pitched a superb game, giving up just three runs, two of which were earned, in eight innings of work for his 4th win of the season. Rakers got the loss for Baltimore, giving up six runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. Bobby Hill was taken out of the game in the bottom of the first after throwing a runner out, with a tight elbow and will miss the next few days. Game 65: Pirates 10 Orioles 0 Noddin Head Doll Day at Oriole Park Williams pitched a superb game, a two-hit complete game shutout, while walking none and striking out one batter for his third win. Eaton on the other hand, lasted just 1 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs, five of which were earned for the loss. Nady had another big game offensively, going 2-5 with 4 RBIs, and smacking his 13th homerun of the year. Series Recap: The Pirates took care of the Orioles and are now on a five-game winning streak and are 5-1 against the AL East in interleague play. Game 66: Pirates 4 Devil Rays 11 The Pirates winning streak was snapped, as Greg Maddux had a very poor showing, giving up seven runs in just three innings pitched for his 5th loss of the season. Zambrano pitched well for the DRays, giving up four runs in eight innings of work, for his 4th win. Game 67: Pirates 10 Devil Rays 1 Benson had another superb game, giving up just one run in 8 2/3 innings to pick up his 5th win of the season. The Pirates scored five runs, but only one of them earned, against Bierbrodt, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings in the loss. Game 68: Pirates 4 Devil Rays 3 This game was a match-up of young phenom pitchers. The Pirates managed to score four runs in 6+ innings against Dewon Brazelton, who got the loss. Perez did not give up a single run in 7 1/3 innings of work, picking up his 8th win of the season. In fact, the DRays were not able to score a run until the ninth inning, but they sure made things close. Grieve led off with a homerun off of Vogelsong. Mann then came in to replace Vogelsong and gave up a double to Sandberg. Walker then popped out, and Hamilton followed with a pinch-hit single to score Sandberg. On the throw home, Hamilton went to second. Crawford then flew out to left, and Valentin followed with a pinch hit single scoring Hamilton, to bring the game to within one run. Mann got Huff to fly out to left-center to end the game, picking up his 11th save of the season. Series Recap: The Pirates continue to roll over the AL East, winning 2 out of 3 against the DRays, bringing their record to 7-2 in interleague play. Around the league, there was no other news besides Dave Williams' two hit shutout on Thursday. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-10-2003, 12:14 PM	#13
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 12 The Pirates are now 33-35, still in fourth place in the central division, but now only 6.5 games back of the division leading Cubs. This week the Bucs have a tough schedule and come home and play three against the Phillies who are currently 41-28 this season. The Pirates then wrap up their interleague schedule with three games against the Indians who are 42-28. The Pirates are 7-2 in interleague play this season. The Pirates announced that they have promoted LF Manuel Ravelo from AA to AAA. Ravelo was hitting 0.287 with 4 HRs and 30 RBIs for the Altoona Curve. Game 69: Pirates 10 Phillies 8 Neither starter fared too well in this game, as Fogg went just 2 2/3 innings giving up five runs. Brett Myers didn't do any better, giving up seven runs, four of which were earned, in 2 1/3 innings for the loss. Beimel got the win by recording the last out in the third inning. The Phillies scored five runs in the third, just to be outdone by the Pirates in the bottom half of the inning, as they scored 8. The Phillies worked the game back to within one run in the seventh inning, but the Pirates added two more insurance runs in the bottom half of the seventh. The Phillies were able to add one more in the eighth, but Mann came in to pitch a scoreless ninth, for his 12th save of the season. Game 70: Pirates 2 Phillies 7 Dave Williams got hurt by the long ball, giving up two run homers to Thome and Byrd. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs, three of them earned. The Phillies scored three runs in the ninth for insurance, but it proved to be unnecessary, as Padilla pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs for his 7th win. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 500th career homerun. The homer came in the first inning, with one on and one out against Brewer's pitcher Neugebauer. Game 71: Pirates 9 Phillies 5 Maddux did not give up a single run until the sixth inning, and finished the game pitching seven innings and giving up four runs for the win. Brian Anderson went just 3 1/3 innings for the Phillies, giving up six runs and picking up the loss. Humberto Cota hit two homeruns, and Nady and Palmer each had one homer. Nady extended his hitting streak to a career high 12 games. Series Recap: The Pirates won two out of three against the first place Phillies and find themselves now just one game under .500. Game 72: Pirates 14 Indians 2 The Pirates destroyed the Indians and starting pitcher Kurt Ainsworth, who gave up 7 runs in just two innings of work. The Pirates also managed to score six runs, five of them earned, off of former teammate Mike Williams, who lasted just 1/3 of an inning. 11 of these runs came in just the third inning of the game with the scored tied 2-2. Benson pitched a very good game, giving up just two runs in eight innings of work for his 6th win of the season. Game 73: Pirates 0 Indians 2 This game was another one featuring a couple of good young pitchers in Rodriguez and Perez. Neither pitcher budged, as Rodriguez gave up just five hits and no runs in eight innings of work, and Perez gave up just six hits and no runs in seven innings of work. In fact, neither team managed to score a run until the 12th inning. With runners at the corners and one out in the top of the 12th, Indians Brandon Phillips doubled scoring both runs to give them the lead. Van Poppel pitched a scoreless bottom half of the inning for the save. Elder picked up the win for the Indians, while Mann got the loss for the Pirates. Game 74: Pirates 5 Indians 3 Fogg won another close game, pitching fairly well and giving up just three runs, two of them earned, in 6 1/3 innings of work for his 5th win of the season. Dennys Baez got the loss for the Indians, giving up five runs in just four innings. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save. Nady's 14-game hitting streak was snapped as he went 0-3 today. Series Recap: The Bucco train keeps on rolling, winning two of three from the first place Indians. The Bucs finished interleague play with a record of 9-3, and now are at .500 on the season. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-11-2003, 07:13 PM	#14
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 13 The Pirates season continues,and this week they will play their last game in the month of June. They travel to Philadelphia for a three game series against the Phillies who are 44-31 and whom the Pirates are 2-1 against this season. They then come back home and play three against the Diamondbacks who are currently 36-41. Game 75: Pirates 3 Phillies 8 Williams gave up six unearned runs in three innings for the loss, as the Pirates poor defensive play hurt them. Padilla pitched 7 2/3 innings, giving up three runs for the win. Game 76: Pirates 4 Phillies 1 Maddux pitched a superb game, giving up no runs in six innings of work for the win, his 4th of the season. The Pirates scored four runs, three of them earned, against starter Brian Anderson. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 14th save of the season. Game 77: Pirates 1 Phillies 11 Still just can't figure out Benson, one time he goes out and looks like a Cy Young candidate and then anothe start he looks like he belongs in AAA. This start was not a good one for him as he gave up five runs in just four innings of work. Torres didn't do any better in relief, giving up six runs in three innings. Madson pitched a very good game, giving up just one run in seven innings for the win. Series Recap: The Phillies answered back in this series to tie the season at 3-3. Only Maddux pitched very well, and could quite earn himself a spot on this staff, even when Ponson comes back. Game 78: Pirates 5 Diamond Backs 1 This game was the old vs. the new as 40 year old Randy Johnson matched up against 22 year old Oliver Perez. Both starters did quite well, as Johnson gave up just one run in five innings of work, and Perez gave up just one run in 8 2/3 innings. The score was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, when Nady singled home Kotsay, and then later in the inning, Alvarez hit a three run homerun off of Myers. The first run was charged to Koplove, who picked up the loss. Game 79: Pirates 1 Diamond Backs 6 Fogg had some trouble in this game, as he gave up six runs, three of them earned, in 5 1/3 innings for his 9th loss of the season. Suppan blew away his former teammates, giving up just one run off of five hits in 8 2/3 innings. Game 80: Pirates 8 Diamond Backs 4 The Pirates got to Elmer Dessens early, scoring five runs, four of them earned in four innings. Williams pitched a pretty good game. He didn't give up a single run until the sixth inning, when the DBacks scored four runs off of him, to bring the game to withing one run. The Pirates answered with one of their own in the bottom of the sixth, and then two more in the bottom of the seventh, and the bullpen pitched three scoreless innings to hold on to the win. Series Recap: The former NL Champions have been struggling all season, and the Pirates were able to compound on their troubles winning two of three. Around the league, on Wednesday, Toronto's DH Kevin Millar tore up the Oriole's pitching staff, smashing five hits in the game. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-11-2003, 08:09 PM	#15
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 14 This week starts a new month for the Pirates, who are currently 40-40, in fourth place in the central just 6.5 games back of the Cardinals. This week they come home for a three game series against the Brewers who are 25-56 and whom the Pirates are 1-2 against this season. They then face the Cardinals who are currently 47-34 and whom the Pirates are 3-5 against. June Wrapup The Pirates were red hot this month with a record of 17-8 and are now 40-40. Maddux, 4-1 with a 3.94; Benson, 4-1 with a 3.63; Perez 3-0 with a 1.73 anchored the Pirates starting rotation this month. Nady continued his hot hands, hitting 0.316 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs. House also had a pretty good month, hitting 0.308 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs. Cota though, in limited play, hit 0.450 with 4 HRs and 10 RBIs coming mostly off the bench for those hits. Since the Pirates are close enough to the halfway point, I'm just gonna give a quick run down of the stats for all the players. C JR House 0.275 9 HRs 39 RBIs 1B Craig Wilson 0.299 10 HRs 47 RBIs 2B Bobby Hill 0.267 6 HRs 35 RBIs 18 SB 3B Rob Mackowiak 0.246 11 HRs 49 RBIs 11 SB SS Marshall McDougall 0.239 6 HRs 28 RBIs 3 SB LF Xavier Nady 0.311 14 HRs 52 RBIs 1 SB CF Mark Kotsay 0.286 7 HRs 41 RBIs 15 SB RF JJ Davis 0.258 11 HRs 46 RBIs 6 SB C Humberto Cota 0.258 4 HRs 14 RBIs 1B Carlos Rivera 0.214 2 HRs 9 RBIs SS Jack Wilson 0.268 0 HRs 10 RBIs 3B Dean Palmer 0.202 1 HR 6 RBIs CF Tony Alvarez 0.271 4 HRs 18 RBIs SP Greg Maddux 4-5 5.08 ERA SP Kris Benson 6-6 5.13 ERA SP Oliver Perez 9-2 2.43 ERA SP Josh Fogg 5-9 5.05 ERA SP Dave Williams 4-6 4.29 ERA SP Sidney Ponson 3-6 3.79 ERA MR Joe Beimel 2-0 1 SV 4.05 ERA MR Brian Boehringer 3-1 2 SV 2.97 ERA MR Mark Corey 2-1 3.52 ERA MR Scott Sauerbeck 0-0 9.97 ERA MR Solomon Torres 1-1 1SV 6.60 ERA MR Ryan Vogelsong 0-1 1SV 5.98 ERA CL Jim Mann 0-5 14 SV 5.23 ERA Around the league, Boston with a record of 51-31, leads the Blue Jays by 7 games. In the central, Minnesota is still leading the central with a record of 48-34, just 2.5 games above the Indians. The A's still have the best record in the majors at 51-30, and lead the west by 16 games over the Angels. In the NL, Montreal has surpassed Atlanta by a half a game, to lead the east with a record of 51-31. The Cardinals are currently the team atop the central division with a record of 47-34 and just one game above the Reds and two above the Cubs. In the west, the Padres have shot past the Rockies and Giants and now lead the division by 3.5 games over the Rockies, with a record of 46-36. Never heard of before, Royals' pitcher Shawn Sedlacek won the AL POM award, going 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA. Padilla won his first POM award, going 5-0 with an ERA of 1.48 for the Phillies this month. White Sox RF Magglio Ordonez was red hot this month, hitting 0.385 with 11 HRs and collecting 21 RBIs to win the BOM award for the AL. In the NL, Pujols outperformed everyone, hitting 0.369 with 9 HRs and 21 RBIs to win the BOM award. Game 81: Pirates 3 Brewers 1 Maddux continues with the hot arm, giving up just one run in eight innings of work. The score was tied 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth when the Pirates scored two more off of Franklin to take the lead. Franklin gave up a total of three runs in 6 2/3 innings, good enough for a quality start, but also picking up the loss. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save of the year. Game 82: Pirates 4 Brewers 5 Benson went into the seventh inning with a 4-3 lead but gave up two runs in the inning to pick up the loss. Benson went a total of seven innings, giving up the five runs for his 7th loss of the season. Valdes lasted just six innings, but gave up just four runs for his 7th win. Vizcaino pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 13th save of the year. Game 83: Pirates 6 Brewers 2 Perez pitched another really good game, giving up just one run in seven innings, but was not able to pick up the win. Neugebauer was not able to pick up the win either, despite giving up just two hits and no runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Pirates were trailing 2-0 heading into the eighth, but managed to score 6 runs off of Foster, Leskanic and Vizcaino, including a grandslam by Dean Palmer off of Vizcaino with two outs that gave the Pirates the lead. Leskanic picked up the loss for the Brewers, and despite giving up one run in the inning that he worked, Sauerbeck got the win for the Pirates. Series Recap: Well, the Pirates finally managed to win a series against the Brewers in two years worth of play, and evened up the season series at 3-3. Game 84: Pirates 13 Cardinals 6 The Pirates destroyed the Cardinals pitching staff, scoring 5 runs in 2 1/3 innings off of Ankiel, and then scoring 8 more off of the Cardinals bullpen. Fogg did OK in this outing, giving up four runs in seven innings and picking up his 6th win. Mackowiak hit two homers, while Nady and House each had one. Game 85: Pirates 0 Cardinals 8 Willaims seems to alternate between good and bad outings, and this was one of his bad one. He gave up all eight runs, seven of them earned, in 7 1/3 innings. Five of those runs came in the eighth innings, four of those coming from a grandslam by Eusebio. Rookie Dan Haren picked up his fifth win, giving up just three hits in six innings of work. Game 86: Pirates 12 Cardinals 7 Maddux had his first poor outing for a long time with the Pirates, as he got smashed giving up all seven runs, six of which were earned, in 1+ innings. The runs came from homers by JD Drew, Miguel Tejada, and Jim Edmonds. The Pirates offense answered back, scoring six in the third inning, all of those runs were unearned, 2 in the sixth to take the lead, and four more in the seventh to add some insurance. Mackowiak hit two homers, while McDougall and Palmer each had one. The Pirates bullpen pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and walking just two. Boehringer got the win for the Pirates, while Kline got the loss for the Cards. Series Recap: This is a season of firsts for the Pirates, as this is also the first time the Pirates won a series against the Cardinals in two years. Around the league, on Sunday Blue Jays' Dominic Rich hit for the cycle against the Orioles. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-11-2003, 10:54 PM	#16
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 15 The Pirates are currently 44-42, and in fourth place in the central division, 4.5 games behind the Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds. The Pirates have a very tough schedule this week, going up against two of those top teams. They start out in Chicago with a four game series against the Cubs, who are 49-38 and whom the Pirates are 1-2 against this year. They then travel to St. Louis for a three-game set against the Cardinals who are currently 49-38 and whom the Pirates are 5-6 against this season. Game 87: Pirates 4 Cubs 2 Benson seems to be possibly back on track again, as he pitched very well giving up just two runs in six innings for his seventh win of the season. The Pirates were down 2-1 until the sixth inning, when they managed to score three runs off of Kennedy to take the lead. Kennedy finished going seven innings and giving up all four earned runs for his fifth loss. Mann worked a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his 16th save of the season. Game 88: Pirates 6 Cubs 7 Perez went six innings and gave up four runs, while Clement went 7+ innings, giving up six runs, five of them earned, but neither starter got the decision. The score was tied 4-4 heading into the eighth, and the Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out against Clement. Juan Cruz then came into the game and got Mackowiak to strike out, and Davis to ground into a fielder's choice, getting the runner out at home. It seemed the Cubs would get out of the jam, but McDougall singled to left to score Wilson and Nady, but Cota struck out to end the threat. The Cubs then answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own against Vogelsong. The Pirates then threatened in the top of the 12th inning. They had runners at second and third and no one out, but Kolb got Craig Wilson to strike out swinging. He then intentionally walked Nady, and Baker then brought Beltran in to the game. He got Mackowiak to line out to the shortstop, and then got Davis to end the inning by grounding back to the mound. The Cubs made the Bucs pay for not getting a run home, when in the bottom half of the inning, with two outs, Hee Seop Choi hit a walk-off solo homerun off of Corey to win the game. Corey got the loss for the Bucs and Beltran got the win for the Cubs. Game 89: Pirates 5 Cubs 4 Fogg pitched a pretty decent game, picking up the win while giving up four runs, two of which were earned, in seven innings of work. Zambrano also pitched seven innings for the Cubs and gave up just two runs but did not get the decision. The Pirates were trailing 4-1 heading into the eighth inning, and led the inning off with a walk by House off of Zambrano. Kolb then came into the game and gave up a pinch-hit single to Rivera. Juan Cruz then came in and gave up a single to Kotsay that scored House and the Pirates had first and second with no outs. Nady then hit a pinch-hit three run homerun off of Cruz to give the Pirates the lead. The Pirates never looked back and the bullpen pitched two scoreless innings with Mann picking up his 17th save of the season. Cruz got the loss for the Cubs. Game 90: Pirates 3 Cubs 1 This was another very close game that the Pirates just inched out a victory in. Williams pitched very well, giving up just one run in six innings. The score was tied at 1-1 heading into the eighth innings. With two outs and runner on first and second Wilton Chavez was pulled from the game. Cruz then came in and walked House to load the bases. Tony Alvarez then hit a pinch hit single scoring Wilson and Davis to give the Pirates the lead. Both runs were charged to Cruz, who got the loss working 7 2/3 innings. Cruz then got Kotsay to ground out to end the threat. The Cubs threatened in the bottom of the ninth, when with runners at first and second with two outs, Joe Beimel got Choi to ground out to the first baseman to end the game. Vogelsong picked up the win for the Bucs pitching a scoreless seventh inning, and Beimel got the save. Series Recap: The Pirates are inching closer and closer in the central division, winning three of four from the former first place Cubs. It's now on to face the first place Cardinals. Game 91: Pirates 7 Cardinals 8 This game was a very tough loss for the Pirates. Maddux went 7 2/3 innings giving up five runs, while Haren went 5 2/3 innings giving up six runs and neither starter got the decision. The Pirates were leading the game 7-2 heading into the eighth inning. Then everything went to hell after two outs in the inning. Pujols came to the plate with one man on, and hit a two run homer off of Maddux. Edmonds then followed with a single, and then Corey came in and gave up a two run homerun to Scott Rolen. Travis Lee then followed with a solo homerun, again off Corey, to tie the game at 7-7. Vogelsong then came in and got Vina to ground out to end the inning. The Pirates put up a bit of an effort in the ninth with two singles, but with two outs McDougall flew out to shallow left field to end the threat. Vogelsong then got one quick out in the bottom half of the inning, before Eusebio reached base on an error by the third baseman. Mann then came in and gave up a single to JD Drew, and followed that by giving up another single to Wilson Delgado. Eusebio scored the game winning run on a play at the plate where House was barely not able to tag Eusebio as he slid past into home plate. Vogelsong was credited with the loss for the Bucs, while Curdale got the win for the Cards. Game 92: Pirates 4 Cardinals 7 Benson continues his rollercoaster struggles, with another poor outing, giving up five runs in six innings for his 8th loss of the season. On the other hand, Loaiza continues his story book season, picking up his 5th win, this after not even pitching last year, and giving up four runs in 7 2/3 innings. The Pirates somewhat threatened in the ninth, drawing two walks from Isringhausen after two outs, but Linebrink came in to finish things off by getting Rivera to fly out to end the game and earning him the save. Game 93: Pirates 3 Cardinals 1 The Pirates snapped the Cardinals six game winning streak, thanks to a valiant effort by Perez, who went seven innings, giving up just one run for his 10th win of the season. The Pirates scored three runs, two of them earned, off of Jimmy Journell. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 18th save of the season. Around the league, on Tuesday White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle threw his second shutout of the season, a two hitter against the Angels, as the White Sox went on to win the game 10-0. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-12-2003, 06:52 PM	#17
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 16 The All-Star game will be played this week, but just before the homerun derby Monday night, the Pirates announced the trade of Josh Fogg and Solomon Torres to the Anaheim Angels for MR Scot Shields. With the surplus of good arms in AAA, the Pirates felt that neither Maddux or Fogg would be in their plans for next year, and decided to stick with the veteran Maddux for the remainder of the year. At the same time, they manage to improve their bullpen and reduce a little bit of salary. The timing was done now, because Ponson will be coming off the DL after the All-Star break. Recently acquired Scot Shields, and Oliver Perez each made their first career appearance in the all-star game. Perez pitched two innings, and gave up four runs, though just one of them was earned, as the AL defeated the NL 7-6. The Pirates finish this week with a four game series against the Cubs, who are 52-42 and whom the Pirates are 4-3 against. Game 94: Pirates 0 Cubs 2 Ponson came back and in his first start since coming off the DL, gave up just two runs in nine innings, but got the loss. Prior pitched a superb game, giving up no runs in seven innings. Kolb pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Game 95: Pirates 3 Cubs 6 Benson gave up two homeruns to Mark Bellhorn and they both proved to be costly as he finished with just five innings pitched, giving up 6 runs, three of them earned. Kennedy gave up just three runs in eight innings for the win. Kolb pitched another 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second straight save. Game 96: Pirates 0 Cubs 4 The Cubs pitching continues to shut-down the Pirates, as Zambrano gave up just two hits in 8 2/3 innings for the win. Perez gave up four runs in 8 2/3 innings for the loss. Game 97: Pirates 7 Cubs 6 Neither starting pitcher got the decision in this game, as Maddux lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs, and Clement also gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Pirates were trailing 6-3 heading into the sixth, and scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie things up. They then took the lead in the bottom of the seventh, when JJ Davis singled home Craig Wilson. The Cubs made the game very close in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second and one out, Dave Kelton singled to center field. The third base coach sent the runner home, but the throw to the plate nailed Ben Davis for the second out. Mann then got Moises Alou to strike out looking, leaving runners at second and third, and picking up his 19th save of the year. Scot Shields got the win for the Bucs, and Beltran got the loss for the Cubs Series Recap: That was a tough series to lose as the Pirates were starting to make a comeback in the central, but now find themselves 6.5 back of the Cardinals. Around the league, on Thursday Rangers' staff ace Jarrod Washburn discovered bone chips in his shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. On Sunday, Minnesota's Juan Gonzalez smacked his 2000th career hit off of A's Rich Harden. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-12-2003, 07:40 PM	#18
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 17 This week the Pirates start a very busy schedule. They start with a two game series at home against the Cardinals who are 56-42 and whom the Pirates are 6-8 against. They then travel to Milwaukee for a two game series against the Brewers who are currently 30-68 and whom the Pirates are 3-3 against. They then travel to Houston for the start of a four-game series against the Astros who are currently 41-58 and whom the Pirates are 3-3 against this season. Game 98: Pirates 10 Cardinals 4 The Pirates bats have woken up, scoring five runs in 2 1/3 innings off of Cardinals starter Haren. They scored five more runs in 3 innings off of the Cardinals bullpen. Williams pitched a decent game, giving up just four runs, three of them earned, in eight innings, for his 5th win of the season. Game 99: Pirates 12 Cardinals 6 Ponson did not have a great game, giving up five runs in five innings, but luckily he did not need to have his best game in this one, as he still picked up the win. The Pirates handed Woody Williams his worst loss of the season, scoring 7 runs against him in just three innings of work. Series Recap: The Pirates managed to score more runs in two games against the Cardinals than they did in the last series in four games against the Cubs. The pitching wasn't great but it was good enough to pick up the wins. Game 100: Pirates 2 Brewers 3 Both starting pitchers had superb games, but again neither got the decision. Benson went six innings, giving up two runs, while Valdes also gave up just two runs in seven innings of work. The Pirates threatened in the top of the tenth with runners at second and third and two outs, but Vizcaino got House to ground out back to the mound to end the threat. The Brewers ended the game when with one out, C Andrea Lemmons hit a walk-off solo homerun off of Jim Mann to end the game. Mann got the loss for the Pirates and Pember got the win for the Brewers. Game 101: Pirates 10 Brewers 3 The Pirates blew apart Ben Sheets, scoring six runs, three of which were earned, in 1 2/3 innings, as he picked up his 8th loss of the season. Perez pitched fairly well, giving up just three runs, two of them earned, in six innings for his 11th win of the season. Series Recap: A split against most teams is a decent job, but against the last place Brewers, it's a little hard to swallow. I guess the Brewers need to win every now and then. Game 102: Pirates 3 Astros 7 Maddux had a bad day in more than one way. He gave up four runs in just 1 2/3 innings for his 6th loss of the season, and along the way, he was injured with a herniated back disk and will miss the next 8 weeks. Saarloos went seven innings and gave up just one unearned run for his 7th win of the season. The Pirates placed Greg Maddux on the DL and called up John VanBenSchoten, JVB was 10-5 with a 3.01 ERA in 19 starts for the Nashville Sounds this season. Game 103: Pirates 9 Astros 2 Williams had himself a pretty good day, giving up just two runs in six innings of work for the win. Contreras gave up four runs, two of which were earned, in 6 1/3 innings. The game was really close (3-2) until the seventh inning, when the Pirates managed to score five runs off of Contreras and Robertson. Game 104: Pirates 4 Astros 3 Ponson had another real good game, giving up just three runs, only two of which were earned, in seven innings to pick up his 5th win of the season. The Pirates were trailing 3-2 heading into the eighth inning, but a one-out triple by Mark Kotsay scored Bobby Hill to tie the score. One out later, Xavier Nady singled home Kotsay for the go-ahead run. Astros starter Talbot was charged with all four runs, and pitched a total of 8 1/3 innings for the loss. The bullpen held the Astros scoreless, and Mann picked up his 20th save of the season. Around the league, on Thursday Marlins' reliever Nate Bump ruptured a disk in his back and will miss the remainder of the season. On Friday, Seattle's left-hander Ryan Ketchner pitched a two-hit shutout against the Rangers as the Mariners won the game 10-0. On Sunday, Yankees' second baseman Alfonso Soriano hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-13-2003, 12:28 AM	#19
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 18 I forgot to mention that Mark Kotsay won player of the week award for the NL, hitting 0.552 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. Also, the Pirates promoted 1B Brad Eldred from A to AA. Eldred was hitting 0.255 with 18 HRs and 62 RBIs for the Hillcats. The Pirates also cut 24 year old CF Chris Duffy from their A affiliate. With the trading deadline approaching, the Pirates are looking to possibly add another starting pitcher to replace Maddux who is injured, but that partly depends on how well VanBenSchoten does in his one start this week. This week the Pirates continue a fairly tough schedule, beginning with the last game of their four-game series against the Astros. The Pirates then come home and play three games against the Rockies, who are 53-53 and whom the Pirates are 0-3 this season. The Pirates then begin August playing host to the Diamondbacks who are currently 50-58 and whom the Pirates are 2-1 against this season. Game 105: Pirates 9 Astros 1 Benson had another one of his great games, pitching a complete game and giving up just six hits and one run while striking out 7 batters for his 8th win of the year. Hernandez gave up six runs, four of them earned, in four innings for his 11th loss of the season. The Pirates scored eight of the nine runs from homeruns. They hit a total of six homeruns, solo homeruns by Bobby Hill, Nady who hit two solo shots, and Craig Wilson, who also hit two solo shots. JR House was the only player to homer with players on base, as he hit a three run homerun in the second inning. Series Recap: The Pirates definitely seem to be learning how to win games, winning 3 of 4 from the Astros. Now they just need to do so on a consistent basis against the better teams in the league, and they should be able to make a run at the central division. Game 106: Pirates 1 Rockies 7 Perez didn't do a poor job, but wasn't his normal self, as he gave up four runs, though in his defense only one run was earned, in five innings of work as he got the loss. Stark pitched a complete game, giving up just one run, which was a homerun by Nady in the sixth inning, to pick up his 10th win of the season. Game 107: Pirates 1 Rockies 3 In his first career major league start, VanBenSchoten did pretty well, giving up just three runs in seven innings, but he did pick up the loss. The Pirates managed to score just one run in 6 2/3 innings off of the struggling Jason Jennings. Jimenez pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 23rd save of the season. Game 108: Pirates 2 Rockies 10 Williams did not have a good start, giving up five runs, three of them earned in 3 1/3 innings for his 8th loss of the season. The bullpen didn't do much better, as Beimel gave up four more runs in 3 2/3 innings and Vogelsong gave up a run in two innings. The Pirates bats continued to struggle as they scored just one run off of starter Tsao, who lasted seven innings, and earned his 9th win of the season. Series Recap: Just as the Pirates seem to be putting something together, something goes way south on the team, and this time it was the offense that just didn't show up in this series. Lucky for them, the rest of the central didn't do too well, and they're still just 7 games back. July Wrapup The Pirates went 15-13 in the month of July and are now 55-53 and in fourth place in the central division, seven games back of the Cubs. Perez continues to put up some strong numbers, going 2-2 with a 2.95 ERA in July. Ponson also did well, after coming off the DL, he went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Kotsay hit very well for the Pirates this month, batting 0.391 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs and 26 runs scored. None of the Pirates hitters did very poorly this month, as they all had a very solid effort in July, with no one hitting below 0.250 for the month. Around the league, the Boston Red Sox still lead the AL East with a record of 67-42, ten games ahead of the Blue Jays. Cleveland has taken over the lead in the central, and with a record of 61-48, they lead the White Sox by 3 games. The A's with a record of 70-38 still hold the lead for the best record in all of baseball, and lead the Angels by 20 games in the west. In the NL, the Expos continue to lead the Braves by 2 game in the east, with a record of 66-42. The Cubs, with a record of 62-46, are the current monthly leaders in the tight central division race, and are just a half game above the Reds. In the West, the Padres, with a record of 61-48, are holding on to a 5 game lead over the Rockies. For the second time, Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox won the AL POM award, as he went 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA in the month of July. In the NL, Montreal's Seung Song won the award, going 4-0 with a measly 0.55 ERA. Oakland's red hot 1B Erubiel Durazo hit 0.344 with 12 HRs and 26 RBIs to win the AL BOM. The award for the NL went to Pittsburgh's very own CF Mark Kotsay, who hit 0.391 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs and 26 runs scored. League Transactions: I just realized that I haven't posted these all year, so I just decided to upload the file, and you can take a look at all the trades throughout the year. 2004 Transactions There were also a number of contract extensions, so I'll list the more notable players: Boston : Nomar Garciaparra, $7,140,000 per year, for 6 years. Boston: Derek Lowe, $5,747,500 per year, for 3 years. New York (A): Alfonso Soriano, $9,025,000 per year, for 4 years. New York (A): Mariano Rivera, $5,796,000 per year, for 3 years Toronto: Carlos Delgado, $12,413,000 per year, for 6 years Toronto: Kevin Millar, $4,598,000 per year, for 3 years Minnesota: Tim Hudson, $5,700,000 per year, for 3 years Oakland: Troy Percival, $4,900,000 per year, for 4 years Seattle: Bret Boone, $5,600,000 per year, for 3 years Montreal: Javier Vazquez, $5,885,300 per year, for 3 years Philadelphia: Vicente Padilla, $6,308,000 per year, for 3 years Milwaukee: Richie Sexson, $4,959,000 per year, for 3 years St. Louis: Woody Williams, $4,788,000 per year, for 3 years San Diego: Kip Wells, $5,263,000 per year, for 3 years Game 109: Pirates 11 Diamondbacks 3 Ponson pitched a pretty decent game, giving up three runs in 6 1/3 innings and this time he got a lot of run support, in order to pick up his 8th win of the season. Randy Johnson's season continues to decline as he picks up his 11th straight loss, and his 14th loss of the season, giving up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. JJ Davis hit two homeruns in the game and Craig Wilson collected 6 RBIs to lead the Pirates offense. Game 110: Pirates 2 Diamondbacks 0 Benson pitched his second real good game in a row, giving up just five hits and no runs in eight innings of work to even his record this year at 9-9. Rookie Allan Simpson gave up just three hits to the Pirates, but also walked two and gave up two runs, one a solo homer by Craig Wilson, in seven innings for the loss. Mann pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save of the season. Game 111: Pirates 2 Diamondbacks 4 This game was decided in extra innings as both starters pitched well and got no decisions. Perez gave up two runs, just one of them earned in 6 1/3 innings, and Schmidt gave up two runs in six innings. The Diamondbacks won the game in the top of the eleventh, when Jesus Cota led off the inning with a solo homer off of Vogelsong. They added an insurance run, when Tracy doubled, and then on a fly out to deep-left center, tagged to third base and then scored on a throwing error by the left fielder. The Pirates only managed one walk in the bottom of the inning, as Mike Myers shut them down and picked up the save. Hoffman got the win for the DBacks and Vogelsong got the loss for the Bucs. Series Recap: 2 of 3 isn't bad, but the Pirates have to make a run for it pretty soon if they want to be in the mix come September. Around the league, on Tuesday Arizona's Randy Wolf strained a tricep muscle pitching in a game against the Brewers and will miss the next 4-5 weeks. On Friday, Indian's catcher Ivan Rodriguez collected his 2000th career hit in the third inning off of Anaheim's Danny Graves. Also, on Friday, Yankees' second baseman Alfonso Soriano tore his abdominal muscle while running towards second base and will miss at least the next seven weeks. In the same game on Friday, Yankees' Derek Jeter slammed six hits in a romp 23-3 over the Rangers. On Saturday, Cubs' center fielder Corey Patterson hit for the cycle against the Phillies. Just one day after Patterson completed the feat, Atlanta's second baseman Marcus Giles uncorked the cycle against the Colorado Rockies. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."

10-13-2003, 11:19 AM	#20
Operation Shutdown All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 912	Week 19 With just eight weeks remaining in the season, the Pirates are currently 57-54 and still in fourth place in the central division, six games behind the leading Cubs. This week the Pirates travel to San Diego to face former teammates Kip Wells, Brian Giles and Jason Kendall in a three game series against the Padres who are 63-49 and whom the Pirates are 0-3 against. They then travel to Arizona to play three against the Diamondbacks who are currently 53-61 and whom the Pirates are 4-2 against this season. Game 112: Pirates 1 Padres 6 VanBenSchoten gave up four runs in six innings to pick up the loss. While VanBenSchoten is still looking for his first career win, he no longer needs to wait for his first career homerun, as he hit a solo homer in the third inning off of Keisler. Keisler gave up just the one run in seven innings for the win. Brian Giles hit two homeruns in the game against his former team. Game 113: Pirates 3 Padres 7 Williams did not do to well in this outing, giving up five runs, three of them earned, in 3 2/3 innings for his 9th loss of the season. Tucker pitched a complete game, giving up three runs for his 8th win of the season. Giles and Kendall each homered in the game. Game 114: Pirates 2 Padres 3 This is one of those rare cases when a team actually scored more runs than they got hits. Ponson held the Padres to just two hits and two walks, but gave up three runs, two of which were earned, in seven innings for the loss, his 8th of the season. Tankersely gave up two runs in four innings, but didn't get the win. The win went to Nicholas who pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Speier pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 26th save of the season. Series Recap: The Pirates have now lost four in a row and find themselves back at 0.500 and 9 games back of first place after getting swept by the first place Padres. Game 115: Pirates 4 Diamondbacks 6 Glove Day at Bank One Ballpark Neither starter got the decision in this game. Benson gave up four runs, three of them earned in six innings, and Schmidt gave up just two runs in seven innings. Trailing 4-2 heading into the eighth inning, the Pirates scored two runs without recording an out against Myers in the top of the inning. Koplove came in with runners at first and second and got three quick outs to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Boehringer gave up a one out single, and then Vogelsong came in and gave up a two run homerun to Bautista to give the lead back to the DBacks. Hoffman then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 27th save of the season. Koplove got the win for the DBacks and Boehringer got the loss. Game 116: Pirates 7 Diamondbacks 0 The Pirates snapped their five game losing streak, as Perez pitched a gem of a game, giving up no runs and just four hits in eight innings, for his 12th win of the season. Simpson gave up six runs, five of which came in the seventh inning, in 6 2/3 innings for his 3rd loss of the season. Game 117: Pirates 12 Diamondbacks 8 The starting pitchers got hammered in this game, as VenBenSchoten gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings and Helling gave up seven runs in three innings. Boehringer gave up the other three DBacks runs in just 1/3 of an inning. The Pirates were trailing 8-7 heading into the ninth inning, but Mackowiak doubled and then one out later, House singled him home off of Hoffman. The Pirates then loaded the bases with two outs, but Prinz came in and got Nady to pop out to the catcher to end the threat. Neither team scored a run til the top of the 12th inning, when Davis hit a two run homerun off of Mike Myers. The Pirates then scored two more insurance runs off of Myers, but they proved to not be needed as Corey pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning. Corey got the win for the Pirates and Myers got the loss for the DBacks. Series Recap: The Pirates seem to be back on track now after their losing streak, lets just hope it's not too late to make a run for it, as they're still 9 games back. Around the league, on Wednesday Cincinatti's Rafael Soriano injured himself in a game against the Rockies and was diagnosed with an inflamed rotator cuff muscle, and will miss the next 5-6 weeks. On Thursday, it was announced that Atlanta's Matt Wright will miss the next 6 weeks with a strained rotator cuff muscle that he incurred in a game against the Diamondbacks. Alson on Thursday, Colorado's Dennis Stark gave up just two hits while recording his second shutout of the season in a 10-0 win over the Reds. __________________ "And Shepherds we shall be, For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."