LF's Pittsburgh Pirates Dynasty: City of Champions

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Game: MVP Baseball 2005
Difficulty: All-Star
Miscellaneous Information: Dynasty played using 2005 MLB schedule with updated rosters.
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Pittsburgh Pirates Information
Colors: Black and Gold
Owner: Kevin McClatchy
General Manager: David Littlefield
Manager: Jim Tracy
League: National
Division: Central
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Stadium Information
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/photo/pncpark/logo3_130x62.gif
Address & Phone:
115 Federal Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 323-5000
Seating Capacity: 38,496
Field Surface: Natural grass (3.1 acres)
Building Area Size: 970,000 square feet
Construction Start Date: 14 April, 1999
Cost: $216 million
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/photo/pncpark/firsts_250x133.gif
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/photo/pncpark/dimensions.gif

Previous Stadiums:
Recreation Park (1887-1890)
Exposition Park (1891-1909)
Forbes Field (1909-1970)
Three Rivers Stadium (1970-2000)

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Team History
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Founded: 1887 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenies. Renamed "Pirates" in 1891 after signing 2B Louis Bierbauer away from the Philadelphia Athletics

Retired Numbers:
1 - Billy Meyer
4 - Ralph Kiner
8 - Willie Stargell
9 - Bill Mazeroski
20 - Pie Traynor
21 - Roberto Clemente
33 - J.P. "Honus" Wagner
42 - Jackie Robinson

Hall-of-Famers:
Player Years played with Pirates
Jake Beckley 1888-1889, 1891-1896
Jim Bunning 1968-1969
*Max Carey 1910-1926
Jack Chesbro 1899-1902
*Fred Clarke 1900-1911, 1913-1915
*Roberto Clemente 1955-1972
Joe Cronin 1926-1927
*Kiki Cuyler 1921-1927
Pud Galvin 1887-1889, 1891-1892
Hank Greenberg 1947
Burleigh Grimes 1916-1917, 1928-1929, 1934
Ned Hanlon 1889, 1891
Billy Herman 1947
Waite Hoyt 1933-1937
Joe Kelley 1892
George Kelly 1917
*Ralph Kiner 1946-1953
Chuck Klein 1939
Freddy Lindstrom 1933-1934
Al Lopez 1940-1946
Connie Mack 1891-1896
Heinie Manush 1938-1939
Rabbit Maranville 1921-1924
*Bill Mazeroski 1956-1972
*Willie Stargell 1962-1982
Casey Stengel 1918-1919
*Pie Traynor 1920-1937
Dazzy Vance 1915
*Arky Vaughan 1932-1941
Rube Waddell 1900-1901
*Honus Wagner 1900-1907
*Lloyd Waner 1927-1941, 1944-1945
*Paul Waner 1926-1940
*Vic Willis 1906-1909
* Played more games with Pittsburgh (NL) than any other team.

Managers Years with Pirates
Fred Clarke 1900-1915
Frankie Frisch 1940-1946
Ned Hanlon 1889, 1891
Billy Herman 1947
Connie Mack 1894-1896
Bill McKechnie 1922-1926
Pie Traynor 1934-1939
Honus Wagner 1917

World Championships: 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979

[Larry Fitzgerald]

PNC Park Awarded 2006 MLB All-Star Game
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PITTSBURGH -- Representatives from Major League Baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the City of Pittsburgh assembled Tuesday at PNC Park to begin planning the events of the 2006 All-Star Week.

The meetings, which will continue Wednesday, are the first step in a 10-month cooperation between the city, team and league to showcase Pittsburgh and PNC Park during the events and activities surrounding the July 11, 2006 Midsummer Classic.

"We're anxious to get started," said Patty Paytas, Pirates' vice-president of communications and the ballclub's All-Star coordinator. "A lot of work has already been done, but now the heavy lifting begins. We're excited to welcome Major League Baseball to the best ballpark in America and look forward to working with them and the entire Pittsburgh community to make the 2006 All-Star Game the best ever."

Approximately 20 MLB officials were on hand Tuesday for the first round of meetings. Marla Miller, senior vice president for special events for Major League Baseball, held a general information session for the staff, followed by breakout sessions on such issues as security, appropriate use of space and ticketing.

"We now have our All-Star manual and timetables. Everybody has their own binder," said Paytas. "It's really impressive. It's a very organized process."

The 2006 game marks the fifth time that the City of Pittsburgh has hosted the Midsummer Classic. Forbes Field was site of the 1944 and 1959 All-Star Games and Three Rivers Stadium hosted the 1974 and 1994 All-Star Games.

"Major League Baseball is thrilled to once again be in the great city of Pittsburgh and to begin planning and preparations for the 2006 Midsummer Classic," said Mille. "Each year, All-Star Week brings a high level of excitement to the middle of summer and we are sure that this year's events will give the fans in Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania the ultimate baseball experience."

Although the All-Star Game itself remains the marquee event of All-Star Week, the ancillary events have taken on added prominence since the Pirates last played host in 1994.

Major League Baseball All-Star Week festivities get underway with John Hancock All-Star FanFest, July 7-11 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center; Taco Bell All-Star Sunday -- which includes the XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game -- on July 9 at PNC Park; and All-Star Workout Day -- including the All-Star Home Run Derby -- on Monday, July 10 at PNC Park.

"It's a very, very large event," said Paytas. "The more you get into the planning, the more you realize that. But you also realize how fortunate we are to have this because it really is a premiere event."

The XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game will be televised live on ESPN or ESPN 2 on Sunday, while on Monday the All-Star Home Run Derby will air live on ESPN, immediately followed by the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game. The 77th MLB All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive, national radio coverage of the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and MLB.com Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the Midsummer Classic on the Internet.

Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Pirates Acquire 1B Sean Casey From Reds
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http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_112087.jpg
The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have acquired first baseman Sean Casey and cash from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for left-handed pitcher Dave Williams. No other terms of the deal were disclosed. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dave Littlefield.

Casey, 31, hit .312 with 32 doubles, nine home runs and 58 RBI in 137 games for the Reds in 2005, his eighth straight season with the club. He led Cincinnati in batting for the third consecutive year and ranked fifth among all National League players. Sean made 132 starts at first base and committed just two errors while leading the league in fielding percentage at his position.

A three-time All-Star (1999, 2001 & 2004), Casey's .305 career batting average ranks ninth in Reds history and 12th among all active major league players. He established a career high with 25 home runs in 1999 and has twice collected 99 RBI (1999 & 2004). The Upper St. Clair High School graduate connected off Todd Ritchie for the first home run ever hit at PNC Park on April 9, 2001, and has a career average of .355 (43-for-121) with five homers and 24 RBI in the five-year history of the park. Casey will wear uniform #25 with the Pirates.

The 26-year-old Williams led the Pirates with 10 victories in 2005 and established career highs in every category. He posted a 10-11 record and a 4.41 ERA in his 25 starts while recording a 2.65 ERA in 13 starts on the road. Originally selected by the Pirates in the 17th round of the 1998 June draft, Williams made his big-league debut with Pittsburgh in 2001.

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Pirates Sign Free Agent Jeromy Burnitz

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http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_111742.jpg
The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have signed free agent outfielder Jeromy Burnitz to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2007. No other terms of the deal were disclosed. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dave Littlefield.

Burnitz, 36, hit .258 (156-for-605) with 31 doubles, 24 home runs and 87 RBI last year with the Chicago Cubs. He played in all but two games during the 2005 season while making 158 appearances (153 starts) in right field and three appearances (two starts) in center field for the Cubs.

The left-handed hitter has a .255 lifetime batting average (1375-for-5397) with 286 doubles, 299 home runs and 932 RBI in 1583 games in the big leagues with the New York Mets (1993-94, 2002-03), Cleveland (1995-96), Milwaukee (1996-2001), Los Angeles Dodgers (2003), Colorado (2004) and Chicago Cubs (2005).

Burnitz has hit 30 or more home runs six times during his big league career, including a career-high 37 during the 2004 season with Colorado. He has also played in 150 or more games seven times during his 13-year career in the big leagues. Since the beginning of the 1997 season, Jeromy has played in a total of 1349 games, the eighth-most among all major leaguers in that time frame behind Andruw Jones (1420), Shawn Green (1402), Alex Rodriguez (1381), Rafael Palmeiro (1369), Johnny Damon (1363), Garret Anderson (1358) and Derek Jeter (1353).

To make room for Burnitz on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have designated infielder J.J. Furmaniak for assignment. Pittsburgh's 40-man roster now stands at 40 players.

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Pirates Release Opening Day Line-Up
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Oliver Perez will start the 2006 Major League season off as the starting pitcher for the homestanding Pirates. He will be opposed by Ben Sheets of Milwaukee. Game time is 1:35 PM at PNC Park.

Pirates Line-Up:
1. Jack Wilson (SS)
2. Jason Bay (LF)
3. Sean Casey (1B)
4. Jeromy Burnitz (RF)
5. Joe Randa (3B)
6. Jose Castillo (2B)
7. Chris Duffy (CF)
8. Humberto Cota (C)
9. Oliver Perez (LHP)

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Pirates Win Opener
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http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_112087.jpg
PITTSBURGH--Welcome home, Sean Casey! The Pittsburgh native and man who hit the first home run in PNC Park history hit one of the biggest this afternoon. The Pirates' first baseman topped a 4-for-4 performance with a sixth-inning Grand Slam to give the Pirates the lead and ultimately the win over Milwaukee on Opening Day.

The other two Pirate newcomers made significant contributions as well. Right fielder Jeromy Burnitz was 3-for-4 and third baseman Joe Randa had a third-inning RBI to give the Pirates the initial lead.

Pitcher Oliver Perez held the Brew Crew to four hits with their lone run coming in the fourth when Damian Miller homered to left.

When asked about his Grand Slam, Casey said, "I didn't think it would go out. I didn't hit it that well and when I saw the fielder coming in, I thought it was going to be caught. But the ball just carried. Lucky thing the wall is so short in right."

The shot over the Roberto Clemente wall brought the capacity crowd to its feet. Casey said that it was a special thing, winning the game for the Pirates.

"Yeah, it's great. I grew up cheering for the Pirates and to come out here and hit a game-winning Grand Slam in your first game for them, it's special. We're lucky Ollie (Perez) pitched a great game. Time to go celebrate."

Lefty Mike Gonzalez pitched the ninth, setting down the Brewers 1-2-3 in a non-save opportunity.

MIL - 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0---1R-4H-3E
PIT - 0-0-1-0-0-4-0-0-X---5R-12H-0E

WP: Perez (1-0)
LP: Sheets (0-1)

[Hilbs]

awesome man, i just downloaded some rosters for mvp 2005 myself, i might start up my own cubs thread this weekend :)

[Chase56]

Duffy should hit 1st! Fuck Jack Wilson!

[Larry Fitzgerald]

I'm tooling around with the lineups.

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Bucs Bats Silenced In Loss
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The Pittsburgh Pirates only generated one run of offense today as the Milwaukee Brewers avenged an earlier loss to the Bucs. Milwaukee used 14 hits off of Kip Wells to score the four runs. The Pirates first run in the second inning when pitcher Doug Davis walked Kip Wells with the bases loaded, forcing home a run. From there, Davis went into cruise control, blanking the Pirates until he was relieved in the eighth.

Jason bay woke up from an oh-fer on Opening Day to hit 1-for-4 and knock in the lone Pirate earned run.

Rickie Weeks and Geoff Jenkins both had RBI and Carlos Lee hit his first home run of the year.

The Buccos now head west for a three-game set with the San Diego Padres.

MIL - 1-0-0-0-0-2-0-1-0---4-14-0
PIT - 0-1-0-0-0-0-0-1-0---2-7-0

WP: Davis (1-0)
LP: Wells (0-1)
S: Turnbow (1)

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Bucs Survive Late Rally, Win 5-4
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Pittsburgh Pirates (1-1) vs. San Diego Padres (3-0) from PETCO Park

SAN DIEGO - Solomon Torres almost blew his first save opportunity of the new season, surviving a bases-loaded, 1 out scare to give the Pittsburgh Pirates and Zach Duke the win.

On the very first pitch of the game, San Diego started Tim Stauffer blew his rotator cuff and was summilarily relieved by Jorge Campillo.

The Pirates waited until the fourth inning to start scoring. After Sean Casey and Jeromy Burnitz singled to start the inning, Humberto Cota blasted his first home run into the California night to put the Bucs up, 3-0.

The Padres struck back in their half of the sixth when Todd Green's pinch hit solo homer put the Pads on the board. San Diego would later threaten after Bobby Hill hit a single but was thrown out trying to go from first to third on Brian Giles' single to right.

Chris Duffy's first trip to the bases this year came via a base on balls and he was moved up to second after Jack Wilson also walked. However, he was unable to score as Jason bay hit into a double play. However, he was picked up as Sean Casey collected his fifth RBI in the first three games with a sharp single.

Duke was relieved in the eighth and the Padres took advantage. After Ryan Klesko singled and Bobby Hill reached base via a fielder's choice, Brian Giles hit a monster opposite-field home run to bring the Padres within two.

Then came the climactic bottom of the ninth. Mike Cameron hit a leadoff solo shot off of new closer Solomon Torres to bring the game to 5-4. Mark Bellhorn singed and the speedy, ageless Dave Roberts bunted safely to give San Diego men on first and second with one out.

Torres finally settled down, striking ex-Bucco Bobby Hill out on a high fastball and after Brian Giles lined out to short, it was all over.

The Pirates and Padres hook up once again tomorrow night.

WP: Duke (1-0)
LP: Campillo (0-1)
S: Torres (1)

HR:
PIT: Cota (1)
SD: Cameron (1), Giles (1)

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Simulated Games
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Pittsburgh Pirates (2-1) vs. San Diego Padres (3-1)
Padres 1, Pirates 0

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Santos Injured in Pirates Win
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Pittsburgh Pirates (2-2) versus San Diego Padres (4-1) from PETCO Park
SAN DIEGO - Pirates starter Victor Santos tore his meniscus sliding into second base tonight but Ryan Vogelson came on to earn the win as the Steel City Lumber Company downed the Padres 7-2.

Santos was sliding into second, advancing on Chris Duffy's sacrifice bunt in the second inning. Santos was safe on the play but tore his throwing-arm meniscus on the play.

He was relieved running by Jody Gerut and on the hill by Ryan Vogelsong. Vogelsong was given a rude welcome by center fielder Mike Cameron, who took a low curve and deposited it into PETCO's left-field seats.

The Pirates struck back, getting two runs in the top of the third off of Jeromy Burnitz' two-run blast.

San Diego would tie it up in the sixth when Brian Giles hit a mammoth solo homerun to straight-away center off of an inside Vogelsong fastball. The Pirates rallied in the sseventh however, getting a homerun from Chris Duffy and using small-ball and superb singles hitting from Jack Wilson, Jason Bay and Sean Casey to add another run.

Vogelson was relieved in the eighth by setup man Mike Gonzales who blanked the Padres thanks to inspired defense, in particullar Jason Bay's taking away of Bobby Hill's extra-base bid in the left field corner. Bay ran down a tailing line drive and dove to make the catch on the warning track, denying and Padre hopes of a comeback.

Closer Salomon Torres came on and pitched the ninth in a non-save opportunity.
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-----1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9----R H E
PIT--0 0 2 0 0 0 3 2 0----7 14 0
SDP-0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0----2 6 0

WP: Vogelsong (1-0)
LP: Stauffer (0-1)

HR:
PIT: Duffy (1), Burnitz (1)
SDP: Cameron (4), Giles (1)

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Simulated game report:
Pittsburgh 8, San Diego 2.

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Pirates' Comback Falls Short, Lose 3-2
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Pittsburgh Pirates (3-2) versus Milwaukee Brewers (3-2)
MILWAUKEE - The Pittsburgh Pirates ninth-inning comeback fell one run short today as the Milwaukee Brewers hung on for a 3-2 victory.

The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning when Rickie Weeks hit a solo home run to left off of Bucco starter Kip Wells. Geoff Jenkins followed with a single but Wells was able to K Damian Miller to end the inning.

The Pirates looked to strike back in the second when Sean Casey ead off with a single, followed by Jeromy Burnitz' single to left. It was not to be, however as Joe Randa hit into a double play and Humberto Cota flew out.

The Pirates did even the score at one in the fourth. Jack Wilson led off with a single which was followed by Jason Bay's hit. Sean Casey would fly out but Jeromy Burnitz scored Wilson with his RBI single. Once again, Joe Randa hit into a double play to kill the rally.

The Brewers struck back in the fifth with Prince Fielder getting a base hit, then being bunted over to second by pitcher Ben Sheets. Brady Clark's RBI two-bagger scored Fielder before Rickie Weeks flew out to end the inning.

The seventh inning saw another Pirates' rally shut down by the twin killing. Jeromy Burnitz' third hit of the game was a double which was followed by Joe Randa's single to give the Pirates first-and-third with no outs. However, Burnitz was unable to score on Humberto Cota's flyout and Jose Castillo hit into a double play to end the inning.

Prince Fielder scored his second run of the game when he hit a solo homer in the Brewer seventh to extend the lead, 3-1.

The top of the ninth saw the Pirates comback bid denied. After pinch-hitter Craig Wilson singled off of the outfield wall, Chris Duffy doubled. Jose Castillo would score Craig on hit RBI single but Humberto Cota grounded out to end the game.

Jack Wilson had this to say in the locker room after the game: "Last year we had a big problem scoring runs for Kip (Wells). If you want to win ballgames, obviously you have to give your starting pitching some run support. We didn't, and it came back to bite us."

Jeromy Burnitz, who was 4-for-4, added "we didn't get it done on the bases. When you have guys doubling to lead off or having first-and-second with nobody out, they're supposed to get knocked in. When you ahve something like twelve hits, you should score more than two runs. These games happen and we'll see what we can do tomorrow."

WP: Sheets (1-1)
LP: Wells (0-2)
--------1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9---R--H--E
PIT-----0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1---2-12-0
MIL-----1-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-X---3-9-0

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Pirates Send Cota/Van Benschoten to Sox for Varitek
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PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today the trade of catcher Humberto Cota and starting pitcher John Van Benschoten to the Boston Red Sox for catcher Jason Varitek and a minor league player to be named later.

Pirates GM Dave Littlefield said at the press conference, "Catcher was our number one position to work on this season. We think that someone with Jason's power and veteran leadership is what we need to turn the corner."

Since number 33 is retired (Honus Wagner), Varitek will wear number 6 when he suits up for the Buccos in Milwaukee.

[Chase56]

Should have just put Craig Wilson at Catcher.

Varitek? Stan Savran is heckling you!

[Larry Fitzgerald]

LOL. Stan Savran looks like Dan Marino with Down Syndrome. :D

[Larry Fitzgerald]

Varitek's Grand Slam Lifts Bucs Over Brewers
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MILWAUKEE-Jason Varitek's first game as a Pittsburgh Pirate was a productive one. Varitek was 2-for-5 with a Grand Slam in the Pirates' monster second inning to lead the game with four RBI.

The Pirates knocked Milwaukee starter Chris Capuano out of the game in the bottom of the second with an explosion of offense that included a smart mix of smallball and home run power.

Sean Casey started the rally off with one out by hitting a bleeder to left. Jeromy Burnitz followed with a bloop single to left that was almost caught, allowing Casey to reach second. Freddy Sanchez, filling in for Jose Castillo at second, hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Casey on the play. Joe Randa's single loaded the bases and Jason Varitek emptied them on his first pitch as a Bucco, slamming a high fastball into the second deck at Miller Park.

"It looked good coming off of the pitcher's hand," Varitek said. "I was pretty much sitting dead red and when the high inside fastball came, I was able to jump on it."

The Bucs added another run in the fourth with Joe Randa's one-out single was followed by Varitek reaching on error. Ian Snell reached on a fielder's choice. Chris Duffy's first hit of the game was a bloop RBI to center that scored Varitek. Jack Wilson would end the inning by grounding out to the pitcher.

The Brew Crew rallied back in the bottom of the sixth. Led by Carlos Lee's solo shot, Geoff Jenkins and Russell Branyan singled and were brought home by Corey Hart's double. Damian Miller grounded out to second, but Bill Hall scored Hart with a single.

Manager Jim Tracy took the blame for the big inning. "I just left (Snell) in too long. His arm was getting tired and I just kept hoping that he could get through the inning. I had the ninth spot coming up in the top of the seventh and I didn't want to waste a bench player, just in case. It was my fault."

Paul Maholm would finish the inning by getting Prince Fielder to line out to shortstop Jack Wilson.

The final Brewer run was scored by Corey Hart, homering off of setup man Mike Gonzalez. Closer Solomon Torres came in and scored a 1-2-3 inning in the Brewer ninth to earn the save.

WP: Snell (2-0)
LP: Capuano (0-1)
S: Torres
--------1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9---R--H--E
PIT-----0-5-0-1-0-0-0-1-0---7-12-0
MIL----0-0-0-0-0-4-0-1-0---5-12-1

[smeth]

Boo-Urns