WOW! Roller Coaster Ride Ends, Rotation Set, Sherriff Speaks, Fireworks Friday

I don’t think a ”dog and pony show” is supposed to go like this.  No, this was not on the itinerary.  Well, only the Pittsburgh Pirates could be hit with a bombshell like this one.

Some of the highly coveted sponsors that are so important to the Pirates ownership are spending some time this week in Bradenton.  Also some of the high rolling season ticket holders have been invited as well.  Big festivities and celebrations will culminate after the last off day today of the Pirates spring training. Welcome to Bradenton.  Let the carnival begin!

Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages…Hold onto your Pirate caps, keep your arms inside the ride at all times,  we have some excitement for you today!  Strange days.  Crazy stories from Pirate camp that will be not forgotten for years to come.  The Pirates curse continues. Probable lawsuits.  An economy with ten percent unemployment and we can’t find a fifth starter.  But dont pay any attention to that….look over here and remember tonight is Zambelli fireworks at the ballpark!

Unbelievable…

A myriad of thoughts must have been going through the Pirate front offices in the past 36 hours.  It rained as Matt Capps went to sign the first autograph for the season ticket holders, hell it hasnt rained in months down here.  The curse?  Nah…couldn’t be…. 

Then the story about a missing baby and all the drama that filled our finest prospects life.  What in the world is happening?  We are cursed.  I feel so sad for Jose Tabata.  His family.  The child’s family.  My thoughts and prayers go out to you. 

A real life roller coaster ride ensued for a team that was having one of the best spring trainings in recent memories.

But a roller coaster usually stops.  When this one stopped, the front office lifted the bar, got off the ride and looked around and said, heh, we are going to be alright.

At least it looks that way tonight.  And tonight that feels pretty damn good.

“The Manatee County Sherriff’s Office confirmed with us last night that Jose was in no way involved in his wife’s alleged kidnapping of an infant girl. Jose was as shocked as the rest of us upon hearing the news and has cooperated fully with law enforcement officials. The Pirates organization will continue to do anything and everything we can to assist and support Jose during this difficult personal time, ” said Pirates President Frank Coonelly.

Whew.  A real life tragedy had been avoided.  The wounds that could harm the families will also heal, but the scars will remain for a lifetime.   Take a moment today and give your son or daughter a big hug.  Life, my friends, is short and oh so precious.

Back on the baseball diamond, Jeff Karstens, making his second start and sixth appearance of the spring, allowed two runs on five hits against the Rays.  He walked two and struck out five in five innings. The 26-year-old right-hander has finalized his spot as the fifth starter.  He threw one pitch that cost him tonight.   Veteran Adam Kennedy launched that pitch over the right field wall for a two run home run, his first of the spring. 

Based on the current facts, it appears Karstens would pitch against the Reds in the fifth game of the year.

Virgil Vasquez gets to make me a liar as he is pitching tonight against the Blue Jays.

Just for the sake of the Pirates fans throughout the country and all those die hards in Bradenton this week, be lights out Virgil, have a big night for the crowd, lets have a fight to the final bell for that last spot in a shaky rotation.  Lord knows we will need you.

We don’t need you to be lit up Virgil, we are looking forward to capping off a week filled with questions with a booming ‘Zambelli Fireworks light up the Bradenton sky tonight’    Make it happen big righthander. Make it happen.

OOOOhhh….Ahhhhh…I have those left over M80s from the Fourth of July ready to light.

Pirates Sparklers from today:

Jason Davis and Craig Hansen pitched in a minor league game at Pirate City this afternoon.  I wasn’t able to find out much about the game, but this is always enough to make my blood boil…MARCH 25 — Las Vegas 7, Indianapolis 0

Former Pittsburgh Pirates No. 1 overall draft pick and Ball State standout Bryan Bullington tossed 4.2 scoreless innings and picked up the win for the Las Vegas 51’s over the Indianapolis Indians on Wednesday March 25 at the Englebert Complex in Dunedin, Fla.

Bullington (4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) and fellow former Indian T.J. Beam held down the Tribe offense for the first six innings of the game.

Ouch that hurts.

Paul Maholm is scheduled to pitch today at Pirate City against the Yankees AAA affiliate.