Pirates on the Rise

The Pirates are on the rise in the Baseball Prospectus hit list  [BP]

Great story on Nyjer [Pittsburgh Sports Report]

Ugly ERA for Indy(4.39) WHIP (1.4) [Indy Team Pitching] 

Altoona.  Well you decide for yourself , but I will warn you.  It’s bad.

One  last post about 0-for-4 Nate McLouth from Fan Graphs.  [McLouth Deal]  [The Pirates Haul]

Adam LaRoche read our letter to Mr. Beltran.  HAHA   He isn’t happy.  Heh, Andy you stole our zero class line!  [LaRoche blasts Beltran]

Charlie Morton (7-2, 2.26 ERA) is ready to do something with his opportunity.  [PG]   [AAA Indy Morton page]  He has now fanned 62 batters this season while walking 17.  He got no help from the lifeless Indians during his seven innings of work.   Bring him up and let’s see what he can do.

And remember he wasn’t on the oft-mentioned Braves top prospect list, BECAUSE HE PITCHED IN THE MAJORS LAST YEAR. 

1B LaRoache is becoming rare  [Trib]

Right-handed reliever Mike Koplove was signed as a free agent and assigned to Class AAA Indianapolis.

Koplove had six saves and a 1.14 ERA in 21 relief appearances with Philadelphia’s Class AAA Lehigh Valley.  He is 32.   He pitched in the major leagues for seven seasons with Arizona (2001-06) and Cleveland (2007), going 15-7 with two saves and a 3.82 ERA in 222 games.