Spring Training Pics: Welcome Back A.J. Burnett

Kyle McPherson and Clint Robinson workout at McKechnie Field

A.J. Burnett makes his spring debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the one loss Tampa Bay Rays.   The Buccos are a game out of first place in the Grapefruit League Standings.  Because the game was cancelled yesterday the scheduled pitchers have changed a bit for the game.

Wandy Rodriguez will follow Burnett.  The debut of Gerritt Cole will be pretty exciting to see.  Andy Oliver will also be interesting to watch.  We saw him throwing at Pirates City on Monday.  Jason Grilli, Jared Hughes and Mark Melancon will make their second appearances of the Grapefruit season.

Surely, with so much riding on the 2013 season, Melancon will look better than he did last time out against Atlanta.  Right?  Right?

The lineup is supposed to look like this:

Marte in left, Walker at second, Cutch in center, Pedro at third, GFJ at first, Gaby will DH, Brad Hawpe will give right field a shot, The Fort catches-sigh, Always Smooth at shortstop.

It rained at McKechnie Field for a while yesterday so today when the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Tampa Bay Rays, we will have to make up for the pictures we lost:

*Kyle McPherson and Clint Robinson were working out while teammates gathered in the clubhouse waiting the decision on the game.

*Jason Grilli came out of the clubhouse and came through the crowd. What was he doing?

"“I need some nachos, I’m not pitching today, it’s ok.” Jason Grilli"

On his way back through the gate and into the dryness of the clubhouse Grilli grumbled about the price of those nachos.  Yeh.  Ok.

*Everybody tells me Russell Martin is going to be o.k.  That always scares me.