Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Schedule Announced; Manatees Claim Bucs Are Ducking Them

The schedule has been set and the timing is perfect for the 2013 RumBunter coverage of the Pittsburgh Pirates.   We will get to see some serious action this season during spring training.

Some quick notes:

Pitchers and catchers will report on February 11 and the first workout will be February 12 with the full squad report date set for February 14 with the first full squad workout a day later.

The spring season kicks off with the Black & Gold game on Friday, February 22  at high noon in Bradenton.    The Manatees are gone for the second year in a row, and after they beat the Baltimore Orioles last season, heh, we can’t blame the Buccos.  The Manatees are a serious contender in Florida.

But seriously, it was always the feeling that Clint Hurdle didn’t like the 21-1 pounding Garrett Atkins, Steve Pearce, Corey Wimberley and the boys put on SCF a couple years ago, although we loved the autograh seeker.  The writing seemed to be on the wall that the Pirates wouldn’t be scheduling the game that causes such joy for so many Pirates faithful.

The Grapefruit League season kicks off Saturday at the gorgeous, custom made for spring beer drinking Port Charlotte ballpark with a game against the Rays.   That’s less than 90 days away!

The Pirates will return to Bradenton for a nice stretch of games to kick off the Grapefruit season which means the construction must be on pace tobe completed at McKechnie Field.  We will send some pictures for you….

On March 5, the Pirates will play the Brazil team that will be headed to the World Baseball Classic.

The final game before the regular season starts is against the Altoona Curve on March 30.   That is especially interesting and we have a question, who do you think will start for the Curve?