Pirates' homer barrage ensures victory  ...more ?
Pirates' homer barrage ensures victory
Bucs' Cedeno exits early, but hand is OK  ...more ?
Bucs' Cedeno exits early, but hand is OK
McCutchen, Hart will start; only one in bigs  ...more ?
McCutchen, Hart will start; only one in bigs
Adjustment helps Maholm handle Boston  ...more ?
Adjustment helps Maholm handle Boston
Kratz not giving up on big league dream  ...more ?
Kratz not giving up on big league dream
Opinions differ on end of Boston win  ...more ?
Opinions differ on end of Boston win
Maholm sharp, Jakubauskas not in loss  ...more ?
Maholm sharp, Jakubauskas not in loss
Tough bench choices ahead for Bucs  ...more ?
Tough bench choices ahead for Bucs
Inbox: Should Alvarez start year in Minors?  ...more ?
Inbox: Should Alvarez start in Minors?
Pirates, Braves halted early  ...more ?
Pirates, Braves halted early
UMPS CARE launches 2010 auction  ...more ?
UMPS CARE launches 2010 auction
Bucs hit stride at plate vs. Rays  ...more ?
Bucs hit stride at plate vs. Rays
Hanrahan doubtful for Opening Day  ...more ?
Hanrahan doubtful for Opening Day
Tweak works wonders for Taschner  ...more ?
Tweak works wonders for Taschner
'No regrets': Giles calls it a career  ...more ?
'No regrets': Giles calls it a career
McCutchen resurrects slider with success  ...more ?
McCutchen resurrects slider with success
LaRoche eyes more power in 2010  ...more ?
LaRoche eyes more power in 2010
McCutchen perfect; Alvarez gets RBI  ...more ?
McCutchen perfect; Alvarez gets RBI
Strong offense on the menu for Bucs  ...more ?
Strong offense on the menu for Bucs
Clement looks like a natural at first  ...more ?
Clement looks like a natural at first

Yahoo! Sports

Sabathia wild in third spring start; Morton sharp (AP)  ...more ?
CC Sabathia struggled while pitching into the fifth inning of his third spring start, giving up a home run to Aki Iwamura in the New York Yankees' 10-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Sabathia left after Andy LaRoche lined a one-out single to center that glanced off his glove and put runners on first and second.
Pirates Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?

Kevin Hart seems to be losing ground in the competition against fellow right-hander Daniel McCutchen for the one open spot in the Pirates rotation.

Hart drew raves from manager John Russell for how well he was throwing during the early portion of spring training. However, Hart struggled mightily since the exhibition games started, as he had given up seven runs in just three innings in his first two starts, walking seven and allowing four hits.

McCutchen, meanwhile, had given up one run in four innings in his first two outings of the Grapefruit League season. He allowed three hits and issued no walks.

"It's still too early to look at it in the sense that we're trying to pick a guy," Russell said.

Buchholz tosses 3 scoreless against Pirates (AP)  ...more ?
Clay Buchholz threw three scoreless innings, as did Pirates starter Paul Maholm, and the Boston Red Sox beat Pittsburgh 3-2 on Saturday. Buchholz and Maholm each allowed one hit and one walk. The game ended on an unusual triple play after Jonathan Van Every was hit by a pitch from Michael Bowden and Brandon Jones walked to lead off the ninth.
Jurrjens pitches 2 innings before showers end game (AP)  ...more ?
Atlanta Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens managed to make his spring debut, anyway. Jurrjens threw two scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday before the game was called after three due to showers that washed away the exhibition slate in Florida. Jurrjens had been struggling with inflammation around his right shoulder and manager Bobby Cox decided to be cautious.
Navarro leaves wild Rays win with injured thumb (AP)  ...more ?
Dioner Navarro and the Tampa Bay Rays were hoping for the best after a simple pickoff play in the third inning. Navarro was struck by a pickoff throw during the Rays' 16-15 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday and departed with an injured left thumb. Navarro was hit when Jack Taschner threw over to first.
Blanton shuts down Tigers in Phillies' 4-0 victory (AP)  ...more ?

Joe Blanton used a mix of fastballs and changeups to shut down the Detroit Tigers, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory Thursday. Blanton has focused solely on the fastball-changeup combination in his first two spring starts before he incorporates breaking pitches into his repertoire. So far the results have been promising: Blanton held the Tigers to three singles in four innings of...


Scott helps Orioles beat Pirates 3-2 (AP)  ...more ?
Zach Duke found a silver lining in his rough start Wednesday night. Duke settled down after allowing three runs in the first and pitched 2 2-3 innings in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. "My stuff was definitely good," he said "But I was falling behind with my sinker, and I need that pitch to be effective.
Johnson homers twice, Sabathia rocked by Pirates (AP)  ...more ?
Nick Johnson is working on a new hitting philosophy this spring. CC Sabathia is trying to refine his pitching motion. Their results couldn't have been more dissimilar Tuesday. Johnson pulled homers to right in each of his at-bats, while Sabathia was rocked for five runs in two-plus innings in the New York Yankees' 12-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Garza sharp in Rays' win over Pirates (AP)  ...more ?

Matt Garza looked good and felt even better. After two exhibition outings, including three scoreless innings Monday in Tampa Bay's 4-3 victory over a Pittsburgh Pirates split-squad, the Rays right-hander is happy about the way he's pitching this spring. Garza won 11 games two years ago in his first full season in the majors and was the MVP of the 2008 AL championship series while helping...


Yankees beat Pirates 6-0 in split-squad game (AP)  ...more ?
Alfredo Aceves may be pushing his way into the thick of the battle for the No. 5 spot in the New York Yankees' starting rotation. Aceves tossed four perfect innings Monday in a 6-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a split squad game for both teams. In two outings this spring, both against the Pirates, the right-hander has retired all 18 batters he's faced.
Morneau homers for Twins in 15-5 loss to Pirates (AP)  ...more ?
Bobby Crosby's work with Mark McGwire in the past three offseasons appears to be paying off. Crosby hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat a Minnesota Twins split squad 15-5 Sunday. "He's a good guy to have around," Crosby said of the St. Louis Cardinals' new hitting coach.
Blanton gives up two-run homer to Church; Phillies and Pirates tie in 10 innings (The Canadian Press)  ...more ?

BRADENTON, Fla. - Kevin Hart, vying for a spot in Pittsburgh's starting rotation, battled through one rocky inning and Ryan Church hit a two-run homer Saturday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies played to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings.


Blanton gives up two-run homer to Church (AP)  ...more ?

Kevin Hart, vying for a spot in Pittsburgh's starting rotation, battled through one rocky inning and Ryan Church hit a two-run homer Saturday, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies played to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings. Hart was scheduled to pitch two innings, but left the game after tossing 38 pitches in the top of the first inning.


Zach Duke goes 2 innings, Pirates beat Orioles 5-3 (AP)  ...more ?
The Pittsburgh Pirates threw one sure member of their starting rotation at Baltimore and another who is auditioning for a spot. Both pitched well, and Pittsburgh beat the Orioles 5-3 on Friday night for its first win of the spring. Zach Duke tossed two solid innings in his first outing of the year. An All-Star last season, Duke is likely to start for the Pirates on opening day.
Former Pirate McLouth helps Braves top Pittsburgh (AP)  ...more ?
This time last year Nate McLouth was hoping to avoid another season in last place. This year, he's poised to be the starting center fielder with serious championship hopes. McLouth scored a run to lead off the first inning and help lead the Braves to a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, his former team.
Marlins catchers see bumps ahead for prospect (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
Miami's Yasmani Grandal looked good in an exhibition, but Ronnie Paulino and John Baker provide a dose of reality.
Giants' Freddy Sanchez missing Opening Day (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Garcia had a shoulder "procedure" late in December and had...
A-Rod gets hit in spring training opener (AP)  ...more ?

Alex Rodriguez was back in his comfort zone: between the white lines. Rodriguez singled, No. 98 Colin Curtis hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 Wednesday with owner George Steinbrenner in attendance to watch the World Series champions in their spring opener.


A-Rod goes 1 for 2 in spring training opener (AP)  ...more ?

Alex Rodriguez went 1 for 2, No. 98 Colin Curtis hit a game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 Wednesday with principal owner George Steinbrenner in attendance for their spring opener. Rodriguez has been contacted by federal investigators regarding a Canadian doctor accused of selling an unapproved drug.


Slugger Museum offers glimpse into baseball's past (AP)  ...more ?
Grabbing a bat once swung by Johnny Bench brought a rush of cherished memories for James Montgomery during a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory -- where baseball memorabilia mixes with a close-up look at how the famed bats are crafted. Just touching the bat used by the Hall of Famer had Montgomery reliving excursions to the ballpark with his father decades ago to watch his hometown...