Be Like Tike

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 by Adam Wagner

Injury bug bites Pirates’ Sanchez and other notes

The Pirates are already experiencing their first injury problem of the season and, unfortunately, it is to the player who has been their MVP over the last two seasons, 2B Freddy Sanchez. Sanchez is having issues with his shoulder, which he had minor surgery (no one really knows what minor means in this context) on in September and which is, evidently, not totally healed yet. In order for the Pirates to avoid the NL Central’s basement this season, they need a healthy Sanchez, but they cannot afford to rush him back at the risk of more injury, which may have already occurred.

The spot is a tricky one to be sure, but the Pirates would be better off having Luis Rivas play 2B on opening day than having Sanchez sit out longer than he may have to. Without Sanchez in the three-spot, the Pirates’ lineup becomes even more of a mess of mediocrity than it is already.

Speaking of Rivas, the former Twin seems to have found a home on the Pirate bench, which is also probably going to feature Doug Mientkiewicz. Both players are experienced, as they both saw time with the Twins, and Pirate manager John Russell knows Rivas from his time in the Twins’ organization. They could be solid additions to the Pirate bench.

In other Pirate notes:

Byung-Hyun Kim seems to have pitched himself out of the bullpen, meaning that one of the three free agent signings (Mientkiewicz and Chris Gomez being the others) will probably not be on the roster on opening day. Kim’s spot will probably be taken by Rule V selection Evan Meek, who looks more and more like an interesting pickup. Neal Huntington may deserve credit for that one.
The team is seemingly considering keeping both Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan and having them bat first and second on days that Jason Bay or Xavier Nady need off. With Steve Pearce starting at AAA, days where the starters sit could be very interesting at PNC Park as McLouth and Morgan have enough speed to produce runs at very significant rates.

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