Minor Leagues: Brett Lorin Returns

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 11, 2011 2:56 AM EDT

There was lots of fun stuff in the Pirates' affiliates' box scores from Sunday. You may recall that Brett Lorin began the year in extended Spring Training with groin issues, which led to some hand-wringing from a few of us, due to his injury issues last year. Well, it looks like he's fine, as he pitched three scoreless innings with one strikeout for Bradenton on Sunday. Evan Chambers had two doubles and Calvin Anderson homered as Bradenton won 6-3. Also, Robbie Grossman went 1-for-1 with three walks.

For Indianapolis, Brad Lincoln allowed two runs in 4.2 innings and Alex Presley went 3-for-5 with a double as Indy lost, 7-5. Brock Holt, Starling Marte, Tony Sanchez and Jeremy Farrell all had multi-hit games and Marte, Sanchez and Farrell all homered as Altoona beat Erie 10-7; Michael Colla racked up five strikeouts in three innings of relief work.

West Virginia won both games of a doubleheader against Savannah. Tyler Waldron pitched five strong innings and Matt Curry went nuts, going 3-for-3 with a homer, double and walk as the Power won one of the games 9-1. In the other, Zack Dodson allowed only one hit through five innings as the Power won 2-0.

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I feel as though Curry should be in Bradenton this season. playing college ball and then spent time with state college after signing.

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Apr 11, 2011 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

If he hits, he’s probably looking at a mid-season promotion.

by Vlad on Apr 11, 2011 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Was it Charlie or Tim who asked Stark about the 1B logjam? I guess they addressed part of it by having Calvin Anderson stand in the OF, but I think he’ll eventually lose time to Adalberto Santos. So they’re probably going to hope both Curry and Aaron Baker earn promotions. There’s nothing at Altoona aside from Miles Durham’s strikeout total.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 11, 2011 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Was it Charlie or Tim who asked Stark about the 1B logjam?

Both, maybe?

by Vlad on Apr 11, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

So far the minor leaguers, specifically the legitimate prospects, have started off well. Off the top of my head the only two legit prospects to start poorly are Lambo and Quinton Miller. Unfortunately for pitchers like Miller, they only have one showing at this point and when it is bad it stands out.

Sanchez, d’Arnaud, Holt, Marte, Hague, Presley, Lincoln (rehab start – so it was good enough), Lorin, Dodson, Chambers and Grossman have all seized upon early opportunities.

I’m sure I’m missing a few.

Either way, it is nice to see these players thriving as they filter their way up through the system. The next two years will be interesting as we will really see if Huntington and company are on the right track. If Dodson, ZVR and Cain step up this year or next we will be in great shape and have another wave coming right behind the Altoona 4 from last year.

by Cainyoudigit on Apr 11, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

“Bust” Sanchez won’t amount to anything! Why is an org player doing at catcher there?

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Apr 11, 2011 10:24 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

See, I’m so outraged that my grammar went to shit!

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Apr 11, 2011 10:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Sanchez is playing so poorly

that he wrecked your grammar for you.

by Garrett122 on Apr 11, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Nuting is to cheep to pai fer peepl hoo rite gud!

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 11, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

SALE TEH SPELCHCK

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 11, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

By gum you're right!

I’s not called the “Bob Nutting Center For Children Who Can’t Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too” is it?

by BlindSquirrel on Apr 11, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I are outraged that my grammer am break.

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Apr 11, 2011 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

I've been watching the Indy games for the important performances.

The MiLB tv is better this year because you don’t have to download the whole file to see a play in the middle. It’s made it easier to skip around to the PAs that I want to see.

I’ve watched all of D’Arnaud’s ABs and plays in the field at SS, and I’m very happy with what I’m seeing there. The guy looks like a ballplayer. He’s got a strong and accurate arm at shortstop. There haven’t been any plays which required diving or extreme range in the hole or up the middle yet, but he moves with ease and looks completely comfortable in the position.

At the plate, he’s been confident and putting good swings on the ball. I’ve seen some good line drives rocketing of the bat.

I’m really excited with what I’m seeing right now and pretty surprised. It’s very, very early, of course. Only a handful of games so far, but I would not be too surprised to see him in Pittsburgh in a couple of months at shortstop if he keeps this up.

by MarkInDallas on Apr 11, 2011 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I would not be too surprised to see him in Pittsburgh in a couple of months at shortstop if he keeps this up.

Well, there’s basically a giant vacuum sucking him upwards.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 11, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Speaking of sucking

It’s going to get interesting if Jones doesn’t show something good before June and Presley is putting together a monster season.

by MarkInDallas on Apr 11, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah he's 3-3 tonight raising his average to .579.

Jones should be hearing footsteps; even if they are a little tiny ones.

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

And Gorky's is hitting himself back into the conversation as well.

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Remember, Slick1.....

He is my candidate to reclaim prospect status, in a big way.

I liked his year last year before injury, especially the second half of it.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 11, 2011 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I do remember...

you’re prediction is looking pretty good right now. He has 2 SB so far too (thought that comes with 2 CS) and is even drawing some walks. Anyway, with Pressley, D’ Arnaud and Gorky’s it looks like another decent wave of prospects is ready to hit the Burg. That’s not even mentioning Rudy and Wilson from the pitching side.

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

D'Arnaud....

Looks like a different player from last year. Always had control of the zone, but this year, when he hits it, it is often hit hard and on a line.

Plus, at SS, while not having too many op’s, he has handled his position well.

Early, still early. But, man, he would be so f’n key to our team in the next 5-6 years if he can be that guy we plug in at SS.

Damn, I’m giddy at watching some of these guys. I hope, I so f’n hope that this is the year we have breakout guys happening all over the place.

Uhhhhhhhhh….I love the F’n Buccos.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 11, 2011 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Matt Bandi reported on Twitter...

that Chase had a nice play at SS from deep in the hole. Seems he’s doing a decent job fielding the position. I do think this is they year. I can see guys like Cunningham, Grossman, Cain, Marte, among others having big years. We are definitely do for some good fortune.

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

D’Arnaud… Looks like a different player from last year.

Unsurprising, given his illness last year, but still a positive development.

by Vlad on Apr 12, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Jones has already gotten a hell of a lot of rope. A bunch of teams would’ve bailed on him as even a part-time starter after his 2010.

by Vlad on Apr 12, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Even if he has to move off of short he could be an effective second baseman. I’d rather he play short but we could always move Pedro to first, Walker to third and D’arnaud to second. It will still leave a void at short but we wouldn’t have to spend money to bring in a 1st baseman and could theoretically use it to pay for a short stop.

That is of course if he keeps hitting.

by Cainyoudigit on Apr 11, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

He drilled a LD to LF in his first at-bat today....

It was caught, but it was a shot.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 11, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

isn't that how it goes

you hit a missile and it ends up in someone’s glove

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Apr 11, 2011 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the analysis Mark...

I’ve been looking at his stats and wondering how he looks. I appreciate the feedback. Recd.

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Rudy just struck out a guy on a nasty change-up......

Dude’s bat was deep into the backswing before the ball even got to the plate.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 11, 2011 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Sweet.

How are his other pitches looking: Fastball velo? breaking ball?

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Radio guy said 89-90. He got through 7 pretty clean though with 5 or 6 Ks so good day overall.

by Mr. E on Apr 11, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

88-90 is what radio guy said, as Mr. E stated....

He didn’t throw a CH until the 4th inning by my viewing, relying almost exclusively on FB, with a couple of CU thrown in (no more than 3-5).

Then, after the 4th inning – or midway through – he introduced his CH. He then struck out 5 of the next seven batters he faced. The only hits that he gave up, with the exception of one double on a really low fastball, after the 4th inning were jammed shots that just found a place to drop. In the second inning, prior the CH, he gave up a BOMB to RF.

No walks, 6-7 hits, 5 K’s I believe.

His fastball is thrown from a very high arm slot, causing it to have downward plane (if that sounds right) when it gets to the batter. In other words, he is a big LHP that throws like it, taking advantage of his height. While the other team was hitting mostly fly balls in the first three innings, the last 2-3 innings, his outs started coming on the ground. I fear that he gets hit hard too often if his CH isn’t utilized, so I hope that he has confidence in it before coming up to PGH.

With the CH, to go along with the good command of the FB/CU, he can be very effective. If he isn’t getting CH over the plate, or at least fooling the batters, he has the potential to get hit hard on any given night.

I like the CH and project it to be above-average, if not plus, in the Majors. He, like all LHP’s needs it to be successful.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 11, 2011 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

His fastball is thrown from a very high arm slot, causing it to have downward plane (if that sounds right)

If you’re trying to say what I think you’re trying to say, that’s the right way to say it.

Good to hear that he was dealin’.

by Vlad on Apr 12, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Colton Cain

4.2 4h 1bb 5K 1r 0er. I am excited about this guy. I think he’s our #2 pitching prospect by the end of the year.

by Mr. E on Apr 11, 2011 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

I'm excited about him as well.

It’s nice to see a prospect getting some K’s too. Big ceiling with this guy.

by Slick1 on Apr 11, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

well i m kinda torn

if he’s our #2 pitching prospect by the end of the year, it will mean Allie, ZVR, Heredia had a so-so year :P

just kidding. I just hope we have a strong year all the way through the system!

by BurgherKing on Apr 11, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Allie isn’t in full season ball and I think he will have a so-so year anyways, he’s not ready to dominate imo. ZVR can be good and still passed because they’re already close but Cain is left handed and has mid-90s heat. Heredia will not be in full season ball either so he can be passed just on proximity to the majors. It’s more a credit to Cain though because Allie is the only guy I see as being mildly disappointing in between Cain and Taillon in the current rankings.

by Mr. E on Apr 11, 2011 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions