— Biertempfel again. Have the Huntington Pirates ever promoted someone with no Class AAA experience to the majors? I'm struggling to think of an example. For that reason, the topic of whether Starling Marte will start the season with the Pirates almost isn't even worth discussing. Not only do the Bucs currently have three starting outfielders who ought to get consistent playing time, but they typically like to see their players get time in Class AAA. Marte's defense might make him a better player than Alex Presley or Jose Tabata right now, but it would be a shame to take the risk on Marte and have him come up to the big leagues and flail at the plate, which certainly could happen. The Pirates tend to be deliberate with their prospects' progression, and I think that's generally wise. UPDATE: Marte homered in the eighth inning today and now has eight straight hits.