"[Chase D'Arnaud] does everything well enough," said an American League scout. "He doesn’t have a standout tool, but he has some bat speed and he can square it up. He’s got gap power, but he can turn on one and hit it out."
[...]
Added another AL scout: "He has to not get out on his front side so much, but he’s strong for his size. He drifts out on his front side but he has such good hands that he can make up for it."

Shortstop – Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh and Seattle
Wilson won’t win a Gold Glove this year. Just like Mark Teixeira didn’t win one last year. He split time between leagues, and the Gold Glove voters don’t know which league to put him in. Not so with The Fielding Bible Awards. Jack Wilson was the best shortstop in baseball last year. Period. We don’t care which league he played in. He led all shortstops in Run Saved by a wide margin (27 runs saved to Brendan Ryan’s 19) and has taken over the MLB lead for most Runs Saved over the last three years (51). Mr. Wilson is the Fielding Bible Award winner at shortstop for 2009.

Q: Last year, you guys finished with the worst record and it was almost a given you'd draft Stephen Strasburg. Next year's draft, is it a given that Bryce Harper is your guy?

No. I'm just saying it's not a given. I haven't seen him yet, and he certainly hasn't separated himself like Strasburg did last year.

#Pirates Joe Kerrigan returning as pitching coach in 2010

Snell had watched his team swat three homers before the game was even four innings old, but kept running into trouble whenever his leads got beyond a run.

That brought Wakamatsu out for a less-than-pleasant chat with his pitcher about controlling the running game and staying aggressive with hitters.

"It was PG-13; I can't say it on camera," Snell said of what he was told.

"The Mariners acquired Jack Wilson to be their shortstop for the next five years."

"Bottom line is Sano wants to sign with Pirates, and agent wants him to sign with whoever offers most $, whether its Pirates or not."

Giants working on deals for Nick Johnson, Aubrey Huff or Adam LaRoche....with that rotation.....they have a great shot for the wildcard!

Paul Maholom, regarding his improved sinker-ball. "It was just somethin' Joe and me were workin' on."

Am convinced Sano will not get record money. #Orioles see him as late-first-round talent, which does not equal $4 million. More like $1-$1.5