Pitch By Pitch

A late-summer move combined with a hectic job schedule has obviously limited my ability to score the Pirates on a daily basis. Still, I kept a close eye on the Bucs throughout the 2009 season (as difficult as that was to do at times). I’m hopeful that I’ll soon have more time to continue working on my scorecard, and hopefully I’ll have time throughout next season to ‘keep the books.’

While most eyes (including mine) are closely watching the MLB playoffs, today does mark Opening Day of the Arizona Fall League.

In case you follow the Arizona Fall League (or any of the Winter Leagues) closely, roster files are now available in the Rosters section of this site.

Nationals’ pitcher, Stephen Strasburg highlights the Phoenix Desert Dogs’ roster.

I’ll be checking to see how Jose Tabata plays on the Scottsdale Scorpions’ roster.

Other Pirates in the AFL include: Daniel Moskos, Donnie Veal, Tony Watson, Brian Friday, Chase D’Arnaud, and 1 additional Pitcher.

Enjoy the Playoffs (and winter baseball)!

It doesn’t yet have the same appeal as the NFL draft, but the MLB is taking steps to make their draft more and more interesting.

The 3 day event starts tonight at 6:00 P.M. EST when the Washington Nationals go on the clock.

The MLB Network will be televising the entire first round, and all rounds will be simulcast live on mlb.com.

The draft could pan out a million different ways, but there are 2 things that you can count on.

1) Washington Nationals select Stephen Strasburg. This pitcher from San Diego State has been the talk of the draft class. He should go #1.

2) Seattle Mariners select Dustin Ackley. This 1B/OF seems like the clear choice at #2.

The Pirates pick 4th. There are lots of possibilities for where the Bucs will go with this pick, including: Tony Sanchez (C – Boston College), Aaron Crow (P – Fort Worth Cats), Alex White (P – North Carolina), and Zach Wheeler (P – East Paulding H.S.).

I’m guessing that the Bucs first round pick will be a pitcher. We’ll find out closer to 6:45 tonight.

The Pirates also get the 49th pick. This is a compensatory first round pick, for unsigned 2008 No. 48 overall pick Tanner Scheppers.

Draft Update

Round 1 – Pick #4 – Jorge (Tony) Sanchez – C – Boston College
Compensatory Round A – Pick #49 – Victor Black – RHP – Dallas Baptist U
Round 2 – Pick #53 – Brooks Pounders – RHP – Temecula Valley H.S.
Round 3 – Pick #84 – Evan Chambers – CF – Hillsborough CC