Ozzie Smith Was NOT a Pitcher-MORE From Pirate City

Since today was supposed to be about pitchers and catchers, I will start with them. It seemed like there were 100 pitchers in camp and there might have been. There are 18 pitchers on their 40-man roster and another 18 in camp as non-roster invitees, plus there were about 40 minor league pitchers who will not be in big league camp, but were there anyway. I would say that all of the big name pitchers were present and accounted for, but I don’t think the Pirates have such a thing. Zach Duke was there. Joel Hanrahan was there. Ross Ohlendorf was there. Ryan Doumit was there. And so were about 80 other guys without bats. There were veterans like 38 year-old Brendan Donnelly and 36 year old Octavio Dotel fighting for jobs with youngsters like 22 year old Bryan Morris and 23 year old Ronald Uviendo. At this point all 4 of them have a shot at making the ball club. As far as catchers go there are supposed to be six in camp with just two of them on the 40-man roster. Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo were both there. I did not however see 21-year old first round pick Tony Sanchez today, but he certainly could have been there. The catchers didn’t appear until late in the afternoon. The pitchers were out early and they did what pitchers do, they ran. And ran. Pitchers run a lot, especially in spring training. That is why I am so surprised that there are so many overweight pitchers in the big leagues. Those guys are always running. After they were done running, the pitchers played catch. Initially a few feet apart and ultimately like 100 feet apart. I didn’t take any pictures of the pitchers playing expanding catch because there was batting practice going on at a different field and that was more exciting. After catch there were drills. The pitchers were split up into different groups. Four pitchers including Ross Ohlendorf went into the bullpen area for a real throwing session. The other starting pitchers took fielding practice and this I watched. I was hoping for a little bit of comic relief. The Pirates hurlers didn’t disappoint. There is a lot of rust that gathers over the winter and for some this was their first time on the field in months. The pitchers took grounders, fielded bunts, and practiced taking the throw at first base and making the throw to first. The ultimate in BASICS. I am really glad they practice this at the big league level because these guys needed it! The first round of choppers off the mound guys looked good. Daniel McCutchen got serious air off the mound. Octavio Dotel has pitched in 562 games in the big leagues. He has 67 career assists and went 5 seasons without making an error. Today he couldn't hold onto anything… He wasn’t the only one. It was all in fun. If you look close at these series of errors by Dotel, Daniel McCutchen, Donnelly, Zach Duke and Joel Hanrahan, you can see the other pitchers giggling in the background. One day of drills is not enough to start making predictions, but you have to love just seeing guys in uniform out on the field. Enjoy the comedy of errors above, courtesy of the Pirates pitching staff. I am SURE that scenes like this could be witnessed at each and every camp in baseball. Up next, more drills, more stretching, more catch, but also some bats… Much more to come from Pirate City. I love this game! troll out.

2009 Topps Updates Ripfest Part One!

As always I am in a huge hurry. It was a crazy busy day for this Troll, but I got everything done that I needed to do and before I went to work I rewarded myself with some packs of 2009 Topps Updates. I have been dying for these to come out and the hobby shop still hasn’t got its boxes, nor has Target, but I stopped at Wal Mart today and they had blasters and loose packs. I didn’t fall for the blaster gag this time, but did hook up with 31 loose packs! I only had time to rip half of them; the other half will come after work. I did find my first card of Jonny Gomes in a Reds uniform and I definitely want every variation of this one that is out there! I love seeing everyone in their current uniforms and finding this Rickey Henderson card was pretty awesome! I didn't chase series 1 or 2. I bought a ton, but traded almost everything I pulled. I will probably go back and try and build them later, but this set I will be on from the start! I always loved getting the traded sets and these updates and highlights sets really have me sucked in, plus this design and the photography totally rock! I pulled three propaganda poster cards and they are just as awesome as I had hoped. Definitely NEED the Longoria, these ones are on the block if anyone is interested. I do wonder why Adrian Gonzalez has a Brewers logo in the corner. I am confused. Does this go in the stack for Roll out the Barrel or Punk Rock Paint or Padrographs? Two other cards that made me really scratch my head are rookies of Derek Holland and Mark Melancon. I guess their names are sort of there, but there is no foil there. They both came out of the same pack, too. Bizarre! They don’t have names on the front! What is up with that Topps? Are these errors? Were they corrected? Has anyone else pulled cards like this? I was glad to finally get my paws on these, I liked series 1, and loved series two and updates are awesome! I wish I didn’t have to rush off to work… For now, I will sign off with Brooks Robinson, Legends of the Game. I will probably be on the hunt for more of these tomorrow, I love 'em!!! Go Rays! Troll out.