04/12: Pirates (3-3) @ Giants (5-1)

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

I'm back on the beat for those who were temporarily worried -- meant to mention this on Thursday, but I had a family wedding to attend this past weekend, which was why I was not with the team in Arizona. Seems like I got back just in time for all sorts of news.

Obviously, this is the first time that the Pirates have been San Francisco since last July, and none of us who were here (and most of those Pirate fans who weren't) will never forget that trip. July 29 was probably one of the draining day I've had on this beat.

It started with an early day game after a night game, which is always tiring enough especially with the time change element. I remember setting up the computer that morning only to find out Jack Wilson had just been traded. After getting reaction from him and other members of the club, I started writing. In the middle of the game, I spent time on the phone talking to Ian Snell, who had also been traded. I also started hearing that Freddy Sanchez was soon to be next.

I don't think I watched a single pitch during the game, which if I remember right featured a terrific start by Zach Duke. Sure enough, after the game Sanchez was dealt, and all of us were ushered down to the press conference room at AT&T Park to watch him put on a Giants uniform. Absolutely surreal experience there.

Many more stories later, I finally boarded a red eye flight to Missouri, where I was to be in a wedding the next day.

Needless to say, let's hope this visit to San Francisco goes a bit smoother. As for today's news, and there is plenty...

• As reported earlier, the Pirates made a handful of roster moves this afternoon. Ross Ohlendorf has been scratched from Monday's start due to back spasms. He started feeling tightness in his lower back on Friday and he's still not able to throw. The Pirates remain optimistic that Ohlendorf will be ready to go on Saturday, but realistically, he'd need to be able to throw a side session on Wednesday to be able to do so. We'll see how the next 48 hours go. Not sure I'm as optimstic as the team is, but I'm no back expert either.
  
• Pitching in Ohlendorf's place tonight will be lefty Brian Burres. He was the call-up candidate primarily for two reasons. First, Monday was already his scheduled night to pitch so Burres doesn't get messed up there. This was to be his first start of the season. Second, without placing someone on the disabled list, teams are not allowed to call up a player already on the 40-man roster until after April 14. The Pirates are not ready to DL Ohlendorf, which means starters Donnie Veal, Brad Lincoln, Kevin Hart and Chris Jakubauskas couldn't have even come up if the Pirates had wanted.
• In order to make a roster spot for Burres, the Pirates designated Hayden Penn for assignment. The Penn experiment failed miserably for now, though the Pirates hope they can continue working with him in the Minors. As manager John Russell noted again on Monday, the club sees potential there. Penn just needs much more work in a less pressurized setting.
• The Pirates have 10 days to trade, release or waive Penn. If he can clear waivers, Penn could be outrighted to Triple-A. He is out of options.
• Righty Joel Hanrahan is back with the team after spending an extra week getting ready for the season. Hanrahan made two Minor League rehab appearances (Thursday and Saturday) and is now set to be a fixture in the back end of the Pirates' bullpen.
• Daniel McCutchen has been optioned to Triple-A (clearing a 25-man roster spot for Hanrahan). The Pirates don't plan on needing a fifth starter until April 24, so there was no need to have McCutchen remain with the club idle. He'll stay on a normal pitching schedule in Indianapolis.
• However, McCutchen was still with the Major League club in San Fran on Monday and he is the Plan B if Ohlendorf is unable to go on Saturday. As mentioned earlier, the Pirates should know by Wednesday if Ohlendorf can pitch this weekend. If not, the Pirates will hold off on having McCutchen start in the Minors and have him spot start in Pittsburgh.
• Russell didn't rule reliever Jack Taschner out on Monday, though I'm sure that would be the preference. The former Giant pitched on both Saturday and Sunday and logged 2 1/3 innings yesterday.
• Hart has been suspended three games for throwing behind a batter in his start last Thursday. He was ejected after doing so. Teammate Brian Friday had already been plunked twice earlier in the night. The suspension began on Sunday, meaning that Hart will not be able to make his scheduled start on Tuesday. He's now expected to make his second start of the season on Wednesday instead.
  
• In other Triple-A news... Jeremy Powell is making the spot start for the Tribe tonight because of the need for Burres here in San Francisco. ... If you missed it, third baseman Pedro Alvarez went deep three times in his first two games with Indianapolis. ... Steve Pearce went deep for the first time this season in the fourth inning on Monday. That brought his average up to .500.
• For those of you keeping an eye on what's going on in Indy (and you should), Indians broadcaster Scott McCauley keeps a great blog. It's a great source of information and quotes, and I recommend making it a daily stop for Pirates news.
  

Pirates lineup:

1. Aki Iwamura (2B)
2. Andrew McCutchen (CF)
3. Lastings Milledge (LF)
4. Garrett Jones (RF)
5. Ryan Doumit (C)
6. Jeff Clement (1B)
7. Andy LaRoche (3B)
8. Brian Burres (LHP)
9. Ronny Cedeno (SS)

Giants lineup:

1. Aaron Rowand (CF)
2. Edgar Renteria (SS)
3. Pablo Sandoval (3B)
4. Aubrey Huff (1B)
5. Mark DeRosa (LF)
6. Bengie Molina (C)
7. Juan Uribe (2B)
8. Andres Torres (RF)
9. Barry Zito (LHP)

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB