The Pirates

[klsm54]

In spite of them being a farm club for major league teams with money, I'm still a Pirate fan, futile as it may be. Some fans root for their team to get in the play-offs, or the World Series. Pirate fans dream of a .500 season. 16 straight seasons with a losing record is a little depressing.

I just hope their recent loss is not a sign of things to come...

Manatee Community College downs Pirates split squad 6-4 in exhibition

BRADENTON, Fla. — Virgil Vasquez struggled for a Pirates split squad of minor leaguers in a 6-4 loss to Manatee Community College on Thursday, just days after he was beaten out for a spot in Pittsburgh's rotation.

Derek Luciano hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning as Manatee beat a Pirates squad comprised of minor leaguers. Luciano had three hits and drove in three runs.

Manatee beat the Pirates for the first time in 11 games.

Manatee CC trailed 4-1 before scoring twice in the fifth against Vasquez, who was beaten out by Jeff Karstens this week for the No. 5 spot in the Pirates' rotation.

In the sixth, Luciano doubled off Dave Davidson to score both runners.

Brad Corley was 2-for-2 with a run scored for the Pirates.

[grady]

The Pirates had a decent pre season. Starting rotation has some good pitchers in there. Releivers might be a problem though. They got some bats and they seemed to be able to bring runs home instead on stranding them on base as in the previous years of disapointment. Maybe, just maybe this will be the year we see a .500 team.