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Notebook: McClendon hopes LaRussa remembers Bay

By Rob Biertempfel, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
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Rob Biertempfel is the Pirates beat writer. He can be reached via e-mail. Also check out Biertempfel's blog, Pirates Q&A or follow him on Twitter.

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Outfielder Jason Bay picked a good time to have a great game. Bay went 3 for 4, including a pair of home runs, to boost the Pirates to a 5-4 comeback against St. Louis. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, who will pick the All-Star reserves, got to see Bay's brilliance up close.

"Maybe he liked what he saw," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Well, I'm sure he didn't like what he saw. But maybe he'll remember it."

  • Former Pirates outfielder Emil Brown has emerged as a darkhorse All-Star candidate for the talent-strapped Kansas City Royals. Brown, who until this season had not played in the majors since 2001, went is batting .291 with eight homers and 37 RBI. On July 10, 2001, Brown was dealt to San Diego for two minor-leaguers -- the only trade in the brief tenure of interim GM Roy Smith.

  • Current GM Dave Littlefield, who was hired three days after the Brown deal, likely regrets allowing Chris Shelton to slip away. Since being called up May 31, Shelton is batting .317 with three homers and 14 RBI. The Detroit Tigers claimed Shelton in the 2004 Rule 5 draft. Among the players the Pirates chose to protect instead of Shelton were Carlos Rivera, Joe Beimel, Jason Boyd and Mike Lincoln.

  • The Cardinals will dedicate Stan Musial Field today in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings, Mo. It is the third youth-league ballfield dedicated to Musial; the others are in Donora (his hometown) and Kutno, Poland.

  • At Class AAA Indianapolis, right-hander Bryan Bullington is on the disabled list with a strained oblique. First baseman Brad Eldred is back in action after missing time with bruised ribs.

  • Although Salomon Torres entered Thursday's game with a seven-run lead, he could have gotten a save by pitching effectively for three innings. But, Torres gave up three runs in the ninth and Rick White got the final two outs for his second save.

    "The thing about Sully, when he starts to feel good he doesn't stay disciplined," McClendon said. "He gets loose and wants to get cute out there, and he loses it. He's got to stay focused."

  • The news is not all bad for Torres. The back and neck pain that plagued him earlier this season has subsided, and he has given up just four earned runs over his past 11 appearances.

    "That's back-to-back outings where I'm starting to see good stuff," McClendon said. "The breaking ball was there and the sinker was there."


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