Ford could be second baseman of the future
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BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pittsburgh Pirates have a second baseman for 2009, but they might not for 2010.
Thus, prospect Shelby Ford realizes he is in his first major-league spring training camp as a non-roster invitee to make an impression for the future.
Ford made the quite the splash Wednesday as his three-run home run sparked a four-run fourth inning that broke a 1-1 tie and powered the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in an exhibition opener at McKechnie Field.
The Phillies were playing their first game since winning last year's World Series.
Second baseman Freddy Sanchez could become a free agent after this season if the Pirates do not pick up his contract option for 2010. Ford is the heir apparent, as Baseball America ranks him as the eighth-best prospect in the organization.
"I'm still taking this seriously," Ford said after admitting his chances of making the opening-day roster are miniscule. "I want to do well. I want people to know that I can help in the future."
Ford, 24, was limited to 81 games at Class AA Altoona last season because of back and hip injuries, hitting .285 with four home runs, 32 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
"Shelby has got a lot of tools and the fact that he's a left-handed hitter at second base is a nice bonus," Pirates manager John Russell said. "What we want to see from Shelby this spring is for him to find a good routine that can keep him healthy. Injuries are really the only thing holding him back."
GAME DETAILS: Sanchez went 2-for-2 with an RBI double before Ford pinch hit for him in the fourth inning and homered off Joe Bisenius. Craig Monroe and Brandon Moss both drew a pair of walks.
The Pirates used nine relief pitchers in order to get their starting pitchers set on a regular schedule. Chris Bootcheck, Matt Capps, Donnie Veal, Ronald Uviedo, Juan Mateo, Craig Hansen and Even Meek each pitched one scoreless inning while Romulo Sanchez and Jesse Chavez both gave up one run in one inning.
Veal got credit for the win. As a Rule 5 Draft pick, he must stay on the major-league roster all season or be offered back to the Chicago Cubs for $25,000.
"I was a little nervous when I first got out there, but I realized I just had a job to do," Veal said.
PHILLIPS IN THE CLEAR: Andy Phillips, in camp as a non-roster player with a chance to win a bench job as a utility player, said Wednesday he has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Major League Baseball in a case in which Demi Delia, an adult-film actress, filed a police report against him in New York in late December.
Delia claims she had a tryst with Phillips in a New York hotel and her report accused him of impersonating Cleveland Indians pitcher Carl Pavano and Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Greg Dobbs in e-mails that facilitated the alleged rendezvous. The story was posted Tuesday on the Internet by deadspin.com.
Phillips, who is a devout Christian, says he does not know Delia.
"It's sad that I even have to talk about this and defend myself," Phillips said. "I don't know why someone would do this. I know it's happened to other professional athletes where they've been impersonated, but it's a shame. Anyone who knows me knows I would never have been involved in anything remotely close to something like that."
INJURY UPDATE: Infielder Luis Cruz said his strained left hip flexor, which he injured during Tuesday's workout, was feeling much better Wednesday and that he could make his exhibition debut Friday when the Pirates play the Atlanta Braves in Bradenton. Cruz was originally supposed to miss a week.
Third baseman Andy LaRoche, who has been bothered by lower back spasms, is expected to play today when the Pirates face the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla.
Right-hander Virgil Vasquez threw off the mound for the first in four days. He had been slowed by general arm soreness.
WBC PICKS: As expected, three players on the Pirates' major-league roster were selected to play in next month's World Baseball Classic, right-hander Ian Snell and infielder Ramon Vazquez for Puerto Rico and left-hander Dave Davidson for Canada. Bullpen coach Luis Dorante will serve on Venezuela's coaching staff.
Five of the organization's minor-leaguers will also play in the WBC: pitchers Josh Hill and Paul Mildren for Australia, infielder Ray Chang for China, pitcher Chi-Hung Cheng for Chinese Taipei and pitcher Eliecer Navarro for Panama.
GOLDEN BOY: Pirates broadcaster Steve Blass began his 50th season with the Pirates' organization, including his 28th as a broadcaster with Wednesday's game. Blass signed his first professional contract with the Pirates in 1960 as a pitcher, retired in 1974, then did community work for the club.
Meanwhile, Tim Neverett began his first season as a Pirates' play-by-play broadcaster. He replaces Lanny Frattare, who left the organization last October after 33 years in the booth.
UP NEXT: The Pirates face the Red Sox at 1:05 p.m. today with Snell starting against Jon Lester. Ross Ohlendorf, Jimmy Barthmaier, Denny Bautista and Sean Burnett are also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates.
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