Photos

Advertisement

PITTSBURGH -- Sean Burnett sat quietly at his locker Tuesday afternoon in the Pirates' clubhouse and quietly talked into his cell phone. He had a look of disbelief on his face.

The left-handed reliever had just been traded to the Washington Nationals along with left fielder Nyjer Morgan for reliever Joel Hanrahan and Class AAA Syracuse outfielder Lastings Milledge.

"It's a shock," Burnett said. "I never saw it coming. It's just stunning. The Pirates are the only organization I've ever known. You know it's a business and trades can happen but you also kind of think it might be different for you and that you'll always be with the same team."

Burnett, 26, was the Pirates' first-round draft pick in 2000 from Community High School in Wellington, Fla. He was the Pirates' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and the Class AA Eastern League Pitcher of the Year in 2003 before making his major-league debut in 2004.

He then spent nearly four years rehabilitating from major elbow and shoulder surgeries before returning to the majors last year.

"You build so many relationships over the years," Burnett said. "I know people from Pirate City (the Pirates' spring training facility in Bradenton, Fla.) all the way up to the big leagues. It's hard to say goodbye. It really is."

Morgan understood as he was the Pirates' 33rd-round draft pick in 2002 from Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College.

"I'm not going to get soft here," Morgan said with a smile, though it was clear his eyes were on the verge of getting misty. "It's going to be strange not to be wearing the black-and-gold anymore and going to war with the boys in this clubhouse. That's the way the business goes, though. Although it's a sad day, it's a happy day, too, because another team wanted me. I was a 33rd-round draft pick. I'm not used to people wanting me."

WILSON UPDATE: Jack Wilson is the most-senior Pirates player as he made his major-league debut with them in 2001. Thus, the shortstop has seen plenty of players come and go during his nine seasons.

As he watched Morgan and Burnett say their goodbyes to teammates and pack their bags, he was asked if he thought the Pirates would ever reach the point where they would quit making wholesale changes to the roster.

"The people who run this team are businessmen and they have a plan," Wilson said. "I'm sure they believe in their plan and I hope it does work. We've made a lot of trades during the time I've been here but none of the trades ever seem to work out. We're still making more trades and we haven't had a winning season the whole time I been here.

"Hopefully, we'll eventually win. After it's gone on this long, though, it is fair to wonder if it's ever going to work."

FORBES FIELD UPDATE: The Pirates celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first game of Forbes Field, their home from 1909-70, in a pre-game ceremony. Among the highlights were the results of fan voting on the internet of the top three moments in Forbes Field history:

1-Bill Mazeroski's winning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

2-Roberto Clemente's major-league debut on April 17, 1955

3-The Pirates winning their first World Series game on Oct. 8, 1909.

UP NEXT: The Pirates and Chicago Cubs conclude their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. tonight with Virgil Vasquez (1-0, 3.00) scheduled to start for the Pirates against Randy Wells (2-3, 2.57). Vasquez notched his first major-league win last Friday against Kansas City after being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis earlier in the day.

jperrotto@piratesreport.com

Facebook  MySpace  Digg  Stumble    Mixx  Fark  del.icio.us   LiveSpaces

Member Comments

View Comments: | Post a comment

No comments posted for this article.

You must first login before you can comment.