Karstens lands on the DL; Lincoln up
PHOENIX — Jeff Karstens on Wednesday was placed on the 15-day DL by the Pirates, who recalled right-hander Bran Lincoln from Indianapolis to take his place on the roster and in the rotation.
Karstens had departed his start here Tuesday night after one inning, suffering from inflammation in his right, pitching shoulder. He is returning to Pittsburgh with the club following the Wednesday matinee here, but the Pirates did not await results of his examination by team doctors before making the move.
Lincoln had entered Spring Training as a candidate for the rotation after making eight 2011 starts with the Pirates, going 2-3 with a 4.72 ERA in them. In two starts this season for the Triple-A Indians, he has a 2.25 ERA, with no walks and nine strikeouts in 12 innings.
The Bucs’ 2006 No. 1 Draft choice (fourth overall selection) could be only a placeholder for A.J. Burnett, who is scheduled to make one more rehab start — on Saturday with Class-AA Altoona — before coming off the DL for his debut with the Pirates.
Change for a Nickel 
why dont you write very much commentary on the pirates. are you ok.
I’m very well, thank you very much for asking. Was just taking a few days off.
Hey Tom: Love reading your Buccos’ Blog. Just wish it was more often! I think we all got spoiled by Jen as she posted quite often and it was great reading as it made us all feel a part of what was going on at PNC (or away). She also offered a Mailbag where one could send questions in and she would respond once a month or so. Is this possible? I think the previous commenter was voicing what many of us would like…more insights and as much material as you could deliver. Thanks for being our new PGH Source/Oracle. It is much appreciated! Barnes
Hey, Barnes. Thanks for the note. The Blog is a work in progress, trying to get a feel for it and eager to fit it into the routine. Am more active with Twitter, so hope you’re following there (@Tom_Singer). As for the Mailbag, that was supposed to be on from the get-go, but we’ve been having recurring technical issues with the form (basically, the queries aren’t making it to me) and are still trying to resolve that.
Thanks, Tom. Well, I am kind of old school so the Twitter world probably isn’t going to happen for me. I’ll probabaly miss a whole lot but I just feel I have to draw a line somewhere with all this technology! Anyway, I went to college outside PGH and used to sit in RF watching and yelling to Roberto back at Forbes. I haven’t been back to PGH since the last out of 1992, and college mates want me to come see the new PNC ballyard. Am a long-time Buc’s fan living in the middle of Red Sox Nation and it is lonely here in Rhode Island! Thank goodness for Gameday on the Pirate site! I do wish you well. B