A.J. Burnett back in camp wearing a black eye, but not a patch over it. Guess that would be just too appropriate …

Bucs are getting two key members back from the waiting room. Neil Walker has been cleared to resume play and will bat cleanup against the Rays on Sunday. Charlie Morton is down for two innings on Monday, when the Phillies visit McKechnie. … 

Pirates looking forward to saying hello to former mate Ryan Doumit are disappointed. He did not make the trip with the Twins for today’s exhibition. …

When the Pirates send you to Minor League camp, they also
‘demote’ your uniform number? Gerrit Cole, No. 75 while training with the big boys, is wearing No. 81 at Pirate City. … 

Does Shairon Martis get a choice on Monday? The Pirates are playing the Netherlands as part of the International Baseball Tournament in St. Petersburg. Martis, thew non-roster righty who picked up the win over the Red Sox on Friday night, is a Curacao native and a former member of the Netherlands’ national team. …

Quote of the day:

“I don’t do Facebook. I don’t do Twitter. I’m a grown-up.” (A.J. Burnett)

Casey McGehee was the DH for both sides in the morning intrasquad game, and when Charlie Morton got him on a first-inning pop up, it’s the first time he’d ever retired him. Even though it didn’t “count.” With the Brewers, McGehee was 2-for-2 with a walk in three plate appearances against the Buccos righty. …

The MLB Network will televise the Pirates’ game on Friday night. Not sure who they are playing. Some team from Massachusetts. … 

Guy spotted at Pirate City wearing a McTee-shirt: “MC” in large letters on the left and CutchenX2, Gehee, Louth, Donald, Kenry on the right. Kyle McPherson was so mad, he fanned the side in the bottom of the first of the squad game…. 

 

 

And here I thought the Bucs were going 193-0 in 2012. …

Clint Hurdle on the Saturday outing of Chris Leroux, which consisted of giving up a homer to Eric Thames on “a first-pitch fastball, then he cut up the next three hitters (striking them out). Looked like (Thames) got his attention.” …

Ryota Igarashi, who probably had the sharpest outing of the eight pitchers used by Hurdle, will get “every opportunity to make the club,” said the manager. …

I remember as a kid, in 1960, constantly being told that the Pirates had not been in a World Series in 33 years, and it seemed like such a long time. Which of course it was, but to a little kid it sounded even longer than that, like eternity. Well, entering the 2012 season, the Pirates have not been in a World Series in … 33 years. …

Gratuitous stat of the day: The Pirates have won five of the last six World Series that they have been in (all seven-game classics). Can any other team match that conversion record? …

Drove on US-19 behind an SUV with the personalized license plate “GORKYS” — and it was not driven by Bucs outfielder Gorkys Hernandez! …

Right behind McKechnie Field on the corner of 17th Avenue West and 9th Street West is Papi’s Place. No David Ortiz in sight, however. …

You know, of course, that the Pirates’ (Jake) Fox was once dealt for a (Ross) Wolf. In that June 2010 deal, Fox went from the A’s to the Orioles in exchange for the right-handed pitcher. …

Quote of the Day:

• “Things shift. When shift happens, you put your foot down and move on.” [Clint Hurdle]

For those who have been wondering, given the first-base platoon Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee appear headed for: The last time the Bucs had two first basemen get 250 at-bats each was in 1996, when lefty-hitting Mark Johnson had 307 and the right-handed hitting Jeff King had 308.

Strictly while playing first base, those two combined for 29 homers and 100 RBIs — numbers Clint Hurdle would gladly settle for from Jones-McGehee. …

Whenever the Red Sox are on ESPN’s schedule — and, trust me, that’ll be often — Terry Francona will be must-hear-TV. …

Gary Sheffield becoming an agent — the Bucs’ Jason Grilli is among his pioneering clients — has to be the least surprising story of the spring. Sheff negotiated his own contracts toward the end of his playing career …

Even in Spring Training workouts, peppery Michael McKenry is the most vocal catcher I’ve ever seen. Or, heard. Pitchers love working with him. …

With Bengie Molina’s formal retirement, who becomes the Slowest Man in the Majors? Nominations are open. …

Clint Barmes tells me his parents indeed named him after Clint Eastwood, the great actor and even better director. Eastwood’s actual name is “Clinton” — yet Clinton Hurdle (his full name) says he was <i>not</i> named for the movie icon. Confused yet? …

Quote of the Day:

“Not the cry, but the flight, of a wild duck leads the flock to fly and follow.” (Chinese proverb)

Clint Hurdle Bonus Quote of the Day:

“Vision without action is illusion.”

For those who have been wondering, given the first-base platoon Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee appear headed for: The last time the Bucs had two first basemen get 250 at-bats each was in 1996, when lefty-hitting Mark Johnson had 307 and the right-handed hitting Jeff King had 308.

Strictly while playing first base, those two combined for 29 homers and 100 RBIs — numbers Clint Hurdle would gladly settle for from Jones-McGehee. …

Whenever the Red Sox are on ESPN’s schedule — and, trust me, that’ll be often — Terry Francona will be must-hear-TV. …

Gary Sheffield becoming an agent — the Bucs’ Jason Grilli is among his pioneering clients — has to be the least surprising story of the spring. Sheff negotiated his own contracts toward the end of his playing career …

Even in Spring Training workouts, peppery Michael McKenry is the most vocal catcher I’ve ever seen. Or, heard. Pitchers love working with him. …

With Bengie Molina’s formal retirement, who becomes the Slowest Man in the Majors? Nominations are open. …

Clint Barmes tells me his parents indeed named him after Clint Eastwood, the great actor and even better director. Eastwood’s actual name is “Clinton” — yet Clinton Hurdle (his full name) says he was <i>not</i> named for the movie icon. Confused yet? …

Quote of the Day:

“Not the cry, but the flight, of a wild duck leads the flock to fly and follow.” (Chinese proverb)

Clint Hurdle Bonus Quote of the Day:

“Vision without action is illusion.”

For those who have been wondering, given the first-base platoon Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee appear headed to: The last time the Bucs had two first basemen get 250 at-bats each was in 1996, when lefty-hitting Mark Johnson had 307 and the right-handed hitting Jeff King had 308.

Strictly while playing first base, those two combined for 29 homers and 100 RBIs — numbers Clint Hurdle would gladly settle for from Jones-McGehee. …

Whenever the Red Sox are on ESPN’s schedule — and, trust me, that’ll be often — Terry Francona will be must-hear-TV. …

Gary Sheffield becoming an agent — the Bucs’ Jason Grilli is among his pioneering clients — has to be the least surprising story of the spring. Sheff negotiated his own contracts toward the end of his playing career …

 

Even in Spring Training workout, peppery Michael McKenry is the most vocal catcher I’ve ever seen. Or, heard. Pitchers love working with him. …

With Bengie Molina’s formal retirement, who becomes the Slowest Man in the Majors? Nominations are open. …

Clint Barmes tells me his parents indeed named him after Clint Eastwood, the great actor and even better director. Eastwood’s actual name is “Clinton” — yet Clinton Hurdle (his full name) says he was <i>not</i> named for the movie icon. Confused yet? …

Quote of the Day:

“Not the cry, but the flight, of a wild duck leads the flock to fly and follow.” (Chinese proverb)

Clint Hurdle Bonus Quote of the Day:

“Vision without action is illusion.”

Yesterday, I’d idly mentioned to general manager Neal Huntington what a healthy camp this has been, and a look of horror crossed his face. “You had to go there, didn’t you?” he said, wary of the proverbial jinx.

Today, right-hander Logan Kensing suffered an abdominal strain that could idle him for two weeks. I’m toast. …

Announcing Opening Day starters even before the start of exhibition play has become the vogue among managers, but Clint Hurdle, while acknowledging the staff has already discussed choices, isn’t in any hurry.

“We’ll announce it before the opener, though,” he said.

A year ago, Hurdle waited until Mar. 24 before giving the assignment to Kevin Correia. …

Happy Rare Birthday: If you are one of about five million Earthlings born on Feb. 29, tomorrow is your rare chance to blow out some candles. Thanks to baseball-reference.com’s cool search feature, we know there were 11 Major Leaguers born on Feb. 29.

The most-recent two were Long shots: Terrence Long was born in 1976 and had an eight-year big-league career with five different teams through 2006; before that, right-hander Bill Long (1960) won 27 games from 1985-1991. …

Alex Presley update: I recently compared him to Chad Curtis, the ’90s outfielder for the Angels, Yankees, Rangers. I’d like to revise Alex’s look-alike status to a mash-up of Curtis and Tom Cruise. …

Pitchers work on every possible contingency during Spring Training. So it might seem like a good idea to have Drill Drills. Have a coach rip liners back at them, to teach them how to reflexively duck, or to at least learn to end their deliveries in a good fielding position. Just sayin’. …

Quote of the Day:

“One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” (Nolan Ryan)

Clint Hurdle Bonus Quote of the Day:

“Vision without action is illusion.”

Apparently, Traynor will remain the most famous Pie in Pirates history. A.J. Burnett showed little interest in importing to Pittsburgh his Bronx tradition of celebrating walk-off wins with pies to the kisser.

“That’s no Yankees tradition. Everyone in baseball does it,” Burnett scoffed. “Just cause it’s New York, now it’s a tradition?”

Burnett was even less interested to hear that Nick Swisher has stepped up to succeed him as lead pie thrower.

For the record, according to Michael McKenry, the ’11 Pirates celebrated walk-off wins — they had six of them — however the mood struck them.

“Once I did get the pie,” McKenry said. “But usually we just played this special song (in the clubhouse). I don’t remember what. (Outfielder Matt) Diaz picked it.” …

This is not what you want to happen to you during fielding practice: Anderson Hernandez tripped over the second-base bag, sending him sprawling and both his glove and his cap flying. Hernandez got up grinning, perhaps thinking, “How long has that been there?” …

In one year, the Boston Red Sox have gone from prohibitive favorites to prohibition. …

Clint Hurdle’s two favorite expressions: “Being in a good place” and “Taking ownership of (fill in the blank: career, at-bat, future, etc.).” …

Reps from Elevee, custom clothiers, set up shop outside the Bucs’ clubhouse. Their model on the promotional flier they posted on the bulletin board? Ryan Braun. …

Quote of the Day:

“Those on top of the mountain did not fall there.” (Unknown)

Two things you will never see in the Pirates’ clubhouse: a minotaur, and James McDonald without a fishing pole in his hands. …

The local classical radio station — WSMR-89.1FM — features the Pittsburgh Symphony every Saturday afternoon. …

But what’s with all the “This is Birdland” signs around the Bradenton-Sarasota area? The Orioles get Sarasota, their Spring Training base, but you gotta draw some lines. Quick, a shipment of Jolly Rogers, please. …

Does it seem that people are far more upset with Ryan Braun because he got his suspension overturned than they were when he got the suspension in the first place? …

Rod Barajas was stunned to learn that the Pirates’ club single-season record for most homers by a catcher is 17, by Jim Pagliaroni in 1965. Barajas had 16 last season, and has averaged 17 the last three.

“We can go better than that (17), can’t we?” Barajas, whose personal high is 21 with the Rangers in 2005, told me with a grin. …

If shortstop Clint Barmes and first baseman Casey McGehee set a pace with blistering starts, will third baseman Pedro Alvarez and second baseman Neil Walker also have to shave their heads to make it a bald infield? …

Quote of the Day:

“When you become a part of a team you cease to have rights but you gain responsibility.” (John Wooden)

Friday’s drills at Pirate City included the Optimism Drill? What? Officially, it consisted of pitchers running the bases but, you know …

Yes, A.J. Burnett also ran the bases, as opposed to trotting around them. The right-hander who has spent the last six seasons in the DH (American) League is quick to tell everyone of his plans to add to the three home runs he’d hit while with the Marlins.

For the record, Burnett went 1-for-16 while batting in Interleague games with the Blue Jays and he Yankees in 2006-11, and is a career .130 hitter. …

Club president Frank Coonelly wore a smile as he mingled with fans between fields at Pirate City, displaying little of the stress he must have been feeling the day after disclosure of the Dec. 22 incident that led to him being charged with drunken driving. “I’ll be all right,” Coonelly said. “I have a lot of support, especially from my family.”

Quote of the Day:

“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.” (Leo Buscaglia)