Pittsburgh Sports Insider

PIRATES 40-MAN ROSTER NEWS

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:47:56 GMT

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have added the following four players to the 40-man roster:

Ramon Aguero (RHP) – Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Pittsburgh on 7/19/05 from the Dominican Republic…Played at three different levels in 2009 and posted a 2-4 record, four saves and a 3.86 ERA (84.0ip/36er) in 39 games (three starts) with West Virginia (A), Lynchburg (A) and Altoona (AA)…Went 4-for-4 in his save opportunities – all coming with Altoona…Spent the entire 2008 season pitching with State College in the New York-Penn League.

Gorkys Hernandez (OF) – Was acquired from Atlanta, along with pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke, in exchange for Nate McLouth on 6/3/09…Was ranked by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the Braves organization prior to the ’09 season…Hit .262 with three homers and 31 RBI in 86 games with Altoona and ended the season with an 11-game hitting streak…Also batted .316 with 19 RBI in 52 games with Double-A Mississippi before joining Pittsburgh organization… Was ranked by Baseball America as Atlanta’s fourth-best prospect prior to the 2009 season…Was originally signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent in 2005 out of Venezuela…Was named Midwest League’s MVP while playing with West Michigan in 2007.

Brad Lincoln (RHP) – Pittsburgh’s first round selection (4th pick overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft…Went 7-9 with a 3.37 ERA (136.1ip/51er) in 25 combined starts with Altoona and Indianapolis (AAA) in 2009…Ranked second among Pittsburgh farmhands in ERA and third in strikeouts (107)…Pitched in the MLB Futures Game in St. Louis on 7/12…Also captured a Gold Medal while pitching for Team USA in the Baseball World Cup in September…Was ranked by Baseball America as the club’s fourth-best prospect prior to the 2009 season.

Bryan Morris (RHP) –Was acquired from Los Angeles (NL) as part of a three-team, six-player deal on 7/31/08…Was ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s fifth-best prospect prior to the 2009 season…Spent entire 2009 campaign with Carolina League champion Lynchburg club and went 4-9 with a 5.57 ERA (72.2ip/45er) in 15 starts…Was the winning pitcher in the fifth and final game of the first round playoff series against Wilmington…Was originally selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft (26th player chosen overall).

The Pirates also designated pitcher Justin Thomas and catcher Robinzon Diaz for assignment and reinstated pitchers Jose Ascanio and Evan Meek from the 60-day disabled list.

Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster now contains 40 players (20 pitchers, 2 catchers, 12 infielders and 6 outfielders).

PIRATES CLAIM CHRIS JAKUBAUSKAS

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:43:51 GMT

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have claimed right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jeff Karstens has been designated for assignment. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.

The 30-year-old Jakubauskas spent a majority of the 2009 season with the Mariners and went 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games (eight starts). He finished third on the Seattle pitching staff with 93.0 innings pitched and third in victories.

Jakubauskas made two relief appearances to start the season before making eight straight starts from April 16 through May 25. He picked up his first Major League win in his second outing on April 10 at Oakland and in his third big league start on April 28, he gave up just two hits while throwing an 8.0-inning complete game against the White Sox in Chicago (he suffered a 2-1 loss in the contest).

Prior to signing with Seattle on June 13, 2007, Jakubauskas played four seasons of independent baseball. He spent the 2007 season pitching with West Tennessee (AA) before pitching at three different levels in the Seattle minor league system in 2008.

GUENIN SENT BACK TO WILKES-BARRE

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:40:58 GMT

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned defenseman Nate Guenin to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Guenin, a Hopewell High School graduate, saw action in two games for the Penguins, becoming the third Pittsburgh native to play for the organization in the last three seasons (Bill Thomas, 2008-09; Ryan Malone, 2003-08). Guenin has spent the majority of this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, posting a plus-1 rating and 22 penalty minutes in 15 contests.

This likely means that Brooks Orpik is ready to return to the lineup.

PENN ST LOSES TO TULANE, 63-60

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:40:11 GMT

Same old Penn State basketball, they play a real opponent and there's a really good chance they'll lose. This morning at the Charleston Classic, the Nittanny Lions go down to Tulane, 63-60. So much for that NIT Championship being a springboard to a good basketball season. Stick to football. (sorry for the rant).

"Tulane's Kevin Sims made a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 19 seconds to play and the Green Wave held on to beat Penn State 63-60 Friday in the second round of the Charleston Classic at Carolina First Arena.

Aaron Holmes led Tulane (1-2) with 17 points and Kris Richard added 11.

Talor Battle scored 17 points for Penn State (2-2).

Tulane led by 10 with 7:57 to play, but Penn State battled back, despite shooting 27.6 percent from the field.

The Green Wave shot 36 percent from the field.

Penn State led 25-24 after a closely contested first half in which neither team led by more than five points.

Tulane will play at 12:30 p.m. Sunday against the winner of Friday's game between Davidson and La Salle. Penn State will play at 10 a.m. Sunday against the loser."

*Courtesy: Associated Press

GIBBS SCORES 20, PITT WINS 71-60

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:16:05 GMT

Ashton Gibbs scored 20 points and Pittsburgh began pulling away by holding Eastern Kentucky scoreless for more than eight minutes during a 71-60 victory on Thursday night, the Panthers' 24th in a row at home.

Gibbs, who scored 22 against Binghamton on Tuesday, had seven points during a 13-0 run that began with 6:57 remaining in the first half and ended with Pitt leading 41-24.

The Panthers (3-0) rarely allowed the Colonels (1-1) more than one shot on a possession, doubling them in rebounds most of the game before finishing with a 47-25 advantage.

Justin Stommes scored 24 for Eastern Kentucky, which played its first game against a major college opponent this season.

Pitt has won 41 in a row on its home court against non-conference opponents, two off the school record.

PENS LINEUP, EATON OUT

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:00:35 GMT

Another day brings another Penguins injury. Defenseman Mark Eaton is expected to miss tonight's game (back spasms). To take his spot, the Penguins have recalled defenseman Chris Lee from Wilkes-Barre. Max Talbot and Sergei Gonchar will return to the lineup.

Line Combinations For Ottawa Game:

1st Line: Fedotenko -   Crosby   -   Malkin

2nd Line: Dupuis   -   Staal -   Guerin

3rd Line: Cooke -   Adams -   Talbot

4th Line: Bourque - Rupp   - Godard

BAY REJECTS OFFER FROM BOSTON

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:55:20 GMT

Star free agent outfielder Jason Bay has declined Boston's initial contract offer and will head to full free agency, SI.com has learned.

Boston's offer to Bay was believed to be for four years and "close to $60 million,'' according to sources. Bay thus will join star outfielder Matt Holliday and ace pitcher John Lackey as the biggest free agents on this year's market. The exclusive period for incumbent teams expires Friday at 12:01 a.m., when free agents can begin negotiating with other teams.

"Nothing will happen by day's end, but we'll keep talking,'' Bay's agent Joe Urbon said.

"It's not a surprise that a player that's gone this far wants to see what's out there,'' Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said by phone in Bay's regard, though Epstein declined comment on the team's talks with Bay.

*Courtesy: CNNSI.com

DUQUESNE BASKETBALL NOTES

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:52:28 GMT

• Duquesne’s 52-50 win at Iowa on Tuesday was the school’s first in 10 tries in a Big Ten arena. It was also the school’s first over a Big Ten team since 1973 (85-83 over Illinois in the Holiday Classic at Madison Square Garden). Head coach Ron Everhart has now led the Dukes to the program’s first ever wins in both a Big Ten at Atlantic Coast Conference arena (DU won at Boston College under Everhart in December of 2006).

• Junior Damian Saunders has been making Rivals.com look good lately. Rivals named the 6-7 forward one of the nation’s “Top 10 Stat Sheet Stuffers” in October. Through two games, Saunders is averaging 16.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, 5.0 steals, 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. Saunders is shooting 60.9 percent from the field.

• Duquesne sophomore guard/forward Melquan Bolding underwent successful surgery to place a pin in his fractured right wrist on Tuesday morning. The 6-3 sophomore was injured on a hard foul four minutes into Duquesne's season-opening 85-62 win over Nicholls State on Nov. 13. Bolding went on to score a game-high 25 points, one shy of his career high, in 36 minutes. An X-ray done Saturday revealed the break. Bolding, who is right-handed, was evaluated by a hand and wrist specialist on Monday and had surgery on Tuesday. He is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks.

• The Dukes continue in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic on Monday in a subregional at Cullowee, N.C. DU takes on Binghamton on Monday (5:00 p.m.), Division II Arkansas-Monticello on Tuesday (5:00 p.m.) and host Western Carolina on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) before breaking for Thanksgiving.

• Duquesne is 1-13 all-time in the state of North Carolina (including neutral-site games). DU’s last win in the Tar Heel state came in its first game there on Jan. 14, 1937 at North Carolina State (53-33). Since then the Dukes have dropped 13 in a row. The opponents include: Duke, Wake Forest, VMI (neutral NCAA tournament game at Raleigh), NC State, Charlotte and UNC Wilmington

MCKEE OUT 2-4 WEEKS

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:29:51 GMT

The injury-thinned Pittsburgh Penguins are down another player.

Defenseman Jay McKee has an infected finger that will keep him out two to four weeks. He was hurt late in Pittsburgh's 5-2 win over Anaheim on Monday, and is the fifth of the team's top six defensemen to be sidelined since late October.

The Penguins, already playing with three defensemen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, may not have to recall another because Sergei Gonchar is expected to return Thursday night in Ottawa.

Gonchar, one of the point men on the power play, has missed 12 games with a broken left wrist.

Forward Max Talbot, who scored both Penguins goals in a 2-1 victory over Detroit in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, also could play when they open a three-game trip in Ottawa.

Talbot had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

*Courtesy: Associated Press

PAY MORE TO WATCH PENN STATE IN 2010

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:24:50 GMT

Penn State plans to adjust its season-ticket pricing guidelines in 2011 to account for where people sit in Beaver Stadium.

Some fans might have to fork over more money to the booster club to stay in their seats, or can pay the same amount but possibly be moved to a less desirable location -- say someone going from seats on the 40 to behind the end zone.

Other season-ticket holders could be just fine -- again, depending on if their donation to the Nittany Lion Club is commensurate to where they want to sit.

The actual price of the tickets, currently $55, wouldn't change under the plan to be officially unveiled in a letter to season-ticket holders in the next week, said Greg Myford, Penn State's associate athletic director for business relations and communications.

What would change is that seat location would be a new criteria to giving levels to the Nittany Lion Club, along with the number of tickets and parking.

The Patriot-News of Harrisburg first reported the new policy, including up to a $600 fee per seat in between the 40-yard lines. Currently, Nittany Lion club members must contribute at least $100 a seat to renew their season tickets, regardless of location.

Myford declined to comment on the dollar amounts in the Patriot-News report, though he said the new policy didn't amount to a personal seat license.

"The primary difference is, usually associated with the seat license is some kind of long-term commitment," Myford said this week. "We do our tickets annually, each and every year. Fans determine how many seats they want to buy, they donate accordingly, and that will continue."

Myford said schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Texas and Florida already have similar plans in place.

"The other key component, when it comes down to the primary reasons for doing it, it's finances, and it's fairness," Myford said. "We need to come up with a way that allows us to properly align and allocate our tickets with how someone is willing to support athletics on an annual basis, and currently we don't do that."

All but two Big Ten schools -- Indiana and Northwestern -- charge minimum donations for the right to buy season tickets, according to a survey Wednesday in the Altoona Mirror.

Penn State is in the middle of the Big Ten in terms of season-ticket prices. One ticket at the 45-yard line would cost $540 for an eight-game schedule; the most expensive ticket is the $1,950 at Ohio State, which includes a $1,500 minimum donation.

The Penn State plan would also shuffle the student section from its current location in one quadrant of the stadium from the 40 to the south end zone, to wrapping around the entire end zone, bookended at about the 10-yard lines. That would open more desirable seats to season-ticket holders.

Myford said possibly 800 more seats could be added to the student section, and that the hope is it would create a more intimidating atmosphere for opponents.

Penn State's athletic department is self-supporting and does not use tuition dollars or other university funding to pay for its large athletics program, which runs 29 sports.

Of those sports, only football and men's basketball operate at a profit. Revenues from football are used to help pay for other sports.

The most recent filing with the Department of Education shows Penn State athletics had nearly $96 million in revenues, and roughly $77 million in expenses last year. The expense figure does not include $11.3 million of debt service.

Remaining dollars are used for capital improvement projects or put in reserve, the department said in the government filing. Myford said things like fan requests to upgrade stadium concessions stands and restrooms would be the kinds of projects Penn State would look at in the future.

Once athletic director, coach Joe Paterno said the school has more pressure to support scholarships in women's sports, as well improving facilities like the softball field.

"We don't get a nickel from the university for anything," Paterno said. "[Athletics] is completely self-supporting. So they've got to do something or we've got to cut back sports, and we don't want to do that. But, that's not my bout."

*Courtesy: Associated Press