There’s no more certain sign of the impending approach of spring than the Pirates’ annual exhibition against the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota (nee Manatee County Community College, aka THE HATED MANATEES). It’s still on February, but there’s nothing that can stop baseball from coming now.
As usual, the Pirates will send a hodge-podge of players to the field today. Some guys in today’s starting lineup (Steve Pearce, John Bowker, Corey Wimberly) are hoping to make the big league roster, others are prospects or borderline prospects (Andrew Lambo, Chase D’Arnaud, and Gorkys Hernandez), a couple are trying to reestablish themselves as Major League worthy (Josh Fields and Andy Marte), and we’ve even got the typical spring training catcher (Wyatt Toregas).
The pitchers are a bit more interesting. Aaron Thompson, who I guess has an outside shot to make the team as a lefty out of the bullpen if Scott Olsen really falters, will start, and a bunch of other guys will throw an inning or two including Jeff Locke, Justin Wilson, and Rudy Owens. I’m interested in seeing what these guys can do against anyone, really.
Most importantly, the word is that the game will be broadcast on SCF’s website. I can’t find a link to it there, but I think that this may be it (I’ll update if it’s wrong). I assume that since this game isn’t between two Major League teams that the normal broadcast restrictions are moot, though I suppose it’s possible that the long arm of Bud Selig and MLBAM will come down on this broadcast, which would be really unfortunate. If you were planning on being productive this afternoon, cancel those plans.
UPDATE: That link is the right one for the stream, but the quality isn’t great.
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