09/02/2002 2:33 pm ET
MLBeat: Torres to get a look
By Ray Glier / Special to MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Who says velocity is overrated?
One of the reasons right-hander Salomon Torres has been called up to start for the Pirates Tuesday is a fastball that crosses the plate at 94-to-95 mph. That strong arm is why Bucs manager Lloyd McClendon labels Torres "intriguing."
"He's a guy we put at the Triple-A level to get some innings and get himself back in shape," McClendon said. "He's an interesting guy, certainly velocity-wise.
Torres hasn't started a big league game since July 20, 1997, when he was with Montreal. In 43 big league starts, he is 11-25 with a 4.39 career ERA.
Torres was 8-5 with a 3.83 ERA with 162 innings pitched in Nashville this season.
"We're not exactly the Atlanta Braves; we need to get better, and where we need to get better is pitching," McClendon said. "This guy needs to be evaluated to see if he can be a part of our future."
Torres, who came up with the Giants, has four pitches from different arm angles. "He can run it up there at 94 or 95; he has a real good slider, curveball, changeup," McClendon said. "He has some Major League experience, so we need to find out what he can do."
Torres wasn't available for comment. He won't join the team until Tuesday.
The Pirates bumped Bronson Arroyo to the bullpen, but McClendon was quick to say, "It's certainly not a punishment to Bronson Arroyo."
Begging for hits: Four of Pittsburgh's last five losses have been by one run. Hint: it isn't the pitching.
The worst-hitting team in the big leagues has one home run in its last six games going into Monday's series opener with the Braves. The Bucs, who were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position in Sunday's loss to Florida, are 11-for-67 (.164) with runners in scoring position over the past seven games.
In the same seven-game span, the Pirates starters have a 2.70 ERA.
"I wouldn't say we've wasted some good pitching, but we certainly haven't taken advantage of some one-run games," McClendon said.
notes: In 21 games at Turner Field over that stadium's five seasons, the Pirates are just 6-14. They were 4-1 in 1997, the year the park opened, but they are 2-13 since. ... Nashville doesn't conclude its minor league season until tonight, so the Bucs have not brought up additional players, as per September call-up allowances. They expect to have some players on hand later this week
Salomon Torres has played with a number of big league teams, including Montreal and Seattle. (Allen Smith/AP
Pirates Report: 9/3/02
Tuesday, September 03, 2002
By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
NOTEBOOK
The Pirates will have seven more players in their clubhouse for the game tonight against Atlanta. Yesterday, they announced pitchers Salomon Torres, Sean Lowe and Duaner Sanchez, outfielder Adrian Brown and catcher Humberto Cota will join them from Class AAA Nashville and outfielders Tony Alvarez and J.J. Davis will join them from Class AA Altoona. They'll have to make one roster move to get all this accomplished. Brown no longer is on the 40-man roster, having been outrighted to Nashville July 2. To reinstate him, the Pirates will trim somebody from the 40-man roster before the game tonight.
Alvarez and Davis might be the most interesting of the September call-ups. Through Sunday, Alvarez had a .317 batting average, 36 doubles, 15 home runs, 59 RBIs and 28 stolen bases for Altoona. Davis, the Pirates' first draft pick in 1997, had a .291 average, 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. "They potentially could have impact here," General Manager Dave Littlefield said. Alvarez could get some starts in center field, while Davis will play some in right field -- "if the situation calls for it," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "All of them will pitch and play if I think they give us the best chance to win ballgames. They'll do whatever it is to do that."
Torres, who previously pitched in a major-league game July 20, 1997, makes his return to the big leagues tonight. He will start for the Pirates in place of Bronson Arroyo, who will pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. Torres, 30, was 8-5 with a 3.83 earned run average in 24 starts for Nashville this year. He won five of his final six starts and had a 3.27 ERA over 44 innings. "Certainly, we need the opportunity to evaluate him," McClendon said. "It's awfully hard to find out about people in spring training. We've seen Bronson. We pretty much know what he can do. That doesn't mean it was bad. Bronson pitched well, and I would say he's certainly in the mix next year. He's done OK." Is it realistic to think Torres can be in the mix for a spot in the rotation next spring? "I would say so, given our situation," McClendon said. "It depends on how he pitches the rest of the year."
Torres hasn't faced the Braves since July 3, 1997. That was a relief appearance in Montreal. In two-thirds of an inning, Torres allowed seven hits, three walks and seven runs. In four career appearances against Atlanta, which include one start, Torres has allowed nine earned runs in 12 1/3 innings.
Arroyo made three starts since rejoining the Pirates Aug. 15. He pitched five innings in each, allowing a total of 16 hits and four earned runs. "I was a little surprised," he said of being sent to the bullpen. "I don't know. I thought I'd thrown well enough to make some more starts, but I guess they want to see Salomon as a starter instead of as a reliever."
April 22, 1891
The Pirates play their first game at Exposition Park, located on the north shore of the Allegheny River across from downtown Pittsburgh; not far from the current site of PNC Park.
MLBeat: Torres to get a look
By Ray Glier / Special to MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Who says velocity is overrated?
One of the reasons right-hander Salomon Torres has been called up to start for the Pirates Tuesday is a fastball that crosses the plate at 94-to-95 mph. That strong arm is why Bucs manager Lloyd McClendon labels Torres "intriguing."
"He's a guy we put at the Triple-A level to get some innings and get himself back in shape," McClendon said. "He's an interesting guy, certainly velocity-wise.
Torres hasn't started a big league game since July 20, 1997, when he was with Montreal. In 43 big league starts, he is 11-25 with a 4.39 career ERA.
Torres was 8-5 with a 3.83 ERA with 162 innings pitched in Nashville this season.
"We're not exactly the Atlanta Braves; we need to get better, and where we need to get better is pitching," McClendon said. "This guy needs to be evaluated to see if he can be a part of our future."
Torres, who came up with the Giants, has four pitches from different arm angles. "He can run it up there at 94 or 95; he has a real good slider, curveball, changeup," McClendon said. "He has some Major League experience, so we need to find out what he can do."
Torres wasn't available for comment. He won't join the team until Tuesday.
The Pirates bumped Bronson Arroyo to the bullpen, but McClendon was quick to say, "It's certainly not a punishment to Bronson Arroyo."
Begging for hits: Four of Pittsburgh's last five losses have been by one run. Hint: it isn't the pitching.
The worst-hitting team in the big leagues has one home run in its last six games going into Monday's series opener with the Braves. The Bucs, who were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position in Sunday's loss to Florida, are 11-for-67 (.164) with runners in scoring position over the past seven games.
In the same seven-game span, the Pirates starters have a 2.70 ERA.
"I wouldn't say we've wasted some good pitching, but we certainly haven't taken advantage of some one-run games," McClendon said.
notes: In 21 games at Turner Field over that stadium's five seasons, the Pirates are just 6-14. They were 4-1 in 1997, the year the park opened, but they are 2-13 since. ... Nashville doesn't conclude its minor league season until tonight, so the Bucs have not brought up additional players, as per September call-up allowances. They expect to have some players on hand later this week
Pirates Report: 9/3/02
Tuesday, September 03, 2002
By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
NOTEBOOK
The Pirates will have seven more players in their clubhouse for the game tonight against Atlanta. Yesterday, they announced pitchers Salomon Torres, Sean Lowe and Duaner Sanchez, outfielder Adrian Brown and catcher Humberto Cota will join them from Class AAA Nashville and outfielders Tony Alvarez and J.J. Davis will join them from Class AA Altoona. They'll have to make one roster move to get all this accomplished. Brown no longer is on the 40-man roster, having been outrighted to Nashville July 2. To reinstate him, the Pirates will trim somebody from the 40-man roster before the game tonight.
Alvarez and Davis might be the most interesting of the September call-ups. Through Sunday, Alvarez had a .317 batting average, 36 doubles, 15 home runs, 59 RBIs and 28 stolen bases for Altoona. Davis, the Pirates' first draft pick in 1997, had a .291 average, 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. "They potentially could have impact here," General Manager Dave Littlefield said. Alvarez could get some starts in center field, while Davis will play some in right field -- "if the situation calls for it," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "All of them will pitch and play if I think they give us the best chance to win ballgames. They'll do whatever it is to do that."
Torres, who previously pitched in a major-league game July 20, 1997, makes his return to the big leagues tonight. He will start for the Pirates in place of Bronson Arroyo, who will pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. Torres, 30, was 8-5 with a 3.83 earned run average in 24 starts for Nashville this year. He won five of his final six starts and had a 3.27 ERA over 44 innings. "Certainly, we need the opportunity to evaluate him," McClendon said. "It's awfully hard to find out about people in spring training. We've seen Bronson. We pretty much know what he can do. That doesn't mean it was bad. Bronson pitched well, and I would say he's certainly in the mix next year. He's done OK." Is it realistic to think Torres can be in the mix for a spot in the rotation next spring? "I would say so, given our situation," McClendon said. "It depends on how he pitches the rest of the year."
Torres hasn't faced the Braves since July 3, 1997. That was a relief appearance in Montreal. In two-thirds of an inning, Torres allowed seven hits, three walks and seven runs. In four career appearances against Atlanta, which include one start, Torres has allowed nine earned runs in 12 1/3 innings.
Arroyo made three starts since rejoining the Pirates Aug. 15. He pitched five innings in each, allowing a total of 16 hits and four earned runs. "I was a little surprised," he said of being sent to the bullpen. "I don't know. I thought I'd thrown well enough to make some more starts, but I guess they want to see Salomon as a starter instead of as a reliever."
The Pirates play their first game at Exposition Park, located on the north shore of the Allegheny River across from downtown Pittsburgh; not far from the current site of PNC Park.
