Luis Dorante is fairly anonymous in his role as the Pirates’ bullpen coach.
However, Dorante will be on a big stage Monday night in
St. Louis. Albert Pujols, the Cardinals’ first baseman and St. Louis icon, has asked Dorante to pitch to him during the All-Star Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium.

The first half of the Pirates’ season has been more notable for what happened off the field.
General Manager Neal Huntington pulled a shocker June 3 when he traded center fielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta for three minor-leaguers that included right-hander Charlie Morton, now in the Pirates’ rotation. McLouth signed a three-year, $15.75-million contract in February after appearing in his first All-Star game and winning his first Gold Glove in 2008.

Joe Blanton and the Philadelphia Phillies are rolling as the first half of the season winds down.
Blanton pitched into the eighth inning, Jayson Werth drove in two runs on the same day he was named to his first All-Star team and Philadelphia beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Friday night.

John Russell isn’t usually a media critic, but the Pirates manager was somewhat baffled by the coverage of the four-player trade his team made with the Washington Nationals 10 days ago.
The Pirates sent left fielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander reliever Sean Burnett to the Nationals for right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan and Class AAA outfielder Lastings Milledge.
“It seemed like everything I read and heard only focused on Milledge,” Russell said. “It seemed like everyone kind of ignored that we got Joel Hanrahan in the deal. I think people are overlooking the fact that we were able to pick up a young pitcher with a great arm and a lot of ability, someone who could help for a long time.”

Well over 100 pitches after eight innings, Wandy Rodriguez was determined to stay on the mound.
After all, he reasoned to Houston pitching coach Dewey Robinson, he was about to get a week off.

The All-Star game is becoming part of Freddy Sanchez’s yearly schedule.
The Pirates second baseman was selected to the Midsummer Classic for the third time in the last four years Sunday. He will be a reserve for the National League in the July 14 game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.