PITTSBURGH — Charlie Morton can roll out of hotel bed this morning, walk across the parking lot and be in the Pirates’ clubhouse at PNC Park in less than 10 minutes as he gets ready for this afternoon’s start against the Kansas City Royals.
However, that is about the only thing easy for a player such as Morton, who was traded in the middle of the season.
Morton was playing for Atlanta’s Class AAA Gwinnett farm club when he was dealt along with two other minor-leaguers to the Pirates on June 3 for All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth. The right-handed pitcher immediately got on an airplane to Indianapolis and started for the Pirates’ Class AAA farm club the next night.
Less than a week later, Morton was recalled by the Pirates and hopped on another airplane for a flight to Atlanta. He was able to gather a few things at his suburban Atlanta apartment but has been living out of a suitcase for nearly a month.
He likely won’t get settled into permanent living quarters in Pittsburgh until after the All-Star break in two weeks.
“It’s tough because I had to go out and buy a bunch of new clothes,” Morton said. “I didn’t have really time to pack, and you only have so much room in your suitcase. Your life pretty much gets uprooted at the drop of a hat, but I’m not complaining. I’m in the major leagues, and that’s where you want to be.”
Though he is living in a hotel, Morton said he has been made to feel very welcome by the Pirates. Morton was most impressed when Pirates President Frank Coonelly made it a point to introduce himself before his first home game.
“He said they had been trying to trade for me for a long time,” Morton said. “That was really nice to hear.”
Word has it the only thing that kept the Pirates from trading left fielder Jason Bay to Atlanta rather than Boston last July was the Braves’ refusal to include Morton, who was then in their major-league rotation.
The Pirates would have received left-hander Jeff Locke, who they wound up getting in the McLouth trade, along with shortstop Brent Lillibridge and outfielder Brandon Jones. However, the Braves wanted to substitute a lesser pitcher for Morton.
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The Pirates’ first home series with Cleveland since 2003 this past week drew 69,391 for the three games. That wasn’t an eye-popping amount, but better than what the Pirates have been drawing on weeknights.
The attendance figures only strengthen the Pirates’ case with Major League Baseball that they should play the Indians every year. The Pirates have long pushed for a yearly “Turnpike Series” while the Indians have been more lukewarm about the idea.
Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington has been on both sides as he worked in the Indians’ front office, rising to assistant GM, before coming to Pittsburgh in 2007. He has become an advocate of the teams meeting annually.
“There’s a natural rivalry between the cities,” Huntington said. “It’s only a two-hour drive between the cities. If it’s on the weekend, there’s going to be a good turnout to see the games and the cities.”
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The younger brothers of Pirates relievers Tyler Yates and Craig Hansen will try to follow in their big brothers’ footsteps and be major-league pitchers.
Kirby Yates was signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent this past week and assigned to the Rays’ advanced rookie Princeton farm club after failing to be taken in the first-year player draft. Yates was 7-2 with a 4.61 ERA for Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Ariz., this year.
Kyle Hansen was taken in the 40th round of the draft by Milwaukee after starring at St. Dominic High School in Glen Cove, N.Y. Hansen has signed a letter of intent to play college ball at St. John’s, where Craig starred before being Boston’s first-round draft pick in 2005.
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Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny and right-hander Ian Snell appeared to be the Pirates’ co-aces when last season began but are now part of the starting rotation at Indianapolis. That is reminiscent of left-hander Oliver Perez, who won 12 games and struck out 239 for the Pirates in 2004 but was at Indianapolis by 2006.
Now with the New York Mets, Perez continues to be confounding. He is 1-2 with a 9.97 ERA in five starts this season after being re-signed to a three-year, $36-million contract over the winter as a free agent.
Perez, who has been on the disabled list since May 3 with knee tendinitis, made his first start for high Class A St. Lucie this past week on a rehabilitation assignment and was rocked for six runs and seven hits in three innings. Though Perez is healthy, General Manager Omar Minaya said, “he isn’t close to coming back and helping us.”
Local Sports
John Perrotto | Morton still trying to settle into Pittsburgh
- Local Sports
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Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
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A lot of activity took place during the offseason, including the AAABA national committee’s vote to expand the age limit to 21 years old beginning in 2013. -
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
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Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. -
Greater Johnstown Speedway failed to win the support of fans
Back in the late 1950’s, the area stock car racing landscape was populated by a very strong and popular three-track weekend circuit, consisting of the Windber Stadium Speedway, Jennerstown Speedway and the Ebensburg Fairgrounds Speedway.
Thus, it came as a major surprise when the announcement was made that a new track, the Greater Johnstown Speedway, would be built and begin operation in 1958. -
Final PIAA track update - No gold for local athletes
Richland senior Paige Lumley broke the state triple jump record twice in the PIAA Class AA Track and Field Championships today, but it wasn't enough to earn a gold medal.
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PIAA track update - Central Cambria's Brandis earns medal
Central Cambria's Alyssa Brandis claimed the first local medal of this morning's action at the PIAA Track and Field Championshps.
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