Bucs’ coach to take part in HR Derby

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July 12, 2009

BY JOHN PERROTTO The Tribune-Democrat Sun Jul 12, 2009, 12:02 AM EDT

PITTSBURGH — 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.

“It’s an honor and I’m really excited,” Dorante said.

So, just how did Pujols wind up picking Dorante as the man he hopes serves up some mammoth blasts? Well, Dorante managed the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Republic Winter League this past offseason and Pujols had originally planned to play for that team in order to get in shape for the World Baseball Classic.

Pujols, though, wound up skipping winter ball after undergoing elbow surgery in October.

However, Pujols approached Dorante during the Pirates’ season-opening series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium and asked if he would want to take part in the derby.

“It totally surprised me,” Dorante said. “I know Albert a little bit but it’s not like we’re really good friends. He said he’s watched me throw batting practice and liked the way I did it.”

Dorante is hoping his wife and two children can stay through Tuesday night so they can also watch the All-Star game. At the start of the weekend, Dorante was trying to get four tickets to the game.

“That would be a big thrill to see the All-Star game,” Dorante said. “I’ve never been to one in the major leagues”

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Los Angeles Dodgers rookie reliever Ronald Belisario looked like a pitcher the Pirates had regretted letting get away during the first three months of the season.

The Dodgers signed Belisario as a minor-league free agent last winter after he was a nondescript 4-4 with nine saves and a 4.74 ERA in

38 games with Class AA Altoona in 2008. However, he pitched so effectively as a middle and set-up reliever, going

1-2 with a 2.42 ERA in

43 games, that Dodgers manager Joe Torre was campaigning for the 26-year-old to gain a spot in the All-Star game.

Belisario, though, landed on the disabled list this past week with a strained left elbow. That came after Torre used him for 48 1/3 innings after he pitched just 59 innings last season.

“We lost a chunk,” Torre said of putting Belisario on the DL.

Belisario was also arrested on June 27 on suspicion of driving under the influence in Pasadena, Calif.

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The Pirates will face a stern challenge to start the second half of the season when San Francisco visits PNC Park for a three-game series beginning Friday night. Right-handers Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are expected to pitch the first two games of the series after representing in the National League in the All-Star game.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy has asked NL manager Charlie Manuel of Philadelphia to limit Lincecum to two innings and Cain to one. That way, Cain can pitch the series opener against the Pirates and Lincecum could start the second game.

Lincecum is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 18 starts. That put to rest any thoughts that the slightly built 25-year-old was a fluke in 2008 when he went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 34 games and won the NL Cy Young Award in his first full major-league season.

“I’m just trying to be a guy who stays consistent throughout his career,” Lincecum said.

Cain, 24, was 10-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 17 starts going into Saturday night when he was scheduled to face San Diego.

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General Manager Mark Shapiro’s proclamation last Sunday that manager Eric Wedge’s job is safe through at least the end of the season was not well received by frustrated Indians’ fans who expected an American League Central title this year instead of a club with the worst record in the league.

However, Wedge is a popular figure within the clubhouse and the move was met with approval from the players.

“I’m happy to hear that,” catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez said. “He’s a great manager. He’s always been there for us as a team.”

Said first baseman/outfielder Ryan Garko, “That’s great. He’s the only manager I’ve ever played for up here and we’ve had a lot of success under him. It the team wins, the manager gets some of the credit. If it loses, the manager gets a lot of the blame. It goes with the territory.”

John Perrotto covers the Pirates for piratesreport.com.

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