MLB Insiders - Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded a dismal 2007 campaign with a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jim Tracy managed Sunday's meaningless season finale like it was his last game, using a club-record eight pitchers and four pinch hitters in a 6-5 loss to St. Louis.

Tracy has one year left on his three-year contract, but there appears to be a good chance he won't be asked back for '08 by the Pirates' new management team of president Frank Coonelly and general manager Neal Huntington. The Pirates finished this season 68-94 and last in the National League Central after going 67-95 in Tracy's first season in 2006.

When Tracy met with the media after the Pirates' fourth straight loss, he opened with some remarks before taking questions. It was hard to tell if he was lobbying to return or giving a farewell speech.

"The one thing I want to say is I'm really proud of the effort these guys gave all season," Tracy said. "Our record wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be, but they gave everything they and I think things are only going to get better here.

"We moved forward again this year. We saw a lot of good things that weren't there last year. We're not there yet, though. We still need some more things, but we're getting better. I firmly believe we're getting better."

Huntington spent the last week evaluating the team throughout the six-game homestand that began on the day he was hired. He also met with the front office staff, special assignment scouts, coaching staff and players.

Huntington said he has been pleasantly surprised in his first week on the job. And while he will be making changes that are inevitable with any switch in GMs, he also sounds like a man who might not do a complete housecleaning.

Huntington also said he had not reached a decision on Tracy and gave no timetable for when he might decide his fate.

"This situation is not as bad as maybe it looked to me when I was on the outside," Huntington said. "There are good people here, both good players and good people in a non-playing capacity. I'm still in the process of evaluating the entire organization.

"Changes are going to be made, but it's not like I'm ready to change all aspects of the organization at this point nor do I think everything needs changes. It's still a process, and everything in the organization pretty much connects together."

CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 5: Right-hander Bryan Bullington pitched well, but the rookie still took the loss on his 27th birthday, giving up two runs and five hits in five innings. Bullington, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft who sat out all of last season while recovering from shoulder surgery, went 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA in five games, three starts, after being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis on Sept. 4.

--SS Jack Wilson was released from the hospital Sunday morning after being held overnight for observation with a concussion suffered Saturday night when he collided with 2B Matt Kata while the two were chasing a bouncing single up the middle by Cardinals LF So Taguchi. Wilson was taken off the field by motorized cart after being down for nearly 10 minutes. Kata was also held out of Sunday's game with slight dizziness.

--LHP John Grabow left Sunday's game in the sixth inning with a bruised left index finger after being hit by a line single back through the box off the bat of Cardinals 3B Scott Spiezio. Grabow failed to retire either of the two hitters he faced after retiring just one of five on Friday night when facing the Cardinals.

--CF Nyjer Morgan was 2-for-5 and ended the season on an 11-game hitting streak. The rookie hit .299 in 28 games in his first major league opportunity after being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis on Sept. 1.

--The Pirates hit two doubles, raising their season total to a club-record 322. The previous mark was 320 in 2000. 1B Adam LaRoche and 2B Freddy Sanchez tied for the team lead in doubles with 42, and 3B Jose Bautista had 36.

--1B Steve Pearce and RHP John Van Beschoten were chosen by the Pirates as their minor league player and pitcher of the year and honored in a pre-game ceremony Sunday. Pearce hit a combined .333 with 31 homers, 113 RBI and 14 steals in 134 games for high Class A Lynchburg, Class AA Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis. Van Benschoten was 10-7 with a 2.56 ERA in 19 starts for Indianapolis.

BY THE NUMBERS: 68 -- Wins for the Pirates this season, one more than they had in 2006.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Neal is a competitor and all competitive people look forward to challenges," -- Pirates President Frank Coonelly, on new general manager Neal Huntington joining a franchise that has had 15 straight losing seasons.

MEDICAL WATCH:
SS Jack Wilson (strained right hamstring) missed games Sept. 19-26. He returned to the lineup Sept. 27, but suffered a concussion on Sept. 29 and missed the rest of the season.

OF Nate McLouth (stomach virus) was scratched from the lineup Sept. 27-28. He missed the rest of the season.

2B Freddy Sanchez (sore right shoulder) left the Sept. 25 game. He had season-ending arthroscopic surgery Sept. 28, and he should be ready in time for spring training.

LHP Paul Maholm (lower back stiffness) was scratched from his Sept. 27 start, and he missed the rest of the season.

RHP Shawn Chacon (right elbow stiffness) last appeared Sept. 19, and missed the rest of the season.

RF/C Ryan Doumit (sprained right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 14 with a sprained left wrist. He was activated Sept. 8. That night, he suffered a severely sprained right ankle, and he is out for the season. He was moved to the 60-day DL on Sept. 11. He missed the rest of the season.

OF Chris Duffy (sprained left ankle) went on the disabled list retroactive to June 29. He started a rehab assignment on Aug. 17. On Aug. 21, the Pirates revealed that Duffy has also had a sore left shoulder all season. He had season-ending shoulder surgery Aug. 31.