Kenny Lofton returned to PNC Park on Friday with the Chicago Cubs, but as far as the Pirates are concerned, his presence hardly has been missed the second half of the season.
The emergence of center fielder Tike Redman has helped take some of the sting out of the trade that sent Lofton and third baseman Aramis Ramirez to the Cubs.
Since the July 22 deal, Redman has posted similar number to Lofton. Both players entered the doubleheader last night batting .311 since the trade. Redman had a slight edge in doubles (13-12), triples (5-3), home runs (3-2) and RBI (16-11). Lofton had the advantage in runs scored (33-32) and stolen bases (11-5).
"Tike really has stepped up," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Let him do it for 10 years, and we'll see what happens."
Redman's play has given him the inside track on the starting center field job next spring. Asked if the position is one that needs to be addressed in the winter, McClendon said, "Not in my mind. This gives us an opportunity to put our focus and dollars elsewhere."
Redman has come a long way since last year, when he was taken off the 40-man roster and re-signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates after the 29 other teams passed on acquiring him.
McClendon had a hunch Redman could have a big year and said as much at the staff meetings held before spring training started.
"I told everyone not to give up on this player," McClendon said. "He was the only true center fielder we had in our organization."
GOING SOUTH
Redman is among a handful of players that will follow bench coach Pete Mackanin to Venezuela for the winter league season. Mackanin will manage a team that also will include outfielder J.J. Davis and left-handed pitchers Mike Gonzalez and John Grabow.
Davis is excited about his first trip to a foreign winter league.
"I need it because I missed a lot of time in my first four years," he said. "I need a lot of baseball in the off-season, and I want to play. I've heard some of the best pitching in winter ball is in Venezuela. It will be good to see that kind of pitching."
Before he heads to Venezuela, Davis will head to Arizona and tryouts for the U.S. Olympic team.
SANDERS SIT
Outfielder Reggie Sanders missed essentially his third and fourth games because of a strained muscle in his left side. His status remains day to day, but the injury could force him out of the remainder of the series.
Until he was hurt Wednesday night, he played one-half inning before leaving the game, Sanders had an outside shot of reaching 100 RBI for the first time in his career. He has a team-leading 87, and his 31 homers are within two of his career best.
"It's a shame because there were some personal goals he could have achieved," McClendon said.
OQUENDO, SHELTON TO BE HONORED
This weekend, the Pirates will name Ian Oquendo and Chris Shelton as their minor-league pitcher and player of the year, respectively.
Oquendo, a 21-year-old right-hander, was 10-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 20 starts at Class A Lynchburg before being promoted to Class AA Altoona. Oquendo was 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA in six starts at the higher level. Combined, he had 145 strikeouts and 43 walks in 153 innings. He was the Pirates' 26th-round pick in the 2000 draft.
Shelton, a 23-year-old catcher/first baseman, also split the season between Lynchburg and Altoona. He batted .359 with 21 homers and 69 RBI in 95 games at Lynchburg and .279 with no homers and 14 RBI in 35 games at Altoona. He was the Pirates' 33rd-round pick in the 2001 draft.
BEAST OF THE EAST
Altoona left-hander Sean Burnett has been named the Class AA Eastern League pitcher of the year. Burnett, who turned 21 on Wednesday, was 14-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 27 starts. He led the league in wins. Burnett was the Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year in 2002.
