PIRATES ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Attendance: Monday's paid attendance of 38,016 was the largest opening day and ninth overall largest crowd for the Pirates in their five years in PNC Park. The home opener record was set in the first game in 2001 -- 36,954. "The hoopla of opening day is special," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "You want to win for that [big] home crowd, but the fact is you're not going to win 162 of them. It's a tough loss but we'll bounce back."Changes: Only two players from the Bucs' 2004 opener were in Monday's lineup: shortstop Jack Wilson and center fielder Tike Redman. Second baseman Bobby Hill and infielder/outfielder Craig Wilson were on the bench. No longer on the team are catcher Jason Kendall, third baseman Chris Stynes, first baseman Randall Simon and outfielder Raul Mondesi.Pride of the Pirates: Vince Lascheid, the Pirates' organist since 1970, was named this year's winner of the "Pride of the Pirates" award. "Vince has been a Pirates tradition for 35 seasons and a popular part of attending a baseball game in Pittsburgh," owner Kevin McClatchy said. "His musical stylings are well-known among our fans and throughout baseball." Lascheid began his Pirates career when Three Rivers Stadium opened in 1970. Lascheid's notoriety comes from his the name association game he play when batters come to the plate. Lascheid also was the Penguins' organist for more than 30 years and is a 2003 inductee in the Pens' Hall of Fame. He joins Bill Virdon, Danny Murtaugh, Chuck Tanner, Steve Blass, Nellie Briles and June Schaut as Pride honorees.Tickets: The Pirates said their full season ticket sales for 2005 are up approximately 20 percent. Full season ticket buyers who renew will have access to tickets for the 2006 All-Star Game. Group sales are up 12 percent over last year and single game advance sales are up 11 percent. Season tickets are still available. Information is available by calling 1-800-BUY-BUCS.On deck: The Pirates close their short homestand Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. against the Brewers. Kip Wells (5-7, 4.55 earned run average in 2004) will pitch against Doug Davis (12-12, 3.39). The Bucs then hit the road for four games against the Padres in San Diego and three in Milwaukee. Mark Redman and Josh Fogg will start the Thursday and Friday games. Opening day starter Oliver Perez (0-1, 10.80 ERA) will pitch Saturday. The Pirates' next homestand will have three games against the Chicago Cubs (April 15-17) and two against the St. Louis Cardinals (April 18-19).McClendon on Perez: "I thought he was really under control," McClendon said. "Ollie can get his emotions going sometimes and he handled himself pretty darn [well] out there from an emotional standpoint. He just ran out of gas -- he threw too many pitches but when he was in there he certainly kept us in the ball game." In five-plus innings, Perez threw 98 pitches with 52 strikes.Solid relief: Ryan Vogelsong tossed three scoreless innings for the Bucs. "That was a big outing for Vogie," McClendon said. "He threw the ball well and saved the bullpen."
Attendance: Monday's paid attendance of 38,016 was the largest opening day and ninth overall largest crowd for the Pirates in their five years in PNC Park. The home opener record was set in the first game in 2001 -- 36,954. "The hoopla of opening day is special," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "You want to win for that [big] home crowd, but the fact is you're not going to win 162 of them. It's a tough loss but we'll bounce back."Changes: Only two players from the Bucs' 2004 opener were in Monday's lineup: shortstop Jack Wilson and center fielder Tike Redman. Second baseman Bobby Hill and infielder/outfielder Craig Wilson were on the bench. No longer on the team are catcher Jason Kendall, third baseman Chris Stynes, first baseman Randall Simon and outfielder Raul Mondesi.Pride of the Pirates: Vince Lascheid, the Pirates' organist since 1970, was named this year's winner of the "Pride of the Pirates" award. "Vince has been a Pirates tradition for 35 seasons and a popular part of attending a baseball game in Pittsburgh," owner Kevin McClatchy said. "His musical stylings are well-known among our fans and throughout baseball." Lascheid began his Pirates career when Three Rivers Stadium opened in 1970. Lascheid's notoriety comes from his the name association game he play when batters come to the plate. Lascheid also was the Penguins' organist for more than 30 years and is a 2003 inductee in the Pens' Hall of Fame. He joins Bill Virdon, Danny Murtaugh, Chuck Tanner, Steve Blass, Nellie Briles and June Schaut as Pride honorees.Tickets: The Pirates said their full season ticket sales for 2005 are up approximately 20 percent. Full season ticket buyers who renew will have access to tickets for the 2006 All-Star Game. Group sales are up 12 percent over last year and single game advance sales are up 11 percent. Season tickets are still available. Information is available by calling 1-800-BUY-BUCS.On deck: The Pirates close their short homestand Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. against the Brewers. Kip Wells (5-7, 4.55 earned run average in 2004) will pitch against Doug Davis (12-12, 3.39). The Bucs then hit the road for four games against the Padres in San Diego and three in Milwaukee. Mark Redman and Josh Fogg will start the Thursday and Friday games. Opening day starter Oliver Perez (0-1, 10.80 ERA) will pitch Saturday. The Pirates' next homestand will have three games against the Chicago Cubs (April 15-17) and two against the St. Louis Cardinals (April 18-19).McClendon on Perez: "I thought he was really under control," McClendon said. "Ollie can get his emotions going sometimes and he handled himself pretty darn [well] out there from an emotional standpoint. He just ran out of gas -- he threw too many pitches but when he was in there he certainly kept us in the ball game." In five-plus innings, Perez threw 98 pitches with 52 strikes.Solid relief: Ryan Vogelsong tossed three scoreless innings for the Bucs. "That was a big outing for Vogie," McClendon said. "He threw the ball well and saved the bullpen."