Ramirez early fan favorite for Rays

Manny Ramirez showed Monday against Pittsburgh one of many reasons why he has become a fan favorite for the Tampa Rays this season.

Besides smashing two line drive base hits in two at-bats and driving in a run, the new Tampa Ray also scored from third base on a wild pitch. Ramirez handled two balls in the outfield without any problems though he admitted he was nervous.

Ramirez now has 3 hits in 4 at-bats for the Rays. However it was his hustle on the wild pitch that earned him a lot of adoration from the fans in the Rays game with Pittsburgh.

“I just go and play. The game says play ball so I just go and play. I am just happy I was safe,” Ramirez said. “I was kind of nervous out there in left field, but I feel great and I am excited. Anyway I can help the team is good for me. This is a long season and when it’s over I am going to see where my game was.”

Hurdle won't jeopardize things, but wants to win spring games

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he is not going to jeopardize anyone's health or push someone past his pitch limit to win a spring game, but at the same time he doesn't want to lose every game.

"There is a touch and feel to it. We just want to make sure the guys we have on the field are doing the things we've asked them to do," Hurdle said Wednesday after practice. "Pitchers following the mitt, retiring hitters on three or four pitches or less and when they do get runners on base maintenance of the inning."

Hurdle said statistics can come and go and be meaningful, but feels there is more to it than grabbing a number and holding on to it.

"The results are what you are looking for, but there is that fine line and you need to read into it a little," Hurdle said. "Hits are good, but it's not going to be the tell tale sign that is the only factor used in our decision making process."

Hurdle wants to see improvement out of Bucs shortstop Cedeno

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said his club needs shortstop Ronny Cedeno to play with consistency and make good decision in the infield and take more of a leadership role in the infield.

"Offensively, we need him to have better quality at-bats and work with him on keeping the ball out of the air and become a consistent major league player," Hurdle said. "The separation at this level is consistency day in and day out. He has got work in front of him. We stressed the importance of taking one play at a time and not let one miscue stay on your mind or in your back pocket."

Hurdle said he doesn't want to see first pitch hacking from any of his players and that he would like to see a method to their at-bats. He feels the club can help Cedeno with plate discipline and pitch selection.

"Coming in everyone has a clean slate. Everyone will know what their areas of improvement are and what they need to do," Hurdle said. "We want players to drive the ball and focus on back spin and to be aggressive within the strike zone.

Pirates Olsen out with injury

Pittsburgh Pirates newly acquired lefthander Scott Olsen suffered a mild strain in his left hamstring and will be out for at least a week.

Olsen, who is expected to battle for the fifth starter job, incurred the injury during fielding practice on Thursday.

"We are going to take it a day at a time and a week lost is a week lost," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "There is no more concern other than there is going to be a time where he is not going to be involved.

Could Milledge be done in Pittsburgh

A strained oblique muscle appears to have shut Lastings Milledge down for the rest of the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But things could get even worse next year for the Lakewood Ranch High product and it would have nothing to do with an injury.

The Pirates have seemingly given up on Milledge during the last month of the season while using everybody but your grandmother in right field where he came into the season as a starter.

The 25 year-old has a respectable .277 batting average and is hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position, but with only four homers that is not enough, Pirates GM Neal Huntington says.

Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Milledge needs to hit for more power, become a better base runner and improve his defense in the outfield.

“Lastings has got to get the ability to drive the ball more consistently. The batting average is nice, but it’s also about how much he can get on base, how much can he drive the ball, how much power is there?” Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

Russell's use of Milledge baffling

Can’t help but wonder what Pirates manager John Russell is thinking these days when it comes to Lastings Milledge.

First Russell platooned Milledge with Ryan Church, though he was hitting under .200 against right-handers while Milledge was hitting over .250 against them and over .300 against lefties.

The Pirates got rid of Church in a trade and now Russell is trying to convert catcher Ryan Doumit into a right fielder and has him taking a lot of Milledge’s playing time away.

But you have to give credit to the Palmetto native, who led Lakewood Ranch to its only state baseball championship his senior year. Milledge has handled the situation without moaning or protesting and has adopted a positive attitude.

He even maintained that demeanor when the switch hitting Doumit started against a lefty though he is batting under .200 against southpaws, more than 100 points less than Milledge.

“I just feel like, when I get my opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it, whether it’s two times a week or three times a week,” Milledge told the Post-Gazette.com this week.

Milledge has hit .276 in his last 10 games, getting at least one hit in all but two games where he only had three combined at-bats. For the season, he is hitting .316 against lefties and .251 against right handers.

With runners in scoring position for the season, Milledge is batting .393 against lefties and .327 against righties. Doumit is a switch hitter, but is batting an anemic .179 against lefties striking 20 times in 112 at-bats and .280 against righthanders. With RISP, Doumit is batting .240 from the right side and .250 from the left.

Milledge finally gets homer

And on the 55th game of the 2010 season on his 220th at bat, Lastings Milledge finally hit his first homer.

Before naysayers start screaming it’s about time, let’s remember the Pittsburgh Pirates don’t have many things to feel good about these days and Milledge brings a smidgen of hope.

The Pirates head into the week with six straight losses, including 17 straight on the road with only two wins in their last 20 games.

In their 3-2 loss to Oakland on Sunday, the Pirates looked like the Keystone Cops with four errors and Milledge did go to 2 for 4 with his homer to raise his batting average to .279.

Milledge is hitting .313 against lefties and .265 against right handers. The best part is that with runners in scoring position, the Lakewood Ranch High graduate is hitting .471 against lefties and .353 against right handers.