Raul Chavez?

On the same day that the rumors began to fly that veteran backstop Raul Chavez might get the nod to stay in Pittsburgh over Ronny Paulino when Ryan Doumit returns to the lineup,Chavez may have cemented his job with a 3 RBI night in the Pirates 5-2 win over the Astros.
Chavez broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with a two run single that scored Adam LaRoche and Xavier Nady and sealed the win and added an insurance run in the 8th with a sacrifice fly to Houston centerfielder Michael Bourn that scored LaRoche.
The remaining Pirate RBI's went to LaRoche (4th inning single) and Nate McLouth (5th inning single).
Zach Duke improved to 3-4 on the campaign with an excellent outing that saw him last for 7 and two third innings and allow just two runs on seven hits.
Duke struck out two and walked the same amount for the game.
Damaso Marte was brought into the game to finish the 8th and Matt Capps whiffed 2 Astros in the ninth to earn his 12th save of the year with a flawless inning.
The series rubber match is tonight at 7.

Pitching Matchup
Houston:Brandon Backe (4-6, 4.54 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Paul Maholm (3-5, 4.74) 7:05

Bullpen Notes

Roy Oswalt does not seem to have the same stuff as in the past.
Oswalt picked up the loss in the second game of the series and it seems like his velocity is down a bit.
Just that alone explains some about his troubles this season.

The draft is today and it seems like Pedro Alvarez is the Pirates guy.
I still think that Pittsburgh would like to see Tampa take Tim Beckham to avoid a difficult choice,but Tampa may select Buster Posey instead.
Alvarez gives the Pirates front office a chance to show the fans that there really is a plan to win and not just make money.

The top recruit of the incoming class for Maryland's basketball program has asked for his release to transfer.
Gus Gilchrist asked and was given permission to transfer in another sign of the struggles of the Terrapin program over the last few seasons.
The 6'9 Gilchrist was expected to plug the hole left by James Gist next season and comes on the heels of another recruit JUCO transfer Tyree Evans.

And finally a note on Elizabeth Schulze bobblehead night on Saturday from the Hagerstown Suns.
I think this is a different scenario than with Nora Roberts bobblehead last season.
Roberts put backsides into seats that would not be there on any other occasion.
Will Schulze (the conductor of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra) do that?
I doubt it.
And that my friends (and other readers) is why you have promotions in the first place.

Maybe back later with a quick thought on the Pirates and (maybe) Indians first round picks in the draft.

Photo Credit
Duke:Don Wright-AP Photo