Pirates

Fans of the Baltimore-area band Pirates for Sail are accustomed to song titles like "Time Flyes When You're Havin' Rum. " They're used to such silly lyrics as: "Well we're pyrate singers, we've got most of our fingers/ And we pillage everywhere we go. / We sing about booty and we sing about blood / But we can't get paid for a show. " Supporters have rolled their eyes at the story describing the group's first public (albeit unauthorized) appearance at the Mall in Columbia in 2005.

The mood Tuesday inside Pickles Pub, across from Camden Yards, matched the gray rainy weather. As noontime regulars ate their lunch and quietly caressed glasses of beer amid the low-key chatter and music playing in the background, something clearly was wrong. Mick Kipp, their favorite bartender, co-worker, cook, spice maker, friend and genuine all-around character, was missing. Michael D. "Mick" Kipp, the stuntman-turned-bartender known for his zest for life and his colorful chili-pepper-decorated kilts, bandannas and earring, died Sunday from cardiac arrest at his Annapolis home.

The Pirates have hired Clint Hurdle as their new manager, SI.com reported Sunday. The Pirates will announce the hiring Monday. Hurdle spent 2010 as the hitting coach for the Rangers, who led the majors in batting average, were fifth in runs scored and advanced to the World Series. The Pirates fired John Russell after three last-place finishes in three years. Pittsburgh has not enjoyed a winning season since 1992 and lost 105 games last season, the most for the franchise since 1952.

While we thank The Sun for letting the public know that Fell's Point is celebrating Privateer Day, we note that once again you totally misunderstand what it represents and, in the process, continue to insult the memory of some truly great American war veterans, our 1812 privateers ("'ARRR' and stuff," April 15). Here's one online quote: "One of Baltimore's oldest neighborhoods embraces its privateering past with a three-day celebration of all things pirate (peg legs and shoulder parrots optional)

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles will make the short drive up north to Bradenton to face the Pirates this afternoon. They'll be playing at the new and improved McKechnie Field. It has undergone a $10 million facelift since last spring. There's a 70 percent chance of showers today -- and a tornado watch was in effect for most of the Tampa area, including Bradenton, until 3 p.m. -- so weather could be an issue. Chris Tillman will make his first spring start for the Orioles. He will likely go two innings.

While we thank The Sun for letting the public know that Fell's Point is celebrating Privateer Day, we note that once again you totally misunderstand what it represents and, in the process, continue to insult the memory of some truly great American war veterans, our 1812 privateers ("'ARRR' and stuff," April 15). Here's one online quote: "One of Baltimore's oldest neighborhoods embraces its privateering past with a three-day celebration of all things pirate (peg legs and shoulder parrots optional)

The Orioles' Grapefruit League game Tuesday against the Pirates in Bradenton was rained out, as a strong band of storms pummeled Florida's Gulf Coast throughout the day. The tarp was out on McKechnie Field hours before the scheduled 1:05 p.m. start time, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter inspected the field before the game was called. The entire Tampa Bay region was under a tornado watch throughout the morning and early afternoon. Chris Tillman was scheduled to start that game for the Orioles.

The Orioles, as the old saying goes, let the game bounce through their legs on Wednesday, losing, 5-4, to the Pirates after rookie second baseman Blake Davis got beat five hole on a hard ground ball and gave away the game-winning runs. The Orioles dropped the three-game set, the fourth consecutive series they have lost. But this one stung a little bit more, and it wasn’t because of the Baltimore-Pittsburgh civic rivalry. As Peter Schmuck has preached on his blog , the last-place Orioles needed to beat the Pirates in this week’s battle of baseball’s biggest losers “because of the sad state of baseball in both towns and what it says to fans when you're selling a turnaround and you can't beat the [National League]

Jake Arrieta made the most of his spot start tonight against the Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander held Pittsburgh to one run on seven hits over seven innings, tying a career-high with nine strikeouts. Arrieta, who was demoted to the bullpen following his last start Friday, has lost eight of his last nine decisions heading into the day, but was given the start Wednesday after left-hander Brian Matusz bunted a ball off his nose Tuesday during pitchers batting practice. That puts Arrieta in line for his first win since May 2, when he threw eight shutout innings at Yankee Stadium.

Ahoy dear readers, ye swash bucklers and mates, Pirates have invaded Havre de Grace and encamped at the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House, this weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discover where the first act of piracy occurred in 1635 in Maryland, by visiting the pirate encampment, complete with cannon fire skirmishes, period clothing and demonstrations. Children's activities, guided tours and musical entertainment by "Scales and Crosstones" are also included. Admission is $3; kids under 12 are free.

The Patterson Mill Middle School Drama Company performed "Pirates of Penzance Jr. " on March 22 to 24. Cast members included Todd Campo, Valerie Ziegler, Grace Fisher, Kaitlyn Iwanowski, Caleb Blomquist, Jonathan Myers, Cameron Warlick, Ali Leary, Hannah Moots, Anna Odell, Elise Alders, Ellie Byers, Makayla Hauk-Meyer, Hannah Lorenzo, Caroline McCarthy, Caren Meckelnberg, Lauren Piercy, Regan Rich, Meg Thompson, Jody Bogner, Cheyenne Croteau, Jade...

The Orioles scored eight runs in the first inning Sunday, but still had to squeak out a victory in the late innings of a sloppy, rainy contest. Paced by a Chris Dickerson grand slam against Pittsburgh starter Chris Leroux, the Orioles took an 8-0 lead in the top of a first that included the ejection of Pirates catcher Russell Martin for arguing balls and strikes. The Orioles and starter Brian Matusz had trouble holding the lead. Matusz gave up two runs in the first on an Andrew McCutchen homer and allowed three more runs before leaving the game after the fourth.

The Orioles make their third and final spring trip to Bradenton today to face the Pirates in a 1:05 p.m. start. Left-hander Brian Matusz will start for the Orioles. Pirates pitcher Jeff Karstens, scheduled to make his first spring start, has been scratched with lingering shoulder discomfort, so right-hander Chris Leroux will start for Pittsburgh. Matusz has pitched well in competing for the fifth rotation spot, compiling a 2.40 ERA in five spring appearances. Meanwhile, Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland will make his first spring start - all of his seven previous starts came out of the bullpen - on Monday against the Red Sox in a nationally televised game.

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, competing for the fifth starter's spot, took a step backward Sunday, allowing five runs in four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matusz was staked an 8-0 lead in the first inning, but allowed two runs in the first on an Andrew McCutchen homer and two more in the third on RBIs by Gaby Sanchez and Neil Walker. Overall, he gave up nine hits and a walk while striking out two. He threw 67 pitches, 46 for strikes. “Just went out there, never found a rhythm and didn't pitch well,” said Matusz, who now has a 4.26 ERA in six spring games (four starts)

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta and Pirates left-hander Jonathan Sanchez dueled into the late innings on Thursday night with neither starter allowing a run. Arrieta - who emerged as the front runner for the team's open No. 5 starter position - pitched six scoreless innings in an eventual scoreless 10-inning tie with Pittsburgh. Arrieta stranded five runners in scoring position and escaped two-on, one-out jams in both the fourth and fifth innings. Sanchez held the Orioles to two hits - both of them singles by third baseman Manny Machado - in five innings.

Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta made a huge push toward solidifying his case for the team's fifth starter spot on Thursday night, tossing six shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates -- his third straight scoreless Grapefruit League outing -- at Ed Smith Stadium. Arrieta hasn't allowed a run over 14 2/3 innings in his past three spring outings. He allowed an unearned run in an exhibition start against Spain's World Baseball Classic team in the outing before that stretch. In five Grapefruit League outings, Arrieta has allowed just three earned runs and 11 hits, recording a 1.56 ERA with 16 strikeouts and eight walks.

The Orioles make their third and final spring trip to Bradenton today to face the Pirates in a 1:05 p.m. start. Left-hander Brian Matusz will start for the Orioles. Pirates pitcher Jeff Karstens, scheduled to make his first spring start, has been scratched with lingering shoulder discomfort, so right-hander Chris Leroux will start for Pittsburgh. Matusz has pitched well in competing for the fifth rotation spot, compiling a 2.40 ERA in five spring appearances. Meanwhile, Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland will make his first spring start - all of his seven previous starts came out of the bullpen - on Monday against the Red Sox in a nationally televised game.

T here aren't many things more meat and potatoes than a hearty helping of Lefty Kreh . So there I was Tuesday night, playing hooky from a mundane government meeting to fork down protein and starch with the greatest fly fisherman, author and teacher of them all. Kreh, weeks from his 85th birthday, was at the Boatyard Bar and Grill in Eastport to swap stories, tell jokes and watch a cult fishing movie with old pals and admirers....

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez learned on Saturday night that he would be getting the start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon because Chris Tillman is dealing with abdomen soreness. It was no big deal for Gonzalez, who made 15 starts for the Orioles last year and is expected to be in the rotation to begin this season. Gonzalez said everything went well in the bullpen, but his control abandoned him once he took the mound in a 5-2 Orioles loss to the Pirates.

In his second outing of the spring, Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen struggled occasionally with his command Friday night, but overall he continued his progression for the regular season. Starting in a 6-3 Grapefruit League win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chen allowed one hit and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) and struck out four. He threw 54 pitches, 33 strikes, hitting between 89 and 91 mph on his fastball, 73 to 75 on his curve and 79 to 82 on his slider - just slightly below his in-season marks.