Freddy Sanchez got off to a slow start to the 2007 season but he is on fire in the 2nd half of the season.  Since the All-Star Break, Sanchez is 51 for 154 (.331 avg, .950 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 7 homers and 28 RBIs.  Sanchez has now played in 115 games this season and he is 147 of 478 (.308 avg, .786 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 9 homers and 60 RBIs.

The Pirates have traded AAA outfielder Luis Matos to the New York Mets for future considerations.  This won’t hurt the Pirates at all as Matos was hitting .255 with a .679 OPS in 100 games in AAA ball this season.  He has scored 46 runs, hit 3 homers, drove in 30 runs and stole 9 bases in the minors this season.

The Pirates couldn’t have thought it was a good idea to sign a 39-year old Japanese pitcher in the off-season but they did it.  Kuwata has been overmatched since Day #1 with the Pirates and he had to go because he was pitching batting practice.  He pitched in 19 games this season for the Pirates and he was 0-1 with a 9.43 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP.  In 21 innings he allowed 25 hits, 6 homers, walked 15 batters and whiffed 12.  The Pirates have called up Matt Kata to take Kuwata’s spot on the roster.  Kata has played in 17 games this season for the Pirates and he is 6 for 28 (.214 avg) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

The Pirates have placed C/OF Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained wrist.  This will hurt the Pirates as Doumit has swung a good bat so far this season for them.  He has played in 82 games this season and he is 69 for 249 (.277 avg, .822 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 9 homers and 32 RBIs.  Doumit will be replaced as the backup catcher by Carlos Maldonado who has been called up from AAA.  Maldonado is having a rough season in the minors with the bat as he has played in 49 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 30 for 143 (.210 avg, .572 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer and 19 RBIs.  Look for the Pirates to increase the workload on Ronny Paulino due to the fact that Maldonado can’t hit a lick.  Paulino has played in 92 games this season and he is 78 for 324 (.241 avg, .654 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 8 homers and 37 RBIs.

The Pirates have signed righty starting pitcher Victor Zambrano to a minor league contract and they have sent him to AAA.  Zambrano has had a rough season so far as he was 0-2 with a 10.97 ERA and a 2.91 WHIP in 8 games (2 starts).  He worked 10.2 innings for the Blue Jays this season and he allowed 20 hits, walked 11 batters and whiffed 5.  It will be interesting to see if the Pirates reward him with a call-up in September if he pitches well in AAA ball.