Duke Named NL's Rookie of the Month

Pirates Notebook: Duke is top rookie for July

Thursday, August 04, 2005
By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Zach Duke yesterday was named National League rookie of the month for July after balloting by media who cover major-league games.

So what's next for the Pirates' left-hander -- Rookie of the Year?
"That's a long way off," Duke said, smiling.

Cy Young award?
"I don't think I can qualify for that," he said, grinning.

Hall of Fame?
"Don't jump the gun, guys," he said, laughing.

At times, it does seem difficult not to get carried away by what Duke has done in his six major-league starts. He's 4-0 with an 0.92 earned run average.

He compiled most of those gaudy statistics in July. In five starts, he was 3-0 with an 0.87 ERA.
"It was a pretty successful month for me -- definitely one of the best of my entire career," said Duke, 22. "Hopefully, I can keep it going and keep learning and keep improving."

Duke, who was 43-17 in the minor leagues when the Pirates brought him up a little more than a month ago, said he didn't expect to do what he has done to date.

"Not at all," he said. "I expected to have some success, but this has really surpassed every expectation I had. I'm kind of on cloud nine right now and I'm very confident. But I'm not going to get complacent. I still have a lot of work to do."

Some of that "work" will be realizing what he has done.
"It just blows me away, but it's nice to get that recognition," Duke said. "It's very surreal. I definitely didn't expect it at all, but I'm enjoying every second of it, that's for sure."

Believing in Wells

Kip Wells, 28 and in his fifth full major-league season, is 53-63 lifetime.
San Diego's Jake Peavy, 24, in his third full major-league season, is 42-28 lifetime and last season had the lowest ERA in the National League at 2.27.

Why the difference in the development process between Peavy and Wells, who lasted just 32/3 innings Tuesday night?

"I don't know," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "All I know is, we had Jason Schmidt."
McClendon paused, remembering a chat he'd had minutes before with former Pirates pitching coach Pete Vuckovich, now a special assistant to general manager Dave Littlefield. Schmidt's name had arisen during that conversation.

McClendon and Vuckovich had discussed the frustrations they'd had with Schmidt as they tried to get him to keep things simple and throw strikes. Eventually, Schmidt was traded to San Francisco, where he blossomed into a standout starter.

"That experience and where Jason is now, I would say you never give up," McClendon said. "If you think you have no chance, work a little harder. The point is, we just have to continue to work with [Wells] and continue to believe."

But what about how relatively quickly Peavy has become an above-average starter?
"God made us all different," McClendon said. "We all think differently. We all act differently. We all adjust and apply things differently. It takes some of us longer than others. It's just the way it is.

"I'll continue to believe in [Wells]. I'll continue to do everything we can to make him better."

North Side notches

Left-hander Mike Gonzalez, on the disabled list because of a sprained knee, went through fielding practice off a mound yesterday. He'll throw another bullpen session today, take tomorrow off, then pitch a simulated game Saturday. He should be on his way to Class AAA Indianapolis or Class AA Altoona to begin a rehabilitation assignment by Sunday. "Monday at the latest," Gonzalez said.

Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates' first-round draft pick in June who's batting .311 for Bradenton, Fla., leads the Gulf Coast Rookie League in walks (19) and is third in on-base percentage (.432).

FSN Pittsburgh and the Pirates have reached a new long-term agreement. Terms and length of the deal were not announced.