The Curve roster is pretty much set, and just like every other team in baseball right now, Altoona’s contingent likes the makeup of the club

“I like the team” new manager Tim Leiper said Friday, decision day for the Pirates regarding rosters throughout the system
“I think we have a lot of depth in our batting order
Our pitching looks good
Our bullpen is fantastic”

The Curve roster received no bombshell additions Friday, but at least there were no bombshell subtractions, either
The primary group of prospects expected to be with the club will be in Altoona, such as second baseman Craig Stansberry, right fielder Adam Boeve, shortstop Javier Guzman and reliever Josh Sharpless

One intriguing name that seemingly came out of nowhere is Rafael Alvarez, likely the opening-day left fielder
The 29-year-old left-handed hitter spent most of last season in the Triple-A level Mexican League after playing the previous four years in independent ball
A former Twins farmhand who reached Double-A New Britain in 1997 and 2000, Alvarez has a .296 career average over 12 minor league seasons
“Hard-hitting Alvarez” Leiper said with a smile
“He has a very simple swing, he gets to a great position to hit all the time and he takes the barrel to the ball
He’s a real professional hitter
He’s the type of guy you need to solidify a lineup, and you kind of build guys around him
If he has four at-bats a game, he’s going to give you four good at-bats”

The center field job will go to Vic Buttler, who opened last season with the Curve but was demoted all the way to low-A Hickory despite a .313 average through 25 games with Altoona

First baseman Brett Roneberg, bothered by back spasms this spring, will open the season on the disabled list
That opens the door for veteran Simon Pond to play every day at first base early on

The third base job was a battle between Eastern League veterans Travis Chapman and Brant Ust, and Chapman prevailed
Ust, meanwhile, was sent to Single-A Lynchburg

Carlos Maldonado will return as the everyday catcher and be backed up by Octavio Martinez

The other three backups on the opening-day roster will be infielders Brandon Chaves and Taber Lee and outfielder Chaz Lytle

The roster is not set in stone just yet, however, as the Pirates still have some moves to make up above, which could trickle down to the Curve
If so, it likely would affect Altoona’s bench or possibly the bullpen more than the everyday setup

The Curve’s success will depend heavily on the older players like Alvarez, Pond, Chapman, Roneberg and Maldonado
“They’re with the Double-A club to, one, help their own careers and, two, help our young players develop” Pirates farm director Brian Graham said
“They have knowledge of the league and they understand the level
It’ll definitely be helpful to the team”

The starting rotation will consist of right-handers Matt Peterson, Landon Jacobsen and Jason Roach and lefties Shane Youman and Josh Shortslef
Only Shortslef has yet to play in Double-A, and Youman is a first-year starter, while the other three have extensive experience at this level

“We’ve got a good rotation, a solid combination of experience and some youth mixed in” Graham said

The bullpen could be the strength of the club, led by right-hander Josh Sharpless
He dominated at Lynchburg last season but was limited to only seven games with the Curve because of a tender elbow

Brady Borner, the reigning Curve Pitcher of the Year, will be the primary left-hander out of the pen, and lefty James Johnson returns to Altoona for a second year

The right-handed relievers include Double-A newcomers Chris Hernandez and Jonathan Albaladejo
Righty Brandon Knight, who didn’t pitch in organized ball last season, rounds out the pen

Veteran right-hander Melqui Torres also has a chance to make the opening-day roster
Graham said “I don’t know yet” Friday when asked if Torres will be on the club

There will be no set closer to start the season, and Leiper said, “a lot of guys will get a shot to close”
“The worst thing you can do in the minor leagues is have one-inning closers” the manager added
“We’ll have those nights where guys are available for one inning, and they’ll get a chance
But those guys also need to pitch their two innings at certain points”

Leiper also promised every player on the club will get a chance to contribute
“Whoever’s on the team is going to play, especially early” he said
“As we move into it, especially when we get to those National League games, I don’t want guys coming off the bench that haven’t played
Everybody’s going to get a chance to get in there multiple days in a row, not just one day and then sit for four”

Graham, responsible for putting the team together, believes the Curve will be a well-rounded, balanced club
“The bullpen definitely has a chance to be a strength” he said
“I think our starting pitching should be solid, and I think we’ll score some runs
We don’t have a tremendous amount of team speed, but I do think we’ll score some runs”

Roster roundup

The Curve’s opening-day roster won’t be official until the Pirates make a few more moves at the big league level, but this is the group currently slated to start the season in Altoona:-

Starting position players
C - Carlos Maldonado - .252, 7 HRs, 34 RBIs for Curve in 2005
1B - Simon Pond - 19 homers, 75 RBIs for Bowie in 2005
2B - Craig Stansberry - 18 homers, 11 3Bs for Curve in 2005
SS - Javier Guzman - .324 for Lynchburg, .236 for Curve in 2005
3B - Travis Chapman - Has played only 57 games past two seasons
LF - Rafael Alvarez - .296 hitter over 12 minor league seasons
CF - Vic Buttler - .313 in 25 games for Curve in 2005
RF - Adam Boeve - .288, 5 HRs, 23 RBIs in 47 games for Curve in 2005
Off the Bench
IF - Brandon Chaves - .215 for Curve, .300 for Lynchburg in 2005
IF - Taber Lee - .203 for Curve, .241 for Lynchburg in 2005
OF Chaz Lytle .296 for Lynchburg, .217 for Curve in 2005
C - Octavio Martinez - .354 in 14 games for Bowie in 2005
1B - Brett Roneberg - Will start season on disabled list (back)
Starting rotation
RHP - Matt Peterson - 11-9, 5.51 ERA for Curve in 2005
RHP - Landon Jacobsen - Fourth straight opening day with Curve
RHP - Jason Roach - 3.89 ERA over eight minor league seasons
LHP - Josh Shortslef - 10-5, 4.58 ERA for Lynchburg in 2005
LHP - Shane Youman - 4-0, 2.54 ERA in five Curve starts in 2005
Bullpen
RHP - Josh Sharpless - 27 straight scoreless IP at Lynchburg in 2005
RHP - Chris Hernandez - 6-3, 3.82 ERA, 16 saves for Lynchburg in 2005
RHP - Jonathan Albaladejo - 4-3, 3.91 ERA for Lynchburg in 2005
RHP - Brandon Knight - Didn’t play organized ball in 2005
LHP - Brady Borner - 6-1, 2.08 ERA for Curve in 2005
LHP - James Johnson - 5-4, 3.33 ERA for Curve in 2005