Pirates draw suspension
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pirates hitting coach Gerald Perry was suspended eight games and St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan was suspended four games for a scuffle during batting practice at Pittsburgh last month. Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon got a one-game for escalating the shoving match, which broke out before the Cardinals’ 8-3 victory over the Pirates on Aug. 24. Perry and Duncan had to be restrained by players.
The suspensions were scheduled to begin Friday. The three coaches also were fined an undisclosed amount.
The scuffle came after two contentious games that featured injuries to both teams. Pittsburgh second baseman Jose Castillo sustained a season-ending knee injury when he collided with Hector Luna while trying to turn a double play on Aug. 22. The Cardinals’ So Taguchi wound up with a bruised hand the following night when he was hit by a pitch from Ryan Vogelsong in the ninth inning.
Last season, McClendon and La Russa were each suspended for two games after getting into a shouting match.
No hike in ticket prices
The Pirates are holding the line on ticket prices at PNC Park next season.
It will be the fourth year in a row that season and individual ticket prices have remained the same or been lowered.
Those buying season tickets will receive a per-ticket discount for the third consecutive year. Full season tickets will cost $3 to $5 less per game. Partial-season ticket-holders will get $1 to $3 off the individual ticket price.
The Pirates currently have the equivalent of 9,250 full-season ticket-holders, the most since the 2002 season when the Pirates had 10,229.
Single game tickets range from $35 for dugout boxes to $9 for bleacher and outfield grandstand seats.
The Pirates average ticket price of $17.08 is the 23rd lowest among the 30 Major League teams, according to Team Marketing Report. The league average is $19.82.
The Pirates have drawn 1,519,875 fans this season, an average of 24,125 per game, with 16 home games remaining. Last season, the team drew 1,583,031 fans.