LAS VEGAS -- Because of the World Baseball Classic, spring training will be a week longer in 2009. The Pirates today released their 35-game Grapefruit League schedule, which includes 19 home games (three more than last year).
The Pirates' first game is Feb. 25 against the Phillies at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla. The Pirates also will play two night games at McKechnie: March 16 against the Rays and March 27 against the Blue Jays. The home schedule includes two games against the Phillies, two against the Rays, two against the Red Sox and one against the Yankees.
The annual charity game against Manatee County Community College is slated for April 2.
The Pirates again will use two pricing plans, depending upon the marquee value of the opponent. Tickets are now on sale via www.Pirates.com or by calling 941-747-3031.
2009 PITTSBURGH Pirates SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE
DayDateOpponentSiteTimeWednesdayFeb. 25PHILADELPHIABRADENTON1:05 p.m.ThursdayFeb. 26BostonFort Myers1:05 p.m.FridayFeb. 27ATLANTABRADENTON1:05 p.m.SaturdayFeb. 28HoustonKissimmee1:05 p.m.SundayMarch 1DETROITBRADENTON1:05 p.m.MondayMarch 2CINCINNATIBRADENTON1:05 p.m.TuesdayMarch 3NETHERLANDS (WBC)BRADENTON1:05 p.m.WednesdayMarch 4MINNESOTABRADENTON1:05 p.m.ThursdayMarch 5CincinnatiSarasota1:05 p.m.FridayMarch 6TAMPA BAYBRADENTON1:05 p.m.SaturdayMarch 7MinnesotaFort Myers1:05 p.m.SundayMarch 8HOUSTONBRADENTON1:05 p.m.MondayMarch 9BOSTONBRADENTON1:05 p.m.TuesdayMarch 10Off DayWednesdayMarch 11TorontoDunedin1:05 p.m.ThursdayMarch 12MINNESOTABRADENTON1:05 p.m.FridayMarch 13PhiladelphiaClearwater1:05 p.m.SaturdayMarch 14NEW YORKBRADENTON1:05 p.m.
SundayMarch 15Tampa BayPort Charlotte1:05 p.m.MondayMarch 16TAMPA BAYBRADENTON7:05 p.m.TuesdayMarch 17New YorkTampa7:15 p.m.WednesdayMarch 18MINNESOTABRADENTON1:05 p.m.ThursdayMarch 19Off DayFridayMarch 20BostonFort Myers1:05 p.m.SaturdayMarch 21CincinnatiSarasota1:05 p.m.SundayMarch 22CINCINNATIBRADENTON1:05 p.m.MondayMarch 23TAMPA BAYBRADENTON1:05 p.m.TuesdayMarch 24AtlantaOrlando6:05 p.m.WednesdayMarch 25Tampa BayPort Charlotte7:05 p.m.ThursdayMarch 26Off DayFridayMarch 27TORONTOBRADENTON7:05 p.m.SaturdayMarch 28PHILADELPHIABRADENTON1:05 p.m.SundayMarch 29New YorkTampa1:15 p.m.MondayMarch 30CINCINNATIBRADENTON1:05 p.m.TuesdayMarch 31MinnesotaFort Myers1:05 p.m.WednesdayApril 1BOSTONBRADENTON1:05 p.m.ThursdayApril 2CincinnatiSarasota1:05 p.m.
MANATEE C.C.BRADENTON1:05 p.m.
FridayApril 3MINNESOTABRADENTON1:05 p.m.SaturdayApril 4MinnesotaFort Myers1:05 p.m.
