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International league

By Paul Sokoloski psokoloski@timesleader.com
Times Leader Sports Columnist
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BRADENTON, Fla. — For most of this week, Kyle Anson’s been acting like a security guard.

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Yankees catching prospect Kyle Anson is trying to make the leap this season to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The fifth-year pro spent most of last season with Single-A Tampa.

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And for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, he just might wind up as a security blanket.

While a couple other contenders for SWB’s starting catcher’s job are still spending time in big league training camp, Anson’s been gunning down base stealers all over Florida.

The strong-armed catcher did it again on Friday, as he nailed Brian Friday attempting to swipe second base during Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 5-5 tie with a Pittsburgh Pirates squad split between major leaguers and guys destined for the minors.

“I’m more of a defensive guy, who tries to hit a little bit,” said Anson, a fifth-year pro who missed all of 2006 with an injured left calf muscle, then spent an early portion of 2007 on the disabled list with a hamstring problem and missed time with a sprained ankle last season. “We still have a couple guys in the big leagues’ (camp) who are expected to get the starting job here. Every year, at the end of spring training, it’s always a scramble for positions.”

Certainly, P.J. Pilittere – coming off two strong seasons with Double-A Trenton – and veteran Chris Stewart are favorites to wind up behind the plate for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when the parent Yankees start whittling down their major league roster next week.

But with New York star catcher Jorge Posada coming off last year’s season-ending shoulder surgery, things could get interesting behind the plate with the parent Yankees. And any domino effect could create an opening in the high-level minors for a guy like Anson, who played most of last season with Single-A Tampa.

And his defensive prowess might have helped his case this week.

Anson gunned down World Series star Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies in a minor league spring game Wednesday – which earned Anson a fist bump from Yankees pitching prospect Phil Hughes. Anson followed that up in his next start with a strong throw Friday that cut down a Pirates minor leaguer named Friday.

“Anytime you throw somebody out, that’s good,” said Anson, who was entrusted with calling games for Hughes and Kei Igawa during two of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s past three games. “Every pitcher’s going to try and throw against (hitters’) weaknesses. You can’t get your ego in the way. I understand they’re trying to win their ballgame. Every pitcher’s trying to get better every day.”

That includes pitchers in the opposing dugout, too.

The Pirates trotted out Paul Maholm – who’s in the running to be the No. 1 starter for Pittsburgh’s major league team this season – for some work against the Triple-A Yankees at Pirate City.

Maholm breezed through the first six innings while allowing just one hit – Austin Jackson’s triple that bounced off the right fielder’s glove – before surrendering Carlos Mendoza’s homer in the seventh.

“I thought I threw well, threw everything for strikes,” said Maholm, who went 9-9 for Pittsburgh last season. “The wind played a factor on a few balls. They’re good hitters, you’ve got to bring your best stuff.”

Also taking some swings in the game for the Triple-A Pirates were big league shortstop Jack Wilson; Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche, who hit .270 with 25 homers and 85 RBI last season; and utility man Andy Phillips, who played last season with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Igawa limited them to a combined 1-for-5, although Wilson’s sacrifice fly delivered the game’s first run. Igawa, who went 14-6 and was named Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Pitcher of the Year in 2008, was touched for three runs and six hits in four innings.