Leading Off: March 6, 2010

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Frank Coonelly. AP.
Alexei Ponikarovsky. AP.
Nate McLouth. AP.
Charlie Morton. AP. Eric Gay
Allen Iverson. AP. Matt Slocum

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March 9, 2010

By Patrick Connelly/Sports Editor Allied News Tue Mar 09, 2010, 03:10 PM EST

Tip shots

— Frankie says relax

Pittsburgh Pirates’ president Frank Coonelly is backing off his comments last month that the team will quickly turn into a dynasty, but isn’t backing away from his belief that despite trading every player that mattered last season, the Pirates are much improved.

"My use of the term 'dynasty' was a poor choice of words," Coonelly said in his monthly chat on the team’s Web site on his comments made a week earlier at spring training in Bradenton, Fla. "While I should have used another phrase, I make no apology for informing our players that our expectations and aspirations as an organization are at the very highest level.”

Coonelly was named president of the Buccos in 2007. Since taking over, the team’s traded stars Xavier Nady, Jason Bay, Nyjer Morgan, Nate McLouth, Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez.

"Gone are the days when anyone in the Pirates organization will use our market size or revenue limitations as an excuse for why we cannot expect sustained excellence in Pittsburgh,” Coonelly continued. “My message to the players was that our expectation was that 2010 would begin the next era of sustained excellence for Pirates baseball and that message is one from which I do not run."

— Held up

It’s taking ex-Toronto Maple Leafs’ left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky a little longer to join his new team than Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager Ray Shero expected.

The Pens dealt Martin Skoula and prospect Luca Caputi to Toronto in exchange for the player who’s on pace to finish a career year, but Ponikarovsky was unable to join the team as soon as expected because of immigration problems.

The Ukraine native needed to obtain a different visa to work in Pittsburgh than was required to work in Canada.

"Hopefully, it's going to be done by Friday morning, so I can fly to Pittsburgh and practice that day," Ponikarovsky told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Lucky numbers

2 — The runs Atlanta topped the Pirates by Thursday afternoon in a spring training game, outscoring the Buccos 4-2.

The Braves were backed by a run by the former Pirate, McLouth. Meanwhile, one of the players McLouth was traded for, pitcher Charlie Morton, allowed one hit and one run in two innings. Morton also waled three.

Also for the Pirates, Andy LaRoche homered in the loss.

24 — The games Allen Iverson started for the Philadelphia 76ers after returning to his former team earlier this season.

It was announced this week by the 76ers the star point guard will sit out the remainder of the season as he cares of his ill daughter, 4-year-old Messiah. It was also revealed that Iverson’s wife, Tawanna, had filed for divorce in Atlanta.

By Patrick Connelly, Allied News sports editor. Images by The Associated Press. Follow The Allied News on Twitter at twitter.com/AlliedSports.

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