BRADENTON, Fla. - Sometimes there are good stories to be told from spring training, but they fall apart unexpectedly when plans change for a given player.
That turned out to be the case with outfielder Calvin Anderson, the son of former Steelers special teams player Fred Anderson, who was on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl championship teams in 1978 and '79.
Anderson, a massive 23-year-old who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 253 pounds, was expected to be with the Curve on opening day. His father told the Mirror he had plans to watch his son play when Altoona visits Erie for the first series.
However, Anderson was sent back to the Single-A Bradenton club on Monday, so the story of how the son of a former Steelers player who also grew up liking the black and gold will have to wait until he eventually does receive a promotion to Double-A.
The Pirates still have a number of decisions to make concerning the Curve's opening-day roster, but a couple of things cleared up Monday.
First baseman Matt Hague appears to have a stronghold on a Triple-A job and therefore wouldn't be returning to Altoona, while outfielder/first baseman Miles Durham is back with the Curve group.
Outfielder Anthony Norman, who spent most of 2010 in Altoona, also is slated for a return to Double-A.
It may be Wednesday before the full roster rounds into shape.
- Cory Giger
