Criticism Upsets Pirates’ Tracy

Pittsburgh Pirate Manager Jim Tracy, appearing to grow testy with ongoing criticism of his personnel moves, will keep playing slumping outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and argues his ability to make moves is being adversely affected by injuries.

Tracy planned to make a significant lineup change before Thursday afternoon’s game against Arizona was rained out by dropping Jason Bay from No. 3 to No. 6 in the batting order. But Tracy kept the weak-hitting Burnitz fifth in the order despite a two-for-32 slump that has dropped his average to .185.

Tracy also defended his decision to keep giving regular playing time to others who have not produced during the Pirates’ 10-25 start -- including utility man Jose Hernandez -- by saying he has few options. Hernandez has a .150 average and only three RBIs in 40 at-bats.

Shortstop Jack Wilson and catcher Ryan Doumit are fighting through hamstring injuries that have prevented them from starting since last weekend but are not serious enough to put them on the disabled list.

“I’ve got two guys with bad legs, so don’t ask me any more questions about how long I’m going to go with this guy or that guy and make it seem like I have a plethora of choices here,” Tracy said, his voice rising during a meeting with reporters.

“We’re trying to make this group go as best we can. You don’t have a multitude of options.”

Tracy didn’t say if the Bay change would last more than a day or two. Bay was the Pirates’ one consistent run producer the last two seasons, hitting 58 homers and driving in 183 runs, but his average is down to .252 during a three-for-14 slump.

Bay had one hit, struck out three times and hit into a double play in five at-bats in a 7-4 loss to Arizona on Wednesday night, failing to drive in any of the seven runners on base.

“We want to let him have an opportunity where he feels like there’s a little more room around him to sort some things out,” Tracy said.

Burnitz has one hit in his last 26 at-bats, but was strongly defended by Tracy after being asked if the outfielder had to start producing to keep playing.

“I’m not talking that, by May 14, if so-and-so doesn’t have two hits in a game his [rear end] is out of here,” the former Dodger manager said. “If you played the game, then you know what he went through.”

*

The San Francisco Giants optioned second baseman Kevin Frandsen to triple-A Fresno after Thursday’s game to make room for starter Ray Durham’s return from the disabled list today.

Frandsen drove in the first two runs of his career in his final game before being sent back down. He had a run-scoring groundout and an RBI single in the Giants’ 9-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

*

Boston pitcher Curt Schilling left Yankee Stadium before Thursday night’s game to have a medical issue checked out. Red Sox spokesman John Blake said the medical issue was not related to pitching. Schilling returned before the start of the game, Blake said.