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BRADENTON, Fla. Eric Fisher Jersey . - Coming off their first playoff appearance in 21 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates were eager to start spring training. Several players have been training regularly at the Pirate City complex since early January. When 36 pitchers and catchers held their first official workout on Thursday, a half-dozen position players were there, too. The Pirates won 94 games last season and advanced to the NL division series, their first post-season berth since 1992. They were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the decisive Game 5. "Were still hungry," catcher Russell Martin said. "We did some special things last year, but everybody was disappointed with how it finished. I dont know what all the experts are saying, but I consider myself an expert and I think were going to do better than we did last year." They will have to do it without veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett, who has agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Burnett made 61 starts and won 26 games over the past two seasons with the Pirates. After hearing that Burnett chose not to return to Pittsburgh, Martin sent a text message to his former teammate. "I wished him well," Martin said. "I hope he stays healthy and has a good season ... and, hopefully, well meet him in the playoffs and beat him." Many players admitted they were surprised and disappointed about Burnetts departure. Others preferred to look ahead. "Weve got to move on," reliever Mark Melancon said. "You cant live in the past. This is a new year and anything can happen." Even without Burnett, the Pirates have the makings of a solid starting rotation. Left-hander Francisco Liriano, who went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA, is the likely opening day starter. Gerrit Cole (10-7, 3.22) and Charlie Morton (7-4, 3.26) also return. Wandy Rodriguez missed most of last season due to a sore left forearm. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday and is expected to be ready for the start of the season. "Physically, hes coming along very well," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Were going to take it slow with him this spring, so hes kind of on a different program than the other guys. But, hes healthy and feels good." New arrival Edinson Volquez, who signed a $5 million deal in December, and Jeff Locke could battle for the No. 5 job. The 26-year-old Locke won eight straight starts in the first half of the season and made the NL All-Star team. However, he went 2-5 with a 6.12 ERA over his final 12 starts and was shut down in September. "Making the playoffs last year meant a lot to us," Locke said. "The fans in Pittsburgh and the rest of the baseball world hadnt seen it in a while, but I know the 25 guys in our clubhouse knew it was something we could do. Were not under anybodys radar anymore, but I think the 25 guys this year will be up to the challenge." NOTES: The Pirates signed LHP Yao-Hsun Yang to a minor league contract, which includes an invitation to spring training. Yang, 31, made nine outings last year in the minor leagues in Japan. Tyrann Mathieu Jersey .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. Tanoh Kpassagnon Jersey . Langer appeared to be in trouble when his second shot on the par-5 18th ended up in the rough short of the green. He hit a brilliant pitch to 5 feet and made the putt after Slumans birdie attempt rolled just wide. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Armani-Watts-Elite-Jersey/ . The Canucks figured to be active prior to Wednesdays trade deadline, getting a jump on things the previous day when they dealt goaltender Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers for netminder Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias.PRETORIA, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius defence team called an anesthetist to testify at the double-amputee runners murder trial Thursday in an attempt to counter prosecution claims that Pistorius is lying about the timeline of events on the night he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Prof. Aina Christina Lundgren was being questioned on her expertise regarding how long it takes a person to digest food after eating. The testimony relates to an autopsy report on Steenkamps body that said she still had food in her stomach after she was killed by Pistorius, leading prosecutors to challenge his story that the couple last ate around eight hours before he shot her through a toilet door. An expert testifying for the prosecution said a persons stomach is normally empty of food six hours after eating and Steenkamp ate much later on the night of the killing and not in line with Pistorius story. Prosecutors say thats because the couple were up arguing late into the night before Pistorius shot Steenkamp multiple times in the midst of a heated fight through a toilet stall door in his bathroom. Pistorius says he mistook her for an intruder hiding behind the closed toilet stall door. He testified the couple had dinner at around 7 p.m. on the night she was killed, and they were in bed around 10 p.m. Pistorius shot Steenkamp after 3 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2013. Lundgren, who described herself as a specialist anesthetist, testified that there are a number of factors that could have delayed the digestion process in Steenkamp to explain the food found in her stomach, including that she was a pre-menopausal woman and had been sleeping. Lundgren was presented by the defence to try and undermine the testimony of pathologgist Prof. Xavier Williams Jersey. Gert Saayman, who said it was his opinion that Steenkamp ate much later than Pistorius says, possibly even at around 1 a.m. when the runner claims they were in bed. Lundgren said it was difficult to be exact about the rate of digestion and it was "speculative to attempt to estimate when she had last eaten." Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel cross-examined Lundgren and pointed to Saaymans findings that he could even identify vegetable and cheese matter in Steenkamps stomach. "Would you not have expected the digestive process to have caused the contents to be unrecognizable after eight hours?" Nel asked Lundgren. "I cant comment," she replied. "But he can, and he did," Nel said of Saaymans report. The state pathologist was present in the courtroom and Nel asserted that his evidence was "more probable." Replying to Nels questions, Lundgren said she was a clinician and unwilling to criticize Saayman, a pathologist. However, later on re-examination by chief defence lawyer Barry Roux, she said she did not agree with Saaymans assertion that Steenkamp ate at 1 a.m. or after. Pistorius lawyers also said in a statement Thursday that an offer to buy the villa where the Olympian killed Steenkamp had been accepted and the sale of the house was being processed. Pistorius is selling his home in the gated community in the South African capital Pretoria to help with his legal bills. His trial is now into its seventh week of testimony. Lawyer Brian Webber said they would not identify who was buying the house or the amount it was being sold for until the sale was finalized. Pistorius last year valued the house at about $450,000. ' ' '