Larry Stone Notebook | Ronny Cedeno is getting a chance to prove himself in Pittsburgh

In the Jack Wilson trade, Ronny Cedeno was regarded by many as a warm body to hold down Pittsburgh's shortstop job until it could get someone better.

Cedeno, however, is putting thoughts in the heads of Pirates management that he could be the someone better.

In his first 13 games, Cedeno hit .313 for the Pirates, with two homers and eight RBI. He was mired at .167 when he departed the Mariners on July 29, having struck out 50 times in 186 at-bats and looking overmatched too often. Cedeno cut down his strikeouts to six in 48 at-bats, and has an on-base percentage of .353. He has also dazzled with his defense.

"I want the chance to play every day," said Cedeno, who actually had that chance in Seattle for more than a month but whiffed. "I'm getting that opportunity now, and I am trying to make the most of it. I believe I am good enough to play every day at shortstop."

"Ronny is a guy we liked," Pirates manager John Russell told reporters. "We felt he could come here and help our club off the bench. Now, he's showing he might be more than that. He's been impressive. He's made all the plays in the field, including some really tough ones, and he's given the offense a spark at the bottom of the order."

The end for Gordon?

One of the quality pitchers of this generation might have quietly reached the end of the line. The Diamondbacks on Tuesday released Tom Gordon, who is one of just four pitchers in history with at least 135 victories (138) and 155 saves (158).

"I still feel I can play the game I love," Gordon told reporters. "I still want to pitch in a World Series."

No future with the Twins

Another career in the balance is that of second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who was released Sunday from his minor-league contract by the Twins after eight games for Class AA New Britain.

"They just wasted my time," Grudzielanek, 39, said in a text message to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune Monday night.

Grudzielanek, who had been out of baseball all season, hit .267 with New Britain and committed two errors in six games at second base.

"It just wasn't the right fit," Twins minor-league director Jim Rantz said.

Grudzielanek's last major-league game was Aug. 1, 2008 with the Royals. He was hitting .299 before being sidelined with an ankle injury.

Notes and quotes

• One ex-Mariners shortstop, Omar Vizquel, was wowed by another, Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera.

"He's awesome," said Vizquel. "I knew he was good, but I didn't know he was this good."

Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glover at short, eight with the Indians, saw Cabrera make three sensational plays on Tuesday, all of them Top 10 "web gems" on ESPN.

"Those were all pretty good plays," Vizquel told the News-Herald. "You can tell he has a lot of range. He gets to a lot of balls, and he'll get even better."

• When Orlando Cabrera was traded from Oakland to Minnesota, he had an 11-game hitting streak working. He kept it going with the Twins, becoming one of just four players since 1883 to have a hitting streak of at least 20 games with two teams. One was Joey Cora, with the Mariners and Indians in 1998. Trivia question: For whom was Cora traded?

The others were Heinie Manush (St. Louis and Washington in 1930) and Tom Mansell (Detroit and St. Louis in 1883).

Trivia answer: David Bell.

• On Tuesday, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts forgot how many outs there were and was doubled off on a pop-up. After the game, Roberts entered the manager of Baltimore manager Dave Trembley with an apology — and an offering.

"I said, 'I'm sorry, skip,' and gave him a bottle of wine," Roberts said. "I've never done that in my life. I think everybody is going to do something embarrassing at a certain time."

• Tony Pena Jr., the Royals' opening-day shortstop in 2007 and '08, is being converted to pitcher. As K.C. wags have pointed out, he already hits like one (.098 in 51 at-bats this year, .169 last year).

In two starts in the Arizona Rookie League, Pena didn't give up any earned runs in two innings, and he's been promoted to Class A Burlington.

• The Marlins are among the teams interested in John Smoltz, who has a relationship with manager Fredi Gonzalez from when both were with the Braves.