BRADENTON, Fla. - Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is getting tired of sitting instead of swinging his bat in spring training.

For the second consecutive spring, Bay - last year's NL rookie of the year - is rehabilitating an injury that has disrupted his timing, preparation and, perhaps, his batting stroke. Last spring, a shoulder operation kept him out of the Pirates' lineup until early May; this time, it's a bone bruise in his left wrist that has sidelined him for nine days.

Bay was told last week that the injury might linger for up to two weeks, but he was hoping to be swinging a bat by now.

"It's still going to be a few more days," Bay said Wednesday, a day after the Pirates' only scheduled off day of the spring. "It's going to take a little more time. It's more frustrating than anything. After going through this last year, it's tough to sit and watch it happen again."

Bay was 1-of-15 (.067) with three strikeouts before getting hurt diving for a fly ball in left field. Bay said he was only playing the way he knows how to play, but it's obvious that the Pirates wished he hadn't been so aggressive trying to make a play in a meaningless exhibition game.

Ryan Vogelsong kept himself in contention for the No. 5 spot in the Pirates' rotation with a solid outing Wednesday against the Yankees - one run, three hits and four strikeouts in four innings. Now it's Zach Duke's time.Duke, chosen as the top pitcher in Pittsburgh's farm system last season, is still expected to start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis. But, with the No. 5 spot unsettled with only two-plus weeks left in camp, Duke will start Friday night against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., after allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings (7.20 ERA) in two relief appearances."I want to see him as much as I can, but I'm not ready to say he's in the running," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "I just want to see him."Josh Fogg had been scheduled to pitch, but McClendon and pitching coach Spin Williams didn't want him facing the same opponent for a second consecutive start. Fogg will start in a minor league game.Left-hander Dave Williams (0-1, 5.00 ERA), currently the front-runner for the No. 5 spot, is to pitch again Saturday against the Yankees in Tampa.Oliver Perez, who stayed on his throwing schedule by pitching in a minor league game Tuesday, is expected to pitch again Sunday against the Red Sox with Kip Wells starting Monday against the Blue Jays. That would put each on schedule to start the first two games of the season, with Perez going in the April 4 opener against the Brewers.