Franchise Notes

New Pirates GM Neal Huntington said he was "assured" by team ownership that they would spend money on player development and scouting. Huntington: "I got the assurance before I took the job. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe we had the opportunity to be successful." Huntington, on the fans: "We're asking not for patience, but we're asking for them to evaluate our actions" ( "In My Own Words," FSN, 3/21 ). NOTES : The Blues have selected Ticketmaster's TicketExchange as their authorized ticket resale service, and the service is available for all remaining home games this season" ( Ticketmaster )....SI's Peter King wrote "it does not hurt [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell at all" that he found the 49ers guilty of tampering with Bears LB Lance Briggs. King: "In the past year the league has sent out two strongly worded memos reminding teams of the anti-tampering policy, yet stories of teams and agents talking about looming free agents" at last month's NFL Scouting Combine -- "a week before free agency began -- were everywhere" ( SI.com, 3/25 ).