Kevin Gorman stories, Page 14
‘I understand’: Andrew McCutchen hates to hear Pirates fans’ chants but gets frustration
Andrew McCutchen has heard the loudest cheers of any player and also experienced some of the darkest days in PNC Park history during the two-decade drought without a winning season, so he understands the frustrations of fans amid the Pittsburgh Pirates’ disappointing start. The five-time All-Star and 2013 National League...
Paul Skenes shows drawing power in sellout but Guardians blank Pirates
Paul Skenes proved the power of his popularity in drawing a sellout crowd to PNC Park on Saturday, perhaps more for the promotional giveaway than to see the 2024 National League rookie of the year pitch. Like the baseball card-inspired bobblehead that depicted only the upper half of the 6-foot-6...
‘Awesome to be back’: All-Star David Bednar returns to Pirates, but role remains undefined
As David Bednar settled back into his familiar locker stall in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse, Ryan Borucki was thrilled to see the two-time All-Star closer back with his hometown team, even if he comes with chip the size of a boulder on his broad shoulders. “He’s the big man for...
Former Pirate Jason Bay calls Paul Skenes’ rookie of the year season ‘super-fun to follow’
Jason Bay was having a blast being back at PNC Park with his family, reliving his days with the Pittsburgh Pirates and being reminded about winning the 2004 National League rookie of the year award. Bay held the distinction as the only Pirates player to earn that honor for two...
Full Count: When Henry Davis got his chance this time, the Pirates catcher was well-prepared
Henry Davis studied his notes about the Washington Nationals as if he was preparing to play Monday, even though Endy Rodriguez was starting at catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. “You can always take a step back, but you can’t take a step forward in that sense,” Davis told TribLive, explaining...
Prospect watch: 2024 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin flashes speed, power for Bradenton
Prospect Watch Konnor Griffin Position: SS/CF Height: 6-4 Weight: 225 Level: Low-A Bradenton Griffin made a dynamic debut by going 2 for 4 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored for the Marauders at Dayton, only to strike out five times in going hitless over his next...
Bucs Beat Q&A: Caleb Ferguson on pitching at Dodger Stadium for the 1st time as visitor
Caleb Ferguson, LHP How much are you looking forward to returning to Dodger Stadium after playing there from 2018-23? Definitely. It’s great pitching out there. The weather is sick, but first time going back as an opponent. It’s probably going to be a little bit weird but I feel like...
Luis Ortiz, Guardians beat Pirates as Bo Naylor ignites outburst
Derek Shelton issued the Pittsburgh Pirates a warning about facing Luis Ortiz, expecting the right-hander to throw heavy velocity in his first return to PNC Park since being traded to the Cleveland Guardians. “Any time you pitch against the team that traded you, you may see some 100s,” Shelton said,...
Ben Cherington: Pirates will ‘rely on the guys that are here,’ wait on reinforcements
Ben Cherington didn’t need a win-now mandate from Bob Nutting to feel any additional pressure to perform, even after the Pittsburgh Pirates started the season by losing 12 of their first 20 games. For the Pirates general manager, it’s part of the job description. “Nobody has to tell us that....
Oneil Cruz makes early impact at leadoff spot, providing short-term salve to Pirates’ problem
Derek Shelton had shuffled seven players through the leadoff spot with little luck, so the Pittsburgh Pirates manager tried putting the player with the most dangerous bat at the top of the lineup for a spark. It turned out to be a lightning bolt. When Oneil Cruz connected for a...
Andrew Heaney celebrates 10 years of MLB service with gem as Pirates shut out Nationals
The Pittsburgh Pirates surprised Andrew Heaney by bringing his family to the home clubhouse for a pregame celebration for reaching 10 years of major-league service Thursday morning. For someone who dislikes being the center of attention, Heaney squirmed through a video tribute and giving a speech. A table with carved...
MLB suspends Nationals reliever Jorge Lopez 3 games, manager Dave Martinez 1 game
Washington Nationals reliever Jorge Lopez was suspended three games and Nationals manager Dave Martinez one game by MLB for intentionally throwing a pitch at Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen on Wednesday night. After Lopez hit Bryan Reynolds with a pitch in the seventh inning, he threw a 92-mph fastball at...
After benches clear, Oneil Cruz hits a grand slam as Pirates pound Nationals
When Jorge Lopez threw a pitch too close for comfort to Andrew McCutchen’s head, the Pittsburgh Pirates icon held his bat in one hand and pointed at the Washington Nationals reliever. As tempers flared and benches cleared Wednesday night, Oneil Cruz played the peacemaker by stepping between McCutchen and Lopez...
No breaks for Endy Rodriguez’s right finger, but Pirates proceeding with caution in recovery
The Pittsburgh Pirates got good news with Endy Rodriguez’s right index finger injury, as hand specialists confirmed there were no broken bones but the “moderate-sized” laceration on his knuckle required five stitches and a three-day window of immobilization. The Pirates will proceed with caution, given that Rodriguez is a switch-hitting...
Pirates activate Jared Triolo from injured list, acquire catcher Brett Sullivan from Padres
The Pittsburgh Pirates made several roster moves before Wednesday’s game, with one involving a player who returned to the starting lineup and another aimed to provide depth at catcher. The Pirates activated 2024 NL Gold Glove utility infielder Jared Triolo from the 10-day injured list following a rehab assignment and...
Nationals top punchless Pirates, who follow win by suffering 2nd shutout in 3-day span
Mitch Keller squatted on the infield grass next to a kneeling Henry Davis, as the Pittsburgh Pirates battery watched trainers tend to Washington Nationals third baseman Paul DeJong. When Keller’s fastball stayed up and inside and hit DeJong in the face, it was the start of what soon spiraled into...
Pirates to place C/1B Endy Rodriguez on IL, recall RHP Chase Shugart in roster shuffle
The finger laceration that caused Pittsburgh Pirates catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez to be removed from Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals required four stitches and a stint on the 10-day injured list, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Tuesday afternoon. Rodriguez was injured when Pirates starter Paul Skenes hit James Wood...
Phiten Pirates: Andrew McCutchen creates newest mojo with black-and-gold necklaces
Searching for a spark to ignite the Pittsburgh Pirates, Andrew McCutchen turned back the clock Monday when he handed out black-and-gold Phiten necklaces to his teammates. When the Pirates responded with a season-best 14 hits in a 10-3 win over the Washington Nationals to snap a three-game losing streak, McCutchen...
Pirates ride Paul Skenes’ strong start, hot bats to beat Nationals, snap 3-game skid
Before the long-awaited showdown between the Nos. 1 and 2 selections of the 2023 MLB Draft ever materialized, the Pittsburgh Pirates superseded that storyline by making history. When a Paul Skenes pitch hit James Wood and ricocheted off the right hand of Endy Rodriguez, it caused a laceration on Rodriguez’s...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates’ ineffective offensive exposed in 3-game sweep by Reds
That the Pittsburgh Pirates are struggling offensively is an understatement that was exposed Sunday, when they started a lineup against Hunter Greene with six players batting below the Mendoza Line. And that doesn’t count Oneil Cruz, whose batting average dipped below .200 after going 0 for 3 in a 4-0...
Pirates strand runners early against Hunter Greene in shutout loss as Reds sweep series
The Pittsburgh Pirates had never lost to Hunter Greene — not even a game where he pitched a combined no-hitter over eight innings — but the Cincinnati Reds ace put that streak to an end. After the Pirates stranded runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings,...
Paul Skenes’ last start isn’t among GM Ben Cherington’s concerns with struggling Pirates
Ben Cherington has a lot of reasons to be concerned about the Pittsburgh Pirates, as injuries have taken a toll on the starting lineup and weakened what he considered the deepest team of his tenure as general manager. Paul Skenes, however, isn’t one of them. The 2024 National League Rookie...
Catching On: Pirates ace Paul Skenes adjusting to new backstops in Endy Rodriguez, Joey Bart
When it comes to pitch-calling, Paul Skenes has a simple but effective way of judging catchers. If the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander is thinking about throwing a certain pitch and the catcher calls it before Skenes can reach down to his belt for the PitchCom device, then he knows they are...
Pirates prospect watch: Termarr Johnson packs power for Curve
Prospect Watch Termarr Johnson Position: 2B/SS Height: 5-8 Weight: 190 Level: Double-A Altoona Notable: The 20-year-old Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, became the third-youngest player in Curve history (behind Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen) when he was promoted last August and opened this season...
Q&A with Pirates RHP Thomas Harrington
Thomas Harrington, RHP When you moved to the bullpen, did you imagine getting a save so fast? No. I can count on one hand how many times I did it. I knew that coming into the week that this could be a possibility. I didn’t really know I was going...
