Pirates/MLB category, Page 134
30 years after Sid Bream’s slide, the Pirates still can’t escape the fallout
More than anything, John Wehner remembers a sound in the locker room. The Pittsburgh-born Pirates infielder was part of the team that lost Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series, 3-2. “It’s dead silent except for the clubhouse guys. Out of breath. Heavy breathing,” Wehner said. The clubhouse...
Before Sid slid: All the ‘freaky things’ that happened in the 9th inning before Sid Bream’s infamous slide in 1992
With the anniversary of Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series fast approaching, I reached out to former Pirates manager Jim Leyland. Not long after I sent a text message requesting a telephone interview, he called back. “Hi, Jim. Thanks for calling. I appreciate it.” “What are you...
Their side of ‘The Slide’: 30 years later, Sid Bream, Francisco Cabrera recall ending Pirates’ World Series hopes in 1992
Don Kelly wears the uniform of the team he passionately supported as a child. The Mt. Lebanon High School product played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 and is now the bench coach on manager Derek Shelton’s staff. As a minor leaguer for the Detroit Tigers, Kelly made the acquaintance...
Kevin Newman among 6 Pirates players projected to receive raises in arbitration
A half-dozen Pittsburgh Pirates players are expected to earn raises through salary arbitration in 2023, per the annual projections by MLBtraderumors.com. Middle infielder Kevin Newman has the highest salary projection at $2.8 million. Newman was projected to receive $2.2 million last year but avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year...
Which current athletes have the longest tenures in Pittsburgh?
The reality of modern-day sports is that players rarely spend their careers in just one town. Free agency, trades, owners unwilling to open their wallets (**cough cough Pirates cough cough**), salary caps, declining skills and a host of other reasons mean players can bounce from city to city over the...
First Call: Odd substance check for ex-Pirates pitcher in playoffs; Browns make a trade; Pitt vs. Penn State alumni showdown
Monday’s “First Call” features a strange occurrence surrounding a former Pittsburgh Pirate in the Major League Baseball playoffs. The Cleveland Browns are making a trade. A Cincinnati Bengals star is struggling. And a Pitt versus Penn State alumni battle lives up to the billing. Messin’ with Musgrove Former Pirate Joe...
Analysis: Pirates put 100-loss season in back pocket, focus on future with young core
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Ke’Bryan Hayes agreeing to a franchise-record contract on Opening Day, only for the 25-year-old third baseman to leave Opening Day in the first inning with a spasm in his left hand, could be viewed as symbolic of their season. Even when the Pirates got it right,...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Pirates ownership simply can’t be trusted
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 100 games for a second consecutive year for the first time since 1952-54. That team cracked that regretful barrier three straight times. Next year’s squad won’t lose 100. Probably not, anyway. But the Pirates’ winning percentage in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season was .317, lowest in franchise...
Pirates Take 5: On Oneil Cruz’s record pace, Ke’Bryan Hayes’ Gold Glove race, Bryan Reynolds’ familiar space
Oneil Cruz wasn’t shy about setting out to break Statcast records, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop finished with the highest exit velocity and hardest throw across the infield in recorded baseball history. As much as Cruz has been mocked for those metrics while striking out in 34.9% of his...
Final regular season for future HOFer and ‘Pirate killer’ Albert Pujols comes to an end at PNC Park
Two straight months of batting beneath the Mendoza Line is enough to put the majority of MLB players in danger of being sent down to the minors or designated for assignment. How about when it’s a future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer who’s struggling as such? That’s exactly the territory Albert Pujols found...
Undeterred by losses, diehard Pirates fans flock to PNC Park for season finale
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered Wednesday’s season finale with 100 losses, but that didn’t dampen Rob North’s enthusiasm for what would be the team’s last game until next year. “What’s not to love about coming to the ballpark and having fun?” said North, 35, of Shadyside, as he stood outside PNC...
Young Pirates rally for comeback, beat Cardinals in season finale to finish 62-100
Where Derek Shelton has prided his positivity in the face of the absurdity and adversity the Pittsburgh Pirates have produced in his three years as manager, he finally voiced his frustration. Before the season finale, Shelton vented that the 100th loss of the season stuck with him. Shelton called it...
First Call: Steelers are historically big underdogs for Buffalo game; Roger Maris’ son takes jab at Barry Bonds
Wednesday’s “First Call” starts with one of the Buffalo Bills propping up new Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett. We have some wild stats about the Steelers being a two-touchdown underdog this weekend in that game. Plus, we found some massive television viewership numbers for the NFL and painful perspective...
Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes reveals that hip issue has caused back discomfort ‘all year’
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes revealed Tuesday night that he has been dealing with a hip issue “all year” that has caused back discomfort since before the start of spring training. Hayes, 25, who signed a franchise-record, eight-year, $70 million contract in April, felt discomfort while lifting weights during...
Pirates fall to Cardinals in 10 innings to lose 100th game of season
It required nearly four hours, extra innings and a failed challenge on a call at home plate in the 10th inning before the Pittsburgh Pirates suffered the ignominious milestone of their 100th loss of the season. The Pirates took command with a six-run, eight-hit third inning only to blow a...
Oneil Cruz draws bases-loaded walk as Pirates rally past Cardinals for walk-off win
The Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t evade history when it came to Albert Pujols hitting another home run at PNC Park but managed to elude their 100th loss by beating the St. Louis Cardinals in true walk-off fashion. Yes, they drew four consective walks. Even Oneil Cruz stared in disbelief when JoJo...
Pirates recall righty reliever Nick Mears to boost bullpen, option rookie Luis Ortiz
Nick Mears underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow before the season, so he spent the majority of the summer working his way back to pitching again. The Pittsburgh Pirates rewarded Mears by recalling the right-handed reliever to boost the bullpen for the final three games against the St. Louis...
Bryan Reynolds voted Pirates MVP, Mitch Keller top pitcher by BBWAA Pittsburgh chapter
Derek Shelton hasn’t been shy about calling Bryan Reynolds the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best player, and the offensive numbers back the manager up. So does the Baseball Writers Association of America. Reynolds won the Roberto Clemente Award as team Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, receiving 24 of 27...
Pirates rally to beat Adam Wainwright for 1st time in a decade, spoil Cardinals sendoff
For the St. Louis Cardinals, the final Sunday of the regular season was about celebrating the careers of retiring stars Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, who was catching his long-time battery mate for the final time. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, it was about spoiling the celebration of the tremendous trio...
Pirates activate catcher Tyler Heineman from concussion list, place Zack Collins on IL
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tyler Heineman, who had been out since Sept. 23, returned from the seven-day concussion injured list in time to start Sunday’s game at the St. Louis Cardinals. To make room on the active roster, the Pirates placed catcher/first baseman Zack Collins on the 10-day injured list with...
Corey Dickerson’s grand slam leads to early exit for Luis Ortiz as Cardinals pound Pirates
Luis Ortiz had been electric in his first three starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the rookie right-hander dazzled with a four-seam fastball that sat at 99 mph and touched triple digits. With his velocity down a few ticks and his command spotty Saturday night, the St. Louis Cardinals hit...
Pirates place Wil Crowe on IL, recall RHP Junior Fernandez
Wil Crowe went from making the most starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season to the most relief appearances this season, after moving from the rotation to the bullpen. Now his season is over. The Pirates placed Crowe on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right elbow inflammation, recalling right-hander...
Albert Pujols homer, Nolan Arenado RBI single lift Cardinals past Pirates
After Johan Oviedo gave up a blast and a bloop in his first start against his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking for a bloop and a blast to beat the St. Louis Cardinals. They got neither. Oviedo delivered quality starts in back-to-back outings for the first time in...
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County recognize Friday as Roberto Clemente Day
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders recognized Friday as Roberto Clemente Day to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the baseball legend’s 3,000th career hit. To mark the event, leaders unveiled a marker where home plate was located at the former Three Rivers Stadium, now a parking lot near Heinz Field and...
Tim Benz: Aaron Judge is at the center of MLB’s 2 hottest debates — but answers are easy in both cases
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is at the center of baseball’s two hottest debates right now. And the answers are clear. They are: “yes” and “no.” Yes, he is the 2022 American League Most Valuable Player. No, he is not the all-time single-season Major League home run champion. That’s...
