Pirates/MLB category, Page 198
How to watch/listen to Pirates Opening Day game
Hard to believe, but baseball’s finally back. The Pittsburgh Pirates will kick off the season — yep, it’s a normal one too, we checked — with an Opening Day game today against the Chicago Cubs in the Windy City. First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. (Pittsburgh time). If you...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans snarl about Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt hoops, the Pirates and our coverage of it allVideo
This is stunning. I went a whole week with no negative feedback from Steelers or Penguins fans. Nary a complaint from a reader about the Pirates. Not one angry tweet about Pitt. Not a single Facebook post lashing back at one of my columns. It was amazing. Ha! Gotcha! Happy...
Pirates bullpen breakdown: Is Richard Rodriguez better suited for setup role?
Breakout candidate Luis Oviedo, RHP The Pirates project the 21-year-old as a future starter, but the Rule 5 Draft pick, acquired from the New York Mets via trade, will start his major league career in the bullpen. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder never has pitched above Single-A but has a four-pitch repertoire...
Making the Pirates ‘unbelievable’ for Mars alum David Bednar, who hopes to boost bullpen
When David Bednar made his pitch to make the Pittsburgh Pirates, it usually came down to a decision of whether to throw his four-seam fastball by hitters or make them chase his curveball. By recording 18 strikeouts, giving up three hits and one walk without allowing a run in 10...
After dazzling Pirates debut last season, Ke’Bryan Hayes steps into starring role before 1st Opening Day
Ke’Bryan Hayes already has established himself as one of baseball’s top prospects and a foundation piece upon which the Pittsburgh Pirates will build before ever experiencing an Opening Day in the major leagues. So, the 24-year-old can’t help but wonder what it will be like to stand along the first...
Cubs agree to deal with former Pirates catcher Tony Wolters
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with catcher Tony Wolters and designated right-hander James Norwood for assignment Wednesday. Wolters, who figures to back up Willson Contreras, signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates last month and was released March 29. He is a career...
Pirates announce covid protocols for fans at PNC Park
As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for spectators to return to PNC Park for home games this season, they announced numerous health and safety protocols and stadium policy changes for fans to follow. The protocols follow recommendations from the CDC, Allegheny Health Network and MLB during the covid-19 pandemic. Masks will...
Pirates starting pitching breakdown: Is JT Brubaker ready for a breakout season?
Breakout candidate JT Brubaker, the team’s 2018 minor league pitcher of the year, started last season in the bullpen before moving into the starting rotation when Mitch Keller went on the injured list. After missing most of the 2019 season with forearm issues, Brubaker went 1-3 with a 4.94 ERA...
Despite rocky spring, Pirates still counting on Mitch Keller to anchor starting rotation
When Derek Shelton named Chad Kuhl the Opening Day starter, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager refused to reveal the order for the rest of his starting rotation. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington clarified the situation somewhat, affirming he expects left-hander Tyler Anderson and righties JT Brubaker, Trevor Cahill and Mitch Keller...
Kevin Newman finishes spring training with .606 batting average as Pirates tie Twins
Kevin Newman didn’t know which was better, finishing with the best batting average in spring training history or never striking out in 39 plate appearances over 13 Grapefruit League games. The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop didn’t want to choose. “I’ll take both of them, honestly,” said Newman, who batted an astronomical...
Days after opting out, Todd Frazier returns to Pirates on a minor league contract
Todd Frazier was out, but the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled him back in. Three days after opting out of his contract after being told he wouldn’t make the Opening Day roster, the 10-year veteran corner infielder signed a minor league contract to return to the Pirates. Frazier batted .250 (7 for...
Not so ‘Great Expectations’: Pirates balancing development process and final result as Opening Day nears
Back on March 10, BetOnline.ag posted odds on which Major League manager would get fired first. Pirates manager Derek Shelton was fifth on the list at 9/1. Shelton? Fired as manager of the Pirates? Don’t you have to fail to deserve to be fired from a job? And if you...
First Call: Sam Darnold trade idea tied to Steelers; Ex-Pirates bust tries a comeback; Sabres lose 18th in a row to Philly
Tuesday’s “First Call” features a trade idea for the Steelers to consider. It involves a young quarterback. The Buffalo Sabres found another creative way to lose. Some interesting dirt about the New England Patriots and Jimmy Garoppolo. And an infamous name from the Pirates’ past is trying to make a...
Pirates’ outfield had potential, but can starters fulfill their promise?
There was a time the Pittsburgh Pirates could boast a trio of starting outfielders almost any team in the majors would covet. But with the start of the 2021 season days away, Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte are on the rosters of National League East clubs. The Pirates only wish...
Pirates outfield breakdown: Last chances for Gregory Polanco, Anthony Alford
Breakout candidate Anthony Alford A former SEC football player and once a top prospect of the Blue Jays, Alford is still only 26 and for the first time figures to get an extensive look as an everyday player. The talent and many of the tools are there for Alford to...
Pirates put versatility of Erik Gonzalez, Phillip Evans on display in loss to Twins in home finale
The Pittsburgh Pirates showed how much they value the versatility of Phillip Evans and Erik Gonzalez by keeping them on the 26-man Opening Day roster. Both put theirs on display by playing out of their natural positions Monday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins. Evans started in right field then moved...
Pirates name Chad Kuhl Opening Day starter, Kevin Newman wins SS job as roster shapes up
With the end of spring training in sight, the Pittsburgh Pirates are close to setting a starting lineup. One Opening Day certainty is Chad Kuhl will be on the mound at the Chicago Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field. Pirates manager Derek Shelton named Kuhl the Opening Day starter, capping...
Pirates to use PNC Park, Heinz Field, Pitt’s Charles L. Cost Field as alternate training sites
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday that they will use three local venues as their alternate site facilities in April, as MLB has pushed back the start of the minor league season until May. The Pirates will use a locker room at Heinz Field to serve as their home clubhouse and...
Anthony Alford wins center field competition, as Pirates reassign Brian Goodwin in camp cuts
The center field competition has come to a close for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Anthony Alford appears to be the winner after they reassigned veteran Brian Goodwin on Monday morning. The Pirates also optioned right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb and reassigned infielder Wilmer Difo and right-handed knuckleballer Steven Wright to trim...
Pirates infield breakdown: Shortstop loaded with prospects
Breakout candidate: Ke’Bryan Hayes You might be wondering: Didn’t Hayes break out last season? After all, he slashed .376/.442/.682 and established himself as a wizard with the glove at third base. But he played in only 24 games, with 95 plate appearances. The expectations on Hayes (in his case, they...
Pirates beat writer Kevin Gorman’s 2021 MLB awards, playoff predictions
NL MVP Juan Soto, Nationals The 22-year-old slugger followed a 34-homer, 110-RBI season in 2019 by blossoming into baseball’s most feared hitter, batting .351/.490/.695 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 47 games last year. The additions of Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber won’t allow teams to...
In final spring appearance, Pirates’ Mitch Keller finally has scoreless outing
In his final appearance of spring training, Mitch Keller finally produced a scoreless outing — even if an old bugaboo reared its head to haunt him. Keller walked four of the 14 batters he faced but did not allow an extra-base hit and no Baltimore Orioles scored over the first...
Jeremy Bleich is Pirates’ analytics guru and part-time Olympian
A typical day for Pittsburgh Pirates staffer Jeremy Bleich often includes situations that could seem as if they are from a “This is SportsCenter” ad or an office-supply store commercial. “(Players) will walk in, and I’m, like, trying to get documents ready for the 7 o’clock game — and I’m...
Spring training performances offer hope for Pirates infield
A nice, springtime vibe floated through the Pittsburgh Pirates’ infield in Bradenton, Fla. Baseballs were finding gaps and landing safely for hits, and not just those ricocheting off bats of opposing players. Pirates infielders Ke’Bryan Hayes, Kevin Newman, Adam Frazier, Colin Moran and Erik Gonzalez hit a collective .432 in...
Chad Kuhl rusty in return; Kevin Newman keeps hitting as Pirates lose to Red Sox
It wasn’t so much that Chad Kuhl missed a start in spring training as it was that the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander skipped it to be with his wife Amanda for the birth of his first child, a boy they named Hudson. With 11 days between starts, it was no wonder...
