Pirates/MLB category, Page 2
Former Pirate Neil Walker shares the depth of his bond with Bill Mazeroski
Former Pittsburgh Pirate Neil Walker was about 8 or 9 years old. He remembers the words of advice from his father. “Make sure you ask him for an autograph. You tuck that away. You are going to want it when you are older,” Tom Walker told his son. Walker was...
Reliving Bill Mazeroski’s iconic home run in the 1960 World Series
You can’t call yourself a true Pittsburgher if you don’t know who Bill Mazeroski was. Or what he did on Oct. 13, 1960, to become legendary. It was on that day that the Pirates second baseman, who was known for his incredible defense, hit the most iconic home run in...
Remembering Maz: Pirates legend, Pittsburgh hero — a photo gallery
With one swing of his bat in October 1960, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski became a legend. It will forever remain one of the most iconic moments in Pittsburgh sports history. Yet his humility never let that moment overwhelm him: “I just thought it was another home run to win...
Bill Mazeroski, former Pirates World Series legend, dies at 89
Bill Mazeroski, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hall of Fame second baseman whose heroic home run to win the 1960 World Series overshadowed his gifted glove and unmatched ability to turn double plays, died Friday at 89. A 10-time All-Star, Mazeroski had 2,016 hits in 17 major-league seasons, all with the Pirates,...
Confidence key as Bubba Chandler tries to win spot in Pirates starting rotation
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bubba Chandler cruised through his first three major-league games, earning a four-inning save in his debut and wins in his next two appearances before the Milwaukee Brewers dealt the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher his first blowout. The Brewers scored nine runs on nine hits and three walks in...
Preparing for World Baseball Classic, Pirates ace Paul Skenes shines in simulated gameVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was a simulated game but one that Paul Skenes treated like a warm-up for the World Baseball Classic, considering the lineup of hitters he was facing. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace tossed three impressive innings against Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Marcell Ozuna and Nick Gonzales before a...
Mark Madden: The Pirates’ fate rests with 2 familiar bats
Optimism abounds with the Pirates, mostly because of a few shiny new toys and not least because 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin is hitting bombs at spring training. Griffin will be in Pittsburgh sooner, not later, and the sooner the better. But it feels like the fate of the Pirates in...
Gold Glove winner Jared Triolo comes out swinging for Pirates’ starting job at third base
BRADENTON, Fla. — On the eve of the first full-squad workout at Pirate City, Jared Triolo didn’t know which position he would be playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training. “I’m not sure,” Triolo said Sunday. “I’m just going to go where I’m instructed.” The Pirates value Triolo’s versatility,...
Going deep: Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin hits 1st batting practice homer against live pitching
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin’s batting practice has become must-watch viewing, as the teenage sensation puts on an air show by hitting balls onto the metal roof of the batting cages at Pirate City. The 19-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop offered a different display of power Wednesday, when he drilled his...
Mitch Keller embraces role mentoring Pirates pitchers, wants to show consistency all season
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was in the quiet moments that Mitch Keller spoke loudest for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, even if the conversations were barely above a whisper. To young Pirates pitchers after struggling in a start, Keller served as the calming voice who offered reassurance there would be...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Why can’t the Pirates win 85 games?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me up jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooo … Frank from Cranberry, via email: Joe — hope the colonoscopy went well. The prep sucks. Anyway,...
Bryan Reynolds concentrating on how to improve his swing without hitting panic button
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bryan Reynolds is a man of few words, so the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder didn’t bother to mince them when asked about the object of his offseason. “Fixing my swing, which I did,” Reynolds said. “Now we just have to translate that over to live (batting practice) then...
Pirates counting on DH Marcell Ozuna’s magnetic personality to rub off on Oneil Cruz
BRADENTON, Fla. — Marcell Ozuna was all smiles as he stretched his legs in activation drills before the first full-squad workout of spring training, and it wasn’t just because his $12 million free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates had been finalized. The 35-year-old Ozuna had a companion in Oneil...
Mark Madden: Picturing Ty Simpson to the Steelers, Konnor Griffin in the big leagues and more sports notes
Men’s curling scandal at the Winter Olympics: Sweden accused Canada of double-touching after the hog line. Canada accused Sweden of secretly filming. I have no idea what that all means, but it sounds sexy. Enjoy these refreshing sports notes while I figure it out. • Don’t be shocked if the...
With arrivals of All-Stars, Pirates GM proclaims this team the ‘most talented group we’ve had’
BRADENTON, Fla. — Don Kelly was pumped to see the new All-Star additions to the Pittsburgh Pirates on the field together for the first time, as sluggers Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna made their Pirate City debuts in black and gold. Only to be upstaged by Paul Skenes...
Batman Returns: A.J. Burnett accepts invitation to Pirates camp to mentor pitchers
BRADENTON, Fla. — The request for help came in the form of a phone call instead of a bat signal, but A.J. Burnett was ready to respond to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an instant. Burnett said he was “thrilled” to receive an invitation from manager Don Kelly to visit Pirate...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Elroy Face and old baseball stories that never get old
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on Sports in 350 words or less I had only a few conversations with Elroy Face, but he was always ready with a story. His passing Thursday at age 97 reminded me of that. And of a few other things: • How quickly time flies and...
Power in The Password: Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia makes strong 1st impression on Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Spencer Horwitz marveled at the home run display by a group of hitters that included Jhostynxon Garcia while standing on the infield Saturday at Pirate City during batting practice. When the right handed-hitting Garcia launched a ball over the fence at the 410-foot mark in right-center of...
Joe Starkey: Projecting Pirates lineups is suddenly enjoyable, especially with Konnor Griffin in them
I keep reading about how the Pirates defense could be compromised by their offseason acquisitions, and I keep not caring. I’ll take the offense. Consider the case of all-field, no-hit Ke’Bryan Hayes, now in Cincinnati. Hayes is an elite defender, but how many times per game is he afforded the...
Pirates promote Cibney Bello to assistant pitching coach after Thomas Whitsett resigns
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly learned weeks before the start of spring training there would be a change to his coaching staff, which made for a difficult decision. The Pirates promoted Cibney Bello to the major-league staff as the assistant pitching coach to replace Thomas Whitsett, who resigned for personal...
Pirates catcher Henry Davis hopes deep dive into biomechanics data improves his hitting
BRADENTON, Fla. — Since selecting Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Pirates have raved about his obsessive work ethic and effort to improve at and behind the plate. Davis knows he’s a better hitter than his batting average suggests. Given that the...
Pirates great Elroy Face, Baron of the Bullpen and pioneer of closer role, dies at age 97
Known as the “Baron of the Bullpen,” Elroy Face was a pioneer for modern-day closers in baseball who made the forkball famous and played a vital role for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 World Series champions. A three-time All-Star, Face owns Major League Baseball’s career record for most wins in relief,...
Konnor Griffin eyes starting shortstop job for Pirates, shows ‘no fear’ in facing Paul Skenes
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin swears he set the same expectations for spring training as last year, when he was less than a year removed from high school and wanted to be a sponge who soaked up every ounce of information he could in big-league camp. Griffin knows the baseball...
U mad, bro?: Prickly Pittsburgh fans snipe about Aaron Rodgers reports and Pirates’ spending history
It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Need proof? Take a look at my social media mentions. It’s pretty obvious. Steelers and Pirates fans are flat-out gushing over everything I have to say about their teams. Enjoy our heartfelt love letters to one another in this week’s “U...
Baseball won’t sleep on Paul Skenes, even if Pirates ace has ‘no more made-up pitches’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Whether Paul Skenes was straight-faced serious or acting intentionally ignorant to protect a new pitch before its unveiling in a game, only the Pittsburgh Pirates ace knows. But Skenes swore that he’s never heard of the “sleeper” despite a revelation late last month on MLB Network that...
