Pirates/MLB category, Page 227
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Predicting the Pirates’ 30-man roster and taxi squad
If you listened to Derek Shelton’s weekly appearance on 93.7 FM, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager dropped a bit of a bombshell when he discussed potential designated hitters. Oh, Shelton has warned us before that he has no plans to designate one player as DH, as much as that might be...
MLB rule changes give new Pirates manager Derek Shelton flexibility with pitching staff, DH
Now that MLB has decided to play a 60-game season featuring regional matchups, new Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton is switching his strategy from a marathon to a sprint and preparing for rule changes. Shelton believes that benefits him, given the Pirates will be playing opponents from the NL Central...
Lawyer for suspended Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez says evidence of child sex assault should be thrown out
The lawyer for suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez said evidence collected by police during an investigation into sexual assault allegations were the product of an illegal search and should be barred from use by prosecutors in an upcoming trial. Vazquez, 28, has been in jail since September, when he...
Pirates let go more than 2 dozen employees in restructuring of business operations
In a move made to restructure the business operations of the organization under new leadership, the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday laid off more than two dozen employees, including select department heads, a source told the Tribune-Review. The decision to make staff changes came just two days after MLB and its...
Pirate Parrot, other MLB mascots now permitted in parks
Pirate Parrot, phenomenal. Mr. Met and Mariner Moose, marvelous. Wally the Green Monster, welcome back. Mascots are getting a reprieve from Major League Baseball. A month after being tossed out of stadiums because of health concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, the fuzzy and funny creatures will return as inside-the-parkers. “The...
Pirates to use Altoona Curve stadium as alternate training facility
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday that Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of their Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve, will be used an alternate training facility this season. “The Pirates organization is appreciative of the longstanding relationship we have had for over two decades with the Altoona Curve,” Pirates general manager...
How will MLB reboot rules impact fantasy baseball interest, Pirates DH, roster strategy
Major League Baseball is coming back! In real life. We think. So that means it’s coming back for fantasy sports players as well. Jeff Erickson of RotoWire joins us to discuss if he’s seeing many leagues canceling because there is only going to be a 60-game season. For those that...
Taking the mound takes Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon’s mind off MLB negotiationsVideo
For someone sidelined this season, Jameson Taillon had a baseball-filled Tuesday — a day that will go down for its monumental moments. Taillon threw off the mound for the first time in his recovery from a second Tommy John surgery, firing 15 fastballs after making mechanical changes to shorten his...
‘Burgh’s Best to Wear it, No. 67: Francisco Cordova pitched an all-time classic for ’97 PiratesVideo
The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number. No. 67: Francisco Cordova Mention the name Francisco Cordova, and one phrase pops into any baseball fan’s head: Combined no-hitter. For one magical night in...
Signing with Pirates, seeing PNC Park for 1st time ‘jaw-dropping’ for top pick Nick Gonzales
Nick Gonzales knew that the number he wore at New Mexico State wasn’t a consideration for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going so far as to remove images of himself wearing a Pirates jersey with No. 21 out of respect for the late Hall of Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente. “I kind...
Pirates ‘excited to return to play baseball,’ expect every player to report to training campVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates expect every player projected to be on their 30-man roster for MLB’s 60-game season to report by July 1 to training camp — which new manager Derek Shelton has nicknamed “The Deuce” — and plan to use “every square inch” of PNC Park. That was the biggest...
Analysis: What’s on deck with new MLB seasonVideo
NEW YORK — So, where were we? Mid-March, a spring training exhibition between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Even before the final out, both sides had gotten the official word: MLB was shutting down immediately because of the coronavirus pandemic. “It...
Baseball’s back: MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23 or 24
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic following months of acrimony. A dramatically altered season with games full of new rules was the final...
Oddsmakers set over/under for Pirates’ wins at 25½ in shortened season
Based on MLB’s 60-game regular season, the oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag set the over-under at 25½ wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates, projecting a last-place finish in the NL Central. With the shortened season, the oddsmakers expect many teams to have the same records. The teams projected to have the best records...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Looking at the Pirates’ potential lineup over a 60-game season
Baseball is back, so the Pittsburgh Pirates are returning to PNC Park. That’s the good news for the sport’s fans. The bad news is MLB and its Players’ Association wasted weeks of preparation by having a labor dispute amid a pandemic. In the time the two sides spent negotiating over...
Penguins, Pirates announcers on challenges of remote play-by-play
Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown has been calling baseball games since 1989. But never in the way he’s about to try once Major League Baseball returns to play. The covid-19 pandemic is restricting travel for baseball franchises to the point that local broadcasters will only be calling games — in...
Play ball: MLB’s 60-game season to start July 23-24Video
MLB issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus after months of acrimony. Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and four games vs. each of...
Pirates agree to terms with 1st-round pick Nick Gonzales, who expects to sign Wednesday
The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with first-round pick Nick Gonzales and will sign the New Mexico State shortstop Wednesday, pending his passing a physical exam. Gonzales was en route to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, his father, Mike Gonzales, confirmed to the Tribune-Review. The Pirates selected Gonzales with the No. 7...
Tim Benz: The intangibles behind great Pittsburgh sports memories
Full marks to my radio colleague Adam Crowley at ESPN Pittsburgh. On Monday, Crowley put up a web poll — clearly designed to tweak the masses. A tactic I fully embrace, by the way. More overrated Pittsburgh sports moment— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) June 22, 2020 Psst! Adam, there’s a Mr....
Other intriguing ‘Burgh athletes who wore 69: Pirates’ Bronson Arroyo, Steelers’ Gabe Rivera
Pitt’s Randy Dixon was an All-American offensive lineman, and in the estimation of the Tribune-Review sports staff, the best Pittsburgh athlete to wear the No. 69 jersey, but two others should not be forgotten: • Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who spent three years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. • Defensive tackle Gabe...
‘Burgh’s best to wear it, No. 69: Pitt’s Randy Dixon, AC/DC fan, an electric choice
The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best 100 players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number. No. 69: Randy Dixon Running into defensive linemen all day takes a toll on a man. But when it was time to relax, Pitt’s...
MLB players reject proposal; Rob Manfred implements 60-game seasonVideo
After the MLB Players Association executive board rejected an MLB proposal Monday afternoon by a 33-5 vote, commissioner Rob Manfred was forced to implement a 60-game season. The vote ended weeks of negotiations between baseball’s owners and the union. The standoff stalled the start of the season after the sport...
Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin feels ‘pretty confident’ staff is ready for season to start
Oscar Marin knows being a new pitching coach amid a pandemic is less than ideal, but feels “pretty confident” about the progress the Pittsburgh Pirates staff has made preparing for baseball’s return. “Everything is new to us, new to myself,” Marin said Saturday on 93.7 FM. “I’m working through a...
Pirates pitcher Derek Holland: I feel like fans are on our side in MLB negotiationsVideo
As an 11-year major league veteran, Derek Holland is one of the established players for the Pittsburgh Pirates. As a nonroster invitee to spring training, the left-handed pitcher still is trying to make the team. That didn’t stop Holland from speaking candidly Friday night in an interview with Dan Zangrilli...
Pirates: No positive cases of covid-19 with players or staff at Pirate City in Bradenton
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday that they have not had any positive cases of covid-19 involving any employees, including players, at their spring training and minor league facility in Florida. The Pirates released the statement in response to the Philadelphia Phillies confirming eight positive cases of the coronavirus, including five...
