Pirates/MLB category, Page 243
Report: Former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle to retire from baseball
Former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is retiring from baseball, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hurdle, who coached the Pirates nine years, was fired this season after going 69-92. It was the worst season Pittsburgh had since 2010. Former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle retires from baseball,...
First Call: Steelers rare history as underdogs vs. Browns; Ben Cherington as Pirates GM?
They’ve tied. They’ve needed overtime to win. They relied on Landry Jones. But the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t lost to the Cleveland Browns since 2014. It was a 31-10 beat down by the Browns in Week 6 of that year. And it wasn’t even that close. That was also the last...
Ben Cherington, Matt Arnold reportedly among GM candidates for Pirates
MLB’s annual general managers meetings began Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz., even though the Pirates don’t have a general manager at the moment. However, indications are the Pirates are getting close to filling the vacancy created when Neal Huntington was fired Oct. 28 after 12 years on the job. The New...
Pirates pick up contract option for Starling Marte, Chris Archer
The Pittsburgh Pirates committed $20.5 million in salary Monday for center fielder Starling Marte and starting pitcher Chris Archer, picking up the contractual options on the team’s most expensive players. Marte will be paid $11.5 million and Archer $9 million in 2020, according to spotrac.com. The moves were not surprising,...
Pirates’ Dave Parker one of 10 names on Hall of Fame ballot
Dave Parker, who played 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and won consecutive National League batting titles in 1977 and 1978, was one of nine players named Monday to the Hall of Fame ballot for possible election to the class of 2020. Also included on the ballot, which will be...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh fans should have easy time with ‘scariest sports story’ challenge
SB Nation got this Halloween sports-related thread going on Twitter Thursday. What's the scariest sports story you can tell in 6 words? — SB Nation (@SBNation) October 31, 2019 It shouldn’t be hard for Pittsburgh sports fans to figure out this one. We’ve seen plenty of scary things. And they...
Pirates trade relief pitcher Parker Markel to the Angels
With assistant general manager Kevan Graves temporarily monitoring the roster, the Pittsburgh Pirates opened up a spot Thursday when they traded right-handed relief pitcher Parker Markel to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for cash considerations. Markel, 29, spent most of last season in the Seattle Mariners’ minor-league system, appearing...
Kevin Gorman: Watching ex-Pirates shine in World Series ‘incredibly disturbing’Video
When Bob Nutting met with the media Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates chairman made an emphatic opening statement to confront his frustrations that led to firings. “Frankly,” Nutting said, “I just watched too many times former Pirates achieving success at other clubs, which is also incredibly disturbing both to me and...
Gerrit Cole moves swiftly to distance himself from Astros
Gerrit Cole might have enjoyed his two seasons as a member of the Houston Astros, getting to the World Series and all. But now the former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft choice and free-agent-to-be looks like he’s ready to try a third team. Gerrit Cole, an impending free agent, was resistant...
U mad, bro? Readers want Evgeni Malkin traded, Joe Haden gone, Bob Nutting exposed
We’re all over the map in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Readers want Bob Nutting exposed, Joe Haden gone and Evgeni Malkin traded. Aside from that, no one has a strong opinion on much of anything, I guess. This week I posted a column featuring my questions and answers with...
Mark Madden: Pirates owner Bob Nutting’s babble is worthless without action
The rebranding of the Pittsburgh Pirates sailed through calm waters when owner Bob Nutting met with the media Monday. The lure was cast. The media bit. Fished in, just like “Wayne’s World.” The changes made will prove cosmetic. Mere rebranding. Business will be conducted like always: Profit über alles. I’m...
Pirates claim relief pitcher Sam Howard from Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first player move of the off-season Wednesday when they claimed left-handed relief pitcher Sam Howard off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Howard 26, spent most of last season with the Rockies’ Triple-A team in Albuquerque. He was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 62 strikeouts...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman break down Steelers-Colts, Mason Rudolph’s play, Pirates’ Bob Nutting interview
The Pittsburgh Steelers managed to put away the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Eventually. Now they have a much tougher task looming as the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts come to Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. I talk about that matchup with fellow TribLive columnist Kevin Gorman in our weekly podcast following...
Tim Benz: Pirates owner Bob Nutting responds to 3 questions that had to be askedVideo
On Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting held multiple media gatherings to address the firing of Neal Huntington as general manager and the hiring of Travis Williams as team president. In advance of those discussions, I wrote on Monday morning that there were three specific questions I wanted to...
Kevin Gorman: Bob Nutting banking on Travis Williams to save Pirates from sinkholeVideo
Perhaps the perfect metaphor for the state of the Pittsburgh Pirates occurred Monday morning, when a Port Authority bus was swallowed by a sinkhole around the time word leaked general manager Neal Huntington had been fired. With the Pirates stuck in a rut and exposed for everyone to see, they...
New Pirates president Travis Williams eager ‘to crack the code’Video
When he was asked why he agreed to join Bob Nutting’s Pittsburgh Pirates management team as its president, Travis Williams gave an answer that precisely describes the situation that confronts him. “I like challenges,” the former Pittsburgh Penguins chief operating officer said. Williams also wants to make something else clear....
Pirates formally announce ex-Penguins executive Travis Williams as new president
Overshadowed by their firing general manager Neal Huntington, the Pittsburgh Pirates formally announced the hiring of Travis Williams as team president on Monday morning. Williams replaces Frank Coonelly, who “parted ways” with the Pirates last week after 12 years. The hiring of Williams was confirmed by the Tribune-Review last week....
Pirates fire general manager Neal Huntington
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their housecleaning complete by firing general manager Neal Huntington, overhauling a front office that Pirates chairman Bob Nutting once called the best management team in baseball. The Pirates will introduce Travis Williams, a former Penguins executive, as their new president on Monday afternoon. Assistant general manager...
Tim Benz: Most pressing questions that need to be asked of Pirates’ Bob Nutting
The belief within the Pittsburgh media is that the Pirates will have a press conference of some sort Monday to introduce Travis Williams as the team’s new president. If that happens, it is also anticipated that owner Bob Nutting may be on hand to answer questions. That’s rare. If this...
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting knew management changes were needed in AugustVideo
In the next few weeks, Bob Nutting will name a new general manager and manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He already has a new president in place who will chart a plan he hopes eventually will lift a struggling team back among the National League’s contenders. A couple of coaches...
Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier named Gold Glove finalist
In his first season as a full-time starter, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier impressed with his defense. The 27-year-old was named a National League Gold Glove Award finalist by Rawlings, along with two other first-time finalists: The Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies and St. Louis Cardinals’ Kolten Wong. Frazier’s .989...
Tim Benz: Travis Williams needs more than Penguins pixie dust to fix Pirates
“Welcome back, Travis! Now how long before you fix everything? It’s been 40 years since the Pirates’ last World Series. I’m starting to get a little antsy.” Of course, I’m exaggerating about how some Pittsburgh sports fans are reacting to the hire of Travis Williams as the new team president...
Kevin Gorman: Bob Nutting must own up to Pirates’ problems, which start at the top
Bob Nutting heard the calls for a housecleaning and heeded the warnings Pittsburgh Pirates fans wouldn’t stand for the status quo. The Pirates chairman started firing away, like he was skeet shooting at Seven Springs. But he got a bit backward. Before the Pirates played their season finale, they fired...
U mad, bro? No Steelers game? No less anger. Most of it about Gerrit Cole.
No Steelers game, no anger in “U mad, bro?” this week, right? Not so fast. There are plenty of other things to get upset about. And this week, most of them apparently have to do with the Pirates. Specifically, an ex-Pirate name Gerrit Cole. Oh, and an ex-Penguin named Marc-Andre...
Penguins CEO gives ringing endorsement for Pirates hiring Travis Williams as president
The Pittsburgh Pirates already received one ringing endorsement for their decision to hire Travis Williams to replace Frank Coonelly as team president. That it’s from the Penguins should come as no surprise. “We owe a lot of the success we’ve had over the last 10 years or so to Travis,”...
