Pirates/MLB category, Page 250
Tim Benz: Former Pirates kill their old team. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
In the latest “just laugh because, if you don’t, you’ll just cry” moment of the 2019 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night. How? Glad you asked. Because former Pirate Corey Dickerson homered to give the Phillies a lead in the eighth inning. COREY DICKERSON JUST...
Tim Benz: MLB mercy rule debate masks greater problem
Give Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown credit for self-awareness. He’s right. No one wants to be “that guy.” The old guy yelling “get off my lawn” at any new idea that comes along. That’s how an aghast Brown couched his commentary against the suggestion of a Major League Baseball...
Phillies’ Sean Rodriguez sinks Pirates with 11th-inning home run
PHILADELPHIA — Sean Rodriguez answered the critics with one big swing. Rodriguez lined a home run leading off the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. Josh Bell hit a solo homer off Philadelphia closer Hector Neris...
Pirates minor league report for Aug. 26, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 64-69) lost 4-1 to Toledo (Tigers). The Indians were held to five hits and committed four errors. SS Cole Tucker (.264) went 1 for 4 with a triple and a run, scoring on a double play in the sixth inning. RHP Cody Ponce (1-1, 4.00 ERA) took the...
Mark Madden: Francisco Cervelli’s hero status with Pirates a joke
When your team is awful, heroes have to be invented. Such was the case when catcher Francisco Cervelli ended his tenure in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are 11-30 since the All-Star break and are too frequently routed. They have sustained losses of 7-1, 11-1, 13-0 and 7-1 in the past nine...
Second opinion on Pirates’ Chris Archer confirms shoulder inflammationVideo
Chris Archer, who went on the injured list Wednesday just as he was starting to make improvements as a starter, went for a second opinion on his shoulder injury last week, and it confirmed he has inflammation that needs rest. Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Archer’s situation will...
Leadoff batter Kevin Newman sparks Pirates in sweep of RedsVideo
Knowing what preceded the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 9-8 victory Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, Clint Hurdle couldn’t help but smile and poke a little fun at himself. After all, the Pirates manager made the call to insert Kevin Newman atop the batting order, and the rookie shortstop responded by reaching base...
Francisco Cervelli makes dramatic debut with two doubles for Atlanta Braves
Francisco Cervelli said goodbye to Pittsburgh and hello to Atlanta. Hello, hello, hello. Just two days after the charismatic catcher was released by the Pirates, Cervelli made a dramatic debut for the Braves with three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs in a 9-5 victory over the New York...
Pirates minor league report for Aug. 25, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 64-67) won 7-0 at home against Louisville (Reds). C Christian Kelley (.185) went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run. LHP Brandon Waddell (3-6, 8.58 ERA) went six innings allowing no runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Next: Sunday vs....
Josh Bell, Colin Moran power Pirates past RedsVideo
Josh Bell is not done. That was the defining message from the All-Star first baseman after he topped 100 RBIs for the first time in the majors, hitting a three-run homer as the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the Cincinnati Reds, 14-0, on Saturday night. “There’s a lot of weight on that...
Pirates farm report: Games of Aug. 23, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 63-67) won 5-2 over Louisville (Reds). The Indians led 4-0 after four innings. RHP James Marvel (5-0, 2.72) earned the victory in a seven-inning outing with six strikeouts and two runs allowed on six hits. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (.260) went 4 for 5 with an RBI, a run...
Pablo Reyes’ single brings Pirates home victory over RedsVideo
Pablo Reyes hit a game-ending RBI single, driving in pinch-runner Joe Musgrove, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, on Friday night. The Pirates won for just the ninth time in 39 games since the All-Star break by chipping away at Reds closer Raisel Iglesias (2-9)....
Francisco Cervelli pens love letter to Pittsburgh, ‘The city that captivated my heart’
A day after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates, popular catcher Francisco Cervelli posted a message on social media directed at the city he called home for almost five years. It could best be described as a love letter. In a piece titled, “A letter to the city of Pittsburgh...
Photo gallery: Francisco Cervelli’s passion for baseball made him a fan favorite
From the day he arrived at Pirate City for spring training in 2015, Francisco Cervelli has been one of my favorite players to photograph in my 30 years of covering the Pirates. Cervelli brought a unique passion to the game in Pittsburgh and charmed fans of all ages during the...
Tim Benz: How Pirates might deal with Chris Archer conundrum
When the topics of the Pirates roster and finances intersect, we can often make the mistake of addressing the decision from the view of what should be done. Instead, it’s far more practical to simply address it from the standpoint of what they will likely do. In other words, don’t...
Pirates minor league report for Aug. 22, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 62-67) lost 5-4 to Toledo (Tigers). RHP Blake Cederlind (0-1, 16.20 ERA) was the losing pitcher after giving up three runs in the eighth inning of a game the Indians led, 4-1. Cederlind allowed five hits with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (.253) went...
Pirates fall to Nationals, drop to 8-30 since All-Star BreakVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost six games in a row when Steven Brault is their starting pitcher, including a 7-1 decision Thursday night at PNC Park to the Washington Nationals. You would think Brault is to blame. You would be wrong. Brault solidified his status as the Pirates’ best starting...
Auditions continue for Pirates catchers Elias Diaz, Jacob StallingsVideo
Francisco Cervelli is gone, but nothing changes for catchers Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings. Their audition to remain the Pittsburgh Pirates’ major league catching duo continues. It hasn’t been a good season for Diaz, however. He hit .286 last season but got a late start this year while suffering from...
Pirates cut ties with catcher Francisco Cervelli
The news reached the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse several hours before Felipe Vazquez was asked about Thursday’s release of his friend, catcher Francisco Cervelli. “I still can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s going to be tough for everyone.” The Pirates had been playing without Cervelli since he went on the concussion...
As historic slump worsens, Pirates’ Clint Hurdle faces question about his job securityVideo
For perhaps the first time during his nine years as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clint Hurdle was forced to confront a public question about his job security. After another lopsided defeat — 11-1 to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday — Hurdle was asked if he is concerned his job...
Pirates minor league report: Aug. 21, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 61-66) lost 9-8 to Toledo (Tigers) in the first game of a doubleheader on a walk-off double. Game 2 ended too late. The Indians led 7-0 after one inning, and the Mud Hens scored seven unanswered runs in the final two innings. RHP Geoff Hartlieb (4-1, 2.78) took...
Nationals tag Joe Musgrove early in dismantling of PiratesVideo
After a one-night reprieve, the free-fall continues. A six-run third inning did in starter Joe Musgrove, and the Pittsburgh Pirates managed just three singles off of Washington starter Patrick Corbin in an 11-1 Nationals win Wednesday night. It was the Pirates’ 29th loss in 37 games since the All-Star break,...
Consistency fueling what Starling Marte believes is his best season for Pirates
Starling Marte was named the Pittsburgh Pirates most valuable player last season in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America’s local chapter. Regardless of whether he repeats, Marte said he believes this is his best season. There is no disputing Marte has been more consistent in 2019. The veteran...
Pirates’ Jameson Taillon optimistic; Francisco Cervelli progressing
Jameson Taillon remains about 18 months away from pitching in a spring training game. But the long road back from Tommy John surgery began for the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher. “ ‘Jamo’ is eight days post-(surgery),” Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said, “and he had a nice landmark yesterday,...
In need of arms, Pirates recall pitchers Dario Agrazal, Parker Markel
Clint Hurdle speculated Wednesday afternoon that in the absence of any roster moves, the Pittsburgh Pirates would have had only three bullpen arms available for that night’s game against the Washington Nationals. So the Pirates brought in some reinforcements: right-handers Dario Agrazal and Parker Markel were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis....
