Pirates/MLB category, Page 253
Tim Benz: A lesson in hope versus blind faith for the Steelers, Pirates
I want to expand on a thought that I heard from my ESPN Radio Pittsburgh colleague Adam Crowley. And by “expand on a thought,” what I’m trying to say is, I want to steal his idea. Which I will. To be fair, I think Adam stole it from me. Because...
Pirates minor league report: Aug. 7, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-57) was postponed because of inclement weather. The game is to be made up Thursday as part of a doubleheader. Next: Thursday doubleheader at Norfolk (Orioles), Game 1 at 12:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 57-58) split a doubleheader with Richmond, winning the first game 4-3 in 10 innings but...
Brewers pounce on Trevor Williams early, defeat Pirates againVideo
Trevor Williams’ Milwaukee magic couldn’t make a losing streak disappear. Williams won all off his three scoreless starts against Milwaukee last season, but the Brewers scored six times and homered twice off him Wednesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 8-3 at PNC Park. The loss was the fifth in...
Pirates notebook: Jose Osuna gets start again as role expands
Jose Osuna’s key for being a good pinch hitter is to always be ready. “Be ready in every inning,” said Osuna, who has excelled in that role this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I think that’s the most important, be ready for the first pitch.” Now, he seems more than...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle discusses grinding through giant slump
The past two dozen games, with 20 losses and only four wins, were the worst stretch Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle could remember. That’s mostly because his team still was mired in this slide. “Last year it seemed like the worst stretch I’d ever been in,” said Hurdle, whose team...
Pirates farm report for Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-57) lost 8-1 to Norfolk (Orioles). LHP Sean Keselica (1-6, 4.41) took the loss after allowing four runs on a hit in a third of an inning. Starting RHP James Marvel (3-0, 1.87) had a no-decision despite giving up an unearned run in four innings with four strikeouts...
Steven Brault’s solid start not enough in Pirates’ 4-3 loss to Brewers
On most occasions, Clint Hurdle doesn’t say much when he walks to the mound to pull his pitcher from the game. But he had words for Steven Brault on Tuesday night while the Pittsburgh Pirates were losing 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Good words. “Light-hearted,” Brault said....
Pirates notebook: No ‘touchdown’ dances for Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds allowed himself a slight smile — and nothing more — when he reached over the left field wall Monday night and robbed the Brewers’ Mike Moustakas of a home run. “I’m not going to throw my glove off and start dancing just because I made a catch,” he...
Clint Hurdle’s ‘instincts’ tell him Pirates’ Josh Bell needs to sit downVideo
There are more computers in PNC Park than hot dogs, but sometimes manager Clint Hurdle turns away from the analytics and makes a decision the old-school way. He feels it. That’s what happened Tuesday when Hurdle announced slumping slugger Josh Bell would not play Tuesday or Wednesday against the Milwaukee...
First Call: Josh Bell continues free fall; Emmanuel Sanders has camp dustup
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at Josh Bell’s slump, great catches galore and a mad Emmanuel Sanders. Bell silenced Josh Bell hasn’t been ringing in the batter’s box the way he was in the first half of the season. How bad has it gotten? Since July 1, Bell is...
Pirates minor league report: Aug. 5, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-56) was idle. RHP James Marvel (3-0, 2.12 with Indianapolis) is expected to start for the Indians Tuesday night. Next: Tuesday at Norfolk (Orioles), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 56-57) won 6-5 over Richmond (Giants). LF Chris Sharpe (.212 with Altoona) went 3 for 4 with a fifth-inning two-run...
Jordan Lyles returns, Brewers hand Pirates yet another defeatVideo
Over the past few seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates have seen a parade of pitchers find their form shortly after leaving the black and gold behind. From Charlie Morton to Tyler Glasnow, it’s happened more than once. It’s probably not safe to add Jordan Lyles to that list just yet, but...
Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds steals home run with highlight-reel catch
Bryan Reynolds is quickly becoming the top bright spot of the Pittsburgh Pirates season. On Monday night, Reynolds made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas of a sure home run in the second inning, stealing the ball from a fan about to...
Pirates notebook: Jose Osuna playing featured role since trade deadline
Jose Osuna continues to be the primary recipient of the at-bats opened up when the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Corey Dickerson to Philadelphia at the trade deadline and designated third baseman Jung Ho Kang for assignment. Osuna was in the starting lineup for the third time in four games Monday night...
Pirates pitcher Dario Agrazal has chance to prove himself over season’s final 2 months
Because they opted against holding a fire sale at the trade deadline, there aren’t a whole lot of open spaces on the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup card for young players to take. There are a couple, though, and starting pitcher Dario Agrazal occupies one. When the Pirates sent Jordan Lyles to...
Former Pirates starter Jordan Lyles makes return to PNC Park with Brewers
On the scale of former Pittsburgh Pirates making an emotional return to PNC Park, the standing ovations Andrew McCutchen received when he came back with the San Francisco Giants last May sit at one end of the spectrum. Adeiny Hechavarria lining out to left field as a seventh-inning pinch hitter...
First Call: Corey Dickerson homers, Baker Mayfield shotguns a beer
For Monday’s “First Call,” we look at Corey Dickerson’s first homer in Philadelphia, NXT taking over Rays’ pregame festivities, and Baker Mayfield’s beer chugging skills. This Bud’s for Baker Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield is no Aaron Rodgers. At least not yet. But he is clearly better at one thing than Rodgers...
Madden Monday: Mark Madden and Tim Benz on Steelers optimism, and Pirates pity
In this week’s Madden Monday, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to discuss the NFL MVP odds. Why are Ben Roethlisberger’s so poor? Mark seems to think it has a lot to do with off-the-field perception. Then there’s the expanded Hall of Fame voting this year — another...
Pirates’ Joe Musgrove hit hard again in blowout loss to Mets
Perhaps what happened to Joe Musgrove on Sunday at PNC Park was nothing more than a bad night’s sleep leading to a stiff back. Maybe Josh Bell is right, and he’s not trying too hard, and a good session or two in the batting cage will fix what ails him....
Pirates notebook: Steven Brault returns to rotation Tuesday
Steven Brault was starting to gain traction in the Pirates rotation when he went on the injured list four weeks ago with a shoulder strain. He hasn’t pitched since July 5, but he’s listed as the starter for the second game of the Milwaukee Brewers series Tuesday at PNC Park....
Francisco Cervelli vows to enjoy his ‘last two months’ with Pirates
Francisco Cervelli was in a good mood Sunday morning, which is his normal demeanor no matter the situation. But the Pittsburgh Pirates’ oldest and most experienced catcher has missed 61 games since May 26 while recovering from another concussion — at least the sixth of his career — and he’s...
Bullpen wastes strong Archer start in Pirates’ loss to Mets
On the first anniversary of Chris Archer’s first start in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, his bullpen didn’t bake him a cake. Didn’t do him any favors at all, in fact. Jeff McNeil and Wilson Ramos hit late-game home runs to turn one of Archer’s best starts in black and gold...
Pirates’ Keone Kela drops appeal, begins serving 10-game suspension
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Keone Kela dropped his appeal and began serving his 10-game suspension for his role in Tuesday’s brawl with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night. Kela received the punishment for throwing in the area of the head of Reds infielder Derek Dietrich. Jose Osuna (five games), Kyle...
Pirates starter Chris Archer isn’t sneaking up on anyone these days
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chris Archer has had his share of struggles this season, coming into Saturday night’s matchup against the New York Mets with a 5.58 ERA, having allowed an NL-high 25 home runs. As he tries to get his game back on track, a quirk of scheduling has...
Suspended Pirates manager Clint Hurdle adjusts to life as spectator
Clint Hurdle has been a big league manager since 2001 and is in his ninth season at the helm of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, he got the chance to do something Friday night he had never done in his career. He watched a game with his wife and kids. Hurdle...
