Pirates/MLB category, Page 262
U mad, bro?: Readers pop off about Penguins trades, Pirates’ Ray Searage, NFL replay
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” readers pop off about Pirates pitching, defend Jim Rutherford, and attack instant replay. Greg wasn’t a fan of my thoughts on Jim Rutherford’s mixed messages about any more potential trades. A GM isnt being honest with the media and fans..this is a stunning event....in...
Tim Benz: Don’t feel bad for Pirates GM Neal Huntington. He doesn’t.
It wasn’t a conversation we meant to have. It just kind of wound up happening. On a recent edition of the KDKA Sports Showdown, I was on the panel with Rich Walsh (KDKA-TV), Chris Mueller (93.7 The Fan), and Will Graves (Associated Press). And an overarching discussion about the Pirates...
Pirates minor league report for June 19, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 37-32) were defeated 6-3 by Buffalo (Blue Jays). RHP Eduardo Vera (3-5, 5.94) gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and nine hits allowed in a losing performance. SS Cole Tucker (.300) went 1 for 4 with a RBI. Tucker and CF Jason Martin...
Bryan Reynolds homer caps Pirates’ 6-run, come-from-behind win over Tigers
Wednesday afternoon before his struggling team’s game, manager Clint Hurdle discussed what Trevor Williams’ return meant for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It wasn’t just Williams’ pitching ability the Pirates so desperately needed, Hurdle said. They also would benefit from a much-harder-to-define intangible. Williams’ contagious competitiveness shined through Wednesday in his outing,...
Steven Brault will start Sunday for Pirates, Jordan Lyles will make rehab start that day
Manager Clint Hurdle clarified the short-term future of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation Wednesday, saying Steven Brault will start Sunday’s game, and Jordan Lyles will make a minor league rehab start that day. Lyles has been on the injured list since June 10 because of hamstring tightness. Hurdle said he...
Pirates injury updates: Erik Gonzalez ‘making tremendous progress,’ could play games soon
Erik Gonzalez was eligible to come off the 60-day injured list Wednesday. While that didn’t happen, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop is much closer to being activated than many people thought he would be at this point. Gonzalez has been out since suffering a clavicle fracture in a collision...
Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli (concussion) cleared for all baseball activities, has no symptoms
Francisco Cervelli is back in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse. His return to the active roster might not be far behind. Out since May 26 because of a concussion, Cervelli was cleared last week by neurologist Dr. James Valeriano to “resume all baseball activities,” Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk...
Mitch Keller returns to Triple-A to make room for Trevor Williams
The return of Trevor Williams to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation Wednesday means the end — for now — of Mitch Keller’s time with the team. Williams was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after being out since May 16 with a right side strain. He will start Wednesday against...
First Call: Penguins rivals making moves; ‘He Hate Me’ is safe
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” there’s news about two rivals of the Penguins. “He Hate Me” has been found. And Trevor Williams isn’t the only guy making a comeback Wednesday at PNC Park. What are they up to? The Flyers are making moves. Philadelphia acquired San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates missed the mark in Mitch Keller’s PNC Park debutVideo
As PNC Park debuts go, Mitch Keller’s lacked sizzle. Not to mention a victory. Keller was as much to blame for that as the Pittsburgh Pirates are, as both his major-league debut and second start were disappointing defeats at Cincinnati and Atlanta, respectively. The buildup you would expect for a...
Pirates minor league report for June 18, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 37-31) defeated Buffalo (Blue Jays), 5-2. LHP Cam Vieaux (2-0, 4.15) earned the victory after pitching six innings with six strikeouts and two runs allowed on four hits. Vieaux did not surrender a hit through five innings. 1B Will Craig (.279) went 2 for 4 with a two-run...
Mitch Keller improves in PNC Park debut, but Pirates lose to Tigers
The Pittsburgh Pirates committed a pair of errors in one inning, leading to two unearned runs by the Detroit Tigers. They left eight runners on base after the fourth inning, and they managed only one hit in 10 tries with teammates in scoring position. Under those circumstances, no one should...
Kevin Gorman: Ray Searage wears bull’s-eye as Pirates deal with pitching problemsVideo
Ray Searage hears the criticism. How could he not? The strength of the Pittsburgh Pirates was supposed to be the pitching staff, with a strong starting rotation and a loaded bullpen. Instead, the Pirates have dealt with disaster, as pitching became their biggest problem. A dozen pitchers have spent time...
Pirates’ Hurdle likes juggling five outfielders
Clint Hurdle has five outfielders on his roster, which is one more than he usually needs. It’s a nice problem — and it could come in handy at trade deadline time — but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager said he solves it by “feel” and “conversation.” But there are constants that...
Ex-Pirate Jordy Mercer nostalgic on return to PNC Park with Tigers
It rains a lot in Taloga, Okla., these days. Which means the grass is green, the wheat crop is strong and, thankfully, the wildfires that plagued the tiny town (population, 310) last spring have not returned. The only bad news is Taloga’s favorite son isn’t playing baseball. Jordy Mercer, who...
Pirates notebook: Healthy arms could give team a needed boost
Trevor Williams will return to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation Wednesday night, and he does so as part of the reconstruction of the pitching staff. The Pirates crossed Chris Stratton off the injured list Tuesday. Williams comes off Wednesday. Meanwhile, Jordan Lyles pitched a simulated game before the team met...
First Call: Josh Bell maintains All-Star lead; what could Penguins trade 1st-round pick for?
In “First Call” Tuesday, the Pirates need to get fat against the Tigers. Josh Bell still leads in All-Star voting at first base, but not by much. Draft picks are good currency in the NHL. And Lavar Ball continues to act like a moron. Terrible Tigers Boy, the Tigers are...
Pirates minor league report for June 17, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 36-31) was idle. LHP Cam Vieaux (1-0, 4.50) is the Indians’ expected starting pitcher Tuesday night. Next: Tuesday at Buffalo (Blue Jays), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 34-32) lost 4-2 to Harrisburg (Nationals). CF Jared Olivia (.209) and 1B Jerrick Suiter (.246) went 2 for 5 with a double...
Pirates sign four more draft choices
The Pittsburgh Pirates have 29 of their 42 draft choices under contract after four, including sixth-round outfielder Will Matthiessen of Stanford, agreed to terms Monday. Matthiessen, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, hit .322, with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs in 57 games for Stanford this season. .@willmatthiessen is headed to the...
For reeling Pirates, upcoming schedule only makes things tougher
The most troubling thought that followed the Pittsburgh Pirates home from their 2-8 road trip wasn’t a pitching staff that seems to be in various stages of disarray and ineffectiveness. Hard to believe, but there is worse news than a 5.12 team ERA (27th in MLB) and 1.45 WHIP (26th),...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk Olli Maatta trade, Steelers running backs, Pirates quandary
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I discuss whether Jim Rutherford did the right thing by trading Olli Maatta to Chicago. We also investigate the quality of the return in Dominik Kahun. Maatta took a lot of grief in Pittsburgh. We debate whether it was warranted. Another...
Tim Benz: Pirates bullpen shows encouraging signs vs. Marlins
I don’t want to get too crazy. Simply file this one under “credit when it’s due.” But let’s give a mild golf clap to the Pirates bullpen for helping to win the series in Miami over the weekend. Boy, it’s amazing how much facing the Marlins’ bats can help, right?...
Pirates rally past Marlins, win seriesVideo
MIAMI — Josh Bell padded his NL-leading RBI total and helped the Pittsburgh Pirates to a series-clinching victory. Bell’s go-ahead double in the seventh inning lifted the Pirates over the Miami Marlins, 5-4, on Sunday. The Pirates rallied from a 4-2 deficit on Corey Dickerson’s pinch-hit RBI double off Miami...
Pirates’ Neal Huntington said pitching staff ‘getting healthy’
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said his team, which has lost eight of its past nine games, is in the middle of a “tough stretch, but we’re getting healthy.” Speaking Sunday on his radio show on KDKA-FM, he said pitchers Trevor Williams, Chris Stratton and Jordan Lyles, who are...
Pirates minor league report: June 15, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 35-30): Postponed by rain vs. Pawtucket (Red Sox). Next: Sunday doubleheader vs. Pawtucket ALTOONA (Double-A, 34-31): defeated Binghamton (Mets), 5-1. 1B Jerrick Suiter (.242) had a pair of RBIs, as did RF Bligh Madris. Madris (.249) hit his third homer of the season, and 3B Hunter Owen (.300)...
