Pirates/MLB category, Page 263
Former Pirates star Jason Bay back at PNC Park
During the unofficial Dark Ages of modern Pittsburgh Pirates, arguably the best player to never play for a winning Pirates team during their 20-season streak of losing records was Jason Bay. And Bay was back at PNC Park on Friday. A recent inductee into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,...
Slumping Gregory Polanco again absent from Pirates lineup
Gregory Polanco is slumping. And with an abundance of options in the outfield who are performing at a high level, the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t willing to sit and wait for him to play out of it. Polanco was not in the lineup again Friday for the game against the San...
3 switch hitters — Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds, Melky Cabrera — powering Pirates lineup
After finishing 28th and 20th in the majors in runs the previous two seasons and having the second-fewest runs in MLB prior to May 1, the Pittsburgh Pirates have had one of the better offenses in the National League over the past two months. It almost feels as if the...
Pirates minor league report for June 20, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 37-33) lost 11-8 to Buffalo (Blue Jays). The Bison scored eight runs in the fifth inning to pull ahead, 10-3. They added another run in the seventh before Indianapolis rallied, scoring five runs in the last two innings to cut the deficit to three. SS Cole Tucker (.305)...
In Bryan Reynolds’ case, injuries likely opened door leading to Pirates
Here are two questions that do not make sense on the surface but are worthy of consideration: Where would the Pittsburgh Pirates be if outfielders Corey Dickerson, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte were not injured at various points this season? What if Marte and shortstop Erik Gonzalez had not collided...
Are Pirates at ‘turning point’ for season? Here are 3 reasons to have hope
Trevor Williams was beaming in the clubhouse late Wednesday evening — and probably more than he ever had been following an outing in which he was charged with seven earned runs. Williams had just watched the Pittsburgh Pirates complete their biggest comeback in almost 11 years, erasing a six-run deficit...
Q&A with Ray Searage: Pirates pitching coach discusses challenges, criticism
Ray Searage was the subject of my column this week for wearing a bull`s-eye for the Bucs. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach has endured a rash of injuries to his starting rotation and bullpen and the criticism that comes with the club losing 20 of 29 games in one span....
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...
