Pirates/MLB category, Page 267
Fantasy sports podcast: Stirring the pot on Derek Dietrich, Pirates-Reds rivalry
Our weekly fantasy sports podcast always features Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. He’s a lifelong Reds fan. So this week, he gives a completely different perspective on the sniping back and forth between his favorite club and the Pirates. Derek Dietrich pimping home runs against the Pirates has been a hot...
U mad, bro? Readers pop off about showboating, Phil Kessel trade, Antonio Brown’s grass
“U mad, bro?” this week features Pirates fans in a snit over Derek Dietrich of the Reds, the Pirates’ failure to support Josh Bell and our coverage of Antonio Brown. Well, our coverage of Brown’s lawn care, anyway. On Twitter, “Corby Corb 12” chimes in with an opinion on Derek...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ Kevin Newman making big strides in Year 2
Across the parking lot from PNC Park, after a preseason game in August, you’ll probably hear Steelers coach Mike Tomlin say something about James Washington, Jaylen Samuels or Chuks Okorafor “being on the rise from Year 1 to Year 2” of their NFL careers. Tomlin is big on that one....
Pirates’ Jordan Lyles plans to make scheduled start after testing hamstring
On a night when three pitchers failed to control the Milwaukee Brewers in a 11-5 loss, the Pittsburgh Pirates finally got some good news about one of their pitchers. Jordan Lyles, who strained his lower left hamstring Tuesday in Cincinnati, threw a bullpen session Thursday and later declared himself “good...
Joe Musgrove, bullpen struggle in Pirates’ loss to Brewers
Clint Hurdle needed only to take a quick glance at the game summary to figure out what ailed his team Thursday night in an 11-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Actually, for much of this season. “We’ve given up way more than our share of multiple-run innings,” the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Pirates minor league report: May 30, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 30-20) shut out Charlotte (White Sox), 4-0. The Indians held the Knights to just two hits as RHP Pedro Vasquez (1-1, 7.71) threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, a walk and a hit allowed in a winning effort. CF Jason Martin (.255) went 2 for 3...
Clint Hurdle: ‘Room’ for Steven Brault in Pirates’ rotation
Steven Brault wants to make something clear about his efforts Wednesday in Cincinnati. “It wasn’t just a fluke out of nowhere,” he said of 51⁄3 shutout innings that led to a 7-2 victory for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brault, who had allowed eight runs in 72⁄3 innings in his previous two...
Pirates’ Clay Holmes: Pitch that hit Reds’ Eugenio Suarez was an accidentVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Clay Holmes said he doesn’t blame Eugenio Suarez for getting mad. Suarez is having another fine season for the Cincinnati Reds, already up to 14 home runs and 39 RBIs after totaling 34 and 104 last year. The last thing he needs is an injury when...
Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. breaks down after foul ball strikes young girl
Albert Almora Jr. couldn’t help but break down at what he saw when he lined a foul ball into the stands Wednesday night. The Cubs outfielder hit a line drive into the third-base stands during the fourth inning against the Astros at Minute Maid Park, striking a girl who was...
Tim Benz: If Pirates, Reds weren’t so lame, they could have a decent rivalry
Given all the attention on how the Pirates may retaliate against Derek Dietrich preening after his three home runs Tuesday, tempers were a little hot Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati. The Pirates beat the Reds, 7-2. But it wasn’t without incident. Pirates pitcher Clay Holmes, not exactly renowned for his control...
Pirates minor league report: May 29, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 29-20) won 2-0 over Charlotte (White Sox). The Indians scored two runs in the seventh inning on a line-drive RBI single from DH Jung-Ho Kang (.500) followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from 2B Kevin Kramer (.278). Kang finished 1 for 3 in his second game on...
Josh Bell homers again, Colin Moran hits 3-run shot as Pirates winVideo
CINCINNATI — Josh Bell is finishing off one of the best power-hitting months in Pittsburgh Pirates history. The switch-hitting first baseman tied the club record with his 12th homer in May, and the Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-2, on Wednesday for a split of their four-game series that ended...
Honus Wagner baseball card sells privately for $1.2 million
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. — A Honus Wagner baseball card has been sold privately for $1.2 million. SCP Auctions in Southern California says the 1909-11 T206 card was graded in Good 2 condition on a scale of 1 to 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator. The auction house says this example of...
Tim Benz: Josh Bell’s breakout season can be traced to 1 stat
One of the advanced analytics regularly in the dunking booth for baseball old-schoolers is exit velocity. You know, Major League Baseball’s Statcast tracking of how fast a player hits the ball off the bat. The older the baseball fan, the more likely you are to hear: “Do I really need...
Kevin Gorman: Why do Pirates keep pitching to Derek Dietrich?Video
Derek Dietrich has made a habit of admiring his home runs – a little too long for my liking – and celebrating them with choreographed moves while rounding the bases. Chris Archer took exception to Dietrich’s homer display and threw a pitch behind the Cincinnati Reds infielder last month that...
Tim Benz: Broadcasters shred Derek Dietrich as he shreds Pirates
It appears the “grandpa shaming” of Derek Dietrich has backfired. As we documented following Cincinnati’s Tuesday night victory over the Pirates, Dietrich decided to strike a pose after homering against the Pirates. Again. That got former Pirate and current team broadcaster John Wehner talking. He was on 93.7 The Fan...
Pirates minor league report for May 29, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-20) lost 9-4 to Charlotte (White Sox). RHP Eduardo Vera (3-4, 6.41) allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Vera had two strikeouts and a walk. SS Pablo Reyes (.219) hit a two-run homer in the third inning. 1B Will Craig (.270) had a...
Derek Dietrich homers 3 times as Reds beat pitching-strapped PiratesVideo
CINCINNATI — Derek Dietrich was describing his three-homer game for the media when Scooter Gennett walked past and put it in a slightly different perspective. “Anybody can hit three, Derek,” said Gennett, who did him one better in 2017. No, Dietrich’s latest big game didn’t set any records. But it...
Keller’s first MLB stay is brief as Pirates return top prospect to Triple-A
Mitch Keller’s development will continue in Indianapolis. A day after he allowed six runs in the first inning of his first major-league start, Keller was optioned to the Triple-A Indians on Tuesday. General manager Neal Huntington had been reluctant to use Keller, 23, before management considered him ready, and only...
Mitch Keller has company among Pirates who lost their debutsVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates management faced a dilemma after watching Mitch Keller’s major-league debut Monday in Cincinnati. What stretch of pitches by the 23-year-old Keller mattered most? The 41 he threw in the first inning when the Reds scored six runs? Or, the 44 he threw over his next — and final...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden debate Kessel trade idea, Pirates, Porter ripping Roethlisberger
Mark Madden joins me for “Madden Madden” a day late after the Memorial Day holiday. We debate that failed trade of Phil Kessel to the Wild. Mark and I have differing views on that front. I’m not opposed to a deal involving Kessel. But I’m down on the structure of...
Kevin Gorman: Credit Pirates GM for calling for concussion-related rule changes
Neal Huntington deserves credit for stepping out of his comfort zone as Pittsburgh Pirates general manager to challenge Major League Baseball’s concussion protocol. When Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli took a broken bat off his mask in the fourth inning Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers (but didn’t remove himself...
First Call: Feel-good Jordan Staal story; Derek Dietrich punks Pirates again
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Jordan Staal’s kind gesture is heartwarming. More replay may be coming to the NHL. And Derek Dietrich continues to provoke. Jordan’s jet Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell shared some thoughts about the team chemistry that helped push his team from the seventh seed to the...
Tim Benz: Pirates leaning on surprisingly reliable Jordan Lyles
Clint Hurdle took a look at his extended pitching chart while meeting with the media before Saturday’s game against the Dodgers. It was a color-coded mashup with individual schedules, notes and cross-outs. He shrugged and gave a resigned, bemused grin. “At the back end of it, we’ve got (Jordan) Lyles...
Pirates minor league report: May 27, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 28-19) won 8-3 at Columbus (Indians). Jung-Ho Kang went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Corey Dickerson went 1 for 5 with a run scored and three strikeouts. Next: Tuesday vs. Charlotte (White Sox), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 23-26) lost 7-3 at Portland...
