Pirates/MLB category, Page 270
Pirates notebook: Clint Hurdle mum about Wednesday’s starter
Clint Hurdle was unclear on the identity of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher Wednesday night against the Colorado Rockies. “That’s for me to know,” he said. What is clear is that the Pirates rotation doesn’t appear as solid as it did early this season. Chris Archer started Tuesday, and Jordan...
Pirates hope time off benefits Francisco Cervelli
Starting pitcher Chris Archer wasn’t the only player management was watching closely Tuesday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates opened a six-game homestand at PNC Park. Veteran catcher Francisco Cervelli was in the starting lineup against the Colorado Rockies in his first appearance since May 15. His batting average had fallen...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Steelers drama, Josh Bell’s power explosion
This week’s “Madden Monday,” comes a day late after my trip to the Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus. So, obviously, music comes up at some point. Like Joan Jett still performing … at 60! Mainly, though, we focus on the continuation of Steelers drama even as Ben Roethlisberger tries to...
Pirates minor league report: May 20, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 22-18) was idle. RHP Mitch Keller (4-0, 3.83) is expected to take the mound Tuesday night. Next: Tuesday at Louisville (Reds), 7 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 22-20) was idle. LHP Sean Brady (1-3, 9.00) is expected to start for the Curve on Tuesday evening. Next: Tuesday vs. New...
Josh Bell slugs his way to National League Player of the Week honor
First baseman Josh Bell, whose 14 home runs in the first 44 games of the season are the most by a Pittsburgh Pirates player since Hall of Famer Willie Stargell hit 15 in 1973, was named National League Player of the Week. It is the first such honor for a...
Kevin Gorman: Mitch Keller’s next start should be for Pirates
This is a complicated time for the Pittsburgh Pirates and their pitching staff, with top starters Jameson Taillon and Trevor Williams on the injured list. So I’ll make this simple. It’s time for Mitch Keller to make his major league debut. Keller isn’t just the top prospect in the organization...
On the heels of a successful road trip, here’s why the Pirates might be for realVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates did their part in trying to solve the PNC Park attendance question, winning seven of 11 games on the longest road trip of the season. If it seems like the Pirates haven’t been around town much, it’s probably because they haven’t been. They have played the second-fewest...
Joe Musgrove impresses hometown crowd as Pirates beat Padres
SAN DIEGO — Joe Musgrove of the Pittsburgh Pirates is undefeated against his hometown San Diego Padres. Musgrove pitched well enough to survive a rough seventh inning, and Colin Moran had a three-run homer and four RBIs for the Pirates, who won 6-4 Sunday to take three of four in...
Pirates’ Jim Leyland used a reliever as a starter long before Clint HurdleVideo
When Clint Hurdle called on relief pitcher Montana DuRapau to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night, Hurdle, a baseball lifer, displayed his willingness to — in words he likes to use — adapt, improvise and overcome. But he wasn’t breaking new ground as a Pirates manager. Jim Leyland...
Josh Bell homers twice as Pirates overpower Padres
SAN DIEGO — Josh Bell homered twice and drove in four, rookie Bryan Reynolds connected for the second straight night and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Diego Padres, 7-2, on Saturday. Padres rookie left-hander Nick Margevicius (2-5) allowed four homers in four-plus innings. Bell has three career multihomer games,...
Pirates minor league report: May 18, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 21-17) beat Norfolk (Orioles), 7-1. RF Jose Osuna (.314) started things off with a two-run homer in the first to give the Indians a lead they never lost. 2B Kevin Kramer (.283) doubled two runs home in the eighth as part of a three-run frame. C Kevin...
Jordan Lyles dominates Padres with 12 strikeouts in Pirates’ win
SAN DIEGO (AP) — It’s been nearly three years since the Pittsburgh Pirates have had a pitcher strike out 12 batters in a game. That’s how good Jordan Lyles was Friday night, when he dominated his former team for seven innings and helped the Pirates to a 5-3 victory against...
Pirates farm report for games of May 17, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 21-17) won 6-5 over Norfolk (Orioles). DH Trayvon Robinson (.354) had a two-run homer and three RBIs. 1B Will Craig (.248) hit his 11th homer this season, a solo shot in the fourth. LF J.B. Shuck (.571) doubled. RHP Eduardo Vera (2-3, 5.52) got the win, allowing five...
Pirates place Trevor Williams on 10-day injured list
Trevor Williams, who left Thursday’s game in San Diego in the fourth inning with right side strain, became the fourth member of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation to go on the 10-day injured list Friday this season. Williams has been the team’s most reliable starter, leading the Pirates with 54...
Watch Gregory Polanco’s no-doubt home run in loss to San DiegoVideo
The home run was impressive but not enough to put up a win. Gregory Polanco sent a solo homer deep into right field Thursday night in San Diego. That cut the Pirates’ deficit to 4-3 in the seventh. The 423-foot slam was a beauty but the damage had already been...
‘Seinfeld Night’ can be properly hosted by only 1 team … and they’re doing it
Take a wild guess which team is hosting “Seinfeld Night” at their ballpark? Of course, it’s Jerry Seinfeld’s beloved New York Mets. Their July 5th game at Citi Field will have a Seinfeld theme and giveaways. Here's the bobblehead the Mets will give away for this event.Jerry Seinfeld is also...
Pirates’ Josh Bell is ripping up fantasy leagues, too
After a week off, I check in with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire for our usual fantasy sports podcast. We start off by looking at what had been some of the early warning signs for Josh Bell’s huge start to the year. Melky Cabrera’s performance over the first month and a...
Trevor Williams leaves with injury, Pirates bullpen falters in loss to PadresVideo
SAN DIEGO — Ian Kinsler hit a mighty three-run homer to put the San Diego Padres ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and then had a profane outburst as he crossed home and then again in the dugout. Many fans on social media felt it was directed at them, and manager...
Pirates minor league report: May 16, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 20-17) lost 7-4 to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees). RHP Dario Agrazal (2-1, 2.84) went 32/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in the loss. 1B Will Craig (.248) went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. LF J.B. Shuck...
How does start to Josh Bell’s career compare to other Pirates greats?
Here’s a concept to ponder Friday night while watching the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres and wondering what additional damage Josh Bell can inflict on a baseball: Compared to the five greatest Pirates hitters of the past 71 years — Ralph Kiner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker and...
Pirates minor league report: May 16, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 20-16) won 6-5 over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees). LF Trayvon Robinson (.355) was 2 for 3 with a two-run homer in the third as part of a three-run inning to give the Indians a 5-2 lead. RF Jose Osuna (.350) had two singles with two RBIs. RHP Alex McRae (4-2,...
Chris Archer not sharp in return from injury; Pirates fall to DiamondbacksVideo
PHOENIX — Zack Greinke was cruising along when he felt something wrong. Taking no chances, the Arizona Diamondbacks ace called it a day. Greinke pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning before exiting with abdominal tightness, and the Diamondbacks routed Chris Archer and the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-1, on Wednesday. Diamondbacks...
Pirates’ Chris Archer returns to start against Diamondbacks
The way was cleared Wednesday for Pittsburgh Pirates veteran pitcher Chris Archer to make his first start since April 26 when he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Archer, who had right thumb irritation, was scheduled to start the third and final game of the Pirates’ series in Arizona...
Pirates’ Josh Bell adds 2 more HRs to his list of tape-measure blasts
When measuring the home-run power of a Pittsburgh Pirates slugger, Bob Prince used to say (stealing from others, no doubt), “He could hit it out of any park, including Yellowstone.” Oh, if Prince were alive today. Josh Bell might be limited by Yellowstone National Park’s 3,500 square miles of wilderness...
U mad, bro? Readers attack Mike Tomlin, replay, race, baseball contracts
In “U mad, bro?” this week, we have race, rage and replay. Hence, things get a bit tense. My column about lagging baseball interest got a lot of response. None more interesting than this email from someone simply calling themselves “k l.” “The media believes fewer whites means more diversity,...
