Pirates/MLB category, Page 284
Pirates gear headed to Bradenton for spring trainingVideo
It wasn’t only the balmy temperatures that made it feel a little like spring this morning. Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse staff and workers from Recker Transfer began around 7 a.m. at PNC Park loading equipment and other items onto a truck bound for Bradenton, Fla., for the start of spring training....
Once again, Pirates’ Opening Day outfield will change
The Pittsburgh Pirates have used 18 Opening Day outfield alignments over the 19 seasons since the turn of the century. An injury will force them to make it 19 combinations in 20 years. With Gregory Polanco expected to miss the first one to two months of the season as he...
Pirates bring back Francisco Liriano on a minor-league deal
Francisco Liriano, who had the best season of his 13-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013, returned to the team Monday. At least, he’ll be with the Pirates at spring training in Bradenton, Fla., trying to win a spot in the starting rotation or bullpen. He signed a minor-league...
Steven Brault back in familiar spot: competing for fifth starter in Pirates’ rotation
Groundhog Day was Saturday. But Steven Brault can relate to Bill Murray’s iconic Phil Connors character every time he reports to Bradenton, Fla., in the spring. If the Pittsburgh Pirates are preparing for a season, it must mean Brault is competing for a spot at the back end of their...
Pirates legend Bob Friend dies at 88
Bob Friend, who spent 15 seasons as one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most durable pitchers, died Sunday in Pittsburgh, team president Frank Coonelly announced. Friend was 88. Friend holds the franchise record for career innings pitched (3,481), starts (477) and strikeouts (1,682). He pitched in 568 games, earned a berth...
Pirates lineup gets jolt from ex-Indians Lonnie Chisenhall, Erik Gonzalez
Twenty-two percent of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2019 projected opening day lineup was imported during the offseason down Interstate 76. Barring injury or an unexpected spring roster move, Lonnie Chisenhall and Erik Gonzalez are expected to be the names manager Clint Hurdle writes in at right field and shortstop, respectively, when...
Pirates prospect Cole Tucker could add flavor to infield
With his bushy hair, wide smile and gregarious personality, no one would describe Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Cole Tucker as vanilla. “I’m not that vanilla,” Tucker said at PiratesFest last week. “I’ve got some sprinkles in my game.” Tucker, though, considers “vanilla” a compliment. After all, two of his role...
Pirates want new hitting coaches to ‘recalibrate’ offensive philosophy
The Pittsburgh Pirates exceeded most expectations in 2018, but within 24 hours of the season’s completion they fired both of their hitting coaches. The result of an offense that ranked 20th in the majors in runs, 25th in home runs and in the bottom half of MLB in slugging percentage,...
Pirates expect better Kevin Newman for spring training
Kevin Newman’s baptism into the majors was less than inspiring for fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After fans watched Newman post a .209 average and .478 OPS with 23 strikeouts, no stolen bases and underwhelming defense in 31 games over seven weeks, many wondered if he was just another overhyped...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates need more pop out of Josh Bell’s bat
Clint Hurdle talked about how home runs, more often than not, are thrown and not hit in the major leagues. Josh Bell reminisced about how he never tried to hit a home run in the minor leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t expecting opposing pitchers to serve up home runs for...
Pirates add RHP Brandon Maurer, OF J.B. Shuck on minor league deals
The Pittsburgh Pirates added depth to their pool of players competing for opening-day roster spots Wednesday, signing pitcher Brandon Maurer and outfielder J.B. Shuck to minor league deals. Maurer, a 28-year-old right-hander, has a 5.36 ERA over 289 career appearances with three teams over the past six seasons. Shuck, 31,...
Now the Pirates’ longest-tenured player, Starling Marte evolving as a veteran
Hard to believe it for the one-time manchild who homered on the first major-league pitch he saw, but Starling Marte is now 30. Long playing in the shadows of veterans and stars such as Andrew McCutchen, Marte suddenly is one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ oldest players. Still arguably the team’s...
Pirates and Jung Ho Kang are hoping for a comebackVideo
For his first public appearance at PNC Park in almost 2½ years, Jung Ho Kang relied on a translator Saturday to communicate with fans and media. There was one question among those thrown at him during his 13 minutes with reporters that Kang did not need to wait for assistance...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates need to turn World Series talk into title
Just when the January weather had turned frigid, and fatigue was starting to set in on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the daily dose of Antonio Brown’s antics, the Pittsburgh Pirates provided a delicious diversion. They are going to win the World Series! Nothing compares to the optimism of the offseason,...
Pirates front office defends quest with two words: World and Series
In two separate, one-hour question-and-answer sessions Saturday during PiratesFest at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates invited people, literally off the street, to sit and chat with three of the four highest-ranking members of the organization. General manager Neal Huntington, manager Clint Hurdle and president Frank Coonelly spoke willingly and eloquently...
Pirates’ Jung Ho Kang has U.S. visa secured through 2019Video
After spending much of the past two years wondering whether their erstwhile third baseman could make his way into the United States legally, Pittsburgh Pirates fans can rest easy in 2019. Jung Ho Kang has a visa to remain in the country for the entirety of the 2019 season. “Yeah,...
Erik Gonzalez looking like Pirates opening-day shortstopVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington compared Erik Gonzalez to an established and respected major league veteran shortstop. Manager Clint Hurdle said the team’s scouts tell him Gonzalez can be “dynamic, very good.” And even Gonzalez himself disclosed that the day he was traded to the Pirates was “one of...
Chad Kuhl’s fiancée becomes his ‘caretaker’ in Tommy John recoveryVideo
After Chad Kuhl had Tommy John surgery, he knew life would change, at least temporarily. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher couldn’t lift weights. He couldn’t throw, of course. He still could hang out with teammates, but it was as a spectator. But he didn’t count on this: He couldn’t even squeeze...
Allegheny Yinzers? Pirates’ Double-A affiliate to rebrand for 7 games
Entering its 21st season as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve has decided to pay homage to its parent Major League team and the city it resides in two hours west. For seven select weekend home games in 2019, the Curve will be known as the “Allegheny Yinzers.”...
Betting odds figure Pirates are destined for last place in NL Central
If the betting lines released Tuesday by BetOnline.ag are any indication, the Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to take a step back this season. Coming off their fourth winning season (82-79) since 1992, the Pirates are looking to improve. Don’t bet on it, BetOnline.ag says. The Pirates were listed with an...
Pirates announce 2019 minor-league managerial and coaching assignments
Staff listings for 2019 for each of the nine minor-league affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as announced by the organization Froday: INDIANAPOLIS (AAA) Manager: Brian Esposito Hitting Coach: Ryan Long Pitching Coach: Bryan Hickerson Athletic Trainer: Dru Scott Strength & Conditioning: Alan Burr ••• ALTOONA (AA) Manager: Michael Ryan Hitting...
Joel Hanrahan’s promotion to Altoona highlights Pirates ‘19 minor-league coaching assignments
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their minor-league managerial and coaching assignments Friday, and the most familiar name to casual fans will be the pitching coach at Double-A Altoona. Popular former Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan was bumped from the Pirates’ Class Low-A affiliate to serve as the pitching coach for the Double-A...
More tales from Pirates announcer Steve Blass, a master story-teller
Steve Blass can captivate an audience like few announcers before him, and he was at his best Tuesday at PNC Park. A room full of family members and friends listened while he recounted his 60 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates and told them 2019 would his 34th and last in...
Pirates’ 2019 Spring Training schedule released
Spring — at least Spring Training — is nearly here. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2019 Spring Training schedule was announced Tuesday. The list includes four meetings with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox; the first of which happens Feb. 25 in Bradenton. The Pirates open their exhibition schedule Feb. 23...
Steve Blass to retire after his 60th season with PiratesVideo
On the day Steve Blass announced this season will be his 34th and last in the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast booth, all 60 of his years with the team surfaced like little bits and pieces of his life put back together in a picture frame. He remembered old friends he met...
