Pirates/MLB category, Page 72
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans tired of empty at-bats; impatience for Paul Skenes; Steelers fans sound off about Najee Harris
The Pittsburgh Pirates can’t hit. Some feel like it took too long to promote Paul Skenes. The Penguins fired an assistant coach. And the Steelers essentially admitted they shouldn’t have drafted a running back in the first round three years ago. There is plenty of room for grumbling in Pittsburgh...
Tim Benz: When Paul Skenes shows up, it’ll be nice if other Pirates also start showing up
Pittsburgh Pirates fans are just going to have to twiddle their thumbs and wait for first-round pick Paul Skenes to show up for his Major League debut Saturday. That wouldn’t be quite so bad if all of Pittsburgh wasn’t also waiting for the rest of the team to show up...
Pirates’ promotion of Paul Skenes evokes memories of Stephen Strasburg’s debut
When searching for comparisons to Paul Skenes and his 10-month path from being selected with the No. 1 overall pick to making his first start in the major leagues, one name rings most prominent. Where the Pittsburgh Pirates are pumped for the first MLB start by Skenes against the Chicago...
Pirates farm report for May 8, 2024: Braxton Ashcraft throws 5 scoreless in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-16) dropped a 4-3 decision to Louisville (Reds). LHP Cam Alldred (6.92) started and went five innings, allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits, including a home run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five. RHP Ryder Ryan (4.50) gave up one unearned run on two...
Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes scheduled to make MLB debut Saturday against Cubs
In what is expected to be the most anticipated debut by a starting pitcher since Stephen Strasburg in 2010, the Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting Paul Skenes to the major leagues, a source confirmed to TribLive. The 21-year-old right-hander, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft and regarded...
Pirates shut down by Angels bullpen, drop series finale
After five innings Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked to be sitting pretty, having taken a two-run lead over the Los Angeles Angels and chasing starter Jose Soriano. But that advantage evaporated almost instantly, with starter Martin Perez and reliever Luis Ortiz imploding in the sixth to...
Oneil Cruz’s left ankle ‘strong and stable,’ as Pirates shortstop returns to starting lineup
Oneil Cruz has given the Pittsburgh Pirates several scares by tweaking the left ankle that required surgery last season, yet director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk considers it more of an issue of treatment. After his latest sign of discomfort on a single to right in the sixth inning Monday...
Pirates, Audacy extend radio broadcast agreement
Pittsburgh Pirates games will remain on Audacy Pittsburgh radio stations through the 2027 season, the team and Audacy announced Wednesday. The parties agreed to a broadcast contract extension that will keep Pirates games on 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM), which has been the team’s flagship station since 2012. “Our relationship with...
Cole Tucker can relate to Paul Skenes’ life as a Pirates No. 1 pick in ways beyond baseball
For a moment, former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft choice Cole Tucker may have gotten lost in a memory. Sitting on the visitor’s bench at PNC Park on Monday afternoon, now as a Los Angeles Angel, Tucker looked out at what used to be his home field and talked about what...
Luis Ortiz embracing bullpen role, demonstrating value as reliever for Pirates
So far this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have asked pitcher Luis Ortiz to wear multiple hats coming out of the bullpen, even as he acclimates to that new role with the club. Through parts of two previous seasons with the Pirates, the 25-year-old Ortiz was primarily as a starter. A...
Pirates farm report for May 7, 2024: Henry Davis goes 0 for 3 in return to Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-15) was beaten 6-2 by Louisville (Reds). Starter LHP Eric Lauer (2-1, 3.95) tossed 4⅓ innings and gave up a three-run home run among his four hits allowed, walked two and struck out seven to take the loss. RHP Wily Peralta (5.21) did not allow a hit or...
Angels pound out 15 hits, hand Pirates their most lopsided loss of season
Quinn Priester has a tendency to pitch to contact, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was getting ground balls at a 68.5% rate. The Los Angeles Angels put the ball in the air Tuesday night, pounding Priester for seven of their 15 hits, including a three-run home run by Kevin Pillar....
Newest Pirates’ team dog scores official name
And his name is … Slugger. The Pittsburgh Pirates revealed the name for the team dog on Monday. The club introduced the pup last week, and a poll was opened for Pirates fans to vote on a name for him. Slugger emerged victorious with 31% of the vote. Bandit, Rookie...
Tim Benz: If the Pirates ‘haven’t figured out yet’ how to promote Paul Skenes, don’t make it harder than it needs to be
At 17-19, not much has gone right for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024. At least not since that 11-5 start. At least not before they got back-to-back series on the schedule against the lousy Los Angeles Angels after facing the even worse Colorado Rockies. The hitting has been bad for...
Fresh off grand slam, Pirates’ Edward Olivares committed to making most of opportunitiesVideo
From the moment the ball left his bat, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Edward Olivares needed little reassurance that he’d gotten every bit of it. In the bottom of the third inning of Monday’s series-opening contest against the Angels, with the bases loaded, Olivares crushed the first pitch he saw from Los...
Mitch Keller tosses complete game, Edward Olivares hits grand slam as Pirates top Angels
Mitch Keller was soaked with sweat from the heat and humidity and just seven pitches shy of reaching 100, but the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander made it clear that he wanted the ball for the ninth inning. “Just empty the tank,” Keller said. “They’re giving me the opportunity, just give it...
Mark Madden: Umpires hardly at root of Pirates’ offensive struggles — and other sports notes
In the seasons of wither, we’ll stand and deliver. Be strong and laugh and shout at the refreshing sports notes. I’m sure you’ve heard it all before… • Andrew McCutchen is hitting .182 with 31 strikeouts in 88 at-bats. The Pirates have scored 121 runs, ranking 24th in MLB. They...
Tim Benz: Blaming assistant coaches won’t fix Pittsburgh’s plodding sports teams
During a recent episode of “The Carton Show” on FS1, retired Pittsburgh Steeler Willie Colon said his former coach Mike Tomlin is in hot water. “I love Mike Tomlin. But I have to officially say he is on the hot seat,” Colon said. “When you talk about his overall record,...
After being target of fan frustration, Pirates 1B Rowdy Tellez starting to turn it around at plate
Rowdy Tellez understood the optics of getting caught admiring his work when his 100.6-mph line drive to right field ricocheted off the top of the Clemente Wall and bounced back into the outfield. In an instant, Tellez went from watching what he thought was a home run to sprinting and...
‘Looking out for us’: Pirates deliberate in development of Jared Jones, Paul Skenes
Yasmani Grandal has had a front-row seat for two of the featured attractions in baseball, starting behind the plate for Paul Skenes at Triple-A Indianapolis and Jared Jones for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the span of five days, the two-time All-Star catcher was witness to why they are more than...
Pirates farm report for May 5, 2024: Anthony Solometo, Bubba Chandler help end Curve’s 15-game skid
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-14) topped Buffalo (Blue Jays), 8-3. SS Nick Gonzales (.360) had two doubles, a walk and an RBI. 1B Jake Lamb (.403) was 2 for 3 with a walk. DH Malcolm Nunez (.261), 2B Liover Peguero (.306) and LF Matt Gorski (.236) all had RBIs. RF Dustin Peterson...
Pirates rally to beat Rockies, win 1st series since early April
If the last few weeks have served as any guide, the three-run hole the Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves in early Sunday afternoon should have been more than enough to sink them and lead to yet another loss. After all, the Pirates have managed three or more runs only twice in...
Paul Skenes surrenders 1st homer as a pro, as Pirates top prospect starts on 4 days of rest
The Pittsburgh Pirates wanted to see top prospect Paul Skenes check off an important box in his development by having the 6-foot-6½-inch right-hander make his first start on four days of rest. Skenes checked off another by surrendering the first home run of his professional career, as Buffalo’s Will Robertson...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington offers thoughts on Paul Skenes’ path, Henry Davis’ demotion
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington conducted his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up as the club’s top prospect, Paul Skenes, prepared to make his seventh start for Triple-A Indianapolis. With Skenes posting a 0.39 ERA, 41 strikeouts and six walks to date at...
Pirates farm report for May 4, 2024: Ji Hwan Bae, hitting .404, collects 2 hits for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 15-14) was blasted by Buffalo (Blue Jays), 9-3. LF Ji Hwan Bae (.404) went 2 for 3 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. SS Nick Gonzales (.355) went 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored. RF Jake Lamb (.392) went 1 for...
