Pirates/MLB category, Page 89
Former Pirates manager Jim Leyland a Hall of Fame finalist on Contemporary Era ballot
Former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Leyland is one of eight finalists on the Contemporary Era Committee ballot for managers, executives and umpires, which considers candidates since 1980 for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Leyland, 78, was a three-time manager of the year who won 90-plus games seven...
Pirates 3rd baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes named Gold Glove finalist
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who committed only six errors over 122 games and 365 chances this season, has been named a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Hayes, 26, led all third basemen in MLB, with 21 Defensive Runs Saved, according to the Fielding Bible. Among all...
Proposed video screen would show Pirates games in North Shore plaza
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission is considering a proposal to put a large video screen in a new plaza near PNC Park where people could watch Pirates games, though commissioners have voiced concerns that the screen may be visible from as far as I-279. A new plaza space is set to be...
Forget Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, here’s Pittsburgh’s athlete/celebrity romance history
The sports and celebrity headlines have been filled with the news of a budding romance between pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But Pittsburgh is no stranger when it comes to its athletes romancing celebrities. One Steelers player married an Olympic figure skater, while...
Over 3 years after covid’s onset, there’s hardly a mention of it in pro, college circles
During a brief stretch last month, the Cincinnati Reds must have felt as if the clock had been turned back three years. In the midst of a pennant race, a flurry of roster moves was necessary to address a pitching staff that was being depleted not by injury or trade...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates optimistic about future with window to win about to open
On the final weekend of the baseball season, when most teams that missed the playoffs are exasperated and exhausted, Derek Shelton dealt with different emotions. Overnight, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager went from frustrated over a close loss to optimistic about the future. “You normally get to the point where you’re...
Pirates All-Star pitchers David Bednar, Mitch Keller projected for big raises in arbitration
Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star pitchers David Bednar and Mitch Keller are set up for significant raises next season, based on the annual arbitration projections by MLB Trade Rumors. Bednar, who tied for the National League lead with 39 saves, is projected to make $4.7 million in his first year of arbitration...
Tim Benz: Pirates know next step will be harder than this one
It takes a special talent to lose 100 games in Major League Baseball. Or, in the case of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a special lack of talent. The only thing that prevented the Pirates from losing 100 games three years in a row from 2020-22 was the small matter of a...
‘It’s extremely humbling’: Pirates bench coach Don Kelly could be candidate for manager jobs
Now that their season is over, the Pittsburgh Pirates intend to determine whether to make any changes to the coaching staff. They already know that one move might be out of their hands, as bench coach Don Kelly could be a candidate for one of a handful of manager openings....
Memories of former Pirates pitcher Tim Wakefield shared by GM Ben Cherington and others
When Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kent Tekulve was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame this summer, we posted a story at “Breakfast With Benz” about how every young Pirates fan in the late 1970s and early ’80s tried to mimic his trademark submarine delivery. I’m old enough to admit...
‘We weren’t good enough’: Pirates GM focuses on improvement in ’24 after sobering season
As Ben Cherington discussed the improvement by the Pittsburgh Pirates in a season with a 14-game jump in the win column, he couldn’t help but share he’s “not satisfied” and already starting to concentrate on the upgrades necessary to be a contender next season. The Pirates general manager spent nearly...
‘That’s where we want to be’: After watching opponents clinch, Pirates eye playoff run in ’24
Watching two teams celebrate clinching NL wild-card playoff berths against them in the final week of the season — the Phillies last Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and the Miami Marlins on Saturday night at PNC Park — left a lasting impression on the Pittsburgh Pirates. On the...
Pirates shut out Marlins in season finale to finish with 14-game improvement
A season that started with a blackout in the home opener ended with a shutout in the season finale. The Pittsburgh Pirates started the season the way they ended it, by celebrating the 10th anniversary of their NL wild-card win over the Cincinnati Reds with a victory. Miguel Andujar broke...
Josh Bell’s 3 RBIs lead Marlins past Pirates to clinch NL wild card playoff berth
The Pittsburgh Pirates might not be a good team by one manager’s definition, but they will spend the postseason in the same position as David Ross and the Chicago Cubs. On the outside looking in. Josh Bell continued to crush his former team, turning in a three-RBI performance to push...
Pirates announce return of PiratesFest in January after 3-year hiatus
PiratesFest is making its return next year. The Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday announced the fan-oriented offseason event — which features Pirates players, alumni, coaches, broadcasters and mascots — will return for the first time since 2019 on Jan. 6, 2024, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. PiratesFest will be...
Ke’Bryan Hayes voted Pirates MVP, Mitch Keller top pitcher by BBWAA Pittsburgh chapter
Ke’Bryan Hayes has shown his value to the Pittsburgh Pirates with his ability to hit to all fields and Gold Glove-worthy play at third base this season, but neither attribute compared to his absence. Mitch Keller emerged as the anchor of the starting rotation, earning his first All-Star appearance and...
Pirates blow 3-run lead as Marlins rally with 4-run 8th to inch closer to playoff berth
The Miami Marlins came to PNC Park with hopes of finding playable field conditions and the chance of clinching a playoff spot in the final weekend of the season. For seven innings, they couldn’t solve the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen. Osvaldo Bido, Hunter Stratton and Kyle Nicolas tossed two scoreless innings...
Pirates rookie Jared Triolo posting eye-popping statistics since switching to a new stance
In a season of firsts, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Jared Triolo has made one seamless transition after another, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that his first time batting first in the order went just as smooth. Triolo made another positive impression by going 2 for 3 and reaching base...
Jared Triolo drives in a pair as Pirates avoid sweep in Philadelphia
The first two games of their penultimate series of the 2023 season resulted in one-run losses for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Facing off against their cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Pirates fell in 10 innings Tuesday and blew a five-run lead Wednesday. On Thursday, the Pirates (75-84)...
Phillies hit 3 homers to rally from 5-run deficit, hand Pirates 3rd consecutive loss
The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t known as a power-hitting team but had homered in nine consecutive games, a streak that wasn’t just snapped against the Philadelphia Phillies. It was paid back, as the Phillies rallied from a five-run deficit on the strength of three home runs. Garrett Stubbs sparked the comeback...
Mitch Keller caps career year by setting Pirates record for strikeouts by right-handed pitcher
Mitch Keller was flirting with a no-hitter when he got Nick Castellanos looking at a called third strike to end the fifth inning for a strikeout that separated him from all other Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitchers. With his 210th strikeout, Keller passed A.J. Burnett for the most strikeouts in a...
Johan Rojas delivers RBI single in 10th as Phillies beat Pirates to clinch playoff berth
The Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t buy a hit through the first five innings but ended up punching their ticket to the postseason in extra innings. Johan Rojas delivered a one-out RBI single off All-Star closer David Bednar to score automatic runner Cristian Pache in the 10th inning to lift the Phillies...
Pirates recall infielder Nick Gonzales, option SS Alika Williams
After a strong September at Triple-A Indianapolis, middle infielder Nick Gonzales will finish the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates recalled Gonzales, their 2020 first-round pick, Tuesday before the start of their three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies. To make room on the active roster, they optioned shortstop Alika...
First Call: Steelers’ next opponent pulls off a road upset; James Conner, Josh Dobbs shine as Cardinals stun Cowboys
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next opponent. We also examine how a pair of former Steelers led the Arizona Cardinals to a big upset. A wrestling superstar almost won big on a Steelers bet. A former Pirate had a nice afternoon. And the Pitt Panthers...
‘We have to be optimistic’: Pirates GM eyes playoff pursuit in ’24, focuses on full season
When Ben Cherington was asked Sunday on his weekly radio show if the Pittsburgh Pirates can contend in 2024, the fourth-year general manager was cautiously optimistic. “You have to believe that, right? Our job is to believe that we can do that,” Cherington said on 93.7 FM. “We have to...
