A hush fell over PNC Park on Thursday. Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung-Ho Kang dropped head first to the dirt near second base after Chicago Cub Chris Coghlan slid into second base, swept his outstretched legs under Kang’s, who was on the bag with the ball in hand about to throw to first to complete a double play, and his right knee collided into Kang’s left knee. It was not hard to see Kang was injured, as he was rolling side-to-side on the ground while clutching his left knee with his ... Read More
Florimon finds niche as pinch-runner
Pedro Florimon had one job in the first game of the Pirates’ split doubleheader Tuesday: Score the game-winning run for Pittsburgh. With the score tied at four, Florimon ascended the stairs of the third base dugout and headed toward first base in the bottom of the eighth inning to serve as a pinch-runner for Pedro Alvarez, who had just hit a lead-off single. The speedy Florimon was called on to replace the lumbering Alvarez with the hope that he would have an easier time rounding the bases to ... Read More
The rise and fall of the doubleheader
The Pittsburgh Pirates will play their first doubleheader of the year today against the Chicago Cubs, their third in as many years. Doubleheaders used to be as synonymous with baseball as hot dog cannons, bobbleheads and the seventh-inning stretch, but have long since faded from the game. The death of the doubleheader is nothing new to baseball, as they have mostly been used to make up a game that was postponed or suspended for generations. Many games get stacked on the same day as opposed to ... Read More
Cubs series could have huge implications for Bucs
After taking three-of-four from the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend, the Pittsburgh Pirates have won seven of their last 10 games – all against National League Central teams, no less – and find themselves only 2.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the lead in the division. Unfortunately, there is no time to look back, since the Chicago Cubs, who are four games behind the Pirates for the first NL Wild Card spot, come to PNC Park on Tuesday to start a four-game series. It could be the ... Read More
Players on Steelers practice squad typically don’t last with team
Practice squad players in the NFL can be as interchangeable as car parts. Facing a left-footed punter this week? Better add a left-footed punter to the practice squad to prepare, and then drop him from it after the game. The team next on the schedule has a mobile starting quarterback? Someone to replicate him in practice is a must. This is, after all, a practice squad, and what better way to use it than to have it help maximize the preparation for the next opponent? Teams can keep up to ... Read More
Then versus now: The significance of win No. 82
The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their 7-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday with their usual line of high-fives. There was no fanfare, no parade planned or champagne popping. It was just another win. Much like their 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on September 9, 2013 was just another win, as was their 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on September 18, 2014. All three of the aforementioned wins secured the Pirates a winning season. Did you know they did? Did you care? If you ... Read More
Players traded from Pirates at deadline have yet to show much
You have to give to get. And in baseball, sometimes what a team gives up is worth more than what they got in return. But that has not been the case for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. Prior to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Pirates acquired Aramis Ramirez, Joakim Soria, J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton and Michael Morse. Given up were prospects Yhonathan Barrios, Adrian Sampson and JaCoby Jones, veteran Jose Tabata and cash. It is easy to declare which team wins a certain trade ... Read More
Cole, Cervelli finally show chemistry
Gerrit Cole was not all smiles in the dugout. The Pittsburgh Pirate ace rarely shows emotion on the mound, and that didn’t change when he exited the field at Busch Stadium after the seventh inning Sunday night. But manager Clint Hurdle and Cole’s teammates couldn’t stop high-fiving the young pitcher. High-fives in the dugout usually signal that a pitcher is done for the game, and Cole earned every hand slap after he exited a game where he blanked the St. Louis Cardinals through seven ... Read More
Pirates have odd history in Miller Park
“Oh, that’s not fair!” That is what a friend of mine who is a Chicago Cubs fan said Monday when he found out the Pittsburgh Pirates were about to start a series in Milwaukee. Little did he realize he should have rejoiced at that news. Despite losing 7-5 to the Brewers on Tuesday, the Pirates still own a 4.5 game lead over the Cubs for the top Wild Card. But considering that Miller Park is a house of horrors for the Pirates, it would not be a surprise if the Cubs inch a game or two ... Read More
What Pirate September call ups would make an impact?
September call ups do not typically have much of an impact on MLB playoff races. But the 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates may end up begging to differ. With the September 1 roster expansion looming Tuesday, the Pirates have several players that could make an impact when called up. Radhames Liz, Vance Worley, Travis Snider and top prospects Alen Hanson and Elias Diaz are among the top candidates to join the Pirates in September. Bobby LaFromboise, Jaff Decker and Pedro Florimon also could return to ... Read More