Ray Searage may have done it again. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach notorious for turning struggling castaway pitchers into solid and at times outstanding contributors appears to have pulled another rabbit out of his hat. This time, the rabbit’s name is J.A. Happ. Happ has only pitched in four games for the Pirates, but aside from his poor first outing he has been exactly what the doctor ordered for a Pirate rotation that looked to be falling apart a few weeks ago. He has limited ... Read More
Caminero, Blanton boost already strong Pirate bullpen
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Joe Blanton was retired at this time last year, and now he is perhaps Pirates best long-relief option. When the Pirates got Blanton for cash from the Kansas City Royals on July 29, it received a lackluster response. He has not had a season where he posted an ERA under four since 2007, and has not finished a season with a winning record since 2010. Blanton had a terrible year in 2013 with the Angels, going 2-14 with a 6.04 ERA while averaging two home runs every ... Read More
Pirates clear winners of Snider Trade
In late January, the Pittsburgh Pirates made an unpopular move when they traded outfielder Travis Snider to the Baltimore Orioles for two minor league pitchers. Snider was coming off a great second half to the 2014 season, and looked like he could challenge Gregory Polanco for the starting right field job. Now, seven months later, that trade looks like a steal for the Pirates. It is easy to say the Pirates were the winners of the trade simply because Snider did not last a full year with ... Read More
What happens when Harrison and Mercer return?
The phrase you can’t lose your job to injury is commonly heard in sports lore. But Pittsburgh Pirate shortstop Jordy Mercer may soon beg to differ. Despite starting his rehab this week at Triple-A Indianapolis, the Opening Day starting shortstop may not be given his starting job back when he return[s. Nor should it be handed to him. Current starting shortstop Jung Ho Kang used injuries to Mercer and Josh Harrison to propel himself into the Pirates’ everyday lineup and has not looked ... Read More
Should Glasnow be considered for Pirates rotation?
The buzz around Pittsburgh for the Pirates to call up top pitching prospect Tyler Glasnow is growing. And it is hard to blame those that want to see him wearing black and gold before year’s end. The team’s once strong rotation is weakening: Francisco Liriano had to be checked by the trainer in the midst of a rough outing his last time out, AJ Burnett is injured, Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton have had as many great moments as face palm-worthy ones and J.A. Happ does not inspire confidence ... Read More
Pirates will embark on crucial stretch Friday
For teams competing for the playoffs, every series is important. When the series is against a team first in their respective division, the stakes get higher. But for the Pittsburgh Pirates who have three straight series coming up against divisional leaders, the stretch could be a make or break one. Starting Friday, they have consecutive three game sets against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets – all currently in first place of their division. The ... Read More
Several top prospects could join Pirates next season
In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates received a boost during their playoff run when they called up then-rookie pitcher Gerrit Cole. Next season, the Pirates may get a similar impact from several different prospects. With the recent promotions of first baseman and arguably top hitting prospect Josh Bell and top pitching prospect Tyler Glasnow to Triple-A Indianapolis, both are now in a position to arrive in Pittsburgh sometime in 2016 barring injury. Of course, this is under the assumption ... Read More
Pirates’ buy-low-high-reward deadline could pay off
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has never been one for flashy transactions, and his approach at the trade deadline was no different. And for now, that is OK. Huntington has always been shy about trading his top prospects, but at the same time he said he wanted to improve the club via trade this year. So far he has managed to do both. But how much the Pirates have improved now that the non-waiver trade deadline has passed remains to be seen. Outside of the trade for ... Read More
COLUMN: Winners from trade deadline don’t always win in playoffs
If there is one thing that can be predicted about the MLB trade deadline each year, it is that it is unpredictable. The big deadline winners have rarely made it to the World Series as of late, while some teams that make little to no moves end up winning the pennant. Last season, for example, the Oakland Athletics came away as the deadline’s big winner. They went all-in to acquire pitchers Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel and Jon Lester and gave up outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and top prospects ... Read More
Ramirez a great fit considering cost, role
On July 23, 2003, the Pittsburgh Pirates made perhaps one of their worst trades in franchise history. A promising, then 23-year-old third baseman named Aramis Ramirez was traded to the Chicago Cubs, while the Pirates received what amounted to a bag of sunflower seeds in return. Exactly 12 years to the day later, Ramirez returned to Pittsburgh in a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league relief pitcher Yhonathan Barrios and cash considerations. Ramirez now joins Plaxico Burress and ... Read More