The Pirates have some decisions to make this offseason and it's not just for Russell Martin. Starters Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez are both free agents along with backup shortstop Clint Barmes. For Volquez and Liriano, this season aided their profiles as both came in to Pittsburgh — the island of misfit pitchers — with poor numbers and mechanical issues while they will go back on the market as renewed back-of-rotation starters thanks to the tutelage of Ray Searage and the ... Read More
Clint Barmes to the 15-Day DL
Clint Barmes has been placed on the 15-day DL with a left groin strain (retroactive to 6/30). Michael Martinez has been recalled from AAA Indianapolis. Bill Brink of the PG reports the injury is serious, but doesn't require surgery. MRI showed groin pulled off the bone, Barmes said. No surgery, but out 4-6 weeks. #Pirates just made move official. — Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) July 6, 2014 In 42 games with the Pirates this season, Barmes has posted a .239/.284/.604 split with four doubles and ... Read More
Jordy Mercer experiment needs to end
There have been many problems surrounding the start of the 2014 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which span everything from pitching to hitting to defense. Manager Clint Hurdle is in a position where he must make changes before it is too late. One of those changes should involve shortstop Jordy Mercer. Mercer became a fan favorite last season and for good reasons. He was producing with the bat and it got Clint Barmes out of the lineup on an everyday basis, which pleased most Pirates ... Read More
Pirates Get Clutch Hitting, Beat Dodgers 6-3
Gerrit Cole provided another quality start and the offense produced timely hitting as the Pirates (24-29) took the first game of a four-game set from the Dodgers (29-26) 6-3. The Pirates used most of their lineup to get the job done as five different players scored and recorded RBI's in the contest via the long-ball and small-ball. Pedro Alvarez started the scoring with a solo home run to right in the second to tie things at one and Russell Martin hit one out in the sixth with the game ... Read More
Pirates Position Preview: Middle Infield
With pitchers and catchers settling into Pirate City, it's now time for the rest of the squad to make their way to the Bradenton complex to begin spring training. Most of the pieces from last season's NLDS run return to go at it again, but there are others that hope to shake the roster up come opening day. We begin with the middle infield positions of Neil Walker, Jordy Mercer, Clint Barmes and Josh Harrison. Neil Walker: Walker had a down season last year batting .251/.339/.757 with 24 ... Read More
Pirates Come From Behind, Beat Cardinals 5 – 4
PNC Park – Russell Martin hit an eighth inning RBI single to complete a Pirates comeback in which they were down two runs on two different occasions on Wednesday night. The Battlin’ Bucs trailed 2 – 1 after an inning, 3 – 1 after 2 ½ and 4 – 2 after 3 1/2, but they stayed resilient as they answered each Cardinal run with one of their own to make it 3 – 2 and 4 – 3. It was an off night for Jeff Locke as he faced 5+ batters in each of the four innings that he pitched. The Cardinals got on ... Read More
Pirates Pull Within 1/2 Game Behind Cardinals With 9-2 Win
PNC Park – The Pirates started off their 5-game in four day stretch against the first place Cardinals with a dominating 9 - 2 victory Monday night bringing them to within a ½ game of the Cards for the NL Central Lead. Francisco Liriano helped his Cy Young chances by throwing 7 innings of two-hit, one run ball while striking out eight. He experienced a bit of trouble in the fourth when he allowed back-to-back singles with one out. He would then strike out Allen Craig and Yadier Molina to end the ... Read More
Bucs must address struggling bench
There are plenty of opinions of exactly what Pittsburgh Pirates' general manager Neal Huntington needs to do when the trade deadline approaches. Huntington certainly has his options to choose from as targeting a productive right fielder certainly makes sense, as would more production at shortstop and maybe an additional arm or two. However neither is as pressing as the need to upgrade the woeful Pirates bench. Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle has been known for frequently using all 25 ... Read More
Is Clint Barmes the next Paul Martin?
As Sidney Crosby is once again putting any doubt aside that he's the best player in the world, there are a slew of Pens players that are making a name for themselves this year as well. James Neal has eight power play goals and is showing that last season was no fluke. The most shocking surprise - in hockey, not just Pittsburgh - is the play of Chris Kunitz. He currently leads the league in +/- at 22, is third in points with 37 and second in goals with18. Chris Kunitz people. On a team with ... Read More
Brock Holt the everyday shortstop?
I'm pulling for Brock Holt. I really am. I was excited to watch him collect four hits last night as the Pirates defeated the Astros in a crucial game. Heck, I like Holt a lot just for the hashtags that people use around his name. (Lightning Holt, Party like a Brock-star, Brock you like a Hurricane are some of my favorites). But as expected when a player does well in his first handful of games, especially when they can play middle infield, the question comes if this guy can play shortstop or ... Read More