The Pittsburgh Pirates announced several coaching changes for the 2017 season. Kimera Bartee was named the first base, outfield and base-running coach, Joey Cora was named the third base coach and infield coach and Tom Prince was named the bench coach. Bartee served as the Pirates' minor league outfield and base-running coach for nine seasons. He made several trips to Pittsburgh while filling this role, so he's familiar with the team and its strategy on the basepaths. He also served ... Read More
Column: No clear answer for team MVP
In many respects, it's hard to name an MVP for this year's Pittsburgh Pirates team. There isn't one name that truly sticks out — for once, center fielder Andrew McCutchen won't be topping this list. So, where does that leave us? The following had good seasons, but they still weren't the team MVP, so apologies to: David Freese: On the surface, this appeared to be a desperation signing by Pittsburgh. At the very least, it was a concession that third baseman Jung Ho Kang wouldn't be able ... Read More
Column: Great, now what?
Mercifully, the Pittsburgh Pirates' season (78-83) ended Sunday afternoon after a 10-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Let's be honest for a second, what reason is there for you to waste your time with another recap about how the bullpen didn't hold up their end of the bargain? None? That's what I thought, too. So, let's take a look at what needs to change for next season. This season has been over for some time now, arguably when the offseason ended and both Jeff Locke and Jon ... Read More
Pirates-Cubs game ends tied after rain delay
The word “tie” is very, very rarely used in Major League Baseball. But, Thursday night at PNC Park in front of 19,991 fans, that's exactly what happened. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs tied 1-1 after an extended rain delay (one hour and 23 minutes) in the Pirates' final home game of the 2016 season. It was the first tie in the majors since 2005. The game, which was called in the top of the sixth inning, was declared a tie and not suspended because the game has no effect on the ... Read More
COLUMN: Pirates season doomed from the start
Heading into Tuesday night's games, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a magic number of two and were able to secure their fate for the 2016 season. Unfortunately for the Pirates, that magic number was what it took for them to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. First the Pirates fell 6-4 to the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies, 12-3. This sequence ends a streak of three consecutive seasons with playoff berths. Now the Pirates fall to ... Read More
Ejections overshadow offensive slugfest
A back-and-forth Sunday afternoon contest that totaled over four hours of baseball culminated with a 10-7 Washington Nationals victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates held a 7-5 lead going into the eighth inning with set-up man Felipe Rivero (1-5) on the mound against his former team. From the beginning, Rivero couldn't impose his will against those he previously called his teammates. Everything went down hill after a leadoff walk to Stephen Drew, which brought up pinch-hitter ... Read More
Glasnow hopes to make most of starting opportunity
After clinching the NL East on Saturday night, it'll be a quick turnaround for the Washington Nationals who face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon to determine who wins this late-season series. Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 4.11 ERA) will start today's game for the Pirates as Steven Brault, who was scheduled to toe the rubber, will have his turn in the rotation skipped. Brault will be available as a bullpen option, but manager Clint Hurdle wanted to give Glasnow another chance to start before ... Read More
Pirates’ defensive miscues helps Nationals clinch NL East
When Washington Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo hired Dusty Baker as the team's manager, fans were unsure of what to think. Baker had been out of baseball for two seasons and was tasked with getting a team considered a National League favorite back into the playoffs after a surprise absence in 2015. After Saturday night's 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates — and with a little help from a 10-7 Philadelphia Phillies victory over the New York ... Read More
Pirates pregame: Pirates continue playoff push
After an 11-inning 6-5 victory Friday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates will host the second contest in a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Ivan Nova (12-7, 4.19 ERA) will face the Nationals' Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) in tonight's pitching match-up. Nova is coming off his worst start as a Pirate in which he pitched all of three innings allowing five runs on 10 hits against the Cincinnati Reds. PNC Park has treated Nova well as he is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in four total starts. He ... Read More
Pirates sweep doubleheader
Taking both games of a doubleheader is a tough feat to accomplish, but with 10-4 and 7-3 wins, the Pittsburgh Pirates did so over the Cincinnati Reds. These two victories bring the Pirates to 74-74 and put them on a four-game winning streak. The Pirates never trailed in either game and, Sunday, will be going for their seventh series sweep and second consecutive four-game road series sweep of the season. The other came Aug. 25-28 against the Milwaukee Brewers. In Game 1, the Pirates ... Read More