It took 11 innings, but the Pittsburgh Pirates saw its comeback attempt come to an end. This game came down to a bullpen battle, and Ryan Vogelsong was the last to flinch as he fell to 1-1 on the season. Here are some takeaways from the game. Locke not to blame Jeff Locke has always been the easy target to blame, but his seven innings of work in which he allowed three runs on four hits should not draw ire. Every start, fans automatically appear to want Locke to fail. When he ... Read More
What Polanco’s extension means for Pirates future
When Gregory Polanco agreed to an extension, the Pittsburgh Pirates solidified their future outfield. Or did they? In the short term, yes. The trio of Polanco, Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte are now under contract through the 2018 season. Things get unclear after that. McCutchen’s contract ends after the 2018 season, and it is hard to say whether he will be re-signed. Does having Polanco in the fold until at least 2021 help prepare for McCutchen’s departure? He is one of ... Read More
Pirates Pregame: Polanco contract sets positive tone
The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to start the season 2-0 and lock-up a series win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. The game’s starters will be Jonathon Niese and Michael Wacha for the Pirates and the Cardinals, respectively. Niese is 4-3 with a 3.10 ERA in nine career starts against the Cardinals. Tonight’s game already has something in common with Sunday’s home opener, as Niese, like Francisco Liriano, is a left-handed starting pitcher. This is the first time the Pirates ... Read More
COLUMN: Pirates continue trend as early deciders
In signing Gregory Polanco to an extension yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued to beef up their reputation as early deciders. In identifying talent early and then deciding on how that talent might develop, the club prides itself on manufacturing certainty. Make no mistake, Polanco’s extension is a matter of cost control. In locking up the right fielder while he is still pre-arbitration eligible, general manager Neal Huntington has a level of certainty in his outfield that breeds ... Read More
Report: Pirates, Polanco agree to extension
Fresh off of a 2-3 performance with two runs in the Pirates 4-1 Opening Day win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Gregory Polanco reportedly has something else fresh today - the ink on his newly-signed contract extension. According to a report Yahoo! Sports Jeff Passan, Polanco and the team have agreed to a five-year contract extension with club options, locking up the 24-year-old outfielder. The deal would follow suit with previous moves by the Pirates when they locked up Starling Marte and ... Read More
Pirates contest ends in tie
Pittsburgh Pirates fans held their collective breaths as Ed Easley came to the plate in a bases loaded bottom of the ninth situation. His fly out which ended the game with an ultimate cliffhanger. Friday was Spring Training baseball at its finest as the Pirates and Minnesota Twins battled to a 2-2 tie. Liriano faces former team Francisco Liriano may have felt as though he was seeing double facing the team whose uniform he once wore. It would have been hard to notice as Liriano ... Read More
Pirates spring training preview: Pirates young outfield ready to take next step
As part of our Spring Training preview, we will be highlighting each unit of the Pittsburgh Pirates, spotlighting what they might be working on as they get ready to face the rigors of the Major League Baseball season. In part one we focused on what the starting rotation should work on. Now, the outfielders get their turn. The Pittsburgh Pirates have arguably the best young outfield in baseball. Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen combined for 12.9 WAR (wins above ... Read More
Is now the time for the Pirates to extend Polanco’s contract?
Within the last few years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have had a main priority of locking up star players to long-term contracts. Two of those players were two-thirds of an outfield that was recently ranked the best in baseball by ESPN. The next player on the list of players who may see an extension in the near future could be the Pirates young right fielder, Gregory Polanco. In March of 2012, star outfielder and former National League Most Valuable Player Andrew McCutchen signed a six-year, ... Read More
2015 most valuable Pirates player: Part 1
Many Pittsburgh Pirates contributed to the team's third consecutive playoff appearance, so it is no wonder why the list for placement when it comes to the most valuable player for 2015 is long. PSN's list will be a three-part series as honorable mention through 6 in this first part, 5-2 in the second part and the best will get their own separate entry. Unfortunately, Ray Searage was not up for consideration, or else this would not have been a contest. Honorable mention Jared Hughes- Hughes ... Read More
Cervelli’s slam helps Pirates division dreams stay alive
Pittsburgh Pirates fans gave a standing ovation when Francisco Cervelli stepped to the plate in the sixth inning of Wednesday afternoon's game. In what manager Clint Hurdle called a "must-win game," Cervelli's fourth inning grand slam helped the team defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-2, and kept the Pirates division chances alive. “The understatement of the day would be that was a great swing," Hurdle said. "It’s been a while since he hit one.” Gerrit Cole [19-8] pitched seven innings ... Read More