The Pittsburgh Pirates have laid the groundwork to compete with the Chicago Cubs. Hear me out. Pittsburgh has a good core of veteran players and a talented group of prospects who broke into the Majors last season; and the Pirates have even more young players set to help in 2017. That's not to say the Pirates can muscle their way past Chicago — well, they possibly could if the Cubs have a few injuries or drastically under-perform after winning the World Series. But, right now, a ... Read More
Pirates top Nationals in 18 innings
On the surface, it was only two runs, but that was enough for the Pittsburgh Pirates to defeat the Washington Nationals in a season-high 18 innings while also avoiding a series sweep. Though the game was long and each of the team's relievers were used, Monday is an off day allowing for everyone to get some rest. The winning hit came from Starling Marte off former Pirate Oliver Perez with two outs in the 18th inning. Marte swing at the first pitch and hit it deep into the left field ... Read More
Which team got the better of the Neil Walker-Jon Niese trade?
Tonight, Neil Walker will walk into PNC Park in an unfamiliar role: outsider. And Jon Niese will pitch against a team that knows him all too well. In December, a trade between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets sent shockwaves through both organizations. The Pirates sent beloved local boy Walker to the Big Apple in return for starting pitcher Niese, who had spent his entire career with the Mets. Now, in Monday night’s game, the two players will face their former teams for the ... Read More
Three Takeaways from Jon Niese’s debut
As Neil Walker launched his first home run of the season for the New York Mets, his counterpart in the December trade that sent him to the Big Apple was laboring through his first start with the Pittsburgh Pirates. To be sure, Jon Niese did not have an overtly memorable night for his Pittsburgh debut. In five innings, Niese allowing four earned runs and struck out seven, giving the hometown crowd a mixed bag. However, looking deeper into his start, there are several takeaways. Niese is a ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates find much to work with in Jon Niese
The Pittsburgh Pirates have said goodbye to one of Pittsburgh's own in Neil Walker. The second baseman leaves behind an enduring connection to the fan base, as well as 93 career home runs. He gave seven seasons of his prime to his hometown club, but with chances of an extension null and void, the team felt the need to move on. Enter Jonathon Niese. Niese, acquired for Walker in a straight 1-for-1 trade, is a journeyman left-hand starter. In eight MLB Seasons - six as a full-time big ... Read More
Neil Walker traded to Mets for Jon Niese
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been quiet for the first couple days of the annual Winter Meetings. That is until Wednesday rolled around. Pirates’ general manager Neal Huntington made his first major move of the offseason when he shipped second baseman Neil Walker to the New York Mets in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher Jon Niese. The deal is pending a medical review, but all signs point to it being a one-for-one deal. Walker, a former first-round pick and local product was ... Read More