On Saturday, the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates were celebrated. Fifty-five years ago this October, that team was immortalized as World Series Champions. History was made that summer at Forbes Field, when the 1960 squad won 95 games, lost 59 and had one tie. They won the National League pennant and went on to play the New York Yankees in the World Series. During that seven-game duel with the Yankees, a series in which the Pirates were outscored, outhit and outerrored, they came out victorious with ... Read More
What Pirate September call ups would make an impact?
September call ups do not typically have much of an impact on MLB playoff races. But the 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates may end up begging to differ. With the September 1 roster expansion looming Tuesday, the Pirates have several players that could make an impact when called up. Radhames Liz, Vance Worley, Travis Snider and top prospects Alen Hanson and Elias Diaz are among the top candidates to join the Pirates in September. Bobby LaFromboise, Jaff Decker and Pedro Florimon also could return to ... Read More
Pirates take three of four from Marlins with 2-1 win
The Pittsburgh Pirates took three of four games with its 2-1 victory against the Miami Marlins Thursday. This victory gives the Pirates 28 one-run victories on the season. Gerrit Cole [15-7] won his first game since July 26. The 7.1 innings he threw were a high in August starts. Cole's biggest obstacle came in the bottom of the third inning when Francisco Cervelli was ejected by home plate umpire Alan Porter. Cervelli disagreed with a pitch that was ruled a ball as it was ruled a strike to ... Read More
Happ’s success shows that it’s ‘In Searage we Trust’
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
Face Off Friday: What to do about the ‘woo’
Gar Bercury On September 4, 2012, the Pirates beat a historically dreadful Houston Astros squad 6-2 at PNC Park. From a baseball standpoint, there was little that made this game especially memorable. Sure, the loss would drop the Astros to a 42-94 record (Remember how terrible that team was?) and Wandy Rodriguez actually pitched well enough to get the win despite of a rain delay. The only other notable thing you could get from the box score is that Brock Holt went 4-for-5 that night, ... 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
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
McCutchen National League Player of the Week
Remember Andrew McCutchen's rough start to the season? It looks like he's well over that, as for the second time this year, he's been named the National League Player of the Week. It's the sixth time that McCutchen has received the honor in his career. McCutchen hit .563 during the week with eight RBI and seven runs. McCutchen added a steal and two home runs en route to the award. He last won the award in the end of May. McCutchen capped off his stellar week by going 7-12 in the Pirates' ... 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