Last week, Walt Disney pictures released the motion picture Million Dollar Arm to the world. As most of you have seen through viewing the movie or trailers or the many interviews with the actors, it's another one of their feel-good stories about how two kids from India who went from knowing nothing about baseball to pitching in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates. What many of you don't know is the excitement, hard work, and pure love of the game wasn't scripted. It is an actual love ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/21: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Starting Rotation/Cumpton
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (18-26) look to recover from last night's 9-2 loss to the Orioles (23-20) in the second game of a two-game interleague series. Wandy Rodriguez (0-2, 6.84 ERA) will make his second start since returning from the DL and will oppose Chris Tillman (4-2, 3.34 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On Wandy Rodriguez building off of his last start: "I'm excited to watch him get out there. I think he had anxiety, he had excitement, he had apprehension. He put a lot of ... Read More
Crush Davis Hits Three Homers, O’s Beat Bucs 9-2
Francisco Liriano and the Pirates (18-26) were cruising along with a 1-0 lead until Chris Davis --three home runs on the night -- led an Orioles (23-20) offensive attack to a 9-2 beating of the Bucs on Tuesday night. Liriano had allowed two hits through the first three innings while striking out three before losing control of his pitches in the fourth. Chris Davis started the scoring by reaching via an infield single and scoring on a J.J. Hardy RBI single. Nelson Cruz would also score in the ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 5/20: Lineups, Injury Update, Hurdle’s Quarter-Pole Evaluation
Good afternoon from PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (18-25) face the Orioles (22-20) in the first of a two-game interleague set. Francisco Liriano (0-3, 4.25 ERA) will look to build off of his last start as he faces Miguel Gonzalez (1-3, 4.76 ERA). Injury Update -- Jason Grilli threw the first of two simulated games on back-to-back days today and the results were positive. "It was another good day for him to go and throw all of his pitches," said manager Clint Hurdle. "20 off the mound ... Read More
Pirates Announce Plans for Improvements At McKechnie Field, Pirate City
Last week, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced plans for two capital improvement projects to enhance baseball operations and training facilities at McKechnie Field and Pirate City. At historic McKechnie Field, where a renovation completed in 2013 has contributed to record-setting attendance for Spring Training, the Pirates plan to replace the aging clubhouse building at the southeast corner of the property. The new, 22,500-square-foot building will include the Pirates/Bradenton Marauders locker ... Read More
Pirates Salvage Game From Yankees
The Pirates (18-25) continued to make mistakes, but this time they made up for them as they came back twice to defeat the Yankees (23-20) 5-3 to salvage a game and avoid the sweep. Gerrit Cole put together another quality start by going six strong innings while allowing three runs and striking out eight. Two of the runs coming in an inning full of Errors. With the Pirates leading 1-0 after two Yankee mistakes allowed Starling Marte to reach first and second safely before scoring on a Chris ... Read More
Pirates Drop Another Morton Start 4-3
Charlie Morton continues to search for his first win of the season despite having a 3.45 ERA as the Pirates (17-25) fell to the Yankees (23-19) 4-3 in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader. Morton gave up another big inning -- sixth start out of nine that he has done that -- in the bottom of the first when the Yankees loaded the bases with no out. Mark Teixeira then singled in two runs and Brian McCann singled in another to make it 3-1. The barrage followed a Neil Walker solo home run -- his ... Read More
Gregory Polanco Nearing Call-Up Date
We are less than a month away from the date that will avoid super two status for Gregory Polanco allowing him to be called up by the Pirates. Polanco has continued to dominate AAA as he leads many batting categories in the International League and is posting a .370/.436/.604 average through 36 games with 11 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 35 RBI, nine stolen bases, 17 walks, and 30 strikeouts. Polanco leads the league in average (.370), on-base percentage (.436), slugging percentage ... Read More
Pirates Should Stay With a Closer by Committee Once Grilli Returns
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been playing better baseball over the past two weeks, despite injuries that have kept closer Jason Grilli and starting catcher Russell Martin on the shelf. Both veteran leaders expect to be returning to the active roster sometime before the end of May. Grilli has been out with a left oblique strain since April 21. On Wednesday at Miller Park in Milwaukee, the Pirates closer threw a side session of two simulated innings, 24 pitches overall. Reports from the session ... Read More
Melancon Blows Save, Pirates Lose 4-3
Mark Melancon had a rare loss of control in the ninth with the Pirates hanging to a 3-2 lead. The closer allowed a two-run walk-off single to Khris Davis after allowing a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases. It is the fifth time the Pirates have blown a lead after eight innings as Jason Grilli has blown three saves and Melancon two. There was some good news that came out of this game as Wandy Rodriguez -- activated off of the DL today -- went five inning while allowing only two ... Read More