Earlier this week, we took a deep look at the Pittsburgh Pirates roster battles by position. Today we will take a gander over to the pitching staff, where several key changes have once-again given the Bucs a new look on the rubber. The 2012 Pirates opened the season with veterans LHP Erik Bedard and RHP Kevin Correia at the back of the rotation, both expected to provide the team with solid innings pitched. Bedard was a total flop, never regaining any semblance of the form he had shown in ... Read More
Pirates Ink Walker, McDonald
The Pirates have finally signed the remaining players on their roster that are arbitration-eligible. James McDonald, one of the Pirates best right-handers, went 12-8 last season. He had a 4.21 ERA for the season and has a 4.10 ERA for his career. He had a fantastic start to the 2012 season but had a rocky end to it, posting 7.52 ERA in his last 13 starts. Towards the end of the season, the Pirates moved him to the bullpen. In this off-season, he pitched in a dominican winter league where he ... Read More
Are Pirates one player away from a dominant outfield?
Several sites have put out their "Best Outfields in Baseball" list after the Atlanta Braves recently acquired Justin Upton. This move has solidified the Braves at the top of these lists. Atlanta now has BJ Upton, Justin Upton and Jason Heyward. Other teams to show up on the list include the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Nationals. There are other teams that round out the Top 10 that are solid in maybe two positions and iffy on the thrid ... Read More
Marte MVP of Dominican Winter League Finals
It isn't rare that MLB players join a winter league team to keep in shape for the regular season back here in the states. The Pittsburgh Pirates' left fielder Starling Marte was no exception. Marte went back to where he was born, the Dominican, to play for Escodigo in the Dominican Winter League this off-season. Marte's club swpet the Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League Finals, the equivalent to the MLB World Series, just a little less publicized. For the series, Marte went 11-21 and ... Read More
Why Starling Marte gives Pirates fans hope
If you're a Pirates fan and someone asked you to name the biggest bright spot on the roster, most likely you'll spit out two words: Andrew McCutchen. Now look a couple years into the future. Picture a possible future Hall of Famer in McCutchen standing in center field and then look just a little bit to your left. There you'll find Starling Marte. Marte has the potential to be up there with the likes of Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, the two rookies who took Major League Baseball by storm this past ... Read More
Pirates Ink Jones and Sanchez
The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to reach deals with first basemen Garrett Jones and Gaby Sanchez on Friday. Jones has been with the Pirates since 2009 and has been a bright spot for their offense. If nothing else, Jones has been consistent. Last season he batted .274, hitting 27 homers and driving in 86 runs. Both were well above his average as the 27 homeruns were a career high and 86 RBI's tie a career major league high for Jones. On the field he was just as confident. He posted a fielding ... Read More
Examining the Pirates Starting Pitching options for 2013
Right before the holidays, the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to sign left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano, pending a physical. Over the holidays though Liriano hurt his right elbow, and has put the signing in major jeopardy. The Pirates aren’t too thrilled with the fact that he got hurt even though it is his non-throwing elbow. Going into the 2013 season the Pirates have only three starters penciled into their rotation. Those pitchers being A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, and James McDonald. ... Read More
Andrew McCutchen enjoys offseason, but remains focused
To say the 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates season was a roller coaster for the team and fans alike would be a tremendous understatement. You all know the story by now. A team that is 16 games over .500 in August just collapses like we've never seen before. Ok actually, we saw the same thing take place in 2011, but not to this magnitude. There is one man who stayed consistent throughout the season for the Pirates winning awards and becoming exposed to a national audience. Don't let the recognition or ... Read More
A familiar face hopes to return a winning culture back to Pittsburgh
When Pirates hitting coach Gregg Ritchie opted to coach his alma mater George Washington University following the 2012 season, the search for a new hitting coach was on. Clint Hurdle, Neal Huntington and company decided on a familiar face to the Pittsburgh faithful. Jay Bell was manning the middle infield when Pittsburgh last had a winning team. With his hire as hitting coach, Bell is looking to do his part in returning a winning culture back to Pittsburgh. “One of the things that really ... Read More
Pirates reportedly agree to two-year deal with Francisco Liriano
According to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Pirates have agreed to a two-year deal with Francisco Liriano worth $14 million. The south-paw spent last year in Minnesota and Chicago where he posted a combined 6-12 record with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Liriano has had an up-and-down career with his best statistical season coming in 2006 where he posted a 12-3 record. Liriano posted a 9.6 SO/9 last season, his highest ratio since 2006. Liriano had a 0.2 WAR with ... Read More