As they prepare to gear up for the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates started doing some roster cleaning on Thursday. The Bucs declined a club option on right-hander Radhames Liz, making him a free agent. Pirates' general manager Neal Huntington took a gamble on the 32-year old Liz this past offseason and it turned out to be one of the few moves Huntington has made during the past few years that didn't pan out. Liz received a Major League deal with a $1 million guarantee with the Bucs ... Read More
2015 most valuable Pirates player: There’s only one
By process of elimination, it should be fairly clear who the top player on this list is. A debate can be made for positioning on this list, but ultimately this was the final determination. Really, if any of the players on this top-10 list was on another team, a case may be made for them to get the top spot. The Pittsburgh Pirates were a very talented team and this makes the list difficult to compile. #1 Jung Ho Kang- Let's forget about what Jung Ho Kang did for a second and look at how the ... Read More
POLL: Which Pirates player should win the Gold Glove Award?
Three Pirates were nominated for the Gold Glove Award at their respective position, but which one deserves to take home the award? [poll id="150"] ... Read More
Should the Pirates follow the Royals model in off-season?
Sometimes breaking tradition is good. Sometimes plans need to be changed. Maybe it is time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to alter their course. General manager Neal Huntington’s blueprint to success has been clear since he was hired in 2008: Flood the system with prospects. Overspend in the draft and spend money on international players. Trade major league players when their value is high to get prospects in return and limit money on free agents and trade acquisitions to players they feel ... Read More
2015 most valuable Pirates player: Part 2
Part two of the Pirates most valuable player list will highlight players ranked fifth through second. This list includes all-stars, consistent play and an MVP award. Let the debate and countdown continue. #5 Starling Marte- This is the second outfielder to appear in the countdown. Marte is the best two-way outfielder on the team and arguably in the league. Though he showed a couple of defensive lapses this season with not hitting the cutoff man in a timely manner, Marte's arm is the most ... 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
COLUMN: Deserving Benedict will be missed by Pirates
It is a sad day for the Pittsburgh Pirates as Jim Benedict, whose work has been praised from top to bottom in the organization, has departed to join the Miami Marlins as vice president of pitching. Though the title sounds like a bizarre one, this is a compliment to a man who frankly I am surprised was even with the Pirates last season. Benedict and Ray Searage made a great team that consistently improved Pirates pitchers. Whether they found success with the team or with another after their ... Read More
Have Alvarez, Melancon and Walker played their last games as Pirates?
Previously, we’ve taken a look at who the Pittsburgh Pirates’ impending free agents as well as their players arbitration-eligible players. The latter story did not cover Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker or Mark Melancon, since their situations are worth a closer look. All three will be eligible for free agency after the 2016 season, and Walker and Melancon are already 30, with Alvarez being 28. So, here is a closer look at all three’s off-season situations. Pedro Alvarez – It is hard to remember ... Read More
Pirates television ratings rise during 98-win season
After every Pittsburgh Pirates victory, broadcaster Greg Brown says, "Raise the Jolly Roger!" This year, not only was the record of the Pirates raised but so to were their ratings on Root Sports. According to information from Nielsen in THIS Forbes.com article on the 29 Major League Baseball teams in the United States, the Pirates ratings on Root Sports were up 8 percent with a 9.15 ratings average compared to an 8.49 ratings average in 2014. The 9.15 rating was good for third in all of ... Read More
Faces may change, but expectations remain
Almost a week has passed since the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season came to an abrupt halt, forcing players to clear out their lockers and fans to pack up their. After all seeing a team win 98 games, only to lose one and get the boot is a tough pill to swallow. If anything, it is a sign that expectations have changed for the Pirates, and they'll remain at a high level for the foreseeable future In the Dugout: Manager Clint Hurdle will be going into his fifth year as manager of the Pittsburgh ... Read More