Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Monday, October 12, 2015. What's on tap for today: At noon, Pitt (4-1. 2-0) head coach Pat Narduzzi will discuss his team's homecoming victory over Virginia and look forward to next week's foe, Georgia Tech, in his weekly press conference. PittsburghPanthers.com The Steelers (2-2) need a win over the San Diego Chargers (2-2) tonight to stay two games back of the 5-0 Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching staff anaylsis
Today, we take a look at how the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff, in particular the starters, performed and what is to be expected of them next year. Overall, the Pirates pitching staff finished with a 3.21 ERA as a unit. Eight starting pitchers were used throughout the 162-game season combining for a 3.51 ERA. Let's take an individual look at the pitching staff and the six starters who appeared in the rotation down the stretch: The Starters Gerrit Cole The Season: The ace of ... Read More
Reviewing the Pirates impending free agents
With the 2015 season coming to an abrupt end for the Pittsburgh Pirates, they have plenty of time to evaluate their crop of impending free agents before they are set to hit the market. None of them are players they would have to break the bank to keep, though there are a few that the club will likely let find a new team for 2016. Also keep in mind that this list does not include pitcher A.J. Burnett or third baseman Aramis Ramirez, since both said they plan to retire at the end of the ... Read More
2015 Pirates review: Position players
As the Pirates season comes to an abrupt end after 98 win, we take a look at what the players did to get them there and what is next for them. Today, we take a look at the starting lineup for most of the season: The Starters Francisco Cervelli (C): The Season: Acquired in the offseason from the New York Yankees, Cervelli was a rock behind the plate for the Pirates this season. The backstop hit .295 in 130 games slugging .401 with an on-base percentage of .370. Defensively speaking, ... Read More
AM Joe: Focus turns to hockey
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Thursday, October 8, 2015. What's on tap for today: With the city in mourning over the Pirates playoff loss last night, hockey season couldn't come at a better time. The Penguins will get their season started with a visit to Dallas to take on the Stars tonight at 8:30 p.m. ROOT Sports Pittsburgh Pittsburgh headlines: The Pirates 4-0 loss to Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs last night ended their season at home in the Wild ... Read More
Pirates lose in Wild Card again
The crack off Kyle Schwarber's bat made it perfectly clear that the Chicago Cubs meant business in their 4-0 Wednesday night Wild Card game victory the Pirates. His 449-foot home run sailed over the right field seats, completing a dramatic turnaround for Schwarber. A year ago, the Cubs sent Schwarber to the Instructional League. Schwarber and Dexter Fowler, the top two hitters in Wednesday's Cubs lineup had five of the team's six hits with the remainder of the team batting 2-for-32, good ... Read More
Rodriguez to start, Alvarez on bench for Bucs in Wild Card
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has announced his lineup for tonight’s Wild Card matchup against the Chicago Cubs and it comes with a big surprise towards the end. Batting eight and starting at first base will not be Pedro Alvarez, who played 124 games at first the Pirates this season, but utilityman Sean Rodriguez. Rodriguez saw extensive action as a defensive replacement, but started only 12 games at first base on the year. On the season, Alvarez hit .243/.318./.469 with 27 home ... Read More
Pirates announce roster for Wild Card Game vs. Cubs
With just hours remaining until the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs meet in the 2015 National League Wild Card Game at PNC Park, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced the 25-man roster he will use for the game. The roster includes nine pitchers and three catchers. The roster for tonight's game looks as follows: Catchers: Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart, Elias Diaz Infielders: Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker, Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison, Aramis Ramirez, Pedro Florimon, Michael ... Read More
Arrieta matchup similar to 2013 Wild Card game
Life just isn’t fair for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They had a terrific season in which they won over 90 games; but just by sheer geographical coincidence they were stuck in the division with the team with the best record in baseball. And what is their reward? They get to play in a winner-take-all Wild Card game against another National League Central opponent. Oh, and they have to face a pitcher that dominated them all season. Sounds like the situation the Pirates will be in against ... Read More
Pirates have big decision to make with Happ
Disclaimer: Obviously the Pirates are not done playing baseball yet in 2015, and their focus should be on winning the World Series. But it doesn’t hurt for us to take a peek at what may happen with Happ once the season is over while we wait for the Wild Card game. J.A. Happ discovered in early August skipping a start can be a good thing. After getting roughed up by the Chicago Cubs in his first Pirates start on August 4 to the tune of nine hits and four runs given up over 4.1 innings, Happ was ... Read More