Despite making the playoffs in 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew its biggest deficiency was pinch-hitting so immediately assistant hitting coach Jeff Livesey was tasked with putting a change to this. Pinch-hitting is by no mean an easy art to master. Essentially a batter is coming in cold to a pitcher that sometimes is very locked in or at the very least has thrown many pitches. The batter is then tasked with making a contribution that can help his team. Last season, Travis Snider found ... 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
Byrd, Giants rough up Locke; even series
Pittsburgh Pirates fans remember Marlon Byrd for his time with the team in 2013 and more recently, for being one of the instigators in a benches clearing incident with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season. Though fans booed him loudly, he had a single, double and home run five innings, helping he new team, the San Francisco Giants, beat his old team 6-4 on Friday night. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner [15-6] went 6.1 innings and threw 102 pitches while allowing three runs. It was first time ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/21: Harrison excited about opportunity to rejoin team
The Pittsburgh Pirates won the first game of their four-game series against the San Francisco Giants by a 4-0 score Thursday night to go a season-high 25 games over .500. Jeff Locke [6-7 4.31 ERA] will start tonight for the Pirates. He is 0-0 with an 8.68 ERA in two career starts against the Giants. In his last start, he allowed one run on four hits in 5.1 innings against the New York Mets in a no-decision. Locke has not pitched six innings since July 19 against the Milwaukee ... Read More
Harrison recalled from rehab assignment
Prior to Friday night's contest against the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Josh Harrison from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. The corresponding move for Harrison was to designate Josh Wall for assignment. Harrison was placed on the disabled list July 6 with left thumb surgery and the Pirates posted a 25-13 record in his absence. Wall never had the opportunity to pitch for the Pirates through he did throw in the bullpen during the ninth inning of ... 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
Alvarez making improvements in becoming two-way player
No Pirates player gets more reaction for better or worse than Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez. It isn't for lack of trying. One of the first things that come to mind when Alvarez's name comes up with players and coaches on the team is how hard he works. “His work ethic is as good as anybody that’s been around," hitting coach Jeff Branson said. "It’s nothing any different, he’s just simplified his plan and his sights of where he wants pitches. All of the drill work he does every ... Read More
Pirates shutout Giants in series opener
Charlie Morton came into Thursday night's game against the San Francisco Giants having not lost a game since July 22, and after a 4-0 victory, that streak continued. “I think we’re watching Charlie develop into more of a complete pitcher with a sinker ball rather than a single ball pitcher," manager Clint Hurdle said. The Pirates are now a season-high 25 games over .500. Morton [8-4] used his off-speed pitches to overwhelm the Giants offense. Unlike previous games, this start was not so ... Read More
Pirates pregame 8/20: Morton works on confidence
Earlier in the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates swept a road series against the San Francisco Giants. The Pirates hope to do the same in a four-game series that begins tonight. In tonight’s game, Charlie Morton [7-4 4.36 ERA] takes on Jake Peavy [3-5 4.18 ERA]. Morton is 3-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Giants. In his last start Morton earned a no-decision allowing three runs [two earned] on four hits in 6.4 innings against the New York Mets. Morton's journey this ... Read More
Happ back on track with Pirates
It was the smallest of sample sizes, one start but it was enough for the Pittsburgh Pirates to push the reset button on J.A. Happ. The results, though again a small sample size, have been very encouraging. Happ had a successful first half, however he came to the Pirates with the lowest average appearance length among starting pitchers with 20 or more starts. He appeared to prove this with his first appearance for the Pirates when he allowed four runs on nine hits in just 4.1 innings against ... Read More