It's hard to believe, but the most important at-bat came two batters into the bottom of the second inning. Josh Harrison was facing St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, with Gregory Polanco on second base after a lead-off double that hit off the Clemente Wall in right field. Harrison took a 2-1 offering and hit a ground ball, which allowed Polanco to advance to third base. Not only did this move a runner forward, something which was not done in the first inning when the Pittsburgh ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates 2016 season preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates begin another season of baseball and with this one, the expectations are high. For three seasons now, the Pirates have shown themselves as being legitimate contenders in the National League, but it is being perceived that this season will be a step back. Instead of doing a traditional preview format, it would perhaps be easier to answer questions to determine if this season could be another good one for the Pirates. Are the rotation and bench good enough to win a ... Read More
Pirates confirm Juan Nicasio as fifth starter in rotation
This afternoon, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle confirmed that Juan Nicasio will be slotted in as Pittsburgh's fifth starter in the rotation. Nicasio, who signed with the Pirates on Dec. 10, has earned this right after coming off of impressive play in Spring Training. Rob Biertempfel of the Trib had the news first. Juan Nicasio will be in #pirates starting. rotation. Ryan Vogelsong to bullpen. — Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) March 30, 2016 The 29-year-old right hander came into ... Read More
James Conner to throw out first pitch on Pirates’ Opening Day
It's been quite the year for Pitt running back James Conner, but he will get an honor on Sunday. Conner will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Pittsburgh Pirates open the Major League Baseball season by hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on Sunday. After suffering a knee injury that cost him his season in Pitt's first game of the season, Conner announced this past December he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. “I'm honored and thrilled to throw out the first ... Read More
Pirates trim roster to 35
The Pittsburgh Pirates made several moves Tuesday morning which bring the team closer to finding its major league roster. Infielder Jake Goebbert, pitcher Trey Haley and Rob Scahill were all sent to Triple-A Indianapolis while outfielders Danny Ortiz and Antoan Richardson in addition to pitchers Curtis Patsch and Robert Zarate each got reassigned to minor league camp. Goebbert was an early off-season signing who provided a left-handed bat with capabilities of playing first base and right ... Read More
O’Flaherty traded to Braves
With Opening Day, a week away, the Pittsburgh Pirates elected to trade Eric O'Flaherty to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. The story was broken by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and confirmed by the Pirates. O'Flaherty is a left-handed relief pitcher who was in the conversation for a bullpen spot, though this trade translates into the fact that he would not have made the team. In 10 Spring Training games, O'Flaherty was 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA. This included allowing 15 hits ... Read More
Nicasio, Locke battle for final rotation spot
After an offseason in which the Pittsburgh Pirates made minor moves to improve their starting rotation, it seems as if a battle for the final starting rotation spot has begun between Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio. One season after they were ranked the second-best pitching staff in baseball in terms of total Earned Run Average (3.21 team ERA), the Pirates are rebuilding a rotation that is looking to replace starters A.J. Burnett, who says he retired in the offseason, and Charlie Morton, who was ... Read More
McCutchen continues producing in loss
Andrew McCutchen openly admits that he was not 100 percent at the beginning of last season. His leg injury was especially difficult because that is where he gets his power from. This season McCutchen made it a point to work on his legs in the off-season and it has served him well. McCutchen struck again in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays hitting an opposite field home run. He has now homered in three consecutive games and four of the past five. That would ... Read More
Alen Hanson, Josh Bell among 10 Pirates cuts
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a second round of cuts on Friday, which saw many of its top prospects among position players reassigned. The team cut 10 total players, which brings its current camp roster down to 45. Among those cuts included: first baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Alen Hanson, shortstop Gift Ngoepe, outfielder Willy Garcia, infielder Max Moroff and right-handers Nick Kingham and John Holdzkom. All were optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis. Infielders Adam Frazier, Dan ... Read More
Freese addition gives Pirates flexibility, time to develop prospects
David Freese stuck the dagger in the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates when blasted a second inning home run in Game Five of the National League Divisional Series. Now, he’s competing for a job with them. With Jung Ho Kang now likely to start the season on the disabled list, Freese went from unemployed to a near lock to being the Pirates’ opening day starter at third base. When Kang returns, likely in mid-April, Freese is slated to be the right-handed platoon partner with John Jaso at first ... Read More