We hear it all of the time. It doesn't just occur with baseball players, but athletes in every sport. When they first arrive to their respective league, the fans and media want to judge them right away. While it's no secret that Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones can both hit the long ball with the best of them - Jones' mammoth shot into the river on Sunday can attest to that - we don't necessarily think of them as being the best fielders in the world. When talking with Tim Williams from Pirates ... Read More
Pirates downed by Braves on the road
The Pittsburgh Pirates kept up their trend of losing the first game of the series Monday night as they fell to the Atlanta Braves, 7-2. The Pirates started out on top, scoring off of a Gaby Sanchez ground rule double in the 3rd inning, but everything went downhill in the 4th. First, starting pitcher AJ Burnett gave up a two-run shot to Brian McCann, driving in Freddie Freeman, who walked to start off the inning. Then, after some arguable calls, manager Clint Hurdle and catcher Russell Martin ... Read More
Pirates come back to beat Reds in extra innings
PITTSBURGH - Jeanmar Gomez, coming off one of the best starts of his career, was knocked around early by the Reds and exited the game after just one inning pitched. He allowed four earned runs in the top of the first and was pulled from the game due to an injury. The bullpen, yet again, look phenomenal. After a tough first inning by Gomez, only four hits were allowed in eight innings by The Shark Tank. Vin Mazarro relieved Gomez and pitched the second, third, and fourth innings. He only ... Read More
Pirates waste solid outing from Liriano, lose 2-0 to Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano turned in an outing worthy enough of a victory. Unfortunately for him, the Pirates offense made sure that wouldn’t happen. Liriano struck out 11 in six innings of work, allowing only four hits and a questionable earned run, but the Bucs bats were silenced for a second consecutive night by a Cincinnati Reds starter as the Pirates were shutout by the Reds 2-0. A night after Johnny Cueto tossed eight shutout innings against the Pirates, ... Read More
Pirate of the Week: Neil Walker
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been red hot lately, winning nine of their last twelve and nineteen games total in the month of May. For the past seven days, no one has been as hot for the Bucs as second baseman, Neil Walker. Over the past week, Walker has had multi-hit games in five of the Pirates seven games. He put one over the fence in three of those games and drove in a run in four of them. He also crossed the plate in five of the seven games. For the week he hit .440, with eleven hits, three ... Read More
Here’s Johnny: Cueto mows down Bucs in 6-0 win
Johnny Cueto dominated a struggling Pittsburgh lineup as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates coming off a four game set against the Tigers where they struck out a total of 53 times, did nothing against Reds' starter, Johnny Cueto. Thanks to two solo homers off Pirates' starter Wandy Rodriguez, and four walks and three wild pitches that led to three more runs off Mike Zagurski, the Reds were able to cruise past Pittsburgh, snapping the Pirates three game winning ... Read More
This Pirates team is definitely fun to watch
With the Penguins having an eight day layoff, Pittsburgh got its first extended look at the Pirates this past week. And the Buccos put on a show going 5-1 combined against the Brewers and Tigers. I just hope that Yinzers realize how special this team is and enjoy them without fearing the possibility of a third collapse. We all know the story by know. In 2011, the Pirates were in first place in July before limping to a 72-90 record. Next season the Bucs hit a high water mark of 63-47 before ... Read More
“We Are Baseball Nuts From Germany” – 30 Stadiums in Three Months
As much as hockey means to Canada, that's what baseball means to America. It is, after all America's sport. Baseball is popular all over the world, though. An event like the World Baseball Classic helps elevate baseball's status globally. Countries like Japan, Dominican Republic and Cuba are hotbeds for baseball talent. One country that isn't usually associated with baseball is Germany. Their national sport is football and its top league is known as Bundesliga. Germany also has a baseball ... Read More
Locke-d and loaded
Each year, there seems to be that one player that breaks out from behind that shadows and takes the city, and league, by storm. Last year for the Pirates, that guy was James McDonald. Now, we of course know the story with McDonald. He came over in the Octavio Dotel trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last year was the year that J-Mac became a household name, at least for the first half of the season. McDonald was considered an All-Star snub and in the running for the Cy Young Award before the ... Read More
Pirates come from behind in win over Tigers
With a late-game rally that was equal parts American League thunder and National League small ball, the Pirates on Thursday upended the Detroit Tigers, 5-3, at PNC Park. In the seventh inning, the Pirates batted around against right-hander Anibal Sanchez and erased a two-run deficit. With one out, Garrett Jones dropped a single into center field. Russell Martin walked. Pedro Alvarez lined a two-run double. On the next pitch, Travis Snider banged a double off the Clemente Wall to give the ... Read More