PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- In a recent Men's Fitness magazine article, Pirates Russell Martin discussed how he stays in shape and trains in the offseason. Being a catcher is a demanding position. It requires flexibility and quick reactions. In order to stay strong and to endure a full season behind the plate, Martin does MMA, or mixed martial arts during the winter months to gear up for a new year. But wait, MMA? The full contact combat sport that involves striking and grappling techniques and ... Read More
Rally falls short, but McDonald starts season strong
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Pirates attempted to rally back from a 3-0 deficient in the bottom of the ninth inning at PNC Park. Andrew McCutchen came through with a RBI single to drive in Starling Marte off the Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol. First baseman Gaby Sanchez, too, picked up a RBI with a base hit of his own to bring the game within one. But Marmol was able to escape the jam and pick up the save after a strikeout and Neil Walker grounded into a game inning double play to seal ... Read More
Wandy paces Pirates over Cubs
For the second consecutive game, the fans who braved the frigid temperatures of PNC Park were rewarded with an excellent pitching performance by the Pittsburgh Pirates. While A.J. Burnett wasn't able to receive any run support for his 10-strikeout performance, the Pirates were able to scrape together three runs to give Wandy Rodriguez and the Pirates their first win of the year. "It was great to get it out of the way," Catcher Russell Martin said. "Now it's on to tomorrow's game." Prior to ... Read More
Pirates reflect back to their time at WBC
Once every four years, respective sports hold a competition to find out who the best of the best is throughout the world. The first one that comes to mind, of course, would be the Summer and Winter Olympics respectively. To a lesser degree - depending on who you speak to - is the World Cup which pits the best of the best that soccer has to offer against each other over a month long tournament. While baseball is America's oldest game, it's also the newest to the four-year annual ... Read More
Snedden’s Take: Play Ball! 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates Over/Under Edition
The image I chose for this years Pirates Over/Under article doesn’t seem to fit the title, at least until you realize who is smiling back at you from that March 1978 Sports Illustrated cover. The handsome young man under that head of jet black hair is none other than the Commander of this Pirates Ship – Manager Clint Hurdle. The optimism that surrounded the 20-year-old Kansas City Royals rookie that spring was not unlike the unbridled enthusiasm that looms over the upcoming 2013 Pittsburgh ... Read More
Jeff Locke thankful for making Opening Day roster
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Ever since Jeff Locke was little, his dream was to be a Major League baseball player. That came true on September 10, 2011 against the Miami Marlins when the left-hander took the mound for the Pirates and allowed three runs over five innings. It took Locke 10 big league starts over parts of two seasons and a combined 67.2 frames before he was able to notch his first Major League win on October 1, 2012 against his former club, the Atlanta Braves, who drafted the southpaw out of ... Read More
Pirates Notebok: New Look Lineup; Backend of the Pen Set
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- When Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle put together his Opening Day lineup for Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, there were several interesting placements regarding the order. Garrett Jones was hitting in the two spot, where he spent the final two Grapefruit League games, as well as in the exhibition game on Saturday against the Double-A Altoona Curve. Also, Pedro Alvarez batting cleanup, a spot Pittsburgh has envisioned him hitting in since they drafted him in the first ... Read More
Pirates lose second straight Opening Day contest
Despite the snowfall two hours before the game, the sun came out and Opening Day went as planned. On this day, April 5, 2012, the Pirates hosted the Philadelphia Phillies. Wait, that's not right. While it is 361 days later than their opener last year, the Pirates looked the same as they did against Roy Halladay and the Phillies. The Pirates lost its last year's Opening Day contest to the Phillies by a score of 1-0. They were able to muster just two hits in the game and wasted a seven ... Read More
Pirates embrace Opening Day, give fans a reason to believe this year
Despite the snowfall, it is Opening Day for the 2013 Major League Baseball season. While the last two seasons are well documented -- they'll forever be known as the Collapse Part 1 and the Collapse Part 2 -- the Pirates are focused on this year only. After a longer than usual Spring Training in Bradenton, Fl., the Pirates are back to Pittsburgh and are set to take on the Cubs for a three-game set. While the season is a marathon, not a sprint, Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle didn't want to take ... Read More
2013 Pirates predictions
Can you smell it? No, it's not the leftover ham from Easter, it's baseball season. Despite the shady forecast for Opening Day, baseball is actually here. Fans in Pittsburgh know baseball. Don't let them fool you. Despite 20 straight losing seasons, the fans are passionate. They wouldn't rip the team, call into talk shows or say 'they are done' if they didn't care about the game or the team. They've also seen what success can look like. Now I'm not going to go into it, but you know about the ... Read More