Tonight, the 2017 Hall of Fame class will be announced. With a lot of big names — and some very controversial ones (Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, etc.), it should be a fun night. Here's who three of our PSN staffers think deserves a spot in the Cooperstown. Shannon Carroll: Barry Bonds, outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates/San Francisco Giants Put down the pitchforks, please! Now, despite living in Pittsburgh, I'm from San Francisco, so we have a very different opinion of Bonds (he ... Read More
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Just 19 funny tweets from Sunday’s Steelers-Patriots game
1. "Landry Jones is probably the most prepared and season backup QB in the league!" *Jones throws horrid pick* "Well, he's practiced those." — Doug Farrar (@BR_DougFarrar) October 23, 2016 2. if tom brady runs for two 1st downs in a single game donald trump gets to be president so i need for the steelers to get their shit together — Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) October 23, 2016 3. Can’t believe the Patriots wouldn’t sneak with Brady here. — Bill Barnwell ... Read More
How does Pirates’ Locke compare with other teams’ fifth starters?
The Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching staff has had an adventurous start to the 2016 season. After posting the second-best ERA in baseball last season, the Pirates find themselves with a current ranking of 19th on the backs of a 4.21 staff ERA. The reasons for this are myriad, but the fulcrum of Pirates fans' angst continues to be Jeff Locke. For better or worse, Locke's career resume to this point has left him as the designated punching bag for fans. Though the optimism that permeates ... Read More
Has the Pirates’ 1B success changed Josh Bell’s timeline?
Going into the 2016 season, the first base position was one of great uncertainty for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Less than one month into the season, that uncertainty has given way to a new unknown. Has the team's production at first changed prized prospect Josh Bell's timeline? Bell has been not-so-quietly faring well against International League pitching for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, culminating in his being named IL Hitter Of The Week yesterday. On the season, Bell is slashing ... Read More
Has Josh Bell’s debut been pushed back by Jaso, Rogers?
Going into 2016, the first base position was one of great uncertainty for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Less than a month into the season, that uncertainty has given way to a new unknown: Has the team's production at first changed the timeline of prized prospect Josh Bell? Bell has been not-so-quietly faring well against International League pitching for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, culminating in Bell, yesterday, being named IL Hitter Of The Week. On the season, Bell is slashing ... Read More
Pirates Kang showed no signs of rust in Triple-A debut
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang began his rehab assignment last night in Indianapolis. In joining the Triple-A Indians, Kang will look to fully return from the traumatic leg injury suffered in September of last season. In his first non-simulated game action since that fateful slide from Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan ended his debut season, Kang went 0-for-3, contributing with a walk and run scored. Scheduled to play seven innings regardless of game situation or performance, ... Read More
Pirates’ signing of Justin Masterson makes perfect sense
In signing pitcher Justin Masterson to a minor-league deal late Thursday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates consummated a long-running flirtation. Masterson was rumored to be a target of the team at various points in the off-season. In relying mainly on a sinker/slider combination to go along with a four-seam fastball, he easily fits the bill of what the Pirates look for in starting pitching. The right-hander’s resume is a mixed bag of unrealized potential and occasional bright spots. In ... Read More
Three Takeaways from Jon Niese’s debut
As Neil Walker launched his first home run of the season for the New York Mets, his counterpart in the December trade that sent him to the Big Apple was laboring through his first start with the Pittsburgh Pirates. To be sure, Jon Niese did not have an overtly memorable night for his Pittsburgh debut. In five innings, Niese allowing four earned runs and struck out seven, giving the hometown crowd a mixed bag. However, looking deeper into his start, there are several takeaways. Niese is a ... Read More
COLUMN: Pirates continue trend as early deciders
In signing Gregory Polanco to an extension yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued to beef up their reputation as early deciders. In identifying talent early and then deciding on how that talent might develop, the club prides itself on manufacturing certainty. Make no mistake, Polanco’s extension is a matter of cost control. In locking up the right fielder while he is still pre-arbitration eligible, general manager Neal Huntington has a level of certainty in his outfield that breeds ... Read More
Does Jordy Mercer need to hit to keep his job?
One of the myriad of Pittsburgh Pirates prospects that has been turning heads during the team's Spring Training workouts has been infielder Gift Ngoepe. The South African second-baseman/shortstop has shown great defensive flashes during the team's Grapefruit League action. Ngoepe is a light-hitter, but has stuck around in the Pirates system by virtue of that stellar defense. This is not to say that Ngoepe is not a capable hitter. Between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last season, ... Read More