The Pirates should turn to Andrew Lambo at first base (Flickr.com/Sports Crazy) With September baseball fast approaching, the Pirates will be moving quickly to improve in all areas of need. While much attention has been focused on the production of Pirates right fielders this summer (or lack thereof), there seems to be a glaring weakness that continues to be overlooked. The first base production for the Bucs this year has not been good. While the platoon of Gaby Sanchez (left handers) and ... Read More
Pirates select Pie’s contract
With the recent hand injury to Starling Marte, the Pirates decided to select the contract of outfielder Felix Pie from Class AAA Indianapolis. Reliever Ryan Reid, who was recalled on Monday to give the taxing bullpen an extra arm, was optioned to Indianapolis. To make room for Pie on the 40-man roster, Pittsburgh transferred starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Pie, which is making his Pirates’ debut tonight in San Diego, will bat first and play left ... Read More
An Ode to The Great One
It is crazy to think that Roberto Clemente would have only been 79 years young this week. With his playing career and life having ended 41 years ago, Clemente is a distant memory of a Golden Age of baseball in Pittsburgh. With his birthday this past week, many Yinzers reflected on the life and career of The Great One. Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico in 1934. He was an avid fan of baseball in his youth, listening to a combination of baseball games and static on his radio, that ... Read More
Barrage of triples helps Pirates increase division lead
Last night was an ideal example of a dream night for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before their game in San Diego started, the Pirates already witnessed the Reds fall victim to the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals were on the cusp of losing to the Brewers. All the Buccos needed to do was take care of business at Petco Park to extend their division lead, and that they did. Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison each produced run scoring triples to propel the Pirates to an 8-1 drubbing of the ... Read More
For Pirates, it has always been about the pitching
Without a doubt, the Pittsburgh Pirates need to hit better if they want to be true contenders in the National League. When you consider the prospects of facing pitchers like Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and a bunch of great players that don't play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, this offense makes it seem like any advance past the first round will be a surprise. But let's not forget how the Pirates got to the top of the NL Central where they currently stand a game up on the St. Louis ... Read More
MLB Playoff Update Week 1
Hey kids, it that time of the year again where I go over the MLB playoff races. (Yay!) Every Monday I will update the divisional and wild card races and set you up for the week to come. With that, let's get started. NOTE: All Standings in the update are by loss column as at the end of the season each team in contention will have played the same number of games. AL East The Yankees are hanging around in the race after taking 2-of-3 from the Red Sox and 7 of their last 10. Tampa Bay and ... Read More
Pirates Lose 4-2 In 16, Lose Game In Central
PNC Park -- Adam Eaton singled home two in the 16th inning off of Kris Johnson, who was making his ML debut and pitched 6 innings in extras, to give the Diamondbacks the series victory with a 4 - 2 win. Charlie Morton started the game for the Bucs and retired the first four batters he faced by way of strikeout en route to five shutout innings. He would get into trouble in the sixth when he loaded the bases with no out. Aaron Hill would then single and Geraldo Parra would ground into a double ... Read More
Pirates In Desperate Need of a Rodriguez Return
Saturday’s 15-5 thumping at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks was yet another piece of evidence that shows the Pirates’ rotation, which has been dominant all season, is beginning to wear down. Following a two-week span that has seen Jeff Locke, Francisco Liriano, and AJ Burnett rocked for an onslaught of runs in spate starts against the Rockies, Cardinals, and Diamondbacks. With rookie phenom Gerrit Cole still figuring out how to pitch consistently at the major league level and Charlie ... Read More
Diamondbacks Shell Pirates 15 – 5
PNC Park -- Jeff Locke couldn't find his location as he allowed eight runs on ten hits in his 2 2/3 innings of work in a Pirates 15 - 5 loss on Saturday evening. It was a case of just not having your stuff as Locke implied. "I think it's just the game speed speeding up on you really fast. It happened a couple times last year and the year before when you almost expected the struggles because at one point, it became every outing you pitched and it was tough. That's what happened today, the game ... Read More
The Pennant Stretch Begins
With 40 games remaining, Pirate fans have something to look forward to other than who they will sign in the offseason. They have a chance to watch their team lock up a playoff spot and possibly a division title. If the Bucs can take this afternoon's contest against Arizona, they would be in great position for, at least, a wild card birth, but this isn't a team that is looking for just a postseason birth, this is a team that is currently three games clear of the Cardinals for the NL Central ... Read More