With the Pittsburgh Pirates in legitimate pennant contention for the first time in decades, there's a sudden influx of "bandwagon fans." For the most part, the fanbase is excited to be infused new blood. "A new Pirates generation," as the PNC Park victory song pronounces. But then you have the select few who will lament the presence of these so-called bandwagon fans, grumbling to anyone within ear shot how they've been a loyal fan through the drought and well before, how they're among the few ... Read More
Cumpton, bats lead Pirates sweep of doubleheader, baseball’s top record
After a lengthy, yet successful, first game of the double-dip, the Pirates were looking for their first sweep of a doubleheader since 9/30/2009 at Chicago and their first at home since 8/28/2007 against the Cincinnati Reds. Despite having five players in the lineup that spent part of this year in Indianapolis, the Pirates extended their half-game lead over the Cardinals in the N.L. Central with a 6-0 win in game two. "I was pleased with the effort today, off the mound especially," Pirates ... Read More
Burnett, Lynn both impressive in Pirates 2-1 game one win
Strolling into the ballpark today, the young James Santelli tweeted that today was the biggest day in Pittsburgh baseball since 1992. While you may agree or disagree (I'm the latter), today's doubleheader with the Cardinals just a half-game up on the Pirates was a pretty big deal. Wasting no time, the Pirates and Cardinals skipped desert and went straight to the entree with A.J. Burnett and Lance Lynn both putting on a show in the Pirates 2-1 extra-inning win. Neither pitcher recorded a ... Read More
From SRU to St. Louis, Matt Adams continues to impress
When a high school athlete looks to take his athletic career to the next level, he has a couple of choices to make. If he's good enough, the offers will come in from schools around the country. If he's really, really good enough, to the point where he can turn pro, Division I schools will be the choice. They do, after all, offer the highest competition and the best chance to get recognized. But what if you don't get scouted in high school and don't have any major college pursuing you? The answer ... Read More
Liriano is Pittsburgh’s best pitcher
Wins can be an overrated stat for pitchers. They can exaggerate how good -or bad- a pitcher has performed throughout a season. Chris Sale is an excellent example of this. Sale has a 6-10 record despite posting a 2.69 ERA, 149 strike outs and just 31 walks over 137 innings. He's good but his record looks more like the 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers than one of the best pitchers in the American League. Francisco Liriano's record, on the other hand, speaks for itself. Liriano is 11-4, earning ... Read More
Pirates Pull Within 1/2 Game Behind Cardinals With 9-2 Win
PNC Park – The Pirates started off their 5-game in four day stretch against the first place Cardinals with a dominating 9 - 2 victory Monday night bringing them to within a ½ game of the Cards for the NL Central Lead. Francisco Liriano helped his Cy Young chances by throwing 7 innings of two-hit, one run ball while striking out eight. He experienced a bit of trouble in the fourth when he allowed back-to-back singles with one out. He would then strike out Allen Craig and Yadier Molina to end the ... Read More
Is This The Biggest Series in PNC Park History?
One can say that PNC hosted some pretty important series over the last year, but nothing compares to this as the Pirates have a shot at taking first place from their opponent. (Worth noting: The Bucs did have an opportunity like this last season, but that series took place in Cincinnati.) The last time Pittsburgh witnessed something like this, you would have to look all the way back to July 10th-13th of 1997 when the Bucs started the second half of the season in first place by a game over the ... Read More
McKenry to the DL, Pirates Recall Presley
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a short time ago they have placed catcher Michael McKenry on the 15 day DL with a left knee sprain and have recalled outfielder Alex Presley in a corresponding move. McKenry injured his knee in Saturday's win over Miami sliding into second base in an attempt to break up a double play. The Fort was hitting .217 with 14 RBIs in 115 ABs on the season. Presley has been up and down with the club, recording 41 ABs this season with the Pirates. At AAA Indy, the ... Read More
Looking at the Approach of a Small Market Team
One of the best times of the year is approaching again: The MLB trade deadline. As always, the rumors are floating around and the fans are saying who they want their favorite team to get. Some of them are reasonable rumors, but others are as far-fetched as possible. Instead of listing people the Pirates may go after, I want to take a look at a team's approach at the trade deadline. So far, the market has been a seller's market. I mean, did you see the return that the Cubs got for Matt Garza? ... Read More
Fernandez Wins the Battle of the Phenoms, 3-2
It's too bad that fans in Miami don't care about baseball. Today's finale between the Pirates and Marlins featured two of the top up-and-coming pitchers in baseball. Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Pirates, took the hill for his ninth career start. Opposing him is 20-year-old phenom, Jose Fernandez, selected after Cole in the draft, for the Marlins. Both pitchers showed why they are as hyped as they are, but Fernandez made one less mistake than Cole en route to a 3-2 ... Read More