Kevin Newman might not have been the flashiest pick of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He is a college shortstop who had never hit a collegiate home run. His ceiling might not be too high. He was the safe selection. Yet, the Pittsburgh Pirates first-round pick keeps producing. Newman’s .347 batting average is second in the Florida State League. He has even hit two home runs for Single-A Bradenton. The 22-year-old could be ready for a call-up to Double-A Altoona in the coming ... Read More
Cole’s pitching, offense leads Pirates to sweep of Diamondbacks
In a game that was expected to be a battle between two high-powered offenses and two high-caliber pitchers, the Pittsburgh Pirates completed the three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 8-3 win in the series finale at PNC Park this afternoon. In the top of the first inning, the Diamondbacks got the scoring started early; however, it wasn't without a little help from the Pirates defense. On the second pitch of the ball game from Gerrit Cole, Jean Segura hit a foul pop up near the ... Read More
Column: Patient approach leads to another Pirates win
Sometimes it is not what about what is done when a team fails to score a run in any given inning, but there are occasions in which that does not tell the full story. While David Freese's three-run home run will be the talk of this game, perhaps more eyes should be turned to the opening three innings of the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 victory Wednesday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those first three innings, the Pirates came away with three hits. No big deal, right? Wrong. The ... Read More
Column: The future is now with Pirates’ Polanco
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco dominated in just about every facet of Tuesday night's game. Polanco's 3-for-5 night at the plate came with a career-high five RBIs as part of a 12-1 Pirates win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Really this should be no surprise, as through the first quarter and change of this season, you could easily make the case for Polanco being the team's MVP. Perhaps Starling Marte is the lone competition standing in the way of the outright ... Read More
Bizarre ninth seals Pirates loss
It appeared that the ninth inning would be a quick one with Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon on the mound. He threw the first five pitches for strikes and struck out Mark Reynolds and Carlos Gonzalez looking then Gerardo Parra came up. Parra hit a swinging bunt with two strikes on him that barely stayed in fair territory and gave Francisco Cervelli a seemingly automatic throw to first to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Instead, his fifth error of the ... Read More
Pirates pregame: The one where defense wins championships
While rain has fallen all day in Pittsburgh, there will still be a baseball game at PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates play host to the Colorado Rockies for the second of a three-game series. This afternoon, Jonathon Niese (4-2, 5.28 ERA) will pitch against Tyler Chatwood (5-3, 3.20 ERA). Niese is 3-3 with a 5.64 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rockies. This season hasn't been kind to him — he's tied for third in the National League in home runs allowed (11) and ranks among NL leaders ... Read More
Starling Marte leads defensive effort in Pirates’ win vs. Rockies
Starling Marte knew his Pittsburgh Pirates were up by one run, and — when the Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon singled and Dustin Garneau was waved home — Marte knew it was up to him to keep it that way. "I knew when I threw the ball he was out," Marte said. That was just one of several spectacular plays in Friday's game, and the Pirates put on a defensive clinic in their 2-1 victory over Colorado. You may want to rethink running on Starling. https://t.co/5hFca6fCvv ... Read More
Pirates’ 10-game homestand continues tonight vs. Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the middle of a 10-game homestand and tonight will start a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies when the Pirates' Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.05 ERA) takes on the Rockies' Eddie Butler (2-1, 4.74 ERA). The Rockies come to PNC Park on a two-game losing streak but are 6-4 in their last 10 contests. With a 20-20 record, the Rockies are tied for second place in the NL West, three games behind the San Francisco Giants. The NL West has been a recipe of success ... Read More
Column: It’s time for Arquimedes Caminero to be DFA’d
After an unsettling ninth inning, one thing became clear in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 3-1 loss Wednesday night to the Atlanta Braves: Arquimedes Caminero needs to be DFA'd. This isn't an emotional reaction, it's one that has been building. Caminero had a great season last year, but, this season, his pitches are finishing on more of a straight angle, and his quicker pace of play may have created a mental block. And when a player struggles for an extended period of time, bad habits can be hard ... Read More
Matt Joyce thriving off bench for Pirates
Matt Joyce had a rare start Monday. He made it count. The Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder had three hits, three RBIs and scored twice. And his outing in the Pirates' win against the Atlanta Braves was capped when Joyce launched a home run into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was only his sixth start of the season, yet, he's made his presence felt. In mostly a pinch-hitting role, Joyce has a .372/.500/.767 line this season. His five home runs are ... Read More