John Jaso is not supposed to hit leadoff. He’s not a great runner. He’s not a threat to steal at any given moment. He won’t land that perfectly placed drag bunt. Jaso even plays first base. First basemen aren’t supposed to lead off; they’re supposed to hit home runs. In Jaso’s case, none of that matters. The leadoff hitter’s main goal is get on base. And Jaso knows how to get on base. While he might be the most unconventional leadoff hitter the Pittsburgh Pirates have had in years, ... 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
Cervelli’s plate discipline becoming infectious
Francisco Cervelli is a player who came in with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made an impact that certainly exceeded fans expectations. He came in as a leader of the team and led all catchers in framing runs above average. But perhaps his patience was the biggest reason for success. "I just try to keep it simple and not do too much that way I can recognize pitches a little better," he said. It sounds very simple, especially when you can back it with a .290 batting average while playing in a ... Read More
Big win against the Brewers has the Pirates saying “finally”
Under .500 for the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed a win to end a four-game losing streak. The response was perhaps one of the most encouraging signs this season. Following a game in which the Pirates had 10 walks, they recorded their first shutout of the season, a 5-0 victory Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Monkey off of his back "Finally, honestly." Those were the two words Andrew McCutchen had for Root Sports after the game after his first home ... Read More
Locke not at fault for Pirates’ 8-4 loss to Milwaukee
Forgive me if you have heard this script before: The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense comes together and solves a pitcher in the seventh inning, only to immediately blow the momentum. It happened against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, just over 24 hours from when the same thing happened against the Detroit Tigers. Predictably, the outcome was similar, and the Pirates lost to the Brewers, 8-4. This defeat drops the Pirates to 5-6, their first time under .500 in 2016. The losses have ... 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
COLUMN: Bullpen surprisingly Pirates’ weak link early on
The Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen has been rock solid under manager Clint Hurdle, but early on this season, it can be a big thing holding the team back from winning. I will preface this by saying 10 games is way too early and way too small of a sample size, but still the current body of work needs to be judged and that is where relief pitching has fallen short. This season, the normally good Pirates bullpen has a 5.11 Earned Run Average through 10 games. I know what you're thinking: What ... Read More
Pirates sign Justin Masterson to minor league deal
According to Jon Heyman, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed starting pitcher Justin Masterson to a minor league deal. Justin Masterson agrees to minors deal with pirates — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 14, 2016 Masterson made nine starts and nine relief appearances for the Boston Red Sox in 2015 with a 5.61 ERA in 59.1 innings. The 31-year-old has a 4.31 career ERA, with a 64-74 record. He has also played for the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals, and was an AL ... Read More
Saltalamacchia’s grand slam too much for Pirates
Detroit Tigers rightfielder J.D. Martinez knew the game plan when it came to facing Arquimedes Caminero, so Martinez sat on a 3-2 slider. He got his pitch and hit it hard, but it was just foul. Hard-hit contact was the difference in this game, and it was the reason why the Tigers came away with a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night at PNC Park. For what it's worth, Martinez worked a walk in that at-bat and set the table for a Jarrod Saltalamacchia grand slam. “Those ... Read More
Pirates pregame: Vogelsong will not be on set pitch count
The bizarre two game home-and-home series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers continues at PNC Park tonight. A lot has changed in the last hour, as Michael Morse was designated for assignment and A.J. Schugel was called up to join the team in the bullpen. This was a move accomplished to protect the team since Francisco Liriano no longer is starting tonight's game and Ryan Vogelsong will be on the mound in his stead. Vogelsong (1-0 4.50 ERA) will get the ball tonight ... Read More