Part two of the Pirates most valuable player list will highlight players ranked fifth through second. This list includes all-stars, consistent play and an MVP award. Let the debate and countdown continue. #5 Starling Marte- This is the second outfielder to appear in the countdown. Marte is the best two-way outfielder on the team and arguably in the league. Though he showed a couple of defensive lapses this season with not hitting the cutoff man in a timely manner, Marte's arm is the most ... Read More
Melancon wins best 2015 NL reliever award
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon has won the Trevor Hoffman Award for best relief pitcher in the National League. Melancon, 30, led the Majors in saves and set a club record with 51 saves in 53 tries in 2015. He went 3-2 with a 2.33 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 78 appearances. The right-hander was the anchor of a bullpen that had the lowest ERA in the Majors (2.64) and made his second All-Star appearance in 2015. He is the second-ever recipient of the Trevor Hoffman Award, which was ... Read More
Williams deal familiar for Pirates, Huntington
Neal Huntington is already adding pitching depth. The Pittsburgh Pirates general manager who has made a knack for adding buy-low pitchers picked up his first of the off-season when he traded for pitcher Trevor Williams on Saturday. Williams, who was acquired from the Miami Marlins in exchange for now-former Gulf Coast League Pirates pitcher Richard Mitchell, has already started pitching for the Pirates’ affiliate in the Arizona Fall League, the Glendale Desert Dogs. He made an early ... Read More
AM Joe: Steelers begin preparations for Bengals
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Tuesday, October 27, 2015. What's on tap for today: Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Penn State head coach James Franklin each have their weekly press conferences this afternoon. Tomlin's 4-3 Steelers have a tall test as the unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals come to town next week. The 6-2 Nittany Lions, meanwhile, will host 4-3 Illinois as they return from a narrow victory over Maryland. Pittsburgh headlines: The fallout ... Read More
2015 most valuable Pirates player: Part 1
Many Pittsburgh Pirates contributed to the team's third consecutive playoff appearance, so it is no wonder why the list for placement when it comes to the most valuable player for 2015 is long. PSN's list will be a three-part series as honorable mention through 6 in this first part, 5-2 in the second part and the best will get their own separate entry. Unfortunately, Ray Searage was not up for consideration, or else this would not have been a contest. Honorable mention Jared Hughes- Hughes ... Read More
COLUMN: Deserving Benedict will be missed by Pirates
It is a sad day for the Pittsburgh Pirates as Jim Benedict, whose work has been praised from top to bottom in the organization, has departed to join the Miami Marlins as vice president of pitching. Though the title sounds like a bizarre one, this is a compliment to a man who frankly I am surprised was even with the Pirates last season. Benedict and Ray Searage made a great team that consistently improved Pirates pitchers. Whether they found success with the team or with another after their ... Read More
AM Joe: Bucs, pucks, hoops, recruits and more
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Wednesday, October 21, 2015. What's on tap for today: Pitt's women's basketball team is getting close to their run for a second consecutive NCAA tournament bid. Head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio is at ACC media day today in Greensboro, North Carolina. Pittsburgh headlines: The Penguins (3-3-0) evened their record and got the power play and captain Sidney Crosby both on the board in a big way in their 3-2 overtime victory ... Read More
Orioles claim Vance Worley
The Baltimore Orioles announced that they have claimed Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Vance Worley off of waivers. Worley, 28, pitched in 71.2 innings in 2015 while splitting time between the Pirates’ rotation and bullpen. He also had a brief stint in Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians. After going 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 17 starts in 2014, Worley struggled in 2015 with a 4.02 ERA. He made eight starts for the Pirates last season, and spent most of his time in the bullpen as a ... Read More
Pirates Boscan, Hernandez choose free agency
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Wilfredo Boscan and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez have elected to become free agents, according to Baseball America, Boscan, 25, was used primarily in the Indianapolis Indians rotation this summer after signing a minor-league deal with the Pirates last offseason. The right-handed pitcher posted a 3.07 ERA appearing in 25 games for the Indians posting 10 wins and three losses while accumulating 86 strikeouts. Boscan was called up to join the Pirates three times over ... Read More
Have Alvarez, Melancon and Walker played their last games as Pirates?
Previously, we’ve taken a look at who the Pittsburgh Pirates’ impending free agents as well as their players arbitration-eligible players. The latter story did not cover Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker or Mark Melancon, since their situations are worth a closer look. All three will be eligible for free agency after the 2016 season, and Walker and Melancon are already 30, with Alvarez being 28. So, here is a closer look at all three’s off-season situations. Pedro Alvarez – It is hard to remember ... Read More