Pirates/MLB category, Page 184
First Call: Will Steven Nelson come back? More talk of discipline for Steelers over handling of David DeCastro’s injury
Thursday’s “First Call” raises a red flag for the Steelers when it comes to the release of David DeCastro. Former Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree gushes about his time in Pittsburgh. Could Steven Nelson come back to the Steelers secondary? The Pirates have their work cut out for them with the...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans push back against offensive line concerns; misplaced Pirates rage; poor Paxton Lynch
This week’s “U mad, bro?” sees some Steelers fans pushing back against criticism of the offensive line. Some misdirected Pirates fan rage. A sarcastic farewell to a Steelers free agent. And flat-out disdain for this column. I had an angry email exchange with Chris, who is a Pirates loyalist to...
Pirates farm report for June 30, 2021: Mitch Keller effective for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-23) beat Iowa (Cubs) 2-1 in 10 innings. RHP Mitch Keller was effective in his second Triple-A start of the season, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings. He has allowed three earned runs in 9⅔ innings since being sent...
Pirates’ offense again stymied as Rockies finish off sweep
Less than a minute after Wednesday’s early-afternoon first pitch in Denver, the Pittsburgh Pirates had as many hits as they managed the entire game an evening earlier. Three pitches later, they had more runs than they had scored over the prior two games of the series at Coors Field. By...
Pirates injury updates: Steven Brault set to rejoin team soon
Pitcher Steven Brault is expected to rejoin the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend, team director or sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday. The veteran left-hander has been on the 60-day injured list since before the season began because of a left lat strain. In a video conference call with media, Tomczyk...
Pirates prospects Roansy Contreras, Quinn Priester picked for MLB Futures Game
Two young right-handers who someday perhaps could anchor the top of the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation will get to share a national stage next month. Roansy Contreras and Quinn Priester were selected to participate in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. Contreras, 21, and Priester, 20, each rank among the Pirates’ top...
Pirates farm report for June 29, 2021: Solid start for Quinn Priester
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-23) lost 9-3 to Iowa (Cubs). LHP Cam Vieaux, in his first Triple-A start of the season, gave up seven runs, four earned, on five hits in 2⅔ innings. He allowed two home runs. 1B Will Craig went 1 for 4 and hit his eighth home run. SS...
Pirates nearly no-hit, shut out for 2nd consecutive day at Coors Field
Teams typically find their offense when they visit Coors Field. Not the Pittsburgh Pirates, at least not this week. The Pirates were shut out for a second consecutive day in Denver, nearly getting no-hit by German Marquez in a 8-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Marquez’s bid...
Pirates notes: Colin Moran ‘doing better,’ LHP Sam Howard reinstated from IL
A day after leaving a game when he got hit by a pitch in his left wrist, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Colin Moran remained out of the lineup but was “doing better.” “He’s moving around,” manager Derek Shelton said via video conference call before Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado...
Pirates’ Adam Frazier relishes thought of starting All-Star Game
When the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the MLB All-Star game 15 years ago, Freddy Sanchez was en route to the National League batting title. Eager to have a representative on the field at PNC Park, the Pirates pulled out all the stops to get out the fan vote. Ushers at the...
5 Rockies pitchers shut out Pirates in series opener
Monday was Adam Frazier’s day off. Then, four batters into the game, cleanup hitter Colin Moran was hit by a pitch, suffered a nasty bruise on his wrist and was lost for the rest of the day. Losing two good hitters — Frazier, batting .331, and Moran, hitting .280 in...
Pirates’ Colin Moran hit by pitch, leaves game against Rockies in first inning
After missing 24 games earlier this season with a left groin strain, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Colin Moran left the game against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning Monday after he was hit by a pitch in the left wrist. Moran came out for warmups in the bottom of...
Max Kranick sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis; Cody Ponce recalled to help bullpen
Max Mania barely lasted 24 hours. About 20 minutes after Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday he and general manager Ben Cherington were “working through” Max Kranick’s immediate future, he was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis. Kranick’s perfect record — 1-0, 0.00 ERA and 0.000 WHIP in his major...
Tim Benz: Pirates have opportunity to make ‘(Re)Opening Weekend’ about baseball as well as promotions
The Pittsburgh Pirates have really been pumping up “(Re)Opening Weekend” on their broadcasts, the team’s website and on social media. The series at PNC Park is planned for next Thursday through Sunday for Fourth of July festivities. The NL Central Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers will be in town for four games....
Pirates farm report for June 27, 2021: Nick Gonzales homers for 2nd straight game for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-22) lost to Louisville (Reds), 2-1 after the Bats scored twice in the bottom of the ninth. LF Hunter Owen (.190) hit his sixth home run for the Indians. SS Cole Tucker (.213) and 3B Kevin Kramer (.200) each were 0 for 4. RHP Beau Sulser (3-2, 3.86)...
Pirates’ Max Kranick throws 5 perfect innings in MLB debut, beats Cardinals
On the day he could do no wrong — when only a force as powerful as the weather could stop him — Max Kranick still found it necessary to say, “I’m sorry.” KE'BRYAN HAYES.THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE TWEET. pic.twitter.com/Bh3Mrir1i4— Pirates (@Pirates) June 27, 2021 Kranick said his phone was “blowing...
Pirates notebook: Cherington says team will use 6-man starting rotation into All-Star break
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday on his radio show on 93.7 FM that the team plans to stick with a six-man rotation through the All-Star break. He said that before Max Kranick’s major league debut when he retired the first 12 batters he faced in the finale...
Pirates farm report for June 26, 2021: Top prospect Nick Gonzales homers in return from injury
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-21) lost to Louisville (Reds), 6-1. RHP Steven Wright was the losing pitcher, allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings. He’s 3-3 with a 5.86 ERA. RHP Tyler Bashlor, RHP Shea Spitzbarth and LHP Blake Weiman each threw a scoreless inning of relief. 1B Will Craig...
Cardinals’ veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright stymies Pirates again
Two months shy of his 40th birthday, it’s unclear what Adam Wainwright does best. Is it his defiance of the normal aging process for athletes? Or is it his continuing ability to baffle the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wainwright put both on display Saturday, throwing 102 pitches in the St. Louis Cardinals’...
Pirates notebook: Scranton native Max Kranick promoted to start Sunday
With Mitch Keller in Triple-A, Steven Brault and Trevor Cahill still on the injured list and the schedule showing no off days until the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitching staff needed a lift. The call went out to Indianapolis where Max Kranick, 23, was chosen to make his...
20 years ago, Lloyd McClendon made history by stealing first baseVideo
Twenty years ago, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon did something that was seemingly impossible in baseball — he stole first base. It all happened on June 26, 2001, at PNC Park, with the Pirates playing the Milwaukee Brewers. Upset over a close play at first base that didn’t go the...
Pirates farm report for June 25, 2021: Mitch Keller gives up 3 runs in 3-inning start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-20) defeated Louisville (Reds), 7-6. Making his first start since being sent down June 12, Mitch Keller went three innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits. He walked none and struck out two. He previously made two scoreless relief appearances for Indy. RHP James Marvel...
Wil Crowe gets 1st MLB win, Pirates beat Cardinals 5-4
The pitcher’s win has gradually lost its luster in recent decades. New-age baseball statheads tend to scoff at it. Don’t tell that to Wil Crowe. Not after he earned his first MLB win in what was his 13th career start, a 5-4 Pittsburgh Pirates victory at the St. Louis Cardinals....
Pirates notes: Reliever Chris Stratton as versatile as he has been effective lately
In his 19 appearances since the start of May, reliever Chris Stratton has a 0.99 ERA. But that level of effectiveness might not even be how he’s shown his greatest value to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stratton has pitched for the Pirates this season in every inning but the first and...
Lefty Austin Davis happy to compete as part of Pirates bullpen
Sure, there were some tiring rehabilitation workouts and uneasiness associated with his first arm injury as a professional. But the most difficult part of the 60-day stint on the injured list for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Austin Davis was the lack of two extra roommates to live with he and his...
