Pirates/MLB category, Page 187
Adam Frazier’s mastery of strike zone lifts him to second in All-Star voting
Adam Frazier is making a push to win a starting job in the All-Star Game on July 13 at Coors Field in Denver. He is second among National League second basemen in the voting and third in the league overall with a .336 batting average after 64 games. During the...
Pirates have fingers crossed that patchwork pitching staff can fill spots in starting rotation
Their Steve Blass Award winner remains in Bradenton, the veteran they signed to eat innings is on the 10-day injured list for the second stint and their future staff ace has been demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis. The starting rotation for the Pittsburgh Pirates is about as patchwork as a pitching...
Pirates farm report for June 12, 2021: Curve’s Jeff Passantino shuts down Akron
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 18-17) defeated Nashville (Brewers), 7-4. CF Anthony Alford (.272) was 2 for 4 and hit his fifth home run of the season. 3B Hunter Owen (.188) also went 2 for 4 with a homer, and RF Troy Stokes Jr. (.211) added a home run. RHP James Marvel (2-1,...
Pirates notebook: Keeping mum on No. 1 pick; Colin Moran leaves game with lower back injury
The Pittsburgh Pirates have the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 11, but are keeping their choice a secret. While filling in for Pirates general manager Ben Cherington on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday afternoon, assistant general manager Steve Sanders wouldn’t...
Pirates waste Wil Crowe’s strong start, get swept by Brewers for 7th straight loss
Wil Crowe was cruising through the Milwaukee Brewers lineup, retiring 15 consecutive batters in the first five innings when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander took the mound for the sixth. Tim Lopes fouled off five pitches before drawing a 10-pitch walk, putting the tying run on base for the Brewers. That’s...
Pirates farm report for June 12, 2021: Oneil Cruz homers again as Altoona splits DH
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 17-17) rolled to an 8-1 win over Nashville (Brewers). SS Cole Tucker (.239) was 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. RF Troy Stokes Jr. (.208) was 1 for 4 with a walk and two RBIs. 3B Hunter Owen (.171) also knocked in two runs....
Pirates blow four-run lead, as Brewers take advantage of Chad Kuhl’s control issues
On the day the Pittsburgh Pirates sent a starting pitcher to the minors to work on his command, Chad Kuhl had control issues of his own. For this, he blamed the baseballs. Kuhl walked four batters and hit another to allow the Milwaukee Brewers to rally from a four-run deficit...
Pirates option struggling pitcher Mitch Keller to Triple-A
When Mitch Keller struggled with everything from fastball command to visible frustration on the mound, the Pittsburgh Pirates reached a point where they decided he needed a break from facing major league hitters. Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced Saturday that Keller was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, a stunning demotion for...
Pirates farm report for June 11, 2021: Oneil Cruz hits 7th homer in Altoona loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-17) was held to three hits and was blown out, 14-1, by Nashville (Brewers). LF Anthony Alford went 1 for 3 to up his average to .260. 3B Hunter Owen singled and scored a run. RHP Cody Ponce started and was touched up for five runs, all earned,...
Trio of bases-loaded walks does in Pirates in road loss to Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Chase De Jong termed his four walks in five innings Friday as “definitely more than you’d ever want.” Imagine what he thought when Clay Holmes matched that — in only a third of an inning. The normally reliable Pirates bullpen imploded during a six-walk seventh inning in...
Pirates notes: Colin Moran returns to action, expected back in lineup soon
Two days after he had to leave game after being hit by a pitch on his right hand, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Colin Moran returned to game action Friday. Though Moran was not in the lineup for the night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Pirates manager Derek Shelton called on...
Pirates unmasked in dugout, bullpen after team reaches 85% vaccination threshold
With an outgoing personality leading a team short on proven star players, Derek Shelton, in part, was hired to serve as the public face of the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Friday, more than 18 months after he was named manager, Shelton’s face was finally on display during a game. At last,...
Despite sweep by Dodgers, Pirates insist they have ‘good momentum’ heading into tough June stretch
Because the Pirates are, well, the Pirates, any analysis has to be done through the prism of what they are versus what they are not. What they are not is a Major League team with any goal of challenging for a playoff spot in 2021. What they are is a...
Healthy Phillip Evans ready to bounce around the field to play multiple positions for Pirates
Upon returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates active roster after a stint on the injured list, Phillip Evans wore a smile almost as big as the new sunglasses that became a necessary accessory. Evans learned the hard way how to dress to play the outfield after losing a Luis Arraez routine...
Pirates farm report for June 10, 2021: Aaron Shackelford drives in 5 for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-16) fell 6-3 to Nashville (Brewers). The Sounds scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh off relievers Austin Davis and Tyler Bashlor. Beau Sulser started and pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks. LF Anthony Alford and 1B...
Pirates’ Mitch Keller shows frustration as command issues continue against Dodgers
After another start in which he struggled with fastball command, Mitch Keller was in no mood to make excuses just because the Pittsburgh Pirates were playing the reigning World Series champions. The right-hander’s frustration level with the recurring theme of his season was palpable following a 6-3 rain-shortened loss to...
First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush ‘100%’ sure he can cover Browns’ Jarvis Landry; Ray Shero’s new job; Dave Parker turns 70
Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage. There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin. Plus, we wish a happy birthday...
U mad, bro?: Pirates pitiful mishaps, odious ownership, putrid Penguins playoff goaltending have readers ranting
A precarious Penguins future. Pathetic Pirates performances. Odious ownership. Oh, and, of course, last week’s edition of this column. That’s what has readers ravenous in this week’s “U mad, bro?” But that’s pretty standard by now, isn’t it? We kick things off with a tweet about the Penguins from Wayne....
After 60 games, the Pirates can compare this season to last while focusing on the future
When the Pittsburgh Pirates reached 60 games last year, it was with relief. They had completed baseball’s shortened season amid the coronavirus pandemic — even if it went down as one of the worst in franchise history. “I think last year was such an unknown; we were hoping to get...
Justin Turner homers twice off Tyler Anderson to lead Dodgers past Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates found ways to get runners in scoring position against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as eight of their first 12 batters reached base. What they couldn’t do was bring them home. Justin Turner outdid them in two swings. The red-bearded third baseman hit a pair of solo home...
Pirates farm report for June 9, 2021: Rodolfo Castro stays hot in Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-15) were held to two hits and lost to Nashville (Brewers), 9-4. RHP Steven Wright started and was tagged for six runs, all earned, in 1.1 innings, giving up six hits and walking three. SS Cole Tucker, hitting leadoff, went 1 for 4 with a double and two...
Pirates pitching prospect Jose Soriano could need 2nd Tommy John surgery
When the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jose Soriano with the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft in December, they took a risk on a 22-year-old right-hander who still was recovering from Tommy John surgery. When Soriano dealt with discomfort in his right elbow, team physicians found a significant setback: new...
Pirates rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes, on home run being erased: ‘I just thought I hit the base’
When Ke’Bryan Hayes hit the ball, he had no idea that he didn’t touch ‘em all. A day after Pittsburgh Pirates rookie third baseman and top prospect had a home run erased after he missed the bag while rounding first base in the first inning of a 5-3 loss to...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted fifth-year option for Steelers’ teammate; Gerrit Cole’s awkward Spider Tack response
Wednesday’s “First Call” features interesting comments by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on some recent front office decisions. Gerrit Cole gives a bizarre explanation about Spider Tack. Levon Kirkland sees a lot of himself in a potential NFL star linebacker. And yet another entertaining game out west between the Colorado...
Pirates farm report for June 8, 2021: Roansy Contreras stumbles in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 16-14) handled Nashville (Brewers), 6-1. RHP James Marvel started and allowed one run on four hits in 5.2 innings with five strikeouts. RHP Wil Crowe, RHP Tyler Bashlor and RHP Braeden Ogle each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. LF Anthony Alford went 2 for 4, hit his...
