Pirates/MLB category, Page 224
It’s official: Pirates open 60-game MLB season at St. Louis, play Brewers in home opener
The Pittsburgh Pirates will open the 2020 season on July 24 at the St. Louis Cardinals, then return July 27 for their home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park, MLB Network announced Monday night in a schedule release special. The trip to St. Louis will be a three-game...
MLB set to announce regular-season schedule
Major League Baseball will announce its long-awaited, truncated 2020 schedule at 6 p.m. Monday on the league’s television network. Teams will play a 60-game schedule, 40 games against division opponents and 20 against the corresponding division from the other league. In the case of the Pirates, that means 40 games...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates’ first days of camp were ‘filthy,’ with talk of mash and rash
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their second training camp (aka The Deuce) on Friday at PNC Park, but closed it to the media in an effort to follow a late Allegheny County order to limit gatherings to 25 people. Somehow, we saw more fireworks than baseball this holiday weekend, even though...
Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings has concerns about coronavirus risks behind the plate
Jacob Stallings was reminded a few weeks ago that, as the catcher, he will be in close quarters with the umpire standing over his shoulder and every opposing hitter who comes to the batter’s box, in addition to his own Pittsburgh Pirates teammates every game he plays during the covid-19...
Pirates reveal outfielder Socrates Brito, reliever Blake Cederlind tested positive for covid-19
Pirates manager Derek Shelton on Sunday said two players, outfielder Socrates Brito and relief pitcher Blake Cederlind, tested positive for covid-19 and gave their consent to be identified. Shelton stressed he must respect the privacy of players and staff members but believes it is an important step in spreading awareness...
‘Burgh’s Best to Wear It, No. 57: John Smiley still holds distinction as a Pirates pitcher
The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number. No. 57: John Smiley Nearly three decades later, his name remains synonymous with an accomplishment that hasn’t been duplicated since by a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher....
Pirates among MLB teams with positive tests for covid, manager Derek Shelton confirms
The Pittsburgh Pirates are among the 19 major league teams that have had positive tests for covid-19, manager Derek Shelton confirmed Saturday. MLB teams provided tests at the start of training camp this week after a nearly four-month shutdown of the sport. Of the 3,185 tests administered across the league,...
Josh Bell embraces role as a powerful voice for the Pirates
As the lone returning All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Josh Bell was expected to become the new face of the franchise. With his willingness to use his public platform, Bell has shed his soft-spoken image to become one of the biggest and boldest voices for the Pirates in speaking out...
After tweaking his throwing motion, Josh Bell prefers starting at first base over DH role
Josh Bell spent the offseason streamlining his throwing motion, switching to a sidearm release, in an effort to show the All-Star first baseman belongs on the field as an everyday position player. When MLB added a universal designated hitter for the shortened season this summer, Bell became an obvious candidate...
After losing spring, Pirates’ Kevin Newman looks toward summer of hope
In the spring before the start of baseball season, everyone has a clean record. No one has made an error or struck out with the bases loaded — yet. This year, that hope is held over until July, with the start of the season delayed by four months because of...
Joe Musgrove taking next step as anchor of Pirates pitching staff, eyes Opening Day start
Joe Musgrove started his second training camp the same way he ended the first in mid-March, with the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander taking the mound to throw a five-inning simulated game. That was where the similarities ended, as the Pirates opened their summer camp Friday at PNC Park instead of LECOM...
Behind masks, Pirates enjoy return to baseball
The mask hides his face, so you’ll just have to believe Kevin Newman when he says he was smiling Friday morning when he stepped onto the infield for summer camp at PNC Park. Major League Baseball returned to Pittsburgh when the Pirates began preparations for a 60-game season that will...
Derek Shelton jokes about managing to get Pirates in first place, tips hand on opener
Derek Shelton has yet to manage his first major-league game, but that didn’t stop the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie skipper from making a joke about navigating an MLB season shortened by the coronavirus crisis. And he migh have tipped his hand about Opening Day, as well. In a guest appearance on...
In wake of Allegheny County coronavirus outbreak, Pirates close PNC Park workouts to media
On the eve of the first day of training camp, a coronavirus outbreak in Allegheny County has forced the Pittsburgh Pirates to make adjustments to their workout plans at PNC Park. The stadium will be closed to all outside entities, including the media, until further notice, the team announced Thursday....
Pirates lock up entire draft class, signing pitchers Carmen Mlodzinski, Jared Jones, Nick Garcia
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed their entire 2020 draft class, locking up right-handed pitchers Carmen Mlodzinski, Jared Jones and Nick Garcia, the team announced Thursday. Jim Callis of Baseball America reported Mlodzinski, a competitive-balance round pick, signed for a $2.05 million bonus, which was less than the slot value for...
Fantasy sports podcast: What a short season means for Josh Bell and Bryan Reynolds, Cam Newton impact
Is this for real? A fantasy sports podcast where we can actually talk about sports!? Will wonders never cease? Major League Baseball teams are reporting for spring training 2.0. So, fantasy leagues that never ended up drafting are finally doing so. Jeff Erickson of RotoWire joins me to discuss strategy...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates ready to follow protocol, play ball as camp starts at PNC Park
This will be a baseball season of so many firsts, especially with the Pittsburgh Pirates having a new team president, general manager and field manager preparing for a 60-game regular season with the universal designated hitter and an extra-innings rule. But their first focus is on a second edition of...
Pirates manager Derek Shelton took time to ‘listen to our players’ about social justice issues
Derek Shelton waited two decades to become a major league manager, only to have his Pittsburgh Pirates managerial debut delayed by the coronavirus crisis. As the Pirates are about to embark on a second spring training — this one dubbed by MLB as Summer Camp — Shelton was asked to...
Ex-Pirate Bobby Bonilla still outearns some notable Major League Baseball playersVideo
Former Pirate Bobby Bonilla hasn’t played in the major leagues since 2001, when he suited up for the Cardinals. But he’s still collecting a check — $1,193,248.20 every July 1, per his buyout agreement with the New York Mets in 2000. It’s known derisively as Bobby Bonilla Day. The agreement...
Pirates manager Derek Shelton ‘fired up’ to see baseball activity at PNC Park as players report
It’s not quite baseball in a bubble, but Derek Shelton on Wednesday got his first chance to watch players work out at PNC Park as Pittsburgh Pirates manager. As Pirates players are in the process of reporting for summer camp, the three-week preparation period for the 60-game regular season, Shelton...
Mark Madden: No need to panic about players opting out amid covid-19 concerns
Babe Ruth was baseball’s biggest gate attraction ever. The New York Yankees built a 58,000-seat stadium to accommodate that. Ruth’s slugging and larger-than-life charisma saved MLB after the Chicago White Sox threw the 1919 World Series. Ruth retired in 1935. Baseball kept playing. People kept watching. It’s a business worth...
First Call: Antonio Brown, Tom Brady rumors in Tampa bubble up. Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we look at some rebooted rumors about Antonio Brown going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Steelers legend Rod Woodson has an interesting take on how the coaching world works. And Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is ready for the Cam Newton era in New England....
Pirates’ 2019 first-round pick Quinn Priester promises to make most of his summer in limbo
On the eve of the Pittsburgh Pirates reporting to PNC Park for Summer Camp to train for the 2020 season, Quinn Priester was driving to Wisconsin for a Fourth of July weekend getaway. When the Pirates didn’t include their 2019 first-round pick and top-five prospect on the 60-man roster Sunday...
Minor League Baseball season canceled for 2020
Hopes for Minor League Baseball in 2020 officially ended Tuesday as Major League Baseball announced that it will not provide its affiliated teams with players amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The move affects more than 150 such clubs, including Pittsburgh Pirates affiliates in Indianapolis (Class AAA) and Altoona (Class AA)....
Do Pirates have a real DH? Or do they really have too many of them?
At least for the time being, it feels like we can talk about actual on-field baseball in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are supposed to start workouts at PNC Park this week, with Major League games resuming July 23. So — while we can before any more shutdowns — let’s talk about...
