Pirates/MLB category, Page 243
U mad, bro? Readers want Evgeni Malkin traded, Joe Haden gone, Bob Nutting exposed
We’re all over the map in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Readers want Bob Nutting exposed, Joe Haden gone and Evgeni Malkin traded. Aside from that, no one has a strong opinion on much of anything, I guess. This week I posted a column featuring my questions and answers with...
Mark Madden: Pirates owner Bob Nutting’s babble is worthless without action
The rebranding of the Pittsburgh Pirates sailed through calm waters when owner Bob Nutting met with the media Monday. The lure was cast. The media bit. Fished in, just like “Wayne’s World.” The changes made will prove cosmetic. Mere rebranding. Business will be conducted like always: Profit über alles. I’m...
Pirates claim relief pitcher Sam Howard from Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first player move of the off-season Wednesday when they claimed left-handed relief pitcher Sam Howard off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Howard 26, spent most of last season with the Rockies’ Triple-A team in Albuquerque. He was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 62 strikeouts...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman break down Steelers-Colts, Mason Rudolph’s play, Pirates’ Bob Nutting interview
The Pittsburgh Steelers managed to put away the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Eventually. Now they have a much tougher task looming as the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts come to Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. I talk about that matchup with fellow TribLive columnist Kevin Gorman in our weekly podcast following...
Tim Benz: Pirates owner Bob Nutting responds to 3 questions that had to be askedVideo
On Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting held multiple media gatherings to address the firing of Neal Huntington as general manager and the hiring of Travis Williams as team president. In advance of those discussions, I wrote on Monday morning that there were three specific questions I wanted to...
Kevin Gorman: Bob Nutting banking on Travis Williams to save Pirates from sinkholeVideo
Perhaps the perfect metaphor for the state of the Pittsburgh Pirates occurred Monday morning, when a Port Authority bus was swallowed by a sinkhole around the time word leaked general manager Neal Huntington had been fired. With the Pirates stuck in a rut and exposed for everyone to see, they...
New Pirates president Travis Williams eager ‘to crack the code’Video
When he was asked why he agreed to join Bob Nutting’s Pittsburgh Pirates management team as its president, Travis Williams gave an answer that precisely describes the situation that confronts him. “I like challenges,” the former Pittsburgh Penguins chief operating officer said. Williams also wants to make something else clear....
Pirates formally announce ex-Penguins executive Travis Williams as new president
Overshadowed by their firing general manager Neal Huntington, the Pittsburgh Pirates formally announced the hiring of Travis Williams as team president on Monday morning. Williams replaces Frank Coonelly, who “parted ways” with the Pirates last week after 12 years. The hiring of Williams was confirmed by the Tribune-Review last week....
Pirates fire general manager Neal Huntington
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their housecleaning complete by firing general manager Neal Huntington, overhauling a front office that Pirates chairman Bob Nutting once called the best management team in baseball. The Pirates will introduce Travis Williams, a former Penguins executive, as their new president on Monday afternoon. Assistant general manager...
Tim Benz: Most pressing questions that need to be asked of Pirates’ Bob Nutting
The belief within the Pittsburgh media is that the Pirates will have a press conference of some sort Monday to introduce Travis Williams as the team’s new president. If that happens, it is also anticipated that owner Bob Nutting may be on hand to answer questions. That’s rare. If this...
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting knew management changes were needed in AugustVideo
In the next few weeks, Bob Nutting will name a new general manager and manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He already has a new president in place who will chart a plan he hopes eventually will lift a struggling team back among the National League’s contenders. A couple of coaches...
Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier named Gold Glove finalist
In his first season as a full-time starter, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier impressed with his defense. The 27-year-old was named a National League Gold Glove Award finalist by Rawlings, along with two other first-time finalists: The Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies and St. Louis Cardinals’ Kolten Wong. Frazier’s .989...
Tim Benz: Travis Williams needs more than Penguins pixie dust to fix Pirates
“Welcome back, Travis! Now how long before you fix everything? It’s been 40 years since the Pirates’ last World Series. I’m starting to get a little antsy.” Of course, I’m exaggerating about how some Pittsburgh sports fans are reacting to the hire of Travis Williams as the new team president...
Kevin Gorman: Bob Nutting must own up to Pirates’ problems, which start at the top
Bob Nutting heard the calls for a housecleaning and heeded the warnings Pittsburgh Pirates fans wouldn’t stand for the status quo. The Pirates chairman started firing away, like he was skeet shooting at Seven Springs. But he got a bit backward. Before the Pirates played their season finale, they fired...
U mad, bro? No Steelers game? No less anger. Most of it about Gerrit Cole.
No Steelers game, no anger in “U mad, bro?” this week, right? Not so fast. There are plenty of other things to get upset about. And this week, most of them apparently have to do with the Pirates. Specifically, an ex-Pirate name Gerrit Cole. Oh, and an ex-Penguin named Marc-Andre...
Penguins CEO gives ringing endorsement for Pirates hiring Travis Williams as president
The Pittsburgh Pirates already received one ringing endorsement for their decision to hire Travis Williams to replace Frank Coonelly as team president. That it’s from the Penguins should come as no surprise. “We owe a lot of the success we’ve had over the last 10 years or so to Travis,”...
Pittsburgh named 11th best baseball city … yepVideo
Sometimes, a Pittsburgh ranking comes out that sounds a bit surprising. The latest finding — WalletHub’s 2019’s Best Baseball Cities — is certainly one of them. After an analysis of 361 of the most populated U.S. cities, the personal credit tech site has determined that Pittsburgh is the 11th best...
Pirates to replace Frank Coonelly as president with ex-Penguins COO Travis Williams
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday the club is parting ways with Frank Coonelly as team president, and sources confirmed to the Tribune-Review he will be replaced by former Penguins chief operating officer Travis Williams. Williams, who has a law degree from Duquesne, spent 10 years with the Penguins and rose...
Gerrit Cole the latest in long line of ex-Pirates to pitch in World Series
Perhaps Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez didn’t want to give Gerrit Cole too much credit when he said, “What I’ve seen of him, he’s really good.” Gee, Dave, you think? But we can excuse Martinez. After all, his team has a herculean task ahead of it Tuesday night in Game...
First Call: Pirates manager rumblings; Discipline coming for Dolphins starter
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” some Pirates managerial talk. The Steelers have an off-field issue with the Anthony Chickillo situation. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have a problem, too. Also, Sam Darnold’s Monday Night Football disaster impacts Le’ Veon Bell. Mutual interest One name floated as a potential candidate for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Tim Benz: Gut reactions to following Gerrit Cole as opposed to Marc-Andre FleuryVideo
When the World Series starts Tuesday night, former Pittsburgh Pirate Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals in Game 1. Cole’s dominant run through the postseason hasn’t exactly been embraced in the same way that one-time Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s was when he...
John Steigerwald: Publicly funded stadium was worst decision for real Pirates fans
The Pittsburgh Pirates do not belong to you. They do not belong to the City of Pittsburgh. They belong to G. Ogden Nutting and his son, Bob, and a few other investors, who own a small percentage of the franchise. There appears to be a movement afoot in certain parts...
Kevin Gorman: New voice of Pirates’ next manager should be bilingualVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates are searching for not just a new manager but a new voice that will resonate inside a clubhouse that had tuned out Clint Hurdle’s message. Perhaps that voice should speak in Spanish. The Pirates love to pride themselves as a progressive club, touting MLB’s first Latin superstar...
Jeannette native Cody Elias at forefront of digital streaming with ‘A’s Cast Live’
He did not hit a home run or strike out a batter, but Cody Elias played a significant role for Oakland A’s during their run to the American League wild-card game. In his first year with the organization, the 30-year-old Jeannette native garnered significant attention for his role on “A’s...
First Call: Who would punch Myles Garrett in the face? Early goal of the year candidateVideo
It’s our final “First Call” before an extended Steelers bye weekend. We tip our cap to Dan Potash’s efforts on ‘70s night. There was one goal last night even better than Sidney Crosby’s. And someone was dumb enough to punch Myles Garrett in the face. Hit and run? If I...
