Pirates/MLB category, Page 252
Former Pirates starter Jordan Lyles makes return to PNC Park with Brewers
On the scale of former Pittsburgh Pirates making an emotional return to PNC Park, the standing ovations Andrew McCutchen received when he came back with the San Francisco Giants last May sit at one end of the spectrum. Adeiny Hechavarria lining out to left field as a seventh-inning pinch hitter...
First Call: Corey Dickerson homers, Baker Mayfield shotguns a beer
For Monday’s “First Call,” we look at Corey Dickerson’s first homer in Philadelphia, NXT taking over Rays’ pregame festivities, and Baker Mayfield’s beer chugging skills. This Bud’s for Baker Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield is no Aaron Rodgers. At least not yet. But he is clearly better at one thing than Rodgers...
Madden Monday: Mark Madden and Tim Benz on Steelers optimism, and Pirates pity
In this week’s Madden Monday, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to discuss the NFL MVP odds. Why are Ben Roethlisberger’s so poor? Mark seems to think it has a lot to do with off-the-field perception. Then there’s the expanded Hall of Fame voting this year — another...
Pirates’ Joe Musgrove hit hard again in blowout loss to Mets
Perhaps what happened to Joe Musgrove on Sunday at PNC Park was nothing more than a bad night’s sleep leading to a stiff back. Maybe Josh Bell is right, and he’s not trying too hard, and a good session or two in the batting cage will fix what ails him....
Pirates notebook: Steven Brault returns to rotation Tuesday
Steven Brault was starting to gain traction in the Pirates rotation when he went on the injured list four weeks ago with a shoulder strain. He hasn’t pitched since July 5, but he’s listed as the starter for the second game of the Milwaukee Brewers series Tuesday at PNC Park....
Francisco Cervelli vows to enjoy his ‘last two months’ with Pirates
Francisco Cervelli was in a good mood Sunday morning, which is his normal demeanor no matter the situation. But the Pittsburgh Pirates’ oldest and most experienced catcher has missed 61 games since May 26 while recovering from another concussion — at least the sixth of his career — and he’s...
Bullpen wastes strong Archer start in Pirates’ loss to Mets
On the first anniversary of Chris Archer’s first start in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, his bullpen didn’t bake him a cake. Didn’t do him any favors at all, in fact. Jeff McNeil and Wilson Ramos hit late-game home runs to turn one of Archer’s best starts in black and gold...
Pirates’ Keone Kela drops appeal, begins serving 10-game suspension
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Keone Kela dropped his appeal and began serving his 10-game suspension for his role in Tuesday’s brawl with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night. Kela received the punishment for throwing in the area of the head of Reds infielder Derek Dietrich. Jose Osuna (five games), Kyle...
Pirates starter Chris Archer isn’t sneaking up on anyone these days
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chris Archer has had his share of struggles this season, coming into Saturday night’s matchup against the New York Mets with a 5.58 ERA, having allowed an NL-high 25 home runs. As he tries to get his game back on track, a quirk of scheduling has...
Suspended Pirates manager Clint Hurdle adjusts to life as spectator
Clint Hurdle has been a big league manager since 2001 and is in his ninth season at the helm of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, he got the chance to do something Friday night he had never done in his career. He watched a game with his wife and kids. Hurdle...
Newly promoted Pirates reliever Parker Markel traveled winding road to PNC Park
Major league relief pitchers can face some pretty harrowing situations, coming into a game to face the heart of an opponent’s order with men on base, for instance. No matter the circumstance when new Pirates pitcher Parker Markel takes the mound, it won’t be the most difficult day he has...
Pirates minor league report for Aug. 2, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-54) lost 5-3 to Columbus (Indians). RHP Mitch Keller (7-4, 3.41) took the loss despite pitching a no-hitter through 4 1/3 innings. Keller finished with 12 strikeouts, a walk and four runs allowed on six hits in six innings. SS Cole Tucker (.275) went 2 for 4 with...
2 big innings help Pirates break slump, beat Mets to open homestand
As teammates on a last-place club, the trade deadline could’ve seen Melky Cabrera, Starling Marte or Felipe Vazquez playing elsewhere this weekend. Instead, Cabrera lined a two-run double off the bullpen fence and Marte hit a three-run homer Friday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Mets, 8-4,...
Pirates’ Kela: Telling truth led to 10-game suspension
Keone Kela told the truth in Cincinnati, and he is pretty sure that’s why he’s facing a 10-game suspension. The Pittsburgh Pirates reliever drew the harshest punishment of anyone involved in Tuesday’s brawl with the Reds. Kela stirred long-simmering nastiness when he threw a pitch over Derek Dietrich’s head, an...
Pirates’ Jameson Taillon needs elbow surgery, won’t pitch again this season
Jameson Taillon needs surgery to repair a tendon in his pitching arm, ending any hopes that he could throw again this season. Taillon needs surgery to fix an injured flexor tendon, said trainer Todd Tomczyk, not the ulnar collateral ligament that was repaired in 2014 during Tommy John surgery. The...
Pirates designate Jung Ho Kang for assignment
The glove was still there, but two seasons away from the majors was probably too much for Jung Ho Kang’s bat to overcome. “That’s our take on it,” manager Clint Hurdle said Friday after the Pirates designated the Korean infielder for assignment. “Love the growth of the man off the...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Football draft advice, MLB trade fallout, Reds-Pirates brawl
Fantasy football drafts are happening soon. Are you ready? Need some advice? Jeff Erickson of RotoWire gets you prepared in our weekly fantasy sports podcast. We look at where Steelers players Ben Roethlisberger, Vance McDonald and JuJu Smith-Schuster rank among star players at their respective positions. Also, Jeff tells us...
Tim Benz: Pirates-Reds brawl suspensions a complete joke
This column is going to be very difficult to follow. Judging by the comments section that normally accompanies my posts, some of you may feel that’s a common occurrence on my page. This time, though, it won’t be my fault. This time. No, today it’ll be Major League Baseball’s fault....
Pirates farm report for Aug. 1, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-53) won 11-5 over Toledo (Tigers). The Indians tallied three home runs, five doubles and 18 hits. RF Trayvon Robinson (.314) was 3 for 4 with a two-run homer and four RBIs. LF Jake Elmore (.355) went 3 for 6 with a double and two runs. 3B Ke’Bryan...
6 players, both managers suspended for Pirates-Reds brawl
The fallout from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ brawl with the Cincinnati Reds will hit players and managers of both teams where it hurts the most: on the roster and in the wallet. Six players plus managers Clint Hurdle and David Bell were suspended and given undisclosed fines for their part in...
First Call: Raiders’ 1st ‘Hard Knocks’ trailer; Baker Mayfield screaming; Jordan Lyles debuts with Brewers
Thursday’s “First Call” features the new trailer for “Hard Knocks,” with significantly less Antonio Brown than we expected. Jordan Lyles debuts in Milwaukee. Baker Mayfield gets testy in Cleveland. Michael Thomas resets the bar for wide receiver contracts in New Orleans. Corey Dickerson misses out on history in Philadelphia. This...
Tim Benz: Prepare for a 2021 Pittsburgh sports yinz-pocalypse
You think 2019 has been a crazy year for Pittsburgh sports so far? Antonio Brown was traded. Le’Veon Bell went to the New York Jets. And the Steelers jumped into the top 10 of the draft. The Penguins were swept out of the playoffs, but Mike Sullivan got a contract...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans invent reasons to be angry. Pirates fans have easier time
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” some Steelers fans are mad about gender reveals. Others are angry about semi-trucks. And Pirates fans are angry about everything. And I mean, everything. Somebody named Eli did not like how somebody else named Eli showed up to Steelers training camp. When he loses...
Pirates minor league report: July 31, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 55-53) won 6-4 over Toledo (Tigers). RF Kevin Kramer (.262) went 2 for 4 with a fifth-inning solo home run and two runs scored. DH Pablo Reyes (.286 with Indianapolis) was 2 for 3 with a two-run double and two runs. LF Jake Elmore (.352) finished 2 for...
Kevin Gorman: Not trading Felipe Vazquez was win for Pirates, technically speaking
When the clock struck 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and the Pittsburgh Pirates still possessed one of their only All-Stars, did they win or lose the trade deadline? That the Pirates didn’t deal closer Felipe Vazquez was met with disappointment in baseball circles, especially by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander...
