Kevin Gorman stories, Page 148
Pirates get opposite pitching performances in split-squad games against Phillies, Blue Jays
In split-squad action, the Pittsburgh Pirates got a pair of polar-opposite performances Friday from pitchers competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. In his debut for the Pirates, right-hander Rookie Davis struck out three batters and walked one while throwing two hitless and scoreless innings in a 1-1...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Steelers offer no guarantees as circus leaves town
The more the Pittsburgh Steelers talk about Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger, the more they deny that one of the NFL’s flagship franchises has become the NFL version of a three-ring circus. Whether it’s Art Rooney II or Kevin Colbert doing the talking, the Steelers are starting to...
Pirates claim reliever Jake Barrett off waivers from Giants
The Pirates added competition to their bullpen by claiming right-handed reliever Jake Barrett off waivers Friday from the San Francisco Giants. Barrett, 27, was 2-4, with a 4.05 ERA and four saves in 103 appearances with Arizona from 2016-18. The Giants acquired him from the Diamondbacks on Feb. 5 for...
Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings faces make-or-break spring training
Jacob Stallings came to spring training with the Pirates Pirates under different circumstances, not just in competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but because he is out of minor-league options. This is a make-or-break spring for Stallings. “Maybe there’s a little heightened sense of focus on everything...
Kevin Gorman: After winning Gold Glove, Pirates’ Corey Dickerson focused on what’s nextVideo
Corey Dickerson followed his first All-Star Game appearance in 2017 with his first Gold Glove last season, so it was only natural to ask the Pittsburgh Pirates leftfielder about his goals for this season. Dickerson was a step ahead of me, not just in answering the question. In nearly two...
Kevin Gorman: Erik Gudbranson the guy Penguins want in their cornerVideo
Erik Gudbranson was stranded Tuesday in Toronto’s airport for nearly five hours, plenty of time to contemplate the 11th-hour trade that sent him from the Vancouver Canucks to the Pittsburgh Penguins. While following the box score of their game at the Columbus Blue Jackets on his phone, Gudbranson saw that...
Skating with Little Penguins after practice brings out the little kid in Sidney CrosbyVideo
The Little Penguins brought out the little kid in Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar skated with 100 youth players from the “Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey” program Wednesday afternoon after practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. “You remember being that age and getting out on the...
Shock turns to excitement for Erik Gudbranson after trade to Penguins
Erik Gudbranson had just walked in the door to congratulations from his girlfriend for surviving another NHL trade deadline without being dealt. Then his phone buzzed. Gudbranson was surprised to learn the Pittsburgh Penguins made an 11th-hour move Monday, sending Tanner Pearson to Vancouver in exchange for the 6-foot-5, 217-pound...
Penguins’ Bryan Rust, Chad Ruhwedel out with ‘longer-term’ injuriesVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday that winger Bryan Rust (lower body) and defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (upper body), who were hurt Tuesday at Columbus, are both out with “longer-term” injuries. “He’s a good player for us,” Sullivan said. “Rusty brings a lot. He’s a good penalty-killer. He brings so...
Kevin Gorman: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford keeps trading away his mistakes
With the Penguins tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday’s game, general manager Jim Rutherford wasn’t able to make any magical trade-deadline deals. Rutherford added much-needed toughness in Erik Gudbranson, but the Penguins dealing for defensemen at the NHL trade deadline was a...
After spring training with Pirates, Garth Brooks sells out Heinz Field concertVideo
Only days after ending his spring training stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates, country music legend Garth Brooks not only sold out his Stadium Tour show at Heinz Field but broke a record for most tickets sold at the venue. The 72,887 tickets sold for the May 18 concert surpassed the...
Third-base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes living out childhood dreams at Pirates campVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ke’Bryan Hayes compared the moment to backyard baseball, the kind of storybook ending to a spring training home opener that a kid can only dream about. With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a tied game, Hayes worked a full count against...
Kevin Gorman: Jung Ho Kang’s smashing spring debut a strong sign for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. The Pittsburgh Pirates are focused on their great unknowns, from finding a fifth starter in their rotation to an everyday shortstop to solidifying their middle infield and locating a potential power bat. Perhaps the greatest unknown is what the Pirates will get out of third baseman Jung Ho...
Lonnie Chisenhall, Erik Gonzalez in starting lineup for Pirates’ spring home opener
BRADENTON, Fla. – New acquisitions Lonnie Chisenhall and Erik Gonzalez will be in the starting lineup when the Pirates play the Miami Marlins in their home opener Sunday at LECOM Park. Chisenhall will bat leadoff and play right field. He was signed as a free agent and slated to start...
Kevin Gorman: Andrew McCutchen and Phillies a reminder of Pirates’ choices
CLEARWATER, Fla. Andrew McCutchen was sitting at his locker stall and twisting the locks atop his head when asked why he signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. McCutchen broke into a broad smile. “See what they offered me?” McCutchen said, laughing in reference to his three-year, $50-million contract....
Jason Martin’s 2-run homer in 9th leads Pirates past Phillies in spring opener
CLEARWATER, Fla. – When Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Jason Martin misplayed a deep fly ball, the Philadelphia Phillies scored the game-tying run in the top of the eighth inning. But Martin made up for his mistake in a big way, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the ninth...
Energized Pirates ready for Saturday’s Grapefruit League openerVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates finished their final workout Friday at Pirate City on a positive note when right fielder Gregory Polanco perfectly executed a sliding drill on a padded mat. It was a symbolic ending for both Polanco, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on an awkward slide...
Garth Brooks on spring training with Pirates: ‘This is heaven for me’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — As much as Garth Brooks enjoyed having a locker stall between Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer and sharing left field and a batting cage with Corey Dickerson, the country music legend will leave Pirate City cherishing another memory. Brooks was as thrilled about kneeling down to have...
Kevin Gorman: Hard to embrace Bob Nutting’s spin on Pirates’ payroll
BRADENTON, Fla. — Spend an hour asking Bob Nutting questions and the first thing baseball fans want to know is whether even the Pittsburgh Pirates chairman believes his own bull. The answer is an unapologetic yes. Nutting puts a politician’s spin on his ownership, with evasive answers that tend to...
Rookie Davis ready to compete for job in Pirates rotationVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Rookie Davis was patient during the free-agent process, waiting for a chance to be a starting pitcher while working to get his body healthy for the first time in two seasons. After signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, Davis arrived at Pirate City on Thursday and...
Pirates reliever Kyle Crick pitches constantly trying to prove himselfVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Kyle Crick returned to Pirate City this year with a chip on his shoulder, one that serves as motivation for the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to never allow himself to be comfortable or complacent. The right-handed reliever admits to being ticked off he didn’t make the Pirates’ Opening...
9 innings with Bob Nutting: A Q&A session with the Pirates chairman
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates want to win a World Series, but their four-decade championship drought has become a constant source of frustration for the city’s baseball fans. They tend to take it out on Pirates chairman Bob Nutting, whose franchise increased its win total by seven games last...
Pirates owner Bob Nutting says club is ‘positioned to take another meaningful step forward’
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates chairman Bob Nutting defended the club’s payroll, called it “critical” for MLB owners to address the treatment of minor-league players and said he hopes to change the public perception of the club toward its fan base. Nutting met with reporters for a 48-minute interview Tuesday...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates put faith in Trevor Williams to throw first punchVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Trevor Williams could wear his second half of last season as a badge of honor, when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander ranked among the best pitchers in baseball. But Williams doesn’t find his identity in the game, even though he is thankful to count his blessings that he...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle: Rookie Davis will be ‘in mix as a starting pitcher’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said right-hander Rookie Davis, who signed a minor league contract Monday, “will be in the mix as a starting pitcher.” The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Davis, who was 1-3 with an 8.63 ERA in 2017 with the Cincinnati Reds, will create a four-way competition...
