Pirates/MLB category, Page 207

There are some things best not discussed in polite company. The possibility of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing 100 games is one of them. It has happened only seven times in club history that dates to 1887. The record is 113, set in 1890. Manager Guy Hecker was not asked to...

This week’s “U mad, bro?” features Pirates angst, frustration over the brawl suspensions, replay rage, Mike Tomlin defense, and Browns hysteria from Cleveland. Todd is a Cleveland Browns fanboy. And he did not like the fact that I poked some fun at a little training camp turmoil surrounding his team....

I want to expand on a thought that I heard from my ESPN Radio Pittsburgh colleague Adam Crowley. And by “expand on a thought,” what I’m trying to say is, I want to steal his idea. Which I will. To be fair, I think Adam stole it from me. Because...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-57) was postponed because of inclement weather. The game is to be made up Thursday as part of a doubleheader. Next: Thursday doubleheader at Norfolk (Orioles), Game 1 at 12:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 57-58) split a doubleheader with Richmond, winning the first game 4-3 in 10 innings but...

Jose Osuna’s key for being a good pinch hitter is to always be ready. “Be ready in every inning,” said Osuna, who has excelled in that role this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I think that’s the most important, be ready for the first pitch.” Now, he seems more than...

The past two dozen games, with 20 losses and only four wins, were the worst stretch Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle could remember. That’s mostly because his team still was mired in this slide. “Last year it seemed like the worst stretch I’d ever been in,” said Hurdle, whose team...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-57) lost 8-1 to Norfolk (Orioles). LHP Sean Keselica (1-6, 4.41) took the loss after allowing four runs on a hit in a third of an inning. Starting RHP James Marvel (3-0, 1.87) had a no-decision despite giving up an unearned run in four innings with four strikeouts...

On most occasions, Clint Hurdle doesn’t say much when he walks to the mound to pull his pitcher from the game. But he had words for Steven Brault on Tuesday night while the Pittsburgh Pirates were losing 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Good words. “Light-hearted,” Brault said....

Bryan Reynolds allowed himself a slight smile — and nothing more — when he reached over the left field wall Monday night and robbed the Brewers’ Mike Moustakas of a home run. “I’m not going to throw my glove off and start dancing just because I made a catch,” he...

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at Josh Bell’s slump, great catches galore and a mad Emmanuel Sanders. Bell silenced Josh Bell hasn’t been ringing in the batter’s box the way he was in the first half of the season. How bad has it gotten? Since July 1, Bell is...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-56) was idle. RHP James Marvel (3-0, 2.12 with Indianapolis) is expected to start for the Indians Tuesday night. Next: Tuesday at Norfolk (Orioles), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 56-57) won 6-5 over Richmond (Giants). LF Chris Sharpe (.212 with Altoona) went 3 for 4 with a fifth-inning two-run...

Bryan Reynolds is quickly becoming the top bright spot of the Pittsburgh Pirates season. On Monday night, Reynolds made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas of a sure home run in the second inning, stealing the ball from a fan about to...

Jose Osuna continues to be the primary recipient of the at-bats opened up when the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Corey Dickerson to Philadelphia at the trade deadline and designated third baseman Jung Ho Kang for assignment. Osuna was in the starting lineup for the third time in four games Monday night...

Because they opted against holding a fire sale at the trade deadline, there aren’t a whole lot of open spaces on the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup card for young players to take. There are a couple, though, and starting pitcher Dario Agrazal occupies one. When the Pirates sent Jordan Lyles to...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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 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...

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...

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...