Pirates/MLB category, Page 212

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-46) lost 20-1 to Syracuse (Mets). The Indians were outhit 22-7. Three of the six Indianapolis pitchers gave up at least five runs. LHP Cam Vieaux (2-1, 5.53) gave up six runs in three innings, with four strikeouts, a walk and six hits, including three home runs. LF...

There is an argument to be made that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ playoff hopes disappeared during the three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Pirates never have been more than five games over .500 this season, and that was April 20. Even after winning eight of 12 leading...

In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Tim Benz and Mark Madden take a look at what went wrong with the Pirates during their disastrous series in Chicago to start the second half of the season. Not only did the Pirates come out of the All-Star break cold, they helped the...

On many summer nights, 25 ticking time bombs can be located on the ground floor of PNC Park. In the fall, 53 incendiary devices can be found Sundays at Heinz Field. In the winter, there often are 23 potential explosives on the premises at PPG Paints Arena. In the era...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 45-45) fell 9-1 to Columbus (Indians). The Indians gave up all nine runs in the first two innings. RHP Eduardo Vera (5-7, 6.27) took the loss after allowing nine runs in 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts, a walk and nine hits surrendered. SS Cole Tucker (.287) knocked...

Francisco Cervelli, who hasn’t played since May 25 after suffering a sixth concussion, posted on Instagram on Friday that his catching career is not over. “Saying that I quit from my catcher responsibilities is inaccurate,” he wrote. “My hope is to catch again.” View this post on Instagram “Saying that...

CHICAGO — When the Pirates acquired Chris Archer last July for some of their top prospects, it was viewed as a statement that management was ready to go for it again after having traded stars Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole the previous winter. “The ownership and front office stepped up...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 44-44) defeated Columbus (Indians), 5-4. RHP Mitch Keller (7-3, 3.07) threw six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, three walks and two hits en route to the win. PH/LF J.B. Shuck (.288) had two RBIs. SS Cole Tucker (.292) was 0 for 3 with a run and an RBI....

There’s a growing opinion about the Pirates across the National League. They throw up-and-in too much. This isn’t really a new thing. That reputation has been attached to the Pirates for a while. Going back years. There was the beanball war with Arizona in 2018. And there was one between...

You can do the math, but you may not like how it adds up. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be contenders for a National League postseason berth when they resume their quest Friday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. But claiming one of the five playoff spots won’t be easy....

In “First Call” Wednesday, we catch wind of what the Pirates’ asking price is for Felipe Vazquez. It’s “Tacko Time” in Boston. And robot umpires make their debut. Fishing for Felipe We’ve talked about what it would take for the Pirates to get Madison Bumgarner if they stay in the...

Picture it. Madison Bumgarner pitching at PNC Park in October again. I mean, for the hometown team this time. You might remember him from the wild-card game five years ago as a member of the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants. Right. That guy. Well, the 2014 World Series...

A lot happened during Major League Baseball’s All-Star week in Cleveland. Much of it had nothing to do with the game. Our Jerry DiPaola was on hand to cover all the angles. He’s back in Pittsburgh after the American League’s 4-3 win. We discuss commissioner Rob Manfred’s double talk...

Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 44-44) is on all-star break. Right-handed pitchers Mitch Keller (6-3, 3.32), Montana DuRapau (1-1, 1.93) and Dovydas Neverauskas (1-1, 2.31) as well as late-addition right fielder Trayvon Robinson (.322) were selected for the International League all-star game Wednesday night. Next: Thursday at Columbus (Indians), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA...

During the All-Star break, we discussed how Pirates management may view the recent surge by their players now that they are within 2 1/2 games of first place in the National League Central. They sound optimistic. But I bet the jury is still out. It should be. Because for as...

When the All-Star break ends, the second half of the season will resume the same way the first half ended for the National League Central. Division rivals will be jockeying for position as all five teams reboot the schedule within 4 ½ games of each other in the standings. The...

CLEVELAND – Josh Bell has a plan for the next time he faces the Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka. He’s just not speaking about it publicly. If there is a next time, it could be in a World Series. Until then, Tanaka must live with the fact that Bell got the best...

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 44-44) is on all-star break. Right-handed pitchers Mitch Keller (6-3, 3.32), Montana DuRapau (1-1, 1.93) and Dovydas Neverauskas (1-1, 2.31) and right fielder Trayvon Robinson (.322) were selected for the International League All-Star game Wednesday night. Next: Thursday at Columbus (Indians), 7:05 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 47-38) is on...

CLEVELAND — While street sweepers clear away debris from the past two days of celebrating baseball and its stars, All-Star closer Felipe Vazquez will pack up the car Wednesday morning and return to Pittsburgh with his family. But he won’t be there long. It’s off to Chicago’s Wrigley Field on...

CLEVELAND — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday there has been one preliminary meeting with the union to discuss the collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2021. Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, is concerned that the game’s economics are changing, evidenced by the delayed...

CLEVELAND — On one side, you have American League All-Star starting pitcher Justin Verlander, who believes the baseballs are juiced this season. He has allowed a major league-high 26 home runs in only 19 starts, with perhaps 15 more outings to go. “It’s a joke,” he said Monday at All-Star...