Pirates/MLB category, Page 239

An optimist would point out the Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a season in which just six National League teams had better records. But in a town in which the World Series drought reaches four decades this year, cynicism reigns — so it’s probably more appropriate to say just five...

Clint Hurdle smiled. After 16 seasons as a major league manager, he is at ease in addressing tough questions. Plus, he just faced a group of inquiring season-ticket holders, so Hurdle expected the gathered media at PiratesFest to ask him about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lack of power. “It’s a great...

When Lonnie Chisenhall made his major-league debut in 2011, the Cleveland Indians were on the verge of following up two losing seasons with one in which they won 80 games. He’s recently joined the Pittsburgh Pirates under similar circumstances: the Pirates just followed up two losing seasons by last year...

Nick Kingham leaned back against a chair in a PNC Park dining area, at ease in chatting with a handful of reporters at PiratesFest late last month. “I love this right now,” Kingham said of relaxed conversation with a group of people who ranged between casual acquaintance to total stranger....

Looking at the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training roster, it is likely 20 or more of the players who are there for Opening Day will be holdovers from last season. As such, Pirates fans figure to be familiar with the 2019 roster. That does not mean there won’t be any intrigue...

The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms on a minor league contract with former Marlins starter Tom Koehler on Wednesday. The right-hander will report to minor-league camp and spend most of the 2019 season continuing rehab from surgery on right shoulder last summer. Koehler, 32, had a 4.39 ERA in 161...

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed veteran utility infielder Nick Franklin to a minor-league contract Wednesday, adding another bench option to their spring-training roster. A former first-round pick, the 27-year-old Franklin has appeared in 301 major-league games for four teams over the past six seasons. He’s played at least an inning at...

During this month last year, Corey Dickerson was joining his third team over a span of 37 months. As he enters his final season before hitting free agency, it’s very possible – likely, even – that Dickerson will be on a fourth team in five years by this point next...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have used 18 Opening Day outfield alignments over the 19 seasons since the turn of the century. An injury will force them to make it 19 combinations in 20 years. With Gregory Polanco expected to miss the first one to two months of the season as he...

Francisco Liriano, who had the best season of his 13-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013, returned to the team Monday. At least, he’ll be with the Pirates at spring training in Bradenton, Fla., trying to win a spot in the starting rotation or bullpen. He signed a minor-league...

Groundhog Day was Saturday. But Steven Brault can relate to Bill Murray’s iconic Phil Connors character every time he reports to Bradenton, Fla., in the spring. If the Pittsburgh Pirates are preparing for a season, it must mean Brault is competing for a spot at the back end of their...

Bob Friend, who spent 15 seasons as one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most durable pitchers, died Sunday in Pittsburgh, team president Frank Coonelly announced. Friend was 88. Friend holds the franchise record for career innings pitched (3,481), starts (477) and strikeouts (1,682). He pitched in 568 games, earned a berth...

Twenty-two percent of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2019 projected opening day lineup was imported during the offseason down Interstate 76. Barring injury or an unexpected spring roster move, Lonnie Chisenhall and Erik Gonzalez are expected to be the names manager Clint Hurdle writes in at right field and shortstop, respectively, when...

With his bushy hair, wide smile and gregarious personality, no one would describe Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Cole Tucker as vanilla. “I’m not that vanilla,” Tucker said at PiratesFest last week. “I’ve got some sprinkles in my game.” Tucker, though, considers “vanilla” a compliment. After all, two of his role...

The Pittsburgh Pirates exceeded most expectations in 2018, but within 24 hours of the season’s completion they fired both of their hitting coaches. The result of an offense that ranked 20th in the majors in runs, 25th in home runs and in the bottom half of MLB in slugging percentage,...

Kevin Newman’s baptism into the majors was less than inspiring for fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After fans watched Newman post a .209 average and .478 OPS with 23 strikeouts, no stolen bases and underwhelming defense in 31 games over seven weeks, many wondered if he was just another overhyped...

Clint Hurdle talked about how home runs, more often than not, are thrown and not hit in the major leagues. Josh Bell reminisced about how he never tried to hit a home run in the minor leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t expecting opposing pitchers to serve up home runs for...

The Pittsburgh Pirates added depth to their pool of players competing for opening-day roster spots Wednesday, signing pitcher Brandon Maurer and outfielder J.B. Shuck to minor league deals. Maurer, a 28-year-old right-hander, has a 5.36 ERA over 289 career appearances with three teams over the past six seasons. Shuck, 31,...

Hard to believe it for the one-time manchild who homered on the first major-league pitch he saw, but Starling Marte is now 30. Long playing in the shadows of veterans and stars such as Andrew McCutchen, Marte suddenly is one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ oldest players. Still arguably the team’s...

Just when the January weather had turned frigid, and fatigue was starting to set in on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the daily dose of Antonio Brown’s antics, the Pittsburgh Pirates provided a delicious diversion. They are going to win the World Series! Nothing compares to the optimism of the offseason,...

In two separate, one-hour question-and-answer sessions Saturday during PiratesFest at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates invited people, literally off the street, to sit and chat with three of the four highest-ranking members of the organization. General manager Neal Huntington, manager Clint Hurdle and president Frank Coonelly spoke willingly and eloquently...