Pirates/MLB category, Page 60
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans fire barbs at Steelers’ mediocrity, Penguins’ stagnation, Pirates’ frugality
Next week, we are on vacation here at “Breakfast With Benz.” Not just a long holiday weekend, or a couple of half days in a row to run errands, spruce up the backyard and drink beer on the porch. No, my friends. I’m talking about full-on, all-out, actually leaving the...
Pirates’ previously booming bats go silent in 9-0 loss to Brewers
More evidence surfaced Wednesday night that baseball is a strange, unpredictable game. Day to day, there’s no telling what might happen. One night after scoring double-digit runs (12) for the second time in the previous five games and slugging five home runs among their 11 hits, the Pirates managed only...
Pirates farm report for July 10, 2024: Henry Davis goes 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-47) was held to five hits in a 3-1 loss to Columbus (Guardians). C Henry Davis (.302) went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. DH Seth Beer (.250) went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored. SS Liover Peguero (.269) went 1 for 4 with...
No joke, Jim Leyland became Pirates manager after surprisingly legit phone call that started his journey to the Hall of Fame
Jim Leyland was convinced the phone call that led to his first major-league managerial job — his initial step on the road to Cooperstown — was a joke. Not that he doubted his ability to manage in the majors. After all, he had been a minor-league manager for 11 seasons,...
Mark Madden: Don’t be duped. The Pirates will never spend what it takes
Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting said GM Ben Cherington would have the flexibility to add players (and payroll) before the July 30 MLB trade deadline if the situation dictated. The situation dictates, however marginally: The Pirates are three games out of the National League’s third and final wild card. The...
Tim Benz: This clear-cut skill has made Paul Skenes an All-Star in just 10 starts
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes deserves to be an All-Star based on merit since his promotion to the Major Leagues in May. From an entertainment perspective, he should be the starter in the game as well. There is one skill in particular that has made Skenes All-Star worthy: his...
How Pirates All-Star rookie RHP Paul Skenes developed his splinker into a ‘devastating’ pitch
Only after he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates last July did Paul Skenes start toying with a new pitch, one that has been called everything from dirty and disgusting to filthy and nasty to just plain “gross.” Now that the 22-year-old rookie pitcher has become the first player selected...
Projected as 1st-round MLB pick, Mars’, WVU’s JJ Wetherholt learned lessons on, off the field
Here’s the greatest lesson West Virginia’s JJ Wetherholt learned — or, more accurately, taught himself — on his way to becoming a projected top-10 choice in the MLB Draft: There’s more to hitting a baseball than taking swings in the batting cage until your hands ache. Yes, that fundamental part...
Pirates pitcher Quinn Priester limits damage vs. Brewers, records 1st victory of season
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin trotted to the mound in the third inning Tuesday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee, hoping to settle down pitcher Quinn Priester. It was an important timeout because Priester was in the midst of surrendering two runs to the Brewers. But, as it...
Pirates slam 5 home runs in 12-2 victory against 1st-place Brewers
With leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen taking the night off and shortstop Oneil Cruz on the bench while nursing hamstring tightness, the Pittsburgh Pirates hit the road Tuesday night and challenged the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. The odds were against the Pirates, who are trying to...
Pirates farm report for July 9, 2024: David Bednar throws scoreless inning in Altoona rehab outing
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-46) and Columbus (Guardians) were rained out. The game will be played as part of a doubleheader Thursday. Next: Wednesday vs. Columbus (Guardians), 1:35 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 35-47) used six pitchers, including rehabbing major leaguers RHP David Bednar and LHP Ryan Borucki, to shut out Bowie (Orioles), 4-0....
Pirates starting pitcher Quinn Priester returns to active roster after 1 month on injured list
With Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitchers Jared Jones and Bailey Falter injured and unavailable, Quinn Priester is back on the active roster. In advance of the start of a six-game road trip, the Pirates ended the rehab assignment of Priester on Tuesday and activated him from the 15-day injured list. Priester,...
First Call: Joe Burrow praises T.J. Watt, pans Acrisure Stadium turf; hurdles falling for Paul Skenes to start All-Star Game
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some interesting quotes from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow about T.J. Watt and the field conditions at Acrisure Stadium. Some roadblocks are falling between Paul Skenes and a potential start in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Plus, at least one national source isn’t optimistic about...
Despite history of DFAs and rocky outings, Pirates see potential in reliever Dennis SantanaVideo
In a way, the July 6 outing of Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana summarized his identity through seven years as a big-league pitcher: promising but volatile. During an eventual 5-2 loss to the New York Mets, Santana was summoned from the bullpen in the third inning after starter Bailey Falter...
Motivated by All-Star snub, Mitch Keller goes 8 innings for 10th win to propel Pirates past Mets
After being snubbed for the All-Star Game, Mitch Keller had no shortage of motivation to show he’s one of baseball’s top starting pitchers. It didn’t take long for the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander to remind the New York Mets why he’s the staff ace, striking out the side in the first...
First Call: Local pitching product, multiple ex-Pirates make MLB All-Star Game; Martavis Bryant still wants the NFLVideo
Monday’s “First Call” has All-Star game nods for a few former Pirates and a Western Pa. product out in Oakland. Also, one ex-Steeler is hoping to make a comeback from injury, and another is trying to make a comeback into the league. Former Pirates parade While Paul Skenes and Bryan...
Madden Monday: Starting Pirates’ Paul Skenes would give the All-Star Game ‘a bit more meaning this year’
The Major League Baseball All-Star selection process got it right. Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes has been named to the National League team. Now NL manager Torey Lovullo needs to do the right thing as well and name Skenes the starter. That’s just my opinion, but the numbers make a...
After All-Star exclusion, Pirates’ Mitch Keller focused on strong 2nd-half performance
The trials and tribulations of Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller are now well-known outside of Pittsburgh. In large part, it was Keller’s dominant start to the 2023 campaign, culminating with his first All-Star selection, that brought his story as a big-leaguer to a more national audience. As Pirates fans can recall,...
Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, outfielder Bryan Reynolds selected to All-Star Game
Paul Skenes can add another accomplishment in his accelerated rise to superstardom, as the 22-year-old right-hander became the first Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher ever selected to the All-Star Game. A second All-Star appearance is the latest achievement on Bryan Reynolds’ resume after the Pirates outfielder signed the richest contract in...
Mets score 2 runs off Aroldis Chapman in 9th to rally past Pirates
A game that was scoreless through seven innings suddenly got interesting when the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets turned to their closers with multiple All-Star appearances. Instead of closing the door, they left it open. When the Mets brought in Edwin Diaz with two on and two out in...
Pirates place LHP Bailey Falter on 15-day IL, select contract of RHP Brent Honeywell Jr.
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed starting left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tendinitis Sunday, then shook up a bullpen that was depleted by his injury. Falter, who is 4-7 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 90 1/3 innings over 17 starts, was removed...
Pirates farm report for July 6, 2024: Indy’s Braxton Ashcraft tosses 3 scoreless innings in return from injured list
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-46) lost to Louisville (Reds), 8-5. C Henry Davis (.315) was 2 for 4 with a double and walk. RF Ji Hwan Bae (.366) was 3 for 5 with two RBIs. LF Matt Fraizer (.252) was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. DH Seth...
Pirates’ Bailey Falter departs early with injury; Derek Shelton ejected in loss to Mets
Before the end of a 5-2 defeat to the New York Mets Saturday at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates were minus both their starting pitcher and manager. Bailey Falter was removed from the game with no outs in the third inning because of left posterior arm discomfort and is out...
With new amateur scouting director, Pirates prep MLB Draft board
A year after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected a generational talent in Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick, general manager Ben Cherington had different reason to be excited for the MLB Draft. The Pirates have the No. 9 pick in the first round — their sixth consecutive year with...
Star search: Bryan Reynolds, Paul Skenes top Pirates’ hopeful candidates for All-Star Game
To say Bryan Reynolds is a man of few words is an understatement, but the Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder didn’t mince his when asked if he deserves a spot on the National League roster in the All-Star Game. “I think I should be in it,” Reynolds, an All-Star starter in...
