PIRATES RUMORS & GOSSIP
Prospect Watch: Pimentel Dominant in Triple-A Debut; Sanchez Hits 9th Homer
TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the mid-season rankings, and links on each name go to their Pirates...
Brandon Cumpton Used Andrew W.K.'s "Party Hard" As Walk-Up Music
On Saturday, the Pirates called up AAA pitcher Brandon Cumpton to make a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adding another pitcher was huge, seeing that the starting rotation was slowly settling in with super-rook Gerrit Cole making his vaunted debut earlier in the week. Cumpton one-upped his more-highly-lauded teammate in the strikeout department, striking out the side in the...
Is Pirates Slugger Pedro Alvarez The New Adam Dunn?
In the 2008 draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected a player they envisioned would lock down third base for years to come and more importantly the cleanup spot in the batting order for years to come. It has been a work in progress, as Pedro Alvarez has yet to do the latter, but in reality, Alvarez is right on schedule when compared to other power hitters and could become the new Adam...
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jeff Locke A Welcome Surprise
The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a surprising start with many thinking they can finish the season with the winning record, and this would be the first occurrence since 1992.
One of the reasons Pittsburgh is having success is because of their great bullpen and the leader of their bullpen is Jason Grilli.
Another reason is due to the emergence of one of their starters from the rotation...
First Pitch: Why is Gerrit Cole Throwing So Many Fastballs?
Gerrit Cole has thrown a fastball almost 81% of the time. (Photo Credit: David Hague)
In his first two starts, Gerrit Cole has gone heavy on the fastball. Really heavy. As in 80.7% of his pitches have been fastballs. Only one pitcher in all of baseball can top that amount, and that is Bartolo Colon, who is throwing 84.6% fastballs.
The first thing I thought about when I saw Cole’s...
Prospect Notebook: Huntington Explains the Polanco, Pimentel, and Kingham Promotions
In the last week the Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted Gregory Polanco, Nick Kingham, and Stolmy Pimentel. Today at PNC Park, Neal Huntington explained to reporters what led to those decisions from each individual player.
Gregory Polanco was hitting for an .836 OPS in Bradenton before his promotion.
Gregory Polanco
Polanco was one of the biggest breakout hitters in all of minor league...
Brandon Cumpton survives first start but Pittsburgh Pirates fall in extra innings
Brandon Cumpton
Neil Walker and Travis Snider helped the Pittsburgh Pirates come from behind and forced extra innings, but Vin Mazzaro surrendered 2 runs in the 11th inning that allowed the Dodgers to knock off the Pirates 5-3.
Brandon Cumpton was not expected to move mountains in his spot start for the Pirates, but he gave them a chance to beat Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on...
Pittsburgh Pirates: Hurlde throws game, then Locke throws gem
(Opening image Jeff Locke; image credit post-gazette.)
In retrospect, picking the finale of the Pirates-Giants series to attend in person was a bad decision. Not only did it feature SP Charlie Morton attempting to get back in the saddle against one of the most consistently-dominant starters in the National League (SP Matt Cain), but it also featured some wonderfully incompetent...
Andrew McCutchen dances back to second base, literally, after pickoff bluff (Video)
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Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen displayed some fancy feet as he danced back to second base, literally, after falling for a bluff of a pickoff move by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Stephen Fife during the third inning of Friday night's game at PNC Park.
McCutchen had reason to be feeling a little relaxed, as he had...
Torn calf sidelines Pirates P Burnett
Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett is wearing a walking boot over his torn right calf and isn't sure when he'll be ready to return.
Burnett injured the calf while working out Wednesday and was placed on the 15-day disabled list a day later by Pittsburgh.
Rookie Brandon Cumpton is set to make his major league debut when he starts in place of Burnett on Saturday against Clayton...
Via AP on Fox
3 days ago
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NL Central Notes: Pirates are on a roll, but can they maintain it?
ST. LOUIS -- With a strong bullpen, solid rotation and a lineup led by one of the game's rising stars in center field, the Pirates appear poised to end the longest streak of losing seasons in U.S. team sports history.
Oh, wait. You say you've heard that before. For the past two years, in fact.
Indeed, 2013 is feeling a lot like 2012 and 2011, when center fielder Andrew...
Via Fox Sports Midwest
3 days ago
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A.J. Burnett lands on DL with strained calf
credit: getty images
A.J. Burnett has landed on the disabled list with a strained right calf. The Pirates have not released any indication of how severe the injury is, which is retroactive to June 9.
The Pirates will need to name a replacement by Saturday.
Prior to landing on the disabled list, Burnett had made 14 starts compiling a 4-6 record and a 3.12 ERA. Once known as fragile...
THE PIRATES HOT 25
