The 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone. What began as a relatively quiet day for the Pittsburgh Pirates ended with a flurry of moves that all shared one common theme: the bullpen. If you've read any of my Pirates columns over the past three
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: the summers from 2013 to 2015 were the best summers of my life. I was a student at Clarion University of Pennsylvania—it's always going to be CUP to me—spending my days
For the Pittsburgh Pirates' most recent run of playoff success from 2013-15, the formula was simple: get six good innings from the starter and let the bullpen take over. Opposing teams knew what was coming. Tony Watson in the seventh. Mark Melancon in the eighth. Jason Grilli in
Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe is putting together one of the best seasons of his career. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has produced 2.5 WAR while batting .261 with 14 home runs and 36 RBI. If his production continues, Lowe could go down as General Manager Ben
The game of baseball is one giant puzzle, filled with countless nuances and intricacies that influence every pitch, every play, and every decision. As a baseball fan, I watch multiple games every day, absorbing as much information as I can simply because I love the game. My playing days are
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered their four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals — the start of seven straight home games against NL Central opponents — with a 6-3 record against division foes and momentum from their first series win in Milwaukee since 2019. But their first home series against an
It is not a secret. For the better part of two decades, American Family Field — formerly Miller Park — has been where Pittsburgh Pirates optimism goes to die. Since the park opened in 2001, the Pirates have been swallowed whole by Milwaukee, stumbling to an 87-136 record in one of
Hits don’t kill pitchers. Walks do. Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Bubba Chandler is electric. Just look at Rob Friedman, also known as @PitchingNinja on Twitter. Chandler has been featured in several of his “filthy pitches” montages during his start Monday against the Padres. Chandler is the No. 1
LEFT ON LEFT? PIRATES DON’T CARE For years, it’s been the glaring weakness in Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz’s game. In 2025, Cruz hit just .102 against left-handed pitching, with one home run and eight RBIs. It was a hole pitchers attacked relentlessly—and one
On Friday, within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, the focus centered on the Spring Breakout roster, which faced the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park. Much of the attention went to Seth Hernandez, who reached 102 mph and surprised top Tigers prospect Max Clark. However, Konnor Griffin ultimately drew the headlines — and
Venezuela 3, United States 2. That wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did. Behind a dominant outing from Eduardo Rodriguez and timely execution, Venezuela stunned Team USA to win the World Baseball Classic championship. The most talented lineup ever assembled—at least on paper—was held to just two
What were you doing at 17 years old? Me? I had just finished my junior season of high school baseball, wearing a jersey two sizes too big and hoping the throw I made from third base ended up somewhere near first. So what was 17-year-old Joseph Contreras doing