Blogs

If only every trade with the Yankees worked out this well.
Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high eight as the Pirates nipped the Cubs, 3-0, on Tuesday night at PNC Park.
On a day dominated by news of the trades of outfielders Nyjer Morgan and Eric Hinske and relief pitcher Sean [...]

Andrew McCutchen was a beneficiary of the Nate McLouth trade, earning a full-time job in the Pirates’ outfield. But it hit McCutchen a bit closer to the heart today when Nyjer Morgan was traded to the Nationals.
“When Nate McLouth was traded, I never really played with him. I didn’t really feel it,” McCutchen said. “Now [...]

The Pirates today rolled the dice on Lastings Milledge, triggering a four-player trade to bring the enigmatic outfielder to Pittsburgh.
The Pirates got Milledge and right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan from the Washington Nationals in exchange for outfielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett.
Hanrahan is expected to join the Pirates bullpen in a day or two. Milledge [...]

The Pirates are close to closing a four-player trade which would send outfielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett to the Washington Nationals.
The Pirates will receive outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-hander Joel Hanrahan.
Milledge, 24, was the New York Mets’ first-round draft pick (12th overall) in 2003. He was traded to Washington in November 2007.
The Pirates [...]

The Pirates today traded ultilityman Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor leaguers.
Neither player the Pirates acquired — catcher/outfielder Eric Fryer and right-hander Casey Erickson — was considered a significant prospect in the Yankees’ farm system.
Fryer, 23, hit .250 with 11 doubles, two homers and 24 RBI in 59 games [...]

Q: Hasn’t Delwyn Young “gone bananas” enough to warrant starting in right field for a while? A .346 (batting average) is what it is. Why not let it play out? Another question: If Nyjer Morgan gets dealt can Brandon Moss play left competently or could we see a call up of Garret Jones?
— Jeff Z, [...]

Through the first 35 home games this year, Pirates attendance is up more that 12 percent compared to last year. Those digits might be a bit deceiving, however.
Last week, the Pirates hosted their marquee interleague series against the Cleveland Indians. It pulled in a three-game total of 69,391 fans.
Last year, the New York Yankees did [...]

Ian Snell sparkled this afternoon in his first start for Triple-A Indianapolis. The right-hander struck out 17 of the 24 batters he faced in seven innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Snell walked the first batter of the game, then reeled off 13-straight strikeouts.
It’s a positive sign for Snell, who was demoted last [...]

This morning, manager John Russell did a little politicking on behalf of Zach Duke’s bid to earn an All-Star berth. Duke is tied for second in the NL in wins (eight) and is 10th in ERA (3.09).
“I think he (deserves a spot) because of the way he’s pitched,” Russell said. “He doesn’t have the huge [...]

On his way to the ballpark today, Nyjer Morgan’s cell phone beeped with some interesting news. There’s an Internet report that the Pirates are mulling a trade which would send Morgan to the Nationals for enigmatic outfielder Lastings Milledge.
The Pirates, however, are cool to the offer of Milledge. Management would prefer to acquire a middle [...]