Blogs

It’s four hours before game time and at least 90 degrees on the turf @ PNC Park, and the Pirates are working on their PFPs. Bunt drills. Rundowns. Grounders. And the ol’ pitcher-cover-first base play (which didn’t work so well in the ninth inning last night for Adam LaRoche and Matt Capps). • Lineups for [...]

Virgil Vasquez recorded his first major-league victory, as the Pirates powered past the Royals, 5-3, on Friday night at PNC Park. Vasquez, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace demoted Ian Snell, allowed two runs on four hits in six innings. Vasquez (1-0) struck out seven and walked two. Nyjer Morgan, Jason [...]

Sorry about the delay in posting lineups. Swamped following up on NBA draft coverage and Pitt basketball on my regular beat. PIRATES: 1. Andrew McCutchen cf, 2. Nyjer Morgan lf, 3. Freddy Sanchez 2b, 4. Adam LaRoche 1b, 5. Brandon Moss rf, 6. Andy LaRoche 3b, 7. J.J. Jaramillo c, 8. Jack Wilson ss, 9. [...]

Catcher Ryan Doumit (broken bone in right wrist) will leave Sunday for Bradenton, Fla., to work out at the spring training facility. He has been catching bullpens, doing long toss and taking batting practice, and will get into game-type activities at Pirate City. Doumit could be on track to return to the Pirates by the [...]

Here’s a funny coincidence: my car battery died this afternoon at about the same time as Ian Snell’s major league career expired. Joe Rutter, who has more than a little previous experience covering the Buccos, is all over the Snell story and has updates elsewhere on this Web site. Expect Virgil Vasquez to get the [...]

Despite last night’s brief, brutal outing, right-hander Ian Snell remains in the starting rotation — for one more start, at least. GM Neal Huntington is pleased with the work Snell puts in with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, and believes he has the stuff to succeed in the majors as a starter. “The thing with Ian [...]

DENVER — Charlie Morton still is listed as the Pirates’ starter Friday against Kansas City, but that could change. The right-hander continues to battle a sore hamstring and might have to be skipped again. If so, the Pirates would call up Virgil Vasquez from Triple-A Indianapolis. Vasquez, a right-hander, started last night for Indy, but [...]

A late rally fell short and the Pirates fell to the Indians, 5-4, on Tuesday night at PNC Park. The Pirates, who failed to advance a runner past second base through eight innings, scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth and loaded the bases on Indians closer Kerry Wood. But Wood got Adam [...]

• There remains no timetable for Tyler Yates’ return to throwing, according to manager John Russell. Yates is in Florida with right elbow inflammation. Craig Hansen (neck) also remains shut down from throwing. • Manager John Russell echoed the sentiments of general manager Neal Huntington and president Frank Coonelly that the Pirates should play the [...]

Steve Pearce, recalled Saturday from Triple-A Indianapolis, will make his first start in right field and bat seventh as the Pirates begin a 10-game home stand with a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians at 7:05 tonight at PNC Park. Grady Sizemore, activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day, will start in [...]