Blogs

PNC PARK – What did Pirates GM Neal Huntington take away from Gerrit Cole‘s first exposure to the big leagues?   Sure, there was the fastball that averaged 96 mph and hit 99 a handful of times. It was that express fastball that he leaned on heavily as 130 of his 161 Major League pitches [...]

PNC PARK – If nothing else, I’ve learned this this week the people of western Pennsylvania are really interested in Gerrit Cole.   You’ve probably read that the Pirates sold 12,000 tickets in a three-day period when it was announced Cole was starting Tuesday’s game, the major league debut of the Pirates’ top prospect.   [...]

PNC PARK – Clint Hurdle‘s confidence in Jordy Mercer has lagged behind much of the fan base, judging from my email inbox, but Hurdle’s confidence in Mercer is growing.   Mercer earned a second straight start at shortstop Thursday, the first time that’s happened this month. He’s had back-to-back starts at short three times this [...]

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – Gerrit Cole threw 81 pitches in his debut Tuesday, sixty-five were fastballs.   Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was asked after the game if such a ratio – 80 percent fastballs – is a sustainable path to success.   Hurdle brushed off the question as if it was out of context. [...]

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – Even if the Pirates’ pitching staff continues its excellent work, the Pirates’ offense is really bringing into question whether there is going to be meaningful baseball played in Pittsburgh in September.   The Pirates’ OPS has dipped below .700, now resting at .675 (12th in the NL). The Pirates have [...]

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER -  When I traveled to Indianapolis earlier this week to catch up with Gerrit Cole for today’s feature I was curious to learn, like a lot of folks, why Cole was posting an average strikeout rate.   Cole leaves Indianapolis for his first Major League start Tuesday having struck out just 6.2 batters per [...]

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – A lot of folks say you cannot judge a draft  until years down the road. I agree you cannot form a final opinion until, you cannot form an “outcome” judgment until a significant portion of a player’s career has been observed.   But I think you can make immediate evaluations [...]

INDIANAPOLIS – Greetings from the crossroads of America where I’ve come to watch Charlie Morton throw a bullpen. OK, OK, I’m really here to watch Gerrit Cole pitch. More on that later.   But first, I wanted to talk some more MLB draft. I caught up with former Cleveland and Texas GM John Hart, a [...]

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – Neal Huntington entered the year, the offseason, viewed as an embattled GM.   The Pirates had posted five losing seasons under his watch, and while he inherited a mess in 2008, patience is at a minimum in the Steel City after two decades of losing.   But I think you [...]

PNC PARK  -  ”When people are greedy be fearful. When people are fearful be greedy,” – Warren Buffet.   In case you missed it, our own Rob Biertempfel caught up with superagent Scott Boras yesterday and broke the news that Boras is “open” to talking extension with Pirates about Pedro Alvarez.   Alvarez is an [...]