Blogs

. Looking ahead to first pitch … Game: Pirates (20-24) vs. Chicago Cubs (15-29) Time: 7:05 p.m. Site: PNC Park TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Here is the live box score. And here is the Pirates’ lineup vs. Chicago RHP Ryan Dempster … Jose Tabata, LF Josh Harrison, RF Andrew McCutchen, CF Pedro Alvarez, [...]

. Brief and to the Point … >> The Friday column examines how West Virginia and Pitt will emerge from their conference shuffle. The answer isn’t the no-brainer many seem to think. >> It’s stunning, still, just to hear conference commissioners and school presidents openly talking about the four-team playoff. In the event of the [...]

. Brief and to the Point … >> Remember Drew Sutton? He’s the infielder the Pirates acquired in a trade Sunday for cash considerations from the Braves, then immediately assigned to Class AAA Indianapolis. Later that evening, around 11, he was told he was going right to the big leagues, that the Pirates had just [...]

. Looking ahead to first pitch … Game: Pirates (20-23) vs. New York Mets (23-20) Time: 12:35 p.m. Site: PNC Park TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Here is the live box score. And here is the Pirates’ lineup vs. New York LHP Jon Niese … Josh Harrison, SS Gorkys Hernandez, LF Andrew McCutchen, CF [...]

. Brief and to the Point … >> The Wednesday column advises Ben Roethlisberger to get over it. >> Snapped the pic over to the right with the Instagram app. Not worth $1 billion, but it’s got to be OK if it makes rank amateurs look good. >> Also spent some time with Jerricho Cotchery, [...]

. Looking ahead to first pitch … Game: Pirates (20-22) vs. New York Mets (22-20) Time: 7:05 p.m. Site: PNC Park TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Here is the live box score. And here is the Pirates’ lineup vs. New York knuckelballer R.A. Dickey … Jose Tabata, LF Josh Harrison, RF Andrew McCutchen, CF [...]

. Brief and to the Point … >> The Steelers begin OTAs this morning on the South Side. I’ll be over there for work on the Wednesday column, actual subject still to be determined. Most veterans are expected to be there, even Troy Polamalu, which is a rarity. Ben Roethlisberger will be there, too, of [...]

. Looking ahead to first pitch … Game: Pirates (19-22) vs. New York Mets (22-19) Time: 7:05 p.m. Site: PNC Park TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Here is the live box score. And here is the Pirates’ lineup vs. New York LHP Johan Santana … Jose Tabata, LF Josh Harrison, RF Andrew McCutchen, CF [...]

. DETROIT — Brief and to the Point … >> The Monday column from Comerica Park wonders what Neal Huntington is waiting for. >> One common topic that’s raised anytime I write about Huntington is that, shortly before the Pirates gave him the three-year extension last summer, I preemptively endorsed that extension in a column. [...]

. DETROIT — Looking ahead to first pitch … Game: Pirates (19-21) vs. Detroit Tigers (19-21) Time: 1:05 p.m. Site: Comerica Park, Detroit TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Here is the live box score. I brought a bat. And here is the Pirates’ lineup vs. Detroit RHP Max Scherzer … Jose Tabata, RF Neil [...]