Buccos Cove

After being forced to make a last second switch on the mound, the Pirates had to be all hands on deck on the mound. The nine pitchers each took their roles and helped the Pirates pull off a 3-3 tie in Monday night action. Monday's spring training game was supposed to be the Grapefruit League debut for Chris Archer when the Pirates took on Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees. However, Archer was dealing with neck stiffness so he was scratched and in his place stepped Chris Stratton. It would be a combination of Stratton and five other pitchers as the Pirates battled to a 3-3 tie. Stratton was efficient in the first inning walking a better and striking out a batter as he kept the Yankees off the board in the first. It was a good debut for the right-hander who is bouncing between the possible fifth starter role and long-relief after being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels last season. Stratton was followed by Geoff Hartleib who threw a scoreless second striking out two...

The Pirates offense jumped on the Tigers early in split squad action but it wasn't enough as they fell 8-4. Many of the regulars played well on offense showing promise for the upcoming week. After dropping their Grapefruit League Opener on Saturday, The Pittsburgh Pirates split it up on Saturday when they took on the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park. Many of the regulars were in the starting lineup and they performed well on the offensive side. After the Tigers scored the first run of the game, JT Riddle drew a leadoff walk and Gregory Polanco followed suit one batter later to put runners at first and third with one out. Will Craig would hit a sacrifice fly tying the game at 1-1. The Tigers would answer with a run in the top of the second and the Pirates offense would go to work again. Socrates Brito started the second inning with a leadoff double and O'Neil Cruz would drive him in with a double of his own off the left field wall that tied the game at 2-2. Charlie Tilso...

Trevor Williams had a slow start in his Grapefruit League Debut giving up four first inning runs against the Phillies on Sunday. The offense did battle back, but didn't have enough to overcome the deficit. Entering the 2020 season, one of the Pittsburgh Pirates's keys to success was a bounce back year from Trevor Williams. Williams made his spring training debut in the Pirates split squad game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday and things didn't start out in his favor. Williams pitched his two innings of work giving up four runs, all in the first inning, on four hits while walking a batter in the Pirates 4-3 loss. He had trouble finding the first out of the game as a Roman Quinn double and a JT Realmuto hit by pitch left runners on first and second with nobody out. After getting the first out, Williams would give up three straight hits, including two doubles, that put the Phillies ahead 4-0.  Heading to the second inning. It was like night a...

Last season, the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation was one of the biggest let downs with an ERA of 5.26. After a season that was full of injury and underperformance, the starting five return in 2020 looking to bounce back and lead the Pirates back towards contention in the competitive National League Central. In a season that was littered with injuries and poor performance, one of the most disappointing position groups was the starting rotation. After being the driving force of getting the Pirates back into contention for the last several seasons, the group faltered turning in a 5.26 team ERA and not living up to the expectations that followed the group entering 2019. However, as we look ahead to 2020, most of the same crew is back and looking to learn from last year's mistakes. They have a new leader in pitching coach Oscar Marin and a new approach using analytics to help improve themselves pitch-by-pitch. For this article, we will look at my predictions for the starti...

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their 2020 spring training schedule when they took on Minnesota on Saturday falling 2-1. Mitch Keller led the way on the mound while the offense struggles to get going. Baseball is officially back as all 32 major League teams have taken the field to open the 2020 Grapefruit and Cactus League Schedules. With the start of a new season comes intrigue and excitement as fans and players alike get ready for the next eight months of action. For the Pirates they got a strong showing on the mound from their future ace as they took on the Minnesota Twins. They fell 2-1 to the defending AL Central Champions, but got a strong showing from Mitch Keller in his Grapefruit League debut. Keller started the game and threw two scoreless innings allowing just two hits and facing one over the minimum. Both hits he allowed came with one out and he was able to work out of the jam each time. Keller didn't walk anyone and only got into one one ball count all aft...

The Pittsburgh Pirates outfield took a hit this off-season with the loss of Sterling Marte putting a spotlight in center field. However, a young Bryan Reynolds and a healthy Gregory Polanco add excitement to the group in 2020. Over the last three seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield has been a carousel of players. It started with the trade of Andrew McCutchen after the 2017 season as the Pirates have seen a different trio out there to start the season ever since. The trend will continue in 2020 as Bryan Reynolds, Jarrod Dyson, and Gregory Polanco are the projected opening day starters. The Pirates lose Sterling Marte's 23 home runs and 82 RBI but return Rookie of the Year Candidate Reynolds and a healthy Polanco. It was a nasty collision between Marte and Erick Gonzalez that brought Reynolds onto the scene and he ran with his opportunity. The Pirates number eight prospect would finish fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting hitting .314 with 16 home runs and 68...

   Entering 2020, the Pittsburgh Pirates Infielders are one of the most intriguing groups on the field. Each is coming into their prime and looking for a breakout season in 2020. One of the most exciting position groups on the field for the Pittsburgh Pirates is their infielders. All four starters have shown flashes of greatness and 2020 is the year for them to put it all together. Whether it be veteran first baseman Josh Bell or second-year player Kevin Newman, each proved they can play everyday and be successful. Leading the group is Josh Bell who had a breakout 2020 season in every major statistical category. In 143 games Bell set new career highs hitting .277 with 37 home runs and 116 RBI. It was a historic start to the season for Bell who in the first two months of the season hit 22 of his 37 home runs while batting .346. However, things went off the deep end for Bell in June when he hit just .208 and was never able to get back to form. Despite the slump, Bell...

With the start of the Grapefruit League Schedule four days away, we take a look at each position group and how they shape up for the 2020 season. Russell Martin, Francisco Cervelli, Elias Diaz. These were the familiar names seen behind the plate for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the past seven years. Entering the 2020 season, these names are replaced by Jacob Stallings, Luke Malie, and John Ryan Murphy each looking to male their mark. Stallings and Maile are the front runners for the starting job with non-roster invitee Murphy looking to make his presence felt. The trio has limited major league experience but all three are known for their defensive ability and pitch farming. Stallings has the fast track to the starting job after stepping up in a big way at the end of the 2019 season. It was a career year for the 30-year old who hit .262 with six home runs and 13 RBI while appearing in a career-high 71 games. Stallings started the year in Triple-A but, due to the bombardm...