Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (3-1) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (2-2) in game 2 of this weekend 3-game series. Francisco Liriano (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season against Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.69 ERA in 2013). Hurdle, Huntington receive contract extensions It was announced today that GM Neal Huntington and Manager Clint Hurdle were given contract extensions for three years, with club options for the 2018 season. "It's a really good decision," ... Read More
Archives for April 2014
Pittsburgh Power Embarrass San Antonio Talons On The Road 70-17
It was a game that was over almost as quickly as it started as the Pittsburgh Power (2-1) demolished the San Antonio Talons (0-4) by a score of 70-17. Pittsburgh had a chance to set the record for biggest road win but chose to kneel the ball to end the game. The Power defense was relentless the entire game forcing four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a turnover on downs, and a net recovery touchdown on special teams. Virgil Gray, Brandon Freeman, Arvell Nelson and Sergio Gilliam each ... Read More
Cole Continues Dominance Over Cardinals in 12-2 Win
Gerrit Cole picked up where he left off against the Cardinals last postseason as he only allowed two runs -- a Matt Carpenter 2-run homer -- in seven strong as the Pirates defeated the Cardinals 12-2. Pedro Alvarez gave his starting pitcher a cushion when he hit solo-shots in his first two at bats. An opposite field shot into the IC Light Seats in the second and a mammoth shot that cleared the right-center field seats and hit off the top of a shaved ice concession stand in the fourth. Travis ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/4: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Cole, Cardinals Rivalry
Good afternoon from a rainy PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (2-1) will begin a 3-game series with the defending NL Champion, St. Louis Cardinals (2-1) in a rematch from last year's NLDS. Gerrit Cole (10-7, 3.22 ERA in 2013) will take the hill for the Bucs and will oppose Shelby Miller (15-9, 3.06 ERA in 2013). Hurdle's Quotes On the competitiveness of the Pirates and Cardinals when they face each other -- "Last year, we were 12 and 12 at the end and they won the biggest one which was the ... Read More
Should injuries be blamed for the Penguins recent struggles?
There have been 471 man games lost, 390 due to injury. The Pittsburgh Penguins have surely had one of the toughest seasons to date when it comes to players being out of the lineup. And while many fans may excuse this team of any disappointment to this, the organization cannot. I know what you are thinking, "how can I talk about the disappointment of the Penguins when they clinched the Metropolitan Division, and they are second in the Eastern Conference with 103 points?" I say ... Read More
Does Travis Snider have a future with the Pirates?
When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded RP Brad Lincoln to the Toronto Blue Jays at the 2012 MLB trade deadline, the deal was not popular with Pirates fans. At the time, the Pirates were sitting pretty at 58-44, just three games back of first place in the National league Central Division. The biggest strength for the team that summer was the surprising bullpen, which had kept an offensively-challenged Pirates team in the division race all season. One piece of the pre-“Shark Tank” bullpen that ... Read More
Pittsburgh Power Face First Road Test Of 2014 Season In San Antonio
The Pittsburgh Power (1-1) hit the road for their first away game of the season when they take on the winless San Antonio Talons (0-3). Pittsburgh is coming off a 48-47 win over a tough San Jose SaberCats squad, while San Antonio was gutted 63-22 in Jacksonville. San Antonio’s offense has struggled mightily, averaging only 35 points per game. The team cut Mitch Mustain this week and will look to go in a different direction with either Marcus Jackson or Shane Boyd as the starter this week. ... Read More
Martin returns with a goal; helps Pens clinch Metropolitan Division
Despite missing a month and a half due to a broken hand, Paul Martin played like he never left. Martin scored the game-winning goal mid way through the third period to help the Penguins win the first Metropolitan Division title. Sidney Crosby setup Beau Bennett for his third goal of the season to get Pittsburgh out to a 1-0 lead. Crosby gathered a pass from Jussi Jokinen, found a passing lane and fed the puck to Bennett who blasted it into the wide open cage to the right of goaltender ... Read More
Pirates Comeback Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Cubs
Wandy Rodriguez needed a few innings to get back into form after being sidelined with an injury last year, but the offense wasn't able to bail him out as the Pirates dropped the final game of the opening series to the Chicago Cubs 3-2. The Cubs scored a run in the first three innings off of Wandy as he readjusted to pitching on the big league stage. His last start was June 5th in Atlanta when he was pulled from the game with an arm injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Emilio ... Read More
Steelers sign Heyward-Bey to one-year deal
The Steelers signed their seventh free agent on Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year deal with five-year veteran WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. The speedy receiver played for the Indianapolis Colts last season, starting 11 games and catching 29 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown. Heyward-Bey was chosen by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. It was a very controversial draft pick for Oakland, who were intrigued by the 4.23 40-yard dash the Maryland product ran at ... Read More