Sports in Perspective
The minor league follow-up to “Key Questions for 25 Players” on the MLB club. Players ranked in order of importance to the franchise. 1. Gerrit Cole, SP (High-A) Jameson Taillon may have nearly as high a ceiling, but considering the Pirates took Cole with the #1 overall pick in 2011, he needs to dominate and [...]
Follow me on Twitter @jim_krug A big part of being a professional sports writer is consistently churning out quality articles for your readers. Admittedly, I wouldn’t consider myself “professional” because of the consistency aspect. I apologize for the big gaps between Pirates’ pieces, but I hope you’ll stick with me, because when I do get [...]
Follow me on Twitter @jim_krug All positives garnered from a surprising opening series victory over the cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies was quickly forgotten after a Western massacre that would make even General George Custer sympathetic. Over the Pirates’ current 5-game losing streak at the hands of the Dodgers and Giants, the Buccos amassed only: 7 [...]
One key question for the 25 players (+ DL) the Pittsburgh Pirates took north from Spring Training, in order of most relevant to least… 1. 3B Pedro Alvarez- Will this be his breakout year, or is he written off as the middle-of-the-order impact bat the Pirates desperately need to find elsewhere? Alvarez’s 2010 rookie debut showed Pirates’ [...]
Even though the cross-state rival Phillies were without star players 1B Ryan Howard and 2B Chase Utley, the Pirates’ found themselves staring down the double-barrel combo of SP Roy Halladay and SP Cliff Lee to kick off their 2012 campaign, not to mention a steadily-improving Vance Worley in game 3. All told, the Pirates stood [...]
Follow me on Twitter @jim_krug If there was absolutely one move the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ownership had to make to give their fans some hope this seemingly endless rebuilding isn’t all for naught, this was it. After an offseason of stalling and blackballing, the Pirates surprised everyone, christening Spring Training by locking up All-Star CF Andrew [...]
Andrew McCutchen is the unquestioned star of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who else needs to step up in 2012 so the Pirates can surprise some people?
For long-suffering Pirates’ fans like myself, arguably the biggest frustration isn’t the perennial losing itself, but rather the feeling that the Pirates aren’t being open and honest with us about many aspects of it. While former GM Dave Littlefield was rightfully criticized for his “5-year plan”, he at least created personal accountability for himself: When [...]
Before you read, go to Twitter right now, and follow @mercerboy Don’t ask why. Just do it. Right now. Any time someone drops a sports methaphor like the following, you take notice: I’m not one of those guys that despises [Pirates' owner Bob Nutting] and wants to rip him, but that interview was kind of stupid. He [...]
Follow me on Twitter @jim_krug As I alluded to in my most recent article, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been so terrible for so long that even when they want to bring in free agents that could potentially help reverse the team’s plight, the players don’t want to come here. It’s a Catch-22 of baseball boobery. [...]