First Pitch

First Pitch: 13 Boom or Bust Players Who Could Make a Difference in 2013

First PitchDecember 31, 2012

The 2013 roster is starting to take shape. There are still a few off-season questions that remain unanswered. Will the Pirates trade Garrett Jones?...

First Pitch: Will a Garrett Jones/Gaby Sanchez Platoon Work?

First PitchDecember 29, 2012

For the third year in a row, the Pittsburgh Pirates are projected to enter the season with a platoon at one of their positions....

First Pitch: The Pirates Payroll and a Realistic View on Salary Dumps

First PitchDecember 28, 2012

When the Pirates make a move that cuts salary -- such as what happened in the Joel Hanrahan trade -- you hear the usual...

First Pitch: What is the Next Move For the Pirates?

First PitchDecember 27, 2012

After Jason Grilli was signed, we waited for the other shoe to drop with a Joel Hanrahan trade. Now that the Hanrahan trade is...

First Pitch: Mark Melancon and Remembering When Joel Hanrahan Was a Throw In

First PitchDecember 24, 2012

There seems to be some debate over whether relief pitcher Mark Melancon is involved in the pending Joel Hanrahan trade. A few outlets are...

First Pitch: An Incomplete Observation on an Incomplete Trade

First PitchDecember 23, 2012

For some reason, the Pirates can't make a move involving a relief pitcher without the deal dragging on unnecessarily for days. We first heard...

First Pitch: Thoughts on Liriano, Hanrahan, the Rotation, and the Payroll

First PitchDecember 22, 2012

Some quick hits tonight in the aftermath of the Francisco Liriano deal. I was on the road most of the day today, and had...

First Pitch: Want to Write For Pirates Prospects?

First PitchDecember 18, 2012

Now that the 2013 Prospect Guide is complete, I'm starting my focus on the site content in 2013. For information on the book, see...

First Pitch: The Minor Leagues Exist For a Reason

First PitchDecember 12, 2012

The Pirates are often criticized for having a slow approach at promoting prospects through the levels. That's not accurate criticism. There are plenty of...