Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh Pirates Fan Blog

Much-improved Bucs feeling competitive

Shortly after he was hired as the club’s general manager in September 2007, general manager Neal Huntington completed a thorough organizational assessment, after which he came to one concerning conclusion — the team didn’t have nearly enough depth.

Over the next two seasons, the latter of which ended Sunday, Huntington went about addressing — albeit often in a publicly unpopular manner — that lack of depth. The roster turnover this year alone has been both jarring and startling, though Huntington has, unquestionably, improved the overall organizational depth.

Regardless, that still leaves Pirates fans stirring, with one lingering question: Does any of this put Pittsburgh closer to winning again?

Click here to read the full article – By Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com

Pittsburgh Pirates Sports Memorabilia
and other Pittsburgh Pirates Gifts and Collectibles

October 5, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Pirates News, Pittsburgh Pirates | Baseball, MLB, Pirates, Pirates Baseball, Pirates News, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates | No Comments Yet

Vazquez cleared to play if knee allows

At his own request, utility infielder Ramon Vazquez had an MRI done on his right knee on Monday in hopes of identifying the source of some recent pain.

The MRI revealed no surgical problems, and Vazquez has been cleared to play to tolerance. General manager Neal Huntington said that Vazquez’s symptoms and level of discomfort will dictate how much he plays as the Pirates finish out the season.

Vazquez said that the knee has been sore and bothering him while he runs for a while now. On Friday, though, it also began aching when he braced himself after hitting a foul ball during one of his four plate appearances. That was what most concerned Vazquez.

Click here to read the full article – By Jenifer Langosch of MLB,com

Pittsburgh Pirates Sports Memorabilia
and other Pittsburgh Pirates Gifts and Collectibles

September 22, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Pirates News, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ramon Vazquez | Baseball, MLB, Pirates, Pirates Baseball, pirates baseball news, Pirates News, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ramon Vazquez | No Comments Yet

Agent: Doumit not benched for sulking

Matt Sosnick, an agent for Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, said that his client was not benched last week for “dogging it” or sulking the over team’s multiple trades of veteran players for prospects.

Doumit was pulled in the fifth inning of the Pirates’ 8-6 loss Friday against the Brewers, and he was held out of the lineup in the team’s 7-3 loss on Saturday. While neither Doumit nor manager John Russell would publicly discuss the matter other than for Russell to say, “That’s between Ryan and myself,” general manager Neal Huntington confirmed that Doumit was benched for a “disciplinary issue.”

Click here to read the full article – By Ed Eagle of MLB.com

Pittsburgh Pirates Sports Memorabilia
and other Pittsburgh Pirates Gifts and Collectibles

September 2, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Pirates News, Pittsburgh Pirates | Baseball, MLB, Pirates, Pirates Baseball, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ryan Doumit | No Comments Yet