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First Pitch: Should Travis Snider Be Starting Against Left-Handers?

First Pitch: Should Travis Snider Be Starting Against Left-Handers?

It’s a question I get often: Why isn’t Travis Snider starting against left-handers? Sometimes it’s straight up. Sometimes it’s wondering if he’s really done enough to establish a trend in… Read more »

First Pitch: Could the Pirates be 31-23 at the End of May?

First Pitch: Could the Pirates be 31-23 at the End of May?

We heard at the start of the season how the Pittsburgh Pirates had one of the toughest early season schedules in the game. Despite that schedule, the Pirates are 17-14,… Read more »

First Pitch: There’s No Reason to Keep Andrew Lambo in Altoona

First Pitch: There’s No Reason to Keep Andrew Lambo in Altoona

At the start of the 2013 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a lot of options in the outfield. They had to make some difficult cuts at the end of Spring… Read more »

First Pitch: The Common, Yet Wrong Way to Manage a Bullpen

First Pitch: The Common, Yet Wrong Way to Manage a Bullpen

After today’s game, Clint Hurdle announced that he would only be using Jason Grilli and Mark Melancon when the team is ahead. Hurdle didn’t use either reliever in the ninth… Read more »

First Pitch: The Road to Contending Goes Through Milwaukee

First Pitch: The Road to Contending Goes Through Milwaukee

For the past two years I’ve had the same thought about the Milwaukee Brewers and what they say about the Pirates’ chances. The thought is always “if the Pirates can… Read more »

First Pitch: Hanrahan a Recent Example of Why You Sell High on Relievers

First Pitch: Hanrahan a Recent Example of Why You Sell High on Relievers

Back when the Joel Hanrahan trade happened, there were a lot of complaints that the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t get enough in return and should have held on to Hanrahan until… Read more »

First Pitch: A Look at the Short-Term and Long-Term Pitching Moves

First Pitch: A Look at the Short-Term and Long-Term Pitching Moves

I was asked this morning on Twitter how the pitching staff would look on July 1st. The recent starts by Jeff Locke, the eventual returns of Francisco Liriano and Charlie… Read more »

First Pitch: What to do About Jonathan Sanchez in the Short-Term?

First Pitch: What to do About Jonathan Sanchez in the Short-Term?

Francisco Liriano had a great start on Thursday. He threw five innings for Indianapolis, allowing one run on four hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts. Jonathan Sanchez didn’t have… Read more »

First Pitch: The Pirates Prospects Podcast

First Pitch: The Pirates Prospects Podcast

For the last few years I’ve debated whether to add a podcast to the site. There are already some good podcasts out there at Bucs Dugout and Rumbunter, and I… Read more »

First Pitch: Thinking Back to Dylan Bundy

First Pitch: Thinking Back to Dylan Bundy

I happened to be thinking about Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy this afternoon at McKechnie Field. I was watching Nick Kingham long tossing from about 300 feet, throwing from… Read more »