3-27-25 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The Pittsburgh Pirates open the 2025 season in Miami for a second consecutive year, looking to start strong and find consistency after two false-starts in 2023 and 2024. Neither of these teams have been lighting it up offensively, ranking 24th (Pirates, 665) and 27th (Marlins, 637) in runs scored lastContinue reading “2025 Opening Series Preview: Pirates (0-0) at Marlins (0-0)”
Category Archives: Opinion & Analysis
Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day 2025
The Pirates’ 2025 season raises uncertainty with a roster of question marks. Predictions vary, yet the urgency for improvement is clear as expectations linger.
Did This Pirates Opening Day Roster Improve on 2024’s?
The discussion compares the 2024 and projected 2025 Opening Day Rosters, highlighting slight upgrades and downgrades, ultimately revealing minimal overall improvement for the team.
2025 NL Central Futures, Predictions & Superlatives
3-25-25 – By Corey Shrader – @CoreyShrader on X; Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X As the season gets ready to ramp up, we peer once more into our crystal ball to make some predictions for the division. We had some hits and some misses when we tried this last year but we are 100% confident that we will DEFINITELY getContinue reading “2025 NL Central Futures, Predictions & Superlatives”
Gary’s Five Pirates Thoughts – The Team is Set
The Pirates finalize roster decisions before the season, highlighting Endy Rodriguez at first base, Ryan Borucki’s impressive return, and Thomas Harrington’s exclusion from the rotation.
Hit Your Best Bat Leadoff
3-21-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X With the season starting in less than a week, let’s get REALLY radical with my last pre-season article topic: Lineup Construction. Hold on, I know what you’re thinking. “Shelton tinkers with the lineup too much. He never stays consistent with a batting order. Yadda, yadda, yadda.” I can’tContinue reading “Hit Your Best Bat Leadoff”
Pirates Pitching Depth Already Being Tested
Derek Shelton announced that Jared Jones will not pitch this Spring due to health concerns. This impacts the Pirates’ pitching depth and raises questions about their offseason strategies.
Bucs Prospect Watch: Jhonny Severino & Duce Gourson
Jhonny Severino and Duce Gourson are promising Bucs prospects for 2025, with Severino showcasing impressive power despite challenges in A ball, and Gourson displaying strong plate discipline early on.
Gary’s Five Pirates Thoughts – Can the Pirates get lucky?
On St. Patty’s Day, the author discusses the Pirates’ need for luck, offensive surprises, and the potential of young players as they approach the 2025 season.
What if Some of These Bad Hitters, Um, Aren’t Bad?
The article discusses the challenges of onboarding baseball prospects, emphasizing patience and understanding that players may develop at different rates before achieving success in the MLB.
Steel City Pirates 