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.

Stuck in the Middle With You

3-24-25 – By Jud Verno – @JV_PITT on X Opening day is in sight. It’s close enough to smell the peanuts and hear someone shout one of my favorite sentences: “Cold beer here”.  Soon, we’ll be putting on some sunscreen and dusting off our baseball gloves to take to the ballpark. We’ll be refreshing X dailyContinue reading “Stuck in the Middle With You”

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.

Run It Back, Jack!

3–14-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X There were a number of offensive pieces in the Pirates system who underperformed expectations in 2024 but one who fell off perhaps harder and faster than any other was Jack Suwinski. Jack has notably drawn the ire of many fans over the years. His tepid approach both atContinue reading “Run It Back, Jack!”

Gary’s Five Pirates Thoughts – It’s Not So Early Anymore

As Spring Training progresses, player evaluations intensify, roster decisions become crucial, and certain players like DJ Stewart and Tsung-Che Cheng emerge as important candidates.

The Most Interesting Pirates Camp Battles, and Potential Fallout for Each

The article covers the Pirates’ camp battles, focusing on pitchers, catchers, outfielders, and shortstop, highlighting player options, performances, and potential surprises ahead of the season.