Pedro Alvarez got news yesterday that he will finish the season in AA.  Trying his best to change the mind of the Pirate brass, Alvarez promptly went 3-for-4 and scored a run.   Alvarez was hitting in the three hole last night and he is on a .353 tear in his past ten games with 3doubles, a homer, 7RBI and 5BB.  Alvarez has a combined stat line from A and AA as follows: 259 average, 23 doubles, 20HR, 75RBI, an 839 OPS with 47 walks and 102 strikeouts.   
Unfortunately, Gorkys Hernandez continued his slump, now 0-for-18 in his past five games.
Phil Dumatrait was [...]

The Pittsburgh Pirates were called laughingstocks by former pitcher Sean Burnett yesterday. It’s ok if you haven’t heard of Burnett.  The Pirates simply went out and displayed dazzling defense, pounded the ball all over PNC Park and 23,000+ Pirate faithful got the last laugh as the Pirates won 5-4.
Lastings Milledge was 2-4 with 2RBI in his Pirates debut.
Nyjer Morgan popped out with two men on in the ninth inning and failed to get a hit in the game.
Sean Burnett watched the game. As usual. Sean, we were thinking today and realize you haven’t been a Natinal long, so [...]

The Pittsburgh Pirate jokes are flying. I saw a funny video about the Red Sox on Yardbarker. I thought heh, I wonder if Ryan Parker did anything about the Bucs. All the fun ended. Well, kinda. I enjoyed Ryan Parkers take on the Red Sox, but it hit home when he did one on the Pirates that I missed….oh well, it is a catchy tune and many of our readers aren’t in favor with the moves, so lets have some fun… he has a ton of these videos on his site, check them out, it’s [...]

John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny traded to Cubs.  Those two names have a lot of ‘what if’s’ attached to them.  Grabow has bone chips in his elbow.  Gorzo, well, he was out of shape and we have no slack for players not professional enough to keep in shape.
Personally, I really liked Grabow.  He was great when we went to the Allegheny Conference/Meet the Pirates lunch.  He loves Pittsburgh.  Bought a house.  Met his wife here.  All around nice guy. 
Grabow will be missed, but again another player with question marks after this season.
Gorzelanny comes down to this for me…I just am not buying [...]

Washington Nationals left hander Sean Burnett has drawn the line in the sand.  Burnett and OF Nyjer Morgan were traded for Joel Hanrahan and Lasting Milledge earlier this season.  Burnett wasn’t bashful with his recent comments in the PG including, ”the Pirates are the laughingstock of baseball” and ”We want to make them look stupid for making that trade.”
I am curious to see if Burnett will be wearing a half shirt before the game at PNC Park tonight taunting his former Pirate teammates like double nickels Joey Porter used to do before kickoff?
Uh, Sean…we are simply glad that you have found recent [...]

Jose Tabata is tearing up AA baseball.  Just a few months ago, not many thought that would be possible.  In Tabata’s last ten games, he is hitting .400 with 16 hits, 7 runs, 5 doubles, a triple and 4 RBI.  It’s time for a promotion.
We wrote yesterday that the Pirates are in hell.  Well, sure in the game of baseball, yes they are. The losing will continue until your morale improves at the major league level, or something like that…
But Tabata lived through hell off the field earlier this season.
No need to relive the details here, you know what they are.  [...]

It’s official Pirate fans.  The Pirate players that performed so poorly that they have given the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise the title of the worst franchise in professional sports are gone.  History.  The ex-Pirates are off to fresh starts and new beginnings.  Back here in Pittsburgh, we are officially in hell. 
Thanks guys.  Thank you for finally leaving Pittsburgh. Take your excuses, grudges, lies about wanting to retire a Pirate, take your shattered feelings, bad attitudes, take it all and be gone.
Some of you gave up on us. Gave up on the Pirates.
We never gave up on you. We are Pirate fans. We [...]

Freddy Sanchez traded to the Giants today. Operation shock and awe or the Pirates ‘plan’ as GM Neil Huntington has named it  is officially in full swing. Lord thank you for answering my prayers today.
Check out this Pirate 6′6″ right hander Tim Alderson strike out Engel Beltre swinging; Matthew Lawson swinging; and Mitchell Moreland, you guessed it, strikes out swinging.  Look close at that strange left leg kick at the end of his motion…    [if you like reading Rumbunter, get it in your email here]
*Enter
 
  Tim Alderson minor league stats page.  Alderson’s fastball is in the low 90’s and he has an excellent [...]

Jack Wilson traded finally!  Ian Snell also traded!  The Bucs traded Wilson and Snell to the Mariners for first baseman Jeff Clement, shortstop Ronny Cedeno and right-handed pitchers Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock .

Lastings Milledge continues to impress the Pirates.  Do you want to see Milledge on stage with Jo Dee Messina at PNC Park this Saturday?  Most of the Pirates fans would settle for just seeing him on the field playing. Not singing.  But if both were to happen PNC Park would be sold out.
Milledge has done everything the Pirates have asked and not asked him to do.  Could he be the delicious surprise the Pirates have been waiting for all  season?  
Messina will be performing in a post game concert Saturday night.  Milledge knows a little bit about the music business.  Why [...]