Pittsburgh Pirates Weekly Link Dump

It has been quite a successful week for the Pirates, winners of five of their last seven. The Pirates completed series victories of the Rays and Mets and should see similar success this week with series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies, two of the worst teams in the National League.

Edinson Volquez looked sharp yesterday, pitching six scoreless innings. He was helped out by Pedro Alvarez’s much needed home runs writes Rob Biertempfl.

Jameson Taillon is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, he is not alone, many high school and college pitchers picked in this years MLB entry draft have had the procedure done writes Travis Sawchik.

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times gave a nice write up of the Pirates development of Gregory Polanco.

In that same light, Sawchik also writes about Polanco’s miraculous first PNC Park home run.

Josh Harrison has been quite the story hasn’t he? Ron Cook likes the idea of getting Harrison more starts but does not think decreasing Pedro Alvarez’s at bats is the way to do it.

Dejan Kovacevic of the Tribune Review wrote in his blog about the real Jason Grilli, one the fans did not necessarily know about, but ought to know about.