Anthony DiFilippo

Sam Howard Finds Himself in a Competition for Innings

Whether or not you believe the Pirates’ options are good is a different story, but there are definitely options. The first month or two will be crucial for Sam Howard, and how it plays out will be largely up to him.

The Trade Piece That Isn’t Getting Enough Attention

July 30th (so used to saying the 31st) is right around the corner, and that means that trade talks are going to ramp up drastically. We’ve already seen Adam Frazier shipped off to the Padres, and Tyler Anderson and Richard Rodriguez are likely on the way out. Maybe sprinkle in Chad Kuhl if you’d like.Continue reading “The Trade Piece That Isn’t Getting Enough Attention”

A Look at Clay Holmes and His Dominant Month of May

April showers bring May flowers? Although that saying may be extremely cliché, it perfectly describes Clay Holmes’ 2021 season thus far. As it stood on May 1st, Holmes had a 5.02 ERA and was being talked about as a real weak link for an otherwise strong Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen. But the turn of the calendarContinue reading “A Look at Clay Holmes and His Dominant Month of May”

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Michael Feliz?

The last two articles I’ve written have been about a pair of pickups that the Pirates gave up virtually nothing for. Today’s going to be a little bit different, as I’ll be previewing a pitcher that the Pirates had to give up a player currently under a $36 million-a-year contract to get. Michael Feliz isContinue reading “What Does 2021 Have in Store for Michael Feliz?”

From a Waiver Pickup to a Reliable Reliever

Before the 2020 season started in July, I had a conversation in a Rum Bunter recap about one of the Pirates’ exhibition games against Cleveland. The comment I specifically took note of was one about how Chris Stratton, a reliever in Pittsburgh’s bullpen, had been bad in 2019.

Closer or Trade Piece? 2021 Might Have it All For Richard Rodriguez

The Pirates’ 2021 bullpen is likely to include a lot of moving parts, with competition for almost every spot taking place this spring. There are a few spots already filled up, and one of them is occupied by Richard Rodriguez, the presumptive closer. But is his place on the roster really set in stone, andContinue reading “Closer or Trade Piece? 2021 Might Have it All For Richard Rodriguez”

The Bullpen Piece Some May Have Forgotten About

The bullpen for the Pirates has been a series of moving parts over the last two seasons, and that trend will likely continue in 2021. But there was a time three years ago where the ‘pen was very dominant, featuring Felipe Vasquez, Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez, and eventually Keone Kela at the trade deadline. ThereContinue reading “The Bullpen Piece Some May Have Forgotten About”

Which Pirates Are on Trade Watch Heading into Spring Training?

This offseason, Pirates General Manager, Ben Cherington, has been busy unloading some of the Pirates’ best players for a total of 11 prospects. While this came to no surprise, as Cherington said “This probably won’t be the last of them” after the Josh Bell trade in December, it finally showed to the fanbase what directionContinue reading “Which Pirates Are on Trade Watch Heading into Spring Training?”

2020 Season in Review: Best Hitter and Pitcher in Pittsburgh

At the end of the 2020 season, the Baseball Writers Association of America voted for a few awards when it came to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The awards were the Clemente Award, which signifies the Pirates MVP for the whole season, as well as the Steve Blass Award, which is awarded to the best Pirates pitcherContinue reading “2020 Season in Review: Best Hitter and Pitcher in Pittsburgh”

How Does the Current Pittsburgh Pirates Bullpen Fit Into Future Plans?

On October 30th of last year, interim General Manager Kevan Graves, who had the job temporarily after Neal Huntington was fired, made an intriguing acquisition. The pickup was a waiver claim by the name of Sam Howard. He was a southpaw that had struggled in the majors and Triple-A the past few years. Little didContinue reading “How Does the Current Pittsburgh Pirates Bullpen Fit Into Future Plans?”