Joel Hanrahan News

This would indeed confirm Roger Mooney's earlier report which stated the Rays were working on a deal with a National League team.

But it did raise the question of whether Capps will keep the closer's job ? or even remain with the Pirates ? in 2010.

Two scenes told the tale of a No. 1 that avoided a No. 100... In the heart of the Pirates' clubhouse, minutes after downing the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1, last night at Great American Ball Park, several of rookie Daniel McCutchen's teammates doused him with beverages to commemorate his richly deserved first victory: He pitched 6 1/3 solid innings, with ...

I wasn't totally sure why Bautista came in to start the inning instead of Jackson , but after Jackson came in later and walked in two batters, well, I guess it didn't matter much... can we have Joel Hanrahan back? Please? Anyway, the Bucs wasted a brilliant throw by Lastings Milledge and a great diving catch by Andrew McCutchen , not to mention ...

Other than team president Frank Coonelly, who last week chastised the players for failing to perform, no one in the Pirates' management has taken vocal umbrage with this historically bad season.

And to think that the bullpen's dominance had been such an uplifting story just 24 hours earlier.

Pirates pitcher Joel Hanrahan is dealing with an elbow ailment. What if you made your major league debut, and hardly anybody was there to see it? When Eric Hacker ascended the PNC Park mound late Tuesday night for the moment he dreamed about most of his 26 years of life, not to mention his eight minor league years and 102 games, one patron clapped.

Jose Ascanio got a step closer to being put back on Pittsburgh's active roster Tuesday night.

The Pirates rallied from a 6-2 deficit to tie the game against Heath Bell in the ninth, and that inning featured an awesome plate appearance by Steve Pearce , who laid off a number of tough breaking balls to draw a walk and keep the inning going.

Ryan Doumit in right field? It was no big deal to deploy the Pirates' catcher in the outfield, manager John Russell insisted yesterday, even though there had been no indication such a move was coming, even though Doumit had not played there since Aug.

Chuck Finder reports today that Joe Kerrigan is undecided on returning for 2010 .

With the game deadlocked 3-3, Andre Ethier led off the Dodgers' half of the 11th inning against Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Joel Hanrahan intent on sparking a winning rally.

The road can be a lonely place. For the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009, it's been excruciatingly painful.

In a Baseball season defined by changes at almost every level of the organization, perhaps no aspect of the Washington Nationals ' on-field product has changed more than a bullpen that has been made over multiple times over the past six months.

After two seasons of almost 200 losses, I think the Nationals need to sign some free agents to bridge the gap.

There's nothing that takes the air out of the Pittsburgh Pirate balloon quite like a road trip, is there? After an awesome homestand, the Bucs have promptly dropped five straight on the road and they're not even really watchable at this point.

Pirates president Frank Coonelly participated in his monthly live online chat with Pirates fans on Wednesday.

The Associated Press: Reds beat Pirates 4-3 before empty seats There were less than 2,000 people in attendance for the day game today.

It was the kind of situation where a manager likes to have options. It was the seventh inning of a tight 3-2 game against the Phillies on Tuesday night.

Pirates' Andrew McCutchen leaps into his awaiting teammates after scoring the game-winning run against the Phillies at PNC Park tonight.