John Van Benschoten News

I always used to say that there was one play that summed up the last 17 years of Pittsburgh baseball better than any other.

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

Joe Starkey can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7810. "The reason the Pirates exist is to win baseball games." -Bob Nutting, Jan.

The Pirates have sent Brian Bixler back to the minors and signed Jorge Julio to a minor league contract.

With the clinching of the Pirates' record 17th losing season on the horizon, perhaps it is worthy of reflection to look back on the best and worst of the many players who have participated, for better or worse.

Let's go positive on the Pirates today, which is a bit unusual after a loss last night to the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-0, that sank them a little lower in the National League Central standings and put them a day closer to a 17th consecutive losing season.

Around 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates also had the Major League's most offensively productive outfield in Willie Stargell, Mattie Alou, and Roberto Clemente as they did early in 2008... Pittsburgh Pirates' Predisposition for Pitchers: Draft and Trade Choices by Tom Au 8 reads History Around 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates also had the Major League's ...

The turnover has been staggering. The makeup of the clubhouse then and now, much different.

The list of Pirates' first-round draft picks who have had arm surgery and not lived up to their promise over the past decade is lengthy.