Pittsburgh Pirates New Manager Rumors

Frustration mounts with 1-7 Jackson

PITTSBURGH -- Before the Chicago Cubs lost 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon, manager Dale Sveum sounded like a man getting frustrated with some of his lineup issues. After the loss he seemed to direct some of that frustration to the team's $52 million offseason signing, Edwin Jackson. He had little command on the mound, giving up four runs to the Pirates in the first two innings while Pittsburgh completed a series sweep. "(He) seems to be not coming out with a whole lot of conviction early in games," Sveum said. Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN Chicago

Cubs can't dig out of early hole in Pittsburgh

Jackson allows four runs in first two innings as Pirates complete sweep with 4-2 victoryPITTSBURGH — Manager Dale Sveum had one word Thursday morning for the statistical oddity of the Cubs' start.     Cubs Blog | Chicago Breaking Sports

Lineup changes coming against lefties?

PITTSBURGH -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum has seen enough -- at least when a left-hander is opposing his team. He might be ready to make some changes after back-to-back losses against southpaws dropping the Cubs record against left-handers to 4-10 this season. "I'll tell you the truth, I'm thinking about it now," Sveum said Thursday morning before the series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates. "Just to see what happens. It's kind of gotten to the point. Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN Chicago

Cubs’ lineup filled with place holders while kids develop

PITTSBURGH — Cubs manager Dale Sveum calls it “mind-boggling” and “strange.” “Just certain things you can’t explain,” Sveum said of his team’s persistent inability to turn excellent pitching into victories. Peppered with questions about so-called clutch hitting, lineup shuffling and rethinking his platoons, Sveum engaged the media brainstorming efforts before the Cubs’ rain-interrupted, 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. “Your patience does run thin because you’re not doing anything [that’s getting results... Chicago Sun-Times

Sveum sticks with same lineup vs. lefty

PITTSBURGH -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum will stick with the same lineup Wednesday against another Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander. Coming off a 5-4 loss to the Pirates and left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, the Cubs will face southpaw Francisco Liriano on Wednesday night. That means Julio Borbon gets the nod in centerfield over Ryan Sweeney and David DeJesus while Scott Hairston starts in right for Nate Schierholtz. Borbon was 0 for 4 with a walk on Tuesday and is 1 for 7 against left-handed pitching this season while Sweeney is 3 for 8. Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN Chicago

Cubs' kryptonite: Left-handed starters

PITTSBURGH -- Since before spring training, Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum has talked about the organization needing more left-handed hitting. They’ve acquired it to some extent. But the problem with that notion is what to do when a left-handed starter is on the mound for the opposition. Could the Cubs be too left-handed? They went down to defeat yet again against a southpaw on Wednesday -- just as they did on Tuesday -- this time it was Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano who shut them down in a 1-0 final. Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN Chicago

Garza's back -- but for how long?

PITTSBURGH – Let the debate begin. Trade him. No, sign him. If Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza continues to pitch as he did on Tuesday night in his first outing in 10 months, then the Cubs will have a good, but tough decision on their hands. Garza was lights out for five innings in the Cubs' 5-4 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates. “Garza was really, really good,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said after his one-hit, shutout performance. Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN Chicago

Astros show signs of being competitive despite losing record

PITTSBURGH – Before his club’s fifth shutout in 44 games and a tight 1-0 loss to the Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park, Astros manager Bo Porter showed extra interest in a reporter’s question. While the Astros’ upside-down record didn’t show any on-the-field improvement, the club had continued to play with passion for its first-year leader. In addition, the team had moved from early-season blowouts with starting pitchers who couldn’t make it through one inning to close, winnable games they were nearly turning into victories. Asked for his personal number of near-wins during the last 15 to 20 games... Houston Chronicle

Matt Garza back for Tuesday start

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs will activate pitcher Matt Garza off the disabled list on Tuesday to start that night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Dale Sveum said before Saturday's game. "I'm excited and happy I don't have to rehab again," Garza said. "This actually means something, so I can't wait. It's been 10 months in the making, I'm excited to get back out there." An elbow injury sidelined Garza last July, and while rehabbing this spring, he suffered a lat strain and has been on the disabled list since the start of the season. Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN Chicago

First pitch: Astros play first interleague series of season against Pirates

PITTSBURGH — The Astros return to the National League for a three-game interleague series against the Pirates. Astros righthander Jordan Lyles (1-1, 8.36 ERA) faces Pittsburgh righty Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.28) in a 6:05 p.m CT contest at PNC Park. The Astros (11-30) were off Thursday. The club is 1-6 in its last seven contests and 16 games behind the first-place Rangers in the American League West division. The Pirates (24-17) defeated Milwaukee 7-1 Thursday and have won 6 of 7. Astros manager Bo Porter said he’s starting Chris Carter in right field and J.D. Martinez in left because of the stad... Houston Chronicle