We are back from the break, settled is the Home Run Derby and enough of the season has played out, so we know who is who this year. Now the winners are buyers, the losers are sellers and it’s the front office’s time to shine. Let’s check in with the NL Central, who is being […] Trade Deadline: Pirates, Cardinals, and Cubs for sale: Brewers, Reds wish list - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

In April, I wrote about MLB teams that were surprising or disappointing after the first 20 or so games. As the All-Star break comes to an end, I decided to revisit this list to see which teams still hold up to their moniker or which have either gotten better (or worse) since the beginning of […] What we got right and wrong about 3 surprising and disappointing MLB teams - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

This must have been a challenging first half of the season for Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. His team opened play with low expectations and immediately burst into first place in the NL Central. Then May brought a collapse back to reality, and Pittsburgh hit the 81-game mark at 39-42. That probably beats preseason […] Grading Ben Cherington and the Pittsburgh Pirates front office at the season’s midway point - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

June is getting hot, and the MLB is heading into the dog days of summer. This is the time of year when baseball gets intricate. Teams have established themselves and shown who is who. Heading to the All-Star break, they start to make adjustments, buyers and sellers become evident, and the top teams will get […] Reds, Pirates, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs: The good, bad, and injured - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

The last seven days have offered a little bit of everything. Several teams continue to play very well in June, some big make players continue to slump and a new surprise team has taken over the lead in the National League Central. In the latest edition of Stock Up, Stock Down, let’s take a look […] Stock Up, Stock Down: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, more - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

The NL Central is home to two of the hottest teams in baseball right now, and with just 5 games seperating first and fourth place, it seemingly can be won by anyone. The Cincinnati Reds are on a scorching hot run, 17-6 since May 26, and have climbed into the driver’s seat of the NL […] News and notes from the NL Central: Reds, Cubs, Cardinals, and the debut of Henry Davis - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

On June 9, 43-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rich Hill got his sixth win of the season over the New York Mets. Hill pitched seven innings in the Pirates 14-7 win, throwing 119 pitches. The 19-year left-handed veteran upped his season record to 6-5 with not only his longest outing of the 2023 season, but his […] Is Pirates hurler Rich Hill destined to join a select group of MLB pitchers? - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

The Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in the thick of a division race as we approach summer, with a 32-29 record. The team has surprised many around baseball, who figured the team was again set for a rebuilding season. Instead, a different approach to their at-bats have made for an entertaining summer. Led by Jack Suwinski, […] Pittsburgh Pirates: Walking their way to offensive success in 2023 - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

Cue the jinx chants. Pittsburgh Pirates fans, feel free to look away. Pittsburgh has surprised many this season, currently 31-27 (as of June 5), a measly half-game behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Bryan Reynolds and the lineup get most of the credit, but a key component of the team’s success is their bullpen. Dauri […] Pittsburgh Pirates: Dauri Moreta has taken a huge step forward - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for shortstop Alika Williams, the team’s first-round pick in 2020. Stephenson had struggled in his limited time with Pittsburgh, with a 5.14 ERA in 14.0 innings. Meanwhile, Williams had bashed 11 doubles with a .731 OPS in Double-A. Williams was a contact-oriented […] Tampa Bay Rays: Robert Stephenson another underrated pickup? - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more ..read more