Pittsburgh Pirates Social Media Round-Up – 2/7 to 2/13
This week was one of highs and lows for our favorite guys in black and gold. They took to their social media platforms to share bits of their lives – from spending time with their kids to enjoying a few last social outings and working out as they begin the transition back into the cleats and onto the field in Bradenton.
On February 10, the baseball sports world mourned the sudden passing of longtime MLB.com and Pirates beat reporter Tom Singer. He was the game’s biggest fan and a great story-teller, and that was reflected in memorials posted about him by the league, the Pirates organization, and players (and former players) alike…
From Pirates President Frank Coonelly on the passing of Tom Singer. pic.twitter.com/GLSEgrm7WZ
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 10, 2016
A beatwriter for us the past few years.Well respected in our clubhouse. May you rest in peace @Tom_Singer pic.twitter.com/B7g12e1e8V
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) February 10, 2016
I feel lucky to have known Tom Singer. He was a uniquely wonderful man with a gift for story telling. So sad to hear of his passing.
— Jared Hughes (@locatejared) February 11, 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBn9YQkDgPF/?taken-by=sdew0405
Just heard the passing of @Tom_Singer Wow….Prayers to the Singer family. You will be missed! #BUCN #pumas #cutoffs
— Jordy Mercer (@jordy_mercer) February 11, 2016
Tom Singer was a wonderful man who loved writing for https://t.co/ycyGkrRsFH & looked at the game's nuances. A very enjoyable read. RIP Tom
— Greg Brown (@gbrowniepoints) February 11, 2016
Saddened to hear of the passing of MLB's Tom Singer. Great representation of what covering Baseball should be. Prayers go out to his family.
— Neil Walker (@NeilWalker18) February 10, 2016
If you didn’t know much about Tom, or want to learn more, read this post from Dinn Mann from MLB.com.
Even though the “official” start to Spring Training is still a few weeks out, players spend a lot of time during the off-season keeping their bodies in top form.
Sean Rodriguez mixed work with pleasure recently, getting in some running and footwork drills on the beach in Mexico.
A workout with a view! #imeantmyhubbyandthebeach 😝#mexico #whatvacation #sprints #backpeddles #sideshuffles #dying pic.twitter.com/72ALMBb5MN
— Giselle Rodriguez (@Giselle69CRod) February 10, 2016
Jordy Mercer spent some time in the cages – not as a player, but as a coach to one of baseball’s future superstars.
A little cage work before the season starts! #BUCN @Pirates #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/v94EcZcSmz
— Jordy Mercer (@jordy_mercer) February 12, 2016
(Cutch found this totes adorbs, BTW)
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) February 12, 2016
Kang provided definitive proof that he’s field-ready for this season with this very welcome video from a workout in Bradenton.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBs95YrjgOz/?taken-by=sdew0405
Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco have been training together in their native Dominican Republic throughout the off-season. Here, Marte shows off some post-workout moves we’re hoping he brings to the dugout this summer…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBiRqZvhzNa/?taken-by=marte06
And Polanco laughs at him…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBiN6bJpogM/?taken-by=gpolanco25
(Those dance moves don’t come without effort, though, and judging from this photo Marte posted the next day, he was feeling the burn…)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBnEK5UhzCB/?taken-by=marte06
Polanco didn’t just dance and workout all last week; he also took some time to honor his mother, Lilian, on her birthday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBlMBw8JogX/?taken-by=gpolanco25
Gregory’s mom will no doubt miss her son as he packs up and heads north to Bradenton to start spring training. And nothing signals that it’s just around the corner than Truck Day at PNC. This annual loading of supplies to ship to Florida signifies the unofficial start of the baseball season for clubs throughout MLB. According to Pirates Clubhouse Manager Scott Bonnett, it is a mammoth undertaking each year but one kept manageable by a lot of planning and organization. Check out this fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Pirates Truck Day.
And what follows Truck Day? Truck UNLOADING DAY – that’s what!
.@Pirates truck has arrived…. Let the unloading begin. pic.twitter.com/wfbliXc9Nt
— Scott (@bonnett_scott) February 13, 2016
The truck's in Florida and Oliver's helping out! #ItAllBeginsinBradenton pic.twitter.com/GoPUOw4g3B
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 13, 2016
That's it!
Truck's unpacked.
Time for baseball! ⚾️☀️🌴😎#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/zHgwcKrpM8— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 13, 2016
And while last week’s workout star Francisco Cervelli was light on the iron pumping updates this week, he was heavy on the fun-factor, quite literally “hamming it up” with his girlfriend at a recent Andrea Bocelli show in Tampa and then with, well…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBsPTO8Oo8J/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBtKNlZOo3J/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
Cervelli’s getting a reputation as a guy who’s in love with love – from his walk-up song, “That’s Amore,” to his romantic declarations of devotion to his girlfriend online. The Pirates are taking advantage of that with a new big-screen feature at PNC this season:
Ask Francisco Cervelli for advice on life, love & baseball to be featured on PNC's Big Board in '16. #ThatsAmore pic.twitter.com/fva6zjae9X
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 3, 2016
So we’d expect nothing but a grand gesture from him as Valentine’s Day approaches. And he didn’t disappoint, posting this GIF of a tender moment in the dug-out last year and a special message to his “Kanacho”:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBuuLK6uo5_/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
And if you live under a rock and did not realize that Valentine’s Day was fast approaching, the Pirates have you covered with custom Buccos cards you can send digitally or print out. Enjoy!
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