Pirates

Pirates Celebrate the Return of Baseball, the City of Champions and Things Get a Little Hairy

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Alan Draper
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Sports Editor
7 min read

The boys are back in the Burgh and no one could be happier about it than the Pirates themselves.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDtr5OFOoyH/?taken-by=fran_cervelli

Last week we learned that Andrew McCutchen was stocking up on food from a Florida-based chain – and this week, his cravings for Pittsburgh faire were DENIED

My bet is, Cutch gets that pizza with a little extra something when he gets back to town.

Josh Harrison got too used to that Florida sunshine, and wasn’t quite prepared for the chilly temperatures that greeted him at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Jared Hughes embraced the cold, though.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDvWuVOIvQ4/?taken-by=_jaredhughes

Speaking of Jared, it’s a safe bet that he’s becoming weary of his stint on the DL for a strained lat by taking a look at his Twitter feed.

Hopefully he’ll be back in the bullpen soon. Another pitcher in the Pirates organization seems to be “getting back” to throwing as well…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD05C-kiVHO/?taken-by=wudeydo

Anyone know if those retirement papers have been turned in to MLB yet?

Although it was a chilly one, the Buccos celebrated Opening Day with all the pomp and circumstance one could expect.

Even the usually Twitter-silent Jeff Locke even shared his excitement.

Cole Figueroa took a moment to reflect on his blessings for getting to play the game he loves for living.

https://twitter.com/Cole_Figueroa/status/716435644625657859

MLB captured all of the highlights in one story here…

In a touching moment, Pitt Football star James Conner threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Conner is battling cancer and felt the love of the entire city with him at PNC. As well as the respect of one of baseball’s best…

https://twitter.com/SportsonEarth/status/716696909964910592

https://twitter.com/JamesConner_/status/716711079779377152

And if you haven’t already started using SnapChat – download the app just to see the Pirates Stories – they put together a nice one for opening day:

IMG_1656  IMG_1657  IMG_1658  IMG_1659  IMG_1661  IMG_1662

Game-wise the Pirates are proving two things: their new offensive strategies – playing small ball, showing patience at the plate and changing up the batting order – are working, and that the Spring Training win/loss record really is meaningless.

Jordy Mercer hit a walk-off single in the 11th to secure the Pirates second win in as many games over the Cardinals. Marucci gave us a look at his bat…

And John Jaso’s Little League homer sealed the series sweep the next night. When Jaso slid head first into third on that hit, his batting helmet flew off and many baseball fans got their first real look at his dreadlocks. And the reaction – within the baseball community and outside – was pretty much just what anyone would expect.

https://twitter.com/fugimaster24/status/717862728262688768

There are even a few conspiracy theorists out there who think Jaso’s dreads are fake… Not the announcers for the Cardinals, though. They shared some not nice jokes on the air about the dreads and how they might reflect on Jaso’s hygiene. Not cool at all. That’s the kind of stuff that got Guiliana Rancic in hot water on Fashion Police last year and it certainly won’t be tolerated in Pittsburgh, I suspect. As long as he’s hitting baseballs and minding first the way he has in these first four games, the guy could have dreads in his beard for all Bucs fans care.

And while we’re on the subject of hair – Gregory Polanco’s was looking quite spiffy when he sat at a news conference announcing his new $35-million, 5-year contract extension on Tuesday.

Polanco posted this note on his twitter account after the meeting.

He later told Root Sports that his family was proud of him and his mom encouraged him to stop worrying about everything and just go out and play baseball. His agent, Rafa Nieves, was also in the house, sharing his love for Gregory.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD1KDKiM0ud/?taken-by=mlb_agent

He’s also Cervelli’s agent, so, while he was in Pittsburgh… ??? Jung Ho Kang’s agent seems like he’s been hard at work, as well. Kang debuted another cap spot for Korean TV

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD6x47GjgBd/?taken-by=sdew0405

In honor of the seven Koreans who are now major leaguers, MLB Korea has put together a special hat pack.

Word has it that we’ll at least be seeing Kang sporting that Pirates cap around the Burgh as soon as next week – although it will most likely be from the dugout and not the field. Yet.

And finally, along with all of the other expectations about Opening Day, many people wonder what the players will choose as their walk-up music. The Pirates publish a running list on their site of walk-up songs as well as in-park music. Here’s what the players are coming to the plate to – for now. (Someone tell Jason Rogers that he can’t use “Hip Hop Hooray” because it’s still too soon for some Buccos fans to hear that song and not get a little misty-eyed over a former player who used it as well…sniff sniff)

Player Song/Artist Listen
Andrew McCutchenAndrew McCutchen Song ThumbnailThe King’s Motorcade
Nile Rodgers
Chris StewartChris Stewart Song ThumbnailForsaken
Skillet		 Buy on iTunes »
Cole FigueroaCole Figueroa Song ThumbnailWop
J. Dash Ft. Flo Rida		 Buy on iTunes »
David FreeseDavid Freese Song ThumbnailStinkfest
Tool
Francisco CervelliFrancisco Cervelli Song ThumbnailThat’s Amore
Dean Martin		 Buy on iTunes »
Francisco LirianoFrancisco Liriano Song ThumbnailSandungueoso
Tego Calderon		 Buy on iTunes »
Gerrit ColeGerrit Cole Song ThumbnailSleep Now In The Fire
Rage Against The Machine		 Buy on iTunes »
Gregory PolancoGregory Polanco Song ThumbnailSegueta
El Alfa		 Buy on iTunes »
Song ThumbnailStick Talk
Future		 Buy on iTunes »
Jason RogersJason Rogers Song ThumbnailHip Hop Hooray
Naughty By Nature		 Buy on iTunes »
Jeff LockeJeff Locke Song ThumbnailBerzerk
Eminem		 Buy on iTunes »
Song ThumbnailCome With Me
Puff Daddy		 Buy on iTunes »
John JasoJohn Jaso Song ThumbnailMidnight Rambler
The Rolling Stones		 Buy on iTunes »
Jon NieseJon Niese Song ThumbnailFred Bear
Ted Nuget		 Buy on iTunes »
Jordy MercerJordy Mercer Song ThumbnailThe Fire
The Roots		 Buy on iTunes »
Josh HarrisonJosh Harrison Song ThumbnailBig Rings
Drake And Future
Song ThumbnailBut That’s Okay
K-Drama		 Buy on iTunes »
Song ThumbnailI Got Me
Shaun Harrison
Song ThumbnailI’m The Man
Shaun Harrison
Jung Ho KangJung Ho Kang Song ThumbnailBooyah
Showtek (Feat. We Are Loud! & Sonny Wilson)		 Buy on iTunes »
Kyle LobsteinKyle Lobstein Song ThumbnailHey Baby, Que Paso
Texas Tornados		 Buy on iTunes »
Mark MelanconMark Melancon Song ThumbnailThunderstruck
AC/DC		 Buy on iTunes »
Matt JoyceMatt Joyce Song ThumbnailI Can’t Stop
Flux Pavilion		 Buy on iTunes »
Michael MorseMichael Morse Song ThumbnailHere I Go
Mystikal		 Buy on iTunes »
Neftali FelizNeftali Feliz Song ThumbnailDe Amor Nadie Se Muere
Secreto El Famoso Biberon		 Buy on iTunes »
Ryan VogelsongRyan Vogelsong Song ThumbnailCinderella Man
Eminem		 Buy on iTunes »
Sean RodriguezSean Rodriguez Song ThumbnailHasta Que Se Seque El Malecon
Jacob Forever		 Buy on iTunes »
Starling MarteStarling Marte Song ThumbnailNo Pue Killate
Secreto El Famoso Biberon Ft. Bulova
Song ThumbnailRulay
Secreto El Famoso Biberon Ft. Dj Sammy		 Buy on iTunes »

And that’s all she wrote for this week! Check back next Saturday for more social media fun!

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Alan Draper

Alan is a vastly experienced sports and gambling writer who is the Chief Editor of The Sports Daily.
View All Posts By Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Linkedin
Alan is a vastly experienced sports and gambling writer who is the Chief Editor of The Sports Daily.
View All Posts By Alan Draper
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