The Pittsburgh Pirates Finish Off Their Road Trip Playing Jenga, Dancing in the Clubhouse and Showing the Love
The Buccos are finally back in Pennsylvania after an epic 11-day, nine-game road trip that started out with an 85-degree game in San Diego and ended in a rain-out/snow-out on a 38-degree Thursday in Denver. In contrast to the weather, the Pirates started out cold – but got red hot, coming home riding a four-game winning streak and ready to take on the Reds.
On regular game days, its understood that the guys have some downtime in the clubhouse – especially when they’re on the road. But when they’re sitting through a rain delay – or waiting out the weather, things can get a little zany.
Mark Melancon challenged the guys to a friendly game of Jenga – improvising when he didn’t have the standard wooden game pieces at the ready.
Playing Jenga in the @Rockies clubhouse w/ @markschlereth Stinkin' Good Green Chili Sauce#Rainout pic.twitter.com/ZIMzJSSxQl
— Mark Melancon (@Mark_Melancon_) April 28, 2016
Yes, that is green chili sauce from Former pro-footballer and current sports announcer Mark Schlereth’s company Mark’s Stinkin Good Green Chili Sauce.
Gregory Polanco waited out the rain by starting a dance party with Starling Marte, Josh Harrison, Andrew McCutchen and a surprising guest…especially to the dancers themselves.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEwOF37porv/?taken-by=gpolanco25
While Google translate does a terrible job with the first part of this caption, it apparently ends with the line, “…even gringos come to flow!!” Get ’em Freese, indeed.
Baseball players learn early in their careers to have thick skin and rise above the haters. But sometimes, you just gotta call a guy out. And mild-mannered Polanco nails the perfect response to this Cardinals fan’s tweet:
.@Cardsnationjnky pic.twitter.com/E9axDAasAs
— Gregory Polanco ☕️ (@El_Coffee) April 29, 2016
Sean Rodriguez, who is definitely earning that one-year contract he got in the offseason, may not be feeling much like himself these days – probably because he’s always being compared to someone else. Last week, the Pirates pulled out last year’s nickname, Serpico, for his striking resemblance to the title Character played by Al Pacino. And this week, well, at least he actually IS a Pirate…
@SeanJRodriguez1 Our pirate saw this picture and said,"It's me and Captain Blackbeard!"this morning. Great Game! THX pic.twitter.com/oXqOnZWy5V
— MamaAdvocateof4 (@MamaAdvocateof4) April 25, 2016
Yes it is. Arrrrrr! https://t.co/fKBKspyP7y
— Sean John Rodriguez (@SeanJRodriguez1) April 25, 2016
Jared Hughes may be rehabbing with the Indianapolis Indians, but that doesn’t stop him from continuing his series of baseball stadium photos – it just adds a few more to his collection. And in case you wondered, apparently, baseball players do quote Bull Durham regularly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEl6sWBovdP/?taken-by=_jaredhughes
And discuss physics in the bullpen…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEuAzcEovUt/?taken-by=_jaredhughes
Francisco Cervelli is always sharing fun #TBT photos and this week was no exception – the eyes are the same, but he’s a little hard to recognize without the 5-o’clock shadow. That came along around the second grade.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEwTGpQuowK/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
The backstop’s relationship with the Greater Pittsburgh Area YMCA continues – he recently lent his name to shirts for Pittsburgh Marathon participants who were running to support the Y.
Thanks @fran_cervelli for @PGHMarathon race day shirts for all @ymcapgh charity runners. #BeCauseY #LookingGood pic.twitter.com/gYMGAt4sTj
— Carolyn Grady (@carolyngrady) April 27, 2016
Cervy’s public displays of affection for his teammates are now legendary – and with good reason,
.@jhay_da_man Drives in @fran_cervelli and it's 3-0 Bucs!#JHayAllDay #ThatsAmore pic.twitter.com/tG1uMx0JZ2
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 27, 2016
But he recently posted a photo that made more than the ladies swoon – it tugged at the heartstrings of Pirates fans everywhere.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEm3B9-uo5h/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
When you see that – you believe every word. And understand why there is just something about this team that goes well beyond a ball, a bat and a well-broken in glove.
The Pirates take on the Reds tonight (if the rain stays away) at 7:30. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and #LetsGoBucs!
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