Pittsburgh Tom

Life-long resident of SW PA, minus 5 year exile in S NJ. Life-long fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@Samuele540 @steel_city_crtv @TJStats The Archer trade now has shown to be mostly non-consequential, but six month/a full year in, it was ranking up there with the Aramis Ramirez trade as the worst ever for the Pirates. And that's where we are at with the Burrows trade.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@steel_city_crtv @TJStats Look up the Archer trade with the Rays that they were on the opposite end of.

[Pittsburgh Clothing Co. @PGHClothingCo]

Some stickers leftover from the Toronto trip. Going to draw one lucky winner and send ‘em straight to your mailbox

All you have to do is RETWEET and make sure you’re following! 🪎🪎🪎

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@Veno202 @TJStats If all goes well, 3, 4, and 5 will no longer be prospects in a month or two.

[MLB @MLB]

Two @Pirates mainstays and new additions from the offseason are leading the way!

🏴‍☠️ Oneil Cruz
🏴‍☠️ Ryan O’Hearn
🏴‍☠️ Brandon Lowe
🏴‍☠️ Bryan Reynolds

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@yinzburghsports At least he'll be able to afford to NOT do those CarShield commercials next year.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@northsiden0tch The Reds GM sees this and will try to trade for him to play third base.

[Clint Hurdle @ClintHurdle13]

I kept this story in my pocket for a long time....

In Pittsburgh, September 15th is Roberto Clemente Day.

Every year the whole organization fans out across the city. It's like Christmas. Roberto's family is there, Vera and the boys.

My first year as manager was 2011. We celebrated. We shook hands and moved on.
We didn't win.

19 consecutive losing seasons.

2012 rolls around. Same day, same celebration. We had another losing season, our 20th consecutive.

After the ceremony, Roberto Jr. walked over.

"My mom wants to talk to you."

We went into the dugout. Me, Vera, and her three sons.

She spoke in Spanish. I played four years of winter ball so I understood enough. She wasn't angry, but she was passionate. And I kept hearing Roberto's number come up.

Roberto Jr. translated.

"My mother wants you to know that there cannot be a 21st losing season. That was Roberto's number. It would be a disgrace to his legacy."

She was staring right at me.

Before I could even think about what to say, words came out of my mouth:
"I promise you, Vera. That won't happen."

Roberto Jr. looked at me and said, "You made my mom a promise. I hope you can keep it."

I said, "I hope I can keep it too."

I didn't tell my coaches. I didn't tell the players. I told my wife. That was it.

The next year, 2013, we broke the consecutive seasons losing streak. Ended it at 20.

On Roberto Clemente Day that September, Vera came walking across that field.

And I probably got one of the most meaningful hugs I've ever received in my life.

The players did all the heavy lifting. I just got the hug.

Some promises are worth making before you know if you can keep them.

@Pirates

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@UTBAPH Have you seen this? It might be old. Found it on another social media site.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@SickosCommittee I've brought a whole large pizza into PNC Park before. Their food policy is just that coolers must be soft sided and fit under the seat. Drinks can only be water in sealed bottles.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@BrentThompsonMU @SteelCityBucs30 Of course, a possible work stoppage puts a big question mark on any kind of these projections. But at least he's young enough that a stoppage won't eat into his prime.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@VinnysCorner1 The Steelers/Cardinals Super Bowl was in Feb 2009. This is Steelers/Packers. I was at the AFC Champ game where they beat the Jets.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@SteelCityBucs30 2013 Wild Card game

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@makingshoes2 @PitchingNinja Ozuna walks to first at the same speed he runs to first.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@GMBCSuperfan If you're a Reds pitcher, the strike zone.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@BenVerlander I see three on the Pirates roster but one is a starting pitcher who is unlikely to ever bat.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

Got yet another @Paul_Skenes bobblehead. Is four different ones too many?

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@OfTheAllegheny I tell people if I find out they're coming to their first game or if they have kids. I've gotten whole pizzas across the bridge and carried them through the gates. The only issue is when security jokingly try to "confiscate" them.

[Pittsburgh Tom @PittsburghTom]

@Jason_Shetler The "cue-to" home run in the 2013 WC game.
In terms of power, I saw one one clear the batters eye completely at PNC Park. I think it was Bell, but it might have been Alvarez. Pedro definitely had some wow homers.