2011 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...

' 125th season as a member of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 and 130th season overall. The season was the first with manager Clint Hurdle
Clint Hurdle
Clinton Merrick Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball outfielder whose 10-year career was spent with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring from playing baseball, Hurdle became a manager...

, who was hired to replace the fired John Russell. After going a major league worst 57-105, they enjoyed something of a resurgence, winning more than 70 games for the first time since 2004 and being covered significantly in the summer due to being involved in the pennant race, but they still locked up their 19th consecutive losing season.

April

The Pirates won their opening game against the Cubs in Chicago 6–3. Neil Walker
Neil Walker (baseball)
Neil Martin Walker is an American professional baseball second and third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball...

 led the offense with a grand slam in the fifth inning, becoming the only Pirate other than Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...

 to hit a grand slam on opening day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...

. Pittsburgh blew a lead the following day and lost, but scored two runs in the final inning of the series finale to finish their first series with a 2–1 record. Pittsburgh defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in two of three games during their second series, marking the first time the Pirates had won the majority of games in two consecutive road series since 2007. Pittsburgh came home to face the Colorado Rockies
2011 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2011 season, the franchise's 19th in Major League Baseball, was a season in American baseball. They did not return to the postseason for the third time in five years after also missing in 2010.-Offseason:...

; winning one game out of four. In the second game of the series, the Pirates prevailed in a 5-hour, 10-minute game which lasted 14 innings. After an injury to starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf
Ross Ohlendorf
Curtis Ross Ohlendorf is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is known for his hard-biting sinker. He can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball, and he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball.-High School and College...

, the bullpen combined for 11⅓ scoreless innings—the most for the Pirates since 1900.

Tazer incident

During the April 9 game in Pittsburgh, a local man was arrested in the left-field seating section. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States...

, the man "appeared to be drunk, bothered fans in his section and belligerently refused to cooperate" when he would not leave at the game at the request of PNC Park employees and police. While being escorted from the section the man struck a ballpark employee, which was met with officers putting him under arrest after "Tasering
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...

 him to little effect before clubbing him in the neck, head, side and legs." The entire incident was captured on video. He was charged with public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and two additional misdemeanors. In a related incident, a woman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and defiant trespassing. After yelling at the officers making the initial arrest, she then "resisted an officer's attempts to remove her from the park" while yelling obscenities.

May

In May, the Pirates compiled a 13-13 (.500) record, and finished the month at 25-28 for the season.

June

On June 24, 2011, the Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

, 3-1, to improve their record to 38-37. This is the latest in the season that the Pirates have been above .500 since 1999.

On June 28, 2011, the Pirates defeated the Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....

 7-6 at the Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...

, to mark their first inter-league road victory in two years.

July

On July 8, the Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs to enter the All-Star
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League and the American League ; the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the...

 break above the .500 mark for the first time since 1992. The Pirates also sent three players to the All-Star Game with the selections of Kevin Correia
Kevin Correia
Kevin John Correia is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Early life:...

, Joel Hanrahan
Joel Hanrahan
Joel Ryan Hanrahan , nicknamed The Hammer, is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Los Angeles Dodgers:...

 and Andrew McCutchen
Andrew McCutchen
Andrew Stefan McCutchen is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Early years:...

. This marked the first time since 1990 that the team had three All-Stars in the National League line-up. While Correia did not enter the game, along with Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....

, McCutchen entered the game in the seventh inning, batting in the eighth. Hanrahan was called to close in the top of the ninth, striking out the first batter, however an untimely error from Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro
Starlin Castro
Starlin Dejesus Castro is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Chicago Cubs.-Minor Leagues:...

 and a single led to two men in scoring position. Brian Wilson got the save.

On July 15, and again on July 18, the Pirates moved into first place of the NL Central. This marked the first two times that the Pirates were in first place this late in the season since 1997.

July 25 saw the Pirates return to the national stage with their game at Atlanta being televised on ESPN. This is the first time the Pirates have been on ESPN since September 22, 2004. The Pirates went on to win the game 3 to 1, moving them again into a first place tie in the NL Central.

The next night, the Pirates fell victim to a controversial call in a 4-3 loss to the Braves after 19 innings. Braves infielder Julio Lugo
Julio Lugo
Julio Cesar Lugo is a Dominican professional baseball infielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. Lugo is the older brother of baseball pitcher Ruddy Lugo....

 was ruled safe at home plate by home plate umpire Jerry Meals
Jerry Meals
Gerald William "Jerry" Meals is a Major League Baseball umpire.Meals was part of the National League umpire crew from 1992 to 1999, and has worked throughout both major leagues since 2000. He worked in the 2008 NLCS between Philadelphia and Los Angeles and at the 2002 MLB All-Star Game in Milwaukee...

 even though replay clearly showed Lugo should have been called out. Meals and the league both admitted the call was incorrect. The team has filed a complaint with the commissioner's office.

Game log

Legend
Pirates Win Pirates Loss Game Postponed
2011 Game log (72-90)
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Roster

2011 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers
Infielders

Outfielders

Manager
Coaches

Notable transactions

  • June 12, 2011: A player to be named later or cash was traded to the Boston Red Sox
    Boston Red Sox
    The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

     for Michael McKenry
    Michael McKenry
    Michael Charles McKenry is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Career:...

    .
  • July 30, 2011: Aaron Baker was traded along with cash considerations to the Baltimore Orioles
    Baltimore Orioles
    The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...

     for Derrek Lee
    Derrek Lee
    Derrek Leon Lee , or "D-Lee", is a Major League Baseball first baseman. Lee has played with the San Diego Padres , the Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates . He bats and throws right-handed.Lee was a World Series Champion with Florida in 2003,...

    .
  • July 31, 2011: A player to be named later was traded to the San Diego Padres
    San Diego Padres
    The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...

     for Ryan Ludwick
    Ryan Ludwick
    Ryan Andrew Ludwick is a Major League Baseball right fielder. His brother Eric played four seasons in Major League Baseball as a pitcher.-High school, college, and minor leagues:Ludwick attended Durango High School in Las Vegas, Nevada....

    .
  • August 31, 2011: Matt Diaz
    Matt Diaz
    Matthew Edward Diaz is a Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Atlanta Braves. He grew up in Lakeland, Florida.-Amateur career:...

     and cash were traded to the Atlanta Braves
    Atlanta Braves
    The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

     for a player to be named later.
  • September 14, 2011: Matt Pagnozzi
    Matt Pagnozzi
    Matthew Thomas Pagnozzi is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball....

     claimed off of waivers from the Colorado Rockies
    Colorado Rockies
    The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...

    .

Awards and honors

2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League and the American League ; the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the...

  • Joel Hanrahan
    Joel Hanrahan
    Joel Ryan Hanrahan , nicknamed The Hammer, is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Los Angeles Dodgers:...

    , P, Reserve
  • Andrew McCutchen
    Andrew McCutchen
    Andrew Stefan McCutchen is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Early years:...

    , OF, Reserve
  • Kevin Correia
    Kevin Correia
    Kevin John Correia is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Early life:...

    , P, Reserve


NL Player of the Week
  • Jeff Karstens (July 11 - 17, 2011)

Farm system

External links

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