Alex Stumpf

Hello from New York. I’ll be at Citi Field tomorrow for the Pirates’ regular season opener against the Mets. Here’s where I’ll be writing. This is Book-Rule Bucs, the new home for my newsletters and written coverage: open.substack.com/pub/bookrulebu…

@nittanyfanz @NorthShoreNine @primantibros @BleavNetwork @FanDuel @northsiden0tch @WagnerToCutch Thanks for listening!

@NorthShoreNine @primantibros @BleavNetwork @FanDuel @northsiden0tch @WagnerToCutch Best pirates podcast and content I gotta shout out my boy Alex love the morning episodes

Join Jim & Ty Ty on the NS9 Postgame Show Powered by @primantibros after today's game. ✅Join & Subscribe 📺youtube.com/live/e9n2rBY5S…

Three thoughts from the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Reds: substack.com/profile/163045…

@PlatinumKey13 @mearshannah_ (Hannah was fazed)

Carmen Mlodzinski was just a bit outside with the Gatorade bath 😂 @mearshannah_ was unfazed

That's game. Pirates 1, Reds 0. Braxton Ashcraft was brilliant. Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz were clutch late. Gregory Soto got the last four outs. Pirates sweep the Reds. They are 19-16.

Konnor Griffin doubles off the top of the wall in center, scores on an Oneil Cruz single. 1-0 Pirates in the bottom of the eighth. Once again plugging my analysis of how Griffin’s swing has evolved in the majors: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/stumpf-takin…

Hell of an afternoon for Braxton Ashcraft. He exits a 0-0 game with 2 outs in the eighth and runners on the corners. Curve/four-seam carried him, especially the breaking ball. Four of his six strikeouts with the curve. 4 hits, 2 walks allowed in the longest start of his career

Bump

From Pirates PR: The last time there were 7+ consecutive walks in an inning in an MLB game was Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh on 5/25/83. Jim Bibby and Jim Winn combined to issue the seven straight. The Pirates drew seven straight walks in the second inning today.

ROSTER MOVES: The Pittsburgh Pirates today ended the rehab assignment of INF Jared Triolo (right knee patellar tendon injury) and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list. Pittsburgh optioned INF/OF Nick Yorke to Triple-A Indianapolis following Friday's game vs. Cincinnati

"It’s been fun. It’s been challenging. I feel like I’m getting better.” Konnor Griffin has taken 100 Major League plate appearances. There has been some good, some bad, some changes. I dove into the data and got Griffin's input for Book-Rule Bucs: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/stumpf-takin…

Many are calling this the OffBeat bump. Really excited to be a part of NS9 and the growth they’re enjoying.

Jared Jones’ next rehab start will be on Tuesday in Indianapolis, per manager Don Kelly. He could make starts with Indy and Altoona as his rehab progresses.

So in 2018 I met this dorky ex-frat kid in the PNC Park press box. From day one, I saw his true love of sport and someone who wanted to express that love. That expression was messy, but it was genuine. Eight years later, he’s the best in the nation at getting that love to paper

The Pirates closed April with five straight losses, a sweep by the Cardinals and a whole lot more questions than they had a week ago. On today’s OffBeat, @AlexJStumpf breaks down Skenes, the offense, the defense and why this Reds series already feels big. Watch/listen now: 🎧northshorenine.com/podcast 📺youtu.be/mpNH1osfBkc 🔗northshorenine.com/the-pirates-ju…

Three thoughts as the Pirates are swept by the Cardinals: substack.com/profile/163045…

That's game. Cardinals 10, Pirates 5. Ugly ballgame. Ugly series. Skenes allowed a career-high eight hits as the Pirates are swept in a four-game home set. Losing streak is now five games. Pirates finish April 16-16.

From Pirates PR: With Brandon Lowe’s homer, the Pirates have three players with 20+ RBIs in April for the first time ever. Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn have 20, Oneil Cruz has 26.

@northsiden0tch Felt a part of my soul leave my body when I hit post

@AlexJStumpf dinardo ass tweet

It’s official. Six more weeks of splinkers