PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For those in the Pirates clubhouse who were his teammate, Friday night was a celebration of Joe Musgrove’s no-hitter. Wednesday night, some of that group will try to crack that code.
“He’s a wonderful human being,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “I think there were a lot of people in Pittsburgh, especially in our clubhouse and throughout the city, cheering for him the other night. We are not going to cheer for him (Wednesday) night.”
Even those not currently with the team, pitcher Steven Brault is rehabbing for a lat injury in Bradenton. He didn’t just catch the end on a no-hitter alert.
“I watched every single pitch,” Brault, a San Diego native, said. “I’m so happy for him. To be the first no-hitter in Padres history. I remember as a kid we would go to games and people would get close, it was just a big deal and they wouldn’t get it. Joe getting it and being the first one is awesome.”
Brault and Musgrove went to the same high school where now an outdoor wall of Grossmont HS in San Diego is covered by a mural of Musgrove. Brault says he deserves it as he also gives a lot of money for the school’s baseball program.
It’s the business of baseball, especially this off-season with the Pirates, of losing friends to other teams. Brault says he obviously watches Pirates games but also watches games started by Musgrove, Trevor Williams with the Cubs and Jameson Taillon with the Yankees.
The Pirates beat Williams on Sunday.
“It’s so weird seeing all of the guys in different team colors,” Brault said. “It’s weird, you want Trevor to do well, but I also want us to win. So when we win I texted him after I said ‘tough one’.”
Wednesday night the Pirates hope Brault sends another text saying ‘tough one’. This time to Musgrove.
“I think it’s a little strange the first time, as you get away from it, it becomes less,” Shelton said. “The first time you face him. Especially this early in the year and the fact that we didn’t play them in Spring Training. All of those things kind of accumulate.”
Shelton said Musgrove was a big part of a new player-centric environment with the Pirates under he and GM Ben Cherington. He said Musgrove is very respected in their clubhouse. With the exception of the days he faces the Pirates, Shelton said will always cheer for him.
The Bucs manager will always remember a couple of things about Musgrove-first that on Musgrove’s birthday, he stayed to attend his opening press conference at PNC Park. The other?
“He took me to my first Primanti’s sandwich.”