Jason Grilli (Oblique strain) and Russell Martin (Hamstring strain) have both been put on the 15-day DL. Grilli's stint is retroactive to Monday (4/21) while Martin's begins today. Martin is on his way back to Pittsburgh to have an MRI done as he was also complaining about hip pain last night. Hurdle: Martin said his hip hurt last night. Hamstring was earlier. Martin heading to Pittsburgh for MRI. Issues might be connected. — Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) April 26, 2014 Jared Hughes and Tony ... Read More
Archives for April 2014
Pittsburgh Power Look To Avenge Early Season Loss To Cleveland Gladiators
The first round went to the Cleveland Gladiators, but now it’s time for round two and the Pittsburgh Power are hoping to land some haymakers in their quest to win the Eastern Division. Both teams squared off in the season opener and it was Cleveland (5-0) that stormed back from a 45-28 deficit to stun the Power (3-2) in front of their home crowd. It also cost coach Derek Stingley his job. Since then the Power have gone on a 3-1 roll with their only loss coming to the league’s other ... Read More
Cole Throws Gem, Gets No Run Support in 1-0 Loss
Gerrit Cole threw seven strong innings of work while allowing one run, but the Pirate bats remain dormant as they fell to the Cardinals 1-0 on Friday night. Cole allowed a first inning run when Matt Carpenter led the inning off with a singled and scored on a Matt Holliday RBI double. He would settle down after that run by stranding 10 Cardinals on base causing them to go 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. That one run would,surprisingly, be enough for Cardinals starter Shelby ... Read More
Face Off Friday: Should the Pirates consider other options at closer?
Gar Bercury — For much of the past two seasons, when it came to the ninth inning and the Pirates needed a closer to finish the job, Jason Grilli was the constant, the reliable one they could depend on. In fact, before last season's forearm injury that put Grilli on the DL for over a month, he was basically automatic. Grilli was the portrait of consistency, converting 25 of 25 save opportunities before the injury. All this was being done on a team that would eventually earn their first ... Read More
Penguins are more enigmatic than ever
Even the most average hockey fan must have seen this coming. I certainly do not profess to be an expert on NHL hockey or the Pittsburgh Penguins, but having watched plenty of games since the pre-Crosby years, there is no doubt that this 2014 version is the strangest, most disappointing one to date. Since the two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals teams, which of course culminated in a championship the second time around, this team led by head coach Dan Bylsma has not made it back and does not ... Read More
Cumpton Unable to Get Run Support in 2-1 Loss to Reds
Brandon Cumpton gave another solid spot start for the Pirates allowing only two runs in seven innings of work, but the run support wasn't there yet again in a Bucs 2-1 loss to the Reds on Thursday afternoon. Cumpton experienced trouble in the first by walking Joey Votto and allowing a hit to Brandon Phillips. However, he would get out of the inning clean by striking out Jay Bruce and getting Todd Frazier to fly out. Cumpton would then retire 12 of the next 15 batters he faced until the sixth ... Read More
It’s time for the best player in the world to step up
All losses are not created equal. Anyone who watched the implosion of the Pittsburgh Penguins last night in their playoff loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets can attest to that. After scoring three goals in a span of five minutes, the Pens charged out to a 3-0 first-period lead, and what looked to be a commanding three-games-to-one advantage heading back to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, for the Penguins, the Blue Jackets did not get the memo. With their backs to the wall, and the series on the ... Read More
Big Inning Hurts Morton Again in 5-2 Pirates Loss
Charlie Morton became victim of the big inning once again as the Reds struck for three in the fifth en route to a 5-2 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night. The Pirates held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to a bases loaded walk by Travis Snider in the first and an Andrew McCutchen solo shot in the third. The solo shot for Cutch was his third homer in as many games as the centerfielder remains the only offense for the Bucs as of late. "There's times when our approach has been good," said ... Read More
Pens drop Game 4 in heartbreaker; series even
The Penguins were up early by a three goal margin and were 24 seconds away from going up 3-1 on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the series. Instead, the Penguins will head back to Pittsburgh looking for their third win on Saturday. Brandon Dubinsky scored in the last minute of regulation to tie the game after a misplay behind the net by Marc-Andre Fleury. Just 2:49 into overtime, Nick Foligno scored to complete the comeback as the Blue Jackets won 4-3, Wednesday night. Craig Adams got the ... Read More
Steelers 2014 Schedule Released; Five Games in Primetime
The NFL released the entire 2014 schedule tonight, and once again the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to face one of the more challenging slates in the entire league. The Steelers opponents include their usual six AFC North Divisional games against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. They draw the NFC South in inter-conference play, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints coming to Heinz Field and road games at the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. ... Read More