Greg Brown was in a journalism class at Point Park University and had the assignment of writing a five-minute newscast and then going into a recording booth to record it on tape. What followed was his first moment of realization - a moment which now has him in year 22 as the Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play announcer. "I got [the assignment] back and on the front page of my script in bold red pen ‘A++ Greg do not pass go, go directly to a job in broadcasting’," Brown said. "He signed it and ... Read More
Archives for August 2015
Harrison, Polanco star in Pirates victory
Josh Harrison came into his eighth inning pinch-hit appearance with hits in just two of his last 14 at bats, but when the Pittsburgh Pirates needed him most, he came through. Harrison’s RBI single off Scott Oberg scored the go-ahead run and resulted in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday evening. "You've got to be ready when you're pinch-hitting," Harrison said. "If you get a pitch you think you can handle, you put a swing on it. I just wanted to stay fastball ready and ... Read More
Bucs are back home for three-game series with the Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates return home for a three-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies. In tonight's game Francisco Liriano will face Jon Gray. Liriano is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts. In his last start he won against the San Francisco Giants allowing two runs [neither earned] on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. The Pirates have won each of Liriano's last 10 starts this matches their second-longest in the last 44 years in games started by a particular pitcher. The ... Read More
Pitt names team captains for 2015
The Pitt Panthers announced their team captains for the 2015 football season on Friday. Leading the first-year head coach Pat Narduzzi’s squad will be four seniors: tight end J.P. Holtz (Shaler), defensive back Lafayette Pitts (Woodland Hills), defensive lineman Darryl Render and offensive lineman Artie Rowell. Holtz has played in every game for the squad since making his Panthers debut as a true freshman in 2012, and has started all 13 games in each of the past two seasons. In 2014, he made ... Read More
Pens ink top prospect Daniel Sprong
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed their top pick from the 2015 NHL draft, second-round selection Daniel Sprong, to a three-year, entry-level contract. Sprong, 18, fell to the Penguins with the 46th overall selection, despite being rated as a first-round talent by many prognosticators. The 6-foot tall, 180 pound right-winger recently participated in the Penguins prospect development camp at Consol Energy Center in July and was named to roster for the team’s rookie tournament squad that will ... Read More
Maurkice Pouncey likely to miss at least 10 games
After suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the team knew they would be without Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey. They just didn’t know for how long. According to the Tribune Review's Mark Kaboly, Pouncey, who broke his left fibula near his ankle, will be put on the injured reserve/designated to return to start the season. That means Pouncey will be forced to miss at least the first six games of the ... Read More
COLUMN: Despite questions, don’t give up on Steelers defense just yet.
After a 2014 campaign where the defense was far from the dominant unit fans have been accustomed to having over the years, the Pittsburgh Steelers head into the upcoming season with many questions and plenty of doubters. That's certainly fair. Despite of an 11-5 record good enough to win the challenging AFC North, it was the Steelers prolific offense that was largely responsible for that success. The Steelers defense never found a groove in 2014, ranking 17th in the league in both total yards ... Read More
Faceoff Friday: Is Vick the right backup for the Steelers?
Gar Becury Disclaimer: My comments related to Michael Vick's qualifications to be a Pittsburgh Steeler will deal solely with Vick the football player, not the man. If you are looking for more comments related to his well publicized crimes or for me to use that is a reason not to sign Vick, i'll respectfully tell you it's not happening here. With that cleared that up, the reason that I have my doubts that Michael Vick is the right choice to be the Steelers backup has nothing to do with past ... Read More
Pirates take three of four from Marlins with 2-1 win
The Pittsburgh Pirates took three of four games with its 2-1 victory against the Miami Marlins Thursday. This victory gives the Pirates 28 one-run victories on the season. Gerrit Cole [15-7] won his first game since July 26. The 7.1 innings he threw were a high in August starts. Cole's biggest obstacle came in the bottom of the third inning when Francisco Cervelli was ejected by home plate umpire Alan Porter. Cervelli disagreed with a pitch that was ruled a ball as it was ruled a strike to ... Read More
COLUMN: Loss of Bryant adds another early season hurdle for Steelers.
It's certainly been an interesting week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Already dealing with a significant injury to All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey, along with the overwhelmingly negative reaction of fans to the signing of Michael Vick, now the Steelers must deal with the loss of one of their top offensive weapons for the first four weeks of the season. That's because according to multiple sources, wide receiver Martavis Bryant has been suspended for four games for violating the leagues ... Read More