Under .500 for the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed a win to end a four-game losing streak. The response was perhaps one of the most encouraging signs this season. Following a game in which the Pirates had 10 walks, they recorded their first shutout of the season, a 5-0 victory Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Monkey off of his back "Finally, honestly." Those were the two words Andrew McCutchen had for Root Sports after the game after his first home ... Read More
Archives for April 2016
Pens drop Game 2 to Rangers, 4-2
The Pittsburgh Penguins (1-1) suffered their first loss in the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers (1-1). The Penguins had an abundance of chances to keep the score close, but a series of goals by the Rangers kept Pittsburgh from picking up any momentum. Four straight goals by the Rangers sucked the life out of Consol Energy Center until the final stages of the third period when Pittsburgh began finding its first-period spark again. However, missed opportunities against ... Read More
Quick hits from Pitt’s spring football game
On Saturday, the general public got its first look at the newest edition of Pitt Panthers football. I was in attendance for Pitt's annual spring game on an absolutely gorgeous, sun-drenched Pittsburgh afternoon. While taking in the action, I had a few quick observations: Stout defense ruled the day Some of the offensive ineptitude can be chalked up to jitters and it being the first live game-action of the season, but the defense was smothering. For much of the first half, the scoreboard ... Read More
In game two, Zatkoff looking to repeat strong performance
Pittsburgh Penguins (1-0) Jeff Zatkoff played not only played the biggest game of his career, so far, on Wednesday, he also played one of his best in game one of this opening playoff series against the New York Rangers. While the status of injured players like Marc-Andre Fleury, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin is now listed as day-to-day, head coach Mike Sullivan seems very optimistic about having a fully healthy team soon. Although it is very unlikely for any of those players to play in ... Read More
The good, the bad and the ugly of the Steelers’ 2016 schedule
What a difference a year can make. At least that seems to be the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers when looking at the 2016 regular season schedule released Thursday night. After dealing with a schedule last season that was statistically the most difficult in the league, the Steelers got what, at least on paper, looks to be a considerably less daunting path to the playoffs. The overall winning percentage of the Steelers opponents in 2016 is .473, a far cry from 2015 where the percentage was ... Read More
Locke not at fault for Pirates’ 8-4 loss to Milwaukee
Forgive me if you have heard this script before: The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense comes together and solves a pitcher in the seventh inning, only to immediately blow the momentum. It happened against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, just over 24 hours from when the same thing happened against the Detroit Tigers. Predictably, the outcome was similar, and the Pirates lost to the Brewers, 8-4. This defeat drops the Pirates to 5-6, their first time under .500 in 2016. The losses have ... Read More
Football is back in Happy Valley with the annual Blue-White game Saturday
Football returns to Happy Valley and Beaver Stadium as Penn State hits the field for its annual Blue-White game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The Nittany Lions squad that will tear up the turf Saturday will be much different than the squad that took the field on senior day in the fall for Penn State. Gone is record-setting quarterback and NFL prospect Christian Hackenberg, as well as defensive tackle Austin Johnson, who both left school early to enter the NFL Draft. Gone, too, are seniors ... Read More
Pitt football faces offensive uncertainty
Heading into the Pitt Panthers spring game this Saturday at Heinz Field, there are more questions than answers. An offense hit by the departures of wide receiver Tyler Boyd and tight end JP Holtz, among others, needs new downfield playmakers. There's uncertainty at the tailback position, but the nature of that discrepancy is more generous, as the Panthers boast a full stable of capable backs. The spring game will not bring final resolution to these offensive issues, but it should start to add ... Read More
Steelers sever ties with cornerback Cortez Allen
The Pittsburgh Steelers have severed ties with cornerback Cortez Allen. Allen, who was with the Steelers since 2011, was released Friday afternoon. Allen and the Steelers agreed to a big, four-year contract in 2014 that would pay him $24.6 million. However, Allen didn’t live up to the dollar signs. He had an ugly 2014 that ended when he suffered a thumb injury that kept him out for the final five games. And Allen only played one game in the 2015 season: the season opener against the New ... Read More
Breaking down the Steelers’ 2016 regular season schedule
It looks like business will be booming for the Pittsburgh Steelers based on the 2016 regular season schedule that was just released. For the most part, the Steelers have a pretty easy schedule — especially compared with last season’s schedule, which was ranked as one of the hardest in the NFL. This season’s schedule is tied for 23th in strength of schedule and has no extended roadtrips. It also features four primetime games and three holiday games — Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s ... Read More