Jordy Mercer had been fooled twice by Seth Maness’ changeups, so Mercer wanted to make sure the third time was a charm. After all, he and his Pittsburgh Pirates teammates had been huddled by the PNC Park dugout heater for over six innings in a game that was deep in the 11th inning. So when Maness (0-1) took the bait and fired a third changeup, Mercer made him pay with an opposite field single that sailed past St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams’s outstretched glove. Mercer’s ... Read More
Archives for April 2016
Comeback victory gives Penguins their seventh-straight win
Tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins (46-25-8) successfully began their three-game road trip to conclude the season, playing the Ottawa Senators (36-34-9). Although the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs Thursday, they played a perfect first half of the game but could not finish. Penguins goalie Matt Murray looked to be a little rattled after giving up his second goal, and, shortly thereafter, Ottawa poured salt on the wound. But Murray would respond, like he has done frequently this ... Read More
Pens Preview: Murray looks to continue win streak, strong play
Pittsburgh Penguins (46-25-8) In his first chance with an NHL team, goalie Matt Murray looks to have the confidence of a veteran, starting his third-straight game tonight. Marc-Andre Fleury still has no timetable for when he will return to the net after his second concussion of the season. Jeff Zatkoff will back up Murray in tonight's game. With his recent play, Murray has helped solidify the depth in between the pipes. In the last 13 games, Pittsburgh is 12-1-0. The Penguins have gotten a ... Read More
What Polanco’s extension means for Pirates future
When Gregory Polanco agreed to an extension, the Pittsburgh Pirates solidified their future outfield. Or did they? In the short term, yes. The trio of Polanco, Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte are now under contract through the 2018 season. Things get unclear after that. McCutchen’s contract ends after the 2018 season, and it is hard to say whether he will be re-signed. Does having Polanco in the fold until at least 2021 help prepare for McCutchen’s departure? He is one of ... Read More
Duquesne’s Cumberland Posey elected to Basketball Hall of Fame
Cumberland Posey Jr., the first African-American athlete at Duquesne, has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The announcement came on Monday, making Posey the first person to be named to both the National Baseball and Naismith Basketball Halls of Fame. The Pittsburgh native played baseball locally for the Murdock Grays, later known as the Homestead Grays. Posey played basketball at Duquesne from 1916-18, leading the Dukes in scoring for three seasons. Prior to ... Read More
Will Bryant’s suspension change Steelers draft plans?
The Pittsburgh Steelers normally focus their NFL Draft on their defense. In their draft last year, the Steelers’ first two rounds had defensive players being chosen. It wasn’t until the third round that the Steelers drafted a wide receiver in Sammie Coats. The Steelers, in their last 10 NFL Drafts, have only selected four offensive players in the first round. As for the wide receivers, the Steelers last wide receiver was selected in 2006, when Santonio Holmes walked across the stage to ... Read More
Pirates Pregame: Polanco contract sets positive tone
The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to start the season 2-0 and lock-up a series win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. The game’s starters will be Jonathon Niese and Michael Wacha for the Pirates and the Cardinals, respectively. Niese is 4-3 with a 3.10 ERA in nine career starts against the Cardinals. Tonight’s game already has something in common with Sunday’s home opener, as Niese, like Francisco Liriano, is a left-handed starting pitcher. This is the first time the Pirates ... Read More
Matt Murray named NHL’s Third Star of the Week
It was announced on Monday that Matt Murray is the NHL’s Third Star of the Week after earning the Penguins a 3-0 record just last week. Murray is currently filling in for Marc-Andre Fleury who is out due to a concussion suffered during a game against the Nashville Predators. This season, Murray has a 1.88 goal-against average, a .933 save percentage, is 7-2-1 and has one shutout in 10 NHL starts. During this short time filling in for Fleury, Murray has managed to stop 52 of 54 shots, as ... Read More
COLUMN: Pirates continue trend as early deciders
In signing Gregory Polanco to an extension yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued to beef up their reputation as early deciders. In identifying talent early and then deciding on how that talent might develop, the club prides itself on manufacturing certainty. Make no mistake, Polanco’s extension is a matter of cost control. In locking up the right fielder while he is still pre-arbitration eligible, general manager Neal Huntington has a level of certainty in his outfield that breeds ... Read More
Report: Pirates, Polanco agree to extension
Fresh off of a 2-3 performance with two runs in the Pirates 4-1 Opening Day win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Gregory Polanco reportedly has something else fresh today - the ink on his newly-signed contract extension. According to a report Yahoo! Sports Jeff Passan, Polanco and the team have agreed to a five-year contract extension with club options, locking up the 24-year-old outfielder. The deal would follow suit with previous moves by the Pirates when they locked up Starling Marte and ... Read More