The NHL draft signals the birth of a new season. It's a chance for teams to evaluate their roster and find players who will, one day, become major contributors to the team. On Saturday, the champion Pittsburgh Penguins finally had a shot at finding some of those contributors. Despite not having a first-round pick Friday, the Penguins had five picks entering the draft, but they ended Saturday having drafted six players. They got that extra pick through a trade; Winger Beau Bennett was sent ... Read More
Archives for June 2016
Nicasio fills bullpen role, Cervelli gets closer to recovery
After ending a three-game losing streak Friday night with an 8-6 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pirates will look to extend their winning streak to two games tonight as Jeff Locke (6-5, 5.44 ERA) takes on Kenta Maeda (6-4, 2.64 ERA). Locke earned a win in his last start, which came Monday against the San Francisco Giants. Locke pitched 6.2 shutout innings while allowing three hits. The left-handed pitcher owns a 1-3 career record and 4.07 ERA in five games (four starts) against ... Read More
Backend relievers provide needed stability in Pirates’ 8-6 win over Dodgers
It's approaching five years since the infamous game that gave baseball fans the phrase, “Jerry Meals says it's safe.” The play happened in the 19th inning where it appeared that then-Pirates catcher Michael McKenry clearly tagged the Atlanta Braves' runner out. But Meals, the umpire, disagreed. Ever since, Meals hasn't been a welcome name to Pirates fans, who boo him each time public address announcer Tim DeBacco says Meals' name.But, Friday night, those same Pirates fans couldn't help but ... Read More
“Pittsburgh Gold” here to stay on Penguins’ uniforms
For their 50th season in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins will proudly don the black and “Pittsburgh Gold.” Ever since the 2002 season, the Penguins had used what they called “Las Vegas Gold” as the team’s dominant uniform color. Over the past two seasons, the organization threw it back and flirted with the Pittsburgh gold. That color was used as the team’s alternate uniform, which was worn for every game at Consol Energy Center during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. Ask and you shall ... Read More
Steelers announce release of kicker Shaun Suisham
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced they have released kicker Shaun Suisham after he failed to pass a physical. The 34-year-old veteran kicker tore his ACL in last year's Hall of Fame Game and recently said he wasn’t sure whether he’d be ready in time for the start of training camp. He hadn’t attempted a kick in the 10 months since his injury. In a statement, Suisham said: “Thank you Pittsburgh and all of Steelers Nation! Unfortunately, the injury I sustained in the Pro Hall of Fame ... Read More
Who should the Penguins draft in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft?
Tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins will take their first major step to repeat as Stanley Cup champions when the 2016 NHL Draft gets underway. And if there is any team that knows what young players can do, it's the Penguins. But, this youth comes with some big consequences. Not only does Pittsburgh lack depth in its minor league system, but, for the fourth-straight season, the Penguins are without a first round pick. Fortunately, the lack of first-round draft picks hasn't hurt them — ... Read More
Pirates drop fourth consecutive series
For a second consecutive game, the Pittsburgh Pirates struck first, but it wasn't enough, as the San Francisco Giants won the game, 5-3, to clinch the series victory Thursday afternoon. This defeat means the Pirates have lost four consecutive series losses and drops them to 34-39 on the season. Once again, the Pirates started off fast with a first inning sacrifice fly off center fielder Gregory Polanco's bat. He was down 0-2 in the count before his fly ball was deep enough to score second ... Read More
Pirates can’t hold on to five-run lead, lose 7-6 to Giants
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a five-run lead in Wednesday's game, but they were unable to keep it, falling 7-6 to the San Francisco Giants. This loss hurts. A lot. The Pirates had no reason losing this game, but they did. It appeared things were looking up for the struggling Pirates offense when first baseman John Jaso led off the bottom of the first inning with a first-pitch home run off San Francisco starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. The power became contagious for the Pirates, as Gregory ... Read More
NHL Awards: Odds of bringing more hardware to Pittsburgh
Tonight, the stars will shine even brighter in Las Vegas when the NHL Awards take place. And this time, what happens in Vegas won’t just stay there. There are three Pittsburgh Penguins up for awards — Sidney Crosby for the Hart Memorial Trophy, Jim Rutherford for GM of the Year and Pascal Dupuis for the Masterton Trophy. Here’s a look at their chances and who we think will take home the hardware. Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) Finalists: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Patrick ... Read More
Pirates allow 22 hits in 15-4 loss to Giants in Boscan’s first start
In an inning with a grand slam and a two-run home run, it was a walk that did the Pittsburgh Pirates in. In the fourth inning, starting pitcher Wilfredo Boscan engaged in an 11-pitch epic battle — the kind they write songs about — with San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. Crawford fouled off seven pitches and eventually drew a walk. The next batter the tired Boscan faced, Giants’ left fielder Angel Pagan, hit a grand slam. That fourth inning only got worse; the first seven batters ... Read More