In many respects, it's hard to name an MVP for this year's Pittsburgh Pirates team. There isn't one name that truly sticks out — for once, center fielder Andrew McCutchen won't be topping this list. So, where does that leave us? The following had good seasons, but they still weren't the team MVP, so apologies to: David Freese: On the surface, this appeared to be a desperation signing by Pittsburgh. At the very least, it was a concession that third baseman Jung Ho Kang wouldn't be able ... Read More
Archives for October 2016
CONSOL Energy Center renamed PPG Paints Arena
Say goodbye to CONSOL Energy Center, and say hello to the PPG Paints Arena. When the puck drops for the start of the 2016-17 NHL season, the home of the defending Stanley Cup champions will have a new name. We're ready to paint it black and gold. #PPGPaintsArena pic.twitter.com/LKQgEMXho8 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 4, 2016 Tuesday, it was announced that PPG and the Pittsburgh Penguins had reached a 20-year naming rights deal — and that the name change will take effect ... Read More
Bradshaw: NFL flag protests ‘extremely disrespectful’
Tuesday morning, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw appeared on “Fox & Friends,” where he talked about, among other things, the national anthem protests that have been led by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and that have picked up across the NFL. “I’ve never had a problem with people expressing themselves — it’s one thing great about our country and the First Amendment rights, everybody has them,” Bradshaw said. “I do have a problem with the flag. I am ... Read More
Three up, three down: Steelers vs. Chiefs
What a difference a week can make. After one of the worst regular season losses of the Mike Tomlin era last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Pittsburgh Steelers bounced back by putting together a dominating performance in front of a national TV audience on Sunday Night Football, trouncing the Kansas City Chiefs 43-14. The victory pushed the Steelers (3-1) into a first-place tie with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North and, with it it, gave Pittsburgh some much-needed confidence ... Read More
Column: Great, now what?
Mercifully, the Pittsburgh Pirates' season (78-83) ended Sunday afternoon after a 10-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Let's be honest for a second, what reason is there for you to waste your time with another recap about how the bullpen didn't hold up their end of the bargain? None? That's what I thought, too. So, let's take a look at what needs to change for next season. This season has been over for some time now, arguably when the offseason ended and both Jeff Locke and Jon ... Read More
Team grades: Steelers vs. Chiefs
The Pittsburgh Steelers turned the tide after a painful Week 3 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 43-14 on Sunday night. The Steelers saw a few firsts in their Week 4 match against the Chiefs: running back Le’Veon Bell made his season debut, the pass rush was alive and well and Markus Wheaton didn’t drop a pass. Without further ado, here are the Steelers' positional grades from their Sunday Night Football game against the ... Read More
Cheers and Jeers: McSorley, Barkley propel Penn State past Minnesota
On a wet and rainy Saturday afternoon, the Penn State Nittany Lions overcame a sloppy first half to beat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 29-26 in overtime. Here are the game's “Cheers and jeers.” Cheers Charles in charge— Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley found Irvin Charles for an 80-yard touchdown with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter to cut the Minnesota lead to three. The reception was not only Charles' first touchdown as a member of the Nittany Lion, but it was also his ... Read More
Barkley leads Penn State to victory in overtime
The recipe for victory in overtime for the Penn State Nittany Lions was simple: a single shot of Saquon Barkley and a 25-yard rush to the end zone for six points. Barkley had 38-yards on the ground through four quarters of football early Saturday evening, but his 25-yard touchdown on Penn State's first play in overtime gave the Nittany Lions the score they needed to beat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 29-26. “I think this is something our players needed. Everybody needed,” said head coach ... Read More
Pirates lose three-run lead, fall to Cardinals
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a chance to play spoiler for the St. Louis Cardinals' playoff hopes — they'd be eliminated with a loss and a San Francisco Giants win — but, despite a 3-0 lead before a Cardinal even stepped to the plate, Pittsburgh lost Saturday's game 4-3 at Busch Stadium. This defeat puts the Pirates at 78-82 on the season. Michael Wacha started for the Cardinals and pitched all of one inning. He threw 29 pitches and allowed the three runs on two hits. Those runs came when ... Read More
Markus Wheaton, it’s time to step up
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton was surely anxious to get back onto the field again in the team's Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. He had missed the first two games due to an AC sprain and discomfort in his shoulder. However, in his regular-season debut, Wheaton didn’t perform well. In Pittsburgh's 34-3 loss to the Eagles, Wheaton had just one reception for two yards. He put up negative numbers as well, dropping three passes from quarterback Ben ... Read More