40 Games and 40 Nights

                    The first half of the 2011 season was a real turning point in the Pirates' franchise. Since then, there have been many "turning points" or stretches of games that will be the biggest and most important "since 92." It's true the 2011 season faded in July, and the 2012 season was an absolute disaster in September. The 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates currently sit with a two game lead in the National League Central on the morning of August 18 with a record of 72-50.  I am not saying there will be a "collapse" or that you should prepare for said "collapse" I am simply pointint out where everything is, and where everything is going. 


                     The Pirates have 40 games remaining, starting with the rubber match against the wild card chasing, Arizona Diamondbacks. Take a look at some breakdowns about the remaining games on the schedule.


- 40 Games Total (18 Home/22 Road)   Pirates Home Record 42-21..Road 30-29

- 12 Series (5 Home, 7 Road)

- 25 Games remaining against the NL Central. ( Reds 6, Cardinals 6, Cubs 7, Brewers 6)

- 12 Games against the NL West.    9-11 record against NL West

- 16 Games against teams over .500 or in playoff contention

- 3 Games with NL West leader Texas. Pirates' interleague record is 12-5

- 13 afternoon game. Pirates have 24-21 day game record. 48-29 Night.

     
                 As you can see, there is no sugarcoating what the Pirates have to do. The Pirates are not a great road team, but they have slightly more games on the road, including a 7 game road trip against the Padres and Giants. Despite the bad records of each team, the Bucs have not fared well against the division overall. The Bucs will also face perhaps their toughest road trip of the season during the September 6-11 span against the Cardinals and Rangers.


               Those points above are simply facts about where the Pirates are, but its obvious what the Pirates need to do, and that is play better than they have the past week. After sweeping the lowly Marlins, the Bucs have dropped 6 of 8, including two tough ones to the team on their heels, the Cardinals.  Through it all, the Pirates still hold a lead over St. Louis and Cincinnati, but heading into the last month and a half, losing 6 of 8 won't fly.


                 The Pirates have some serious concerns heading into these last 40 games.  The pitching is "regressing" a tad.  Jeff Locke has been the one starter that has been around since opening day, and has done better than anyone could have dreamed.  Is he tired, or are some teams starting to figure him out? I'd say a little of both.  Locke's recent trends are disturbing, going 0-1 in five starts, and failing to finish six innings in any of those starts.  He has also allowed 40 hits and 17 walks in his last five outings.  It is probably too soon to make a deal of AJ Burnett, but after his complete game masterpiece on August 4, he has had two poor outings in which he allowed 5 earned runs in both games. Gerrit Cole had an impressive start in his last outing, but how many more does he have left in him?   He has pitched more this season, than he ever has in his life.  Cole is almost assuredly heading for the bullpen eventually. So there it is. The Pirates have a pitching staff in flux heading into the most important 40 games they have had in a while


Is it heading for sudden doom?  I'm not saying that.  An experienced veteran, Wandy Rodriguez, will be back, and hopefully in good enough form to make an impact.  If Clayton Kershaw and Matt Harvey weren't real people, Francisco Liriano would win the Cy Young. He's been that good, and having him around is a great thing moving forward. AJ Burnett had two bad starts, but seeing his role on this team, he's still in line for some big starts.  Jeff Locke should not be written off just yet either, he could be due for a skip in the rotation, and could be good as new.  A lot is to be said about this rotation, but Jeanmar Gomez and Brandon Cumpton could see some starts during September callus, and they have had some big performances this season.


Offensively, nothing has changed. It's inconsistent, and most guys are week to week in terms of being good hitters. Can Cutch carry this team down the stretch, unlike last season? I certainly think so.  For many people saying this was a "down season" for Cutch (something I never understood) the guy looks like an MVP in every sense of the term. Starling Marte makes you want to party or throw your remote through the TV, it just depends on the play. Pedro can mash home runs, and pitchers have to respect him for it. Walker has been dead red hot in August.   But after that is truly concerning.  You can live with Martin and Mercer for the offense they provide for their respective positions. But First Base?  Right Field?    Its ugly, and a rotating door of Jose Tabata, Garrett Jones, Gaby Sanchez, Andrew Lambo, Josh Harrison, Alex Presley, and Travis Snider have all failed miserably thus far.   Jones can still get hot. Lambo deserves a chance, but other than that, it is a real problem for this team.


These 40 games will not only define this season, but it could define a lot of people's career's and tenures and this era of Pirates baseball, like Hurdle and Huntington. We have been at this juncture in the past three seasons many times, as sports writers, fans, radio hosts, and bloggers love to say, "this is the biggest game/series/stretch since 1992." But no, THIS stretch is. THESE 40 games are. The city is riding on it, and baseball has never been so important in this town than it will be over these next 40 games.  The doubters are waiting for a collapse, the fans are hoping for the best, and the baseball world is watching.  Your move, Pirates.

Pitrates mid season awards

                 The Pirates are 52-32. If you do the math, that is over the midseason mark. So yes, I am late, but for all intents and purposes, this is my midseason awards for the Bucs. I'm late, oh well.   I know the Pirate side of my blogging and writing has been lacking, but Cardiac Hill and D6SN duties have outweighed this. Still, I'll try to add some stuff for all seven of my readers on here.....



MVP - Andrew McCutchen - You see this one brought up, and nobody says McCutchen. I totally understand why, but again it all comes down to your interpretation of the meaning of the award. Are other players having great seasons relative to their ability? Absolutely. Are the Pirates 20 games over without McCutchen? Absolutely not.  McCutchen is just that consistent force in the 3 spot every night. He is capable of doing something incredible on offense, defense, or on the bases at any given moment. He is not having a great season that would warrant NL MVP consideration, but quietly he is top 20 in the NL in average, doubles, runs, hits, and stolen bases. Cutch accumulates stats, and is the only hitter in the Pirates lineup sniffing .300 right now. McCutchen is an elite talent in baseball, and one of the few that can make that claim on the Pirates.  Again, its how you interpret the award, but this team needs Cutch far more than any other player.


Best Bat - Pedro Alvarez - Pedro Alvarez is having a tremendous season, and he is right there in the team MVP discussion. Pedro Alvarez can carry an offense for weeks at a time, and he has been doing just that. He may not be what people expected when he was drafted second overall, but he is performing at an All Star level this season. Nobody will ever mistake Alvarez for a batting champ, but his average has been very good thus far, considering his struggles with it earlier in his career. If you double up Pedro's stats from now, you are looking at a  40 HR 110 RBI guy primarily out of the 6 spot in the batting order. Nobody else on this team can do that, Pedro can and should from now on. These are his peak years.  He will take his criticism for strikeouts, even though this whole team strikeouts a ton. He gets unfairly judged by this town, but outside of David Wright, there is not a NL third Basemen I would want on my team. Pittsburgh as a whole should start to realize this.


Best Pitcher - Jeff Locke - There is literally not enough words to say about how well Jeff Locke has second round out of New Hampshire. Do you even begin to realize how talented you have to be to get that recognition? He was always a good minor leaguer right up until last season, but still somehow flew under the radar as a top prospect. I would imagine it is because he is not a 6-5 guy that can throw 97 MPH.  Locke can pitch and locate. 8-1 2.12 ERA?  Those just aren't all star numbers, those are Cy Young numbers.   Now, looking at it through a metric side, Locke may regress a little. He is pitching out of his mind by stranding runners. Its baseball, things will happen. Locke may not pitch like this for a whole season, but I do not see a great drop off by any measure either. He is the one constant this pitching staff has had since day one.
pitched this season. I just realized recently, Locke has almost been portrayed as a guy to come out of nowhere to be here this season, and I bought it.  Locke was drafted in the



Best Free Agent - Russell Martin - Realistically, this team is not all that much different from last year. Sure some players fluctuate, but the same core is in place. Russell Martin is one of the main differences this team holds over last year. Martin has been great defensively, and has been really showing off his arm. In fact, Martin is the best at throwing out runners in the NL. He has also come up with plenty of clutch hits, including a walk off on Sunday against Milwaukee. His average and versatility makes him an option to hit anywhere in the lineup.



Unsung Hero - Mark Melancon - It is just the way baseball is these days. The "Save" is a glorified stat that earns plenty of publicity. Closers make big bucks and come in to end the game. What is the last highlight of a baseball game you see on SportsCenter?  It is likely the closer getting the final out. That sometimes overshadows what a setup man does. Mark Melancon has been just as good, if not better than Grilli this season. Melancon has allowed 4 earned runs in 41.1 innings so far. He has been able to maintain a rapid pace all the way to now, and has really gotten the Pirates out of some serious jams this season, all the while pitching in the same tough leverage situations Grilli has to deal with. Baseball by nature overshadows a good setup man, but the Bucs have a real good one in Melancon, and he has been instrumental to their success.


Biggest Surprise - Jason Grilli - I'll be the first to admit, I did not hop on the Grilled Cheese bandwagon last year. He did pitch well, but faded down the stretch. I guess it was the frustration with the whole team, that led to my personal frustration with Grilli. At 36 years old, I thought he was a flash in the pan type guy. I did not expect him to have an all star caliber season at all this year. I guess some people thought he would do a fine job, but personal expectations have been thoroughly exceeded for me by Jason Grilli.


Top Young Gun -  Starling Marte - Marte is not a rookie, but I made this category up so I could

talk about his season.  Marte has been fantastic, and really has helped create this team's identity.  Marte is not a guy you would look to be an ideal leadoff hitter. He has the speed and pop you would like, but he is a free swinger. Still, Marte is going to accumulate a season full of eye popping stats.  Marte is on pace to steal 40 bases and score 100 plus runs. Marte has 8 home runs and 8 triples, and has played an excellent left field. The Pirates will be fine without a prototypical leadoff hitter, because Marte is such a unique talent at age 24. He really impresses me more than Cutch does at times, which may ultimately allow for the two to switch positions at some point.

Looking at where Pitt stands in recruiting for 2014.

                             One month ago, Paul Chryst has exactly one commitment for the 2014 recruiting class. Naturally, most Pitt fans were in panic mode. Was there a reason to be?  Perhaps. Still, one month later he has locked down 13 more commitments. The recent run should silence some critics for now, but the quality of these recruits have raised questions. Sure, Pitt has not nailed down too many elite players, but they have landed some. Other guys have floated under the radar, and it could be a risk. I think until Paul Chryst really gets off the ground here, the comparisons and similarities to Wisconsin must come naturally. Wisconsin rarely landed elite recruits, but consistently found themselves towards the top of the Big Ten.  I think Chryst and his staff trust their coaching abilities and evaluation process, and to their credit it worked in Wisconsin. I am going to look at what Pitt has so far by ranking the 14 players, and look into the future of what they still need.


1. Michael Grimm OT Pennsylvania - Grimm is a massive presence on the offensive line. He is a 3
star by Scout and ESPN, and 4 star by ESPN. Grimm stands at an overpowering 6-6 330 pounds. He chose Pitt over numerous BCS level offers, and is regarded as one of the best prospects out of Western Pennsylvania.

2. Wade Freebeck QB Florida  - You may look at this kid's offer list, and wonder why I think he is a great recruit. There is a story with this player, and he may be the steal of the year for Pitt. He was injured this past offseason and missed Spring evaluations and Summer camps, so that hurt him right there. He also came from a relatively unknown school to transfer to Florida powerhouse, St. Thomas Aquinas this season. The high profile program, and a healthy senior season, and you are looking at a top flight quarterback prospect. Florida did offer Freebeck at one time, so he has elite enough talent for a national power to have offered him. ESPN sees him as a four star, Rivals only a three. It may be difficult to hang on to him, because some SEC schools should, and likely will, offer Freebeck.

3. Elijah Zeise WR Pennsylvania - Zeise started for Pennsylvania power, North Allegheny, since he was a sophomore. Elijah can play either safety or receiver, but Pitt is taking him for offense. He is a big 6-2 185, with room to get stronger. Zeise chose to play at Pitt over Arizona and WVU, and the Ivy League for that matter. He is a bright and talented kid, a good addition for any program.

4. Mike Herndon DT Virginia - I look for Pitt to open up Virginia as their Southern state of choice with the move to the ACC, and Henrdon appears to be their first victory from VA.  He chose Pitt over home state power, Virginia Tech. He is a massive 6-4 325 defensive tackle that is an excellent athlete. He plays middle linebacker in high school, not many 325 pounders can move like he can.

5. Connor Hayes OG Michigan - Hayes is a good offensive line prospect, and fits the Paul Chryst model of players. He is a big 6-4 presence, with room to add weight. Four year starter in the highest classification in Michigan. He chose Pitt over Syracuse, Duke, and Indiana.

6. Shane Roy DE Ohio - Roy is a nice sized defensive line recruit from the Cincinnati area. He had offers from Boston College and Illinois among many MAC looks. Defensive Line is thin for the Panthers, so he can make an impact soon.

7. Jalen Williams S New York - Williams got the ball rolling on the run of recruits in mid June. He is a Safety with some talent from New York. Rivals sees him as a 3 star, and he picked Pitt over in-state teams, Buffalo and Syracuse

8. Connor Dintino DT Connecticut - Dintino is looked at on recruiting services on offense, but Pitt is taking him for defense. A rare pickup from Connecticut, Dintino is a big player that will be able to plug the middle.

9. Adam Bertke QB Ohio - Bertke may be considered the second option at quarterback for this class, but he won't see it that way. Bertke is a confident player that has won two state championships in his career already, albeit in the smallest classification in Ohio. ESPN likes him much more than Rivals, as he is regarded as Pitt's second best recruit. He has big time size (6-5 210) and has a winning pedigree, could be a steal for Pitt. He had some big ten offers in Purdue and Illinois.

10. Avonte Maddox CB Michigan  - Speed is the name of the game. A reported 4.3 40 time is impressive, although he lacks ideal size. A college weight room should do him wonders. You can't turn down speed. He has a Cincinnati offer to go along with a variety of MAC offers.

11. Patrick Amara DB Pennsylvania - Amara seems like an athletic player from Philadelphia powerhouse, West Catholic.  He should end up on defense, and I think he can be a really good safety down the line. Not a huge recruit, but you still need versatile guys like this in every recruiting class.

12. Brian O'Neill TE Delaware - O'Neill is a big 6-6 tight end prospect. Pitt has loaded up on some talent in this spot in recent seasons, so it may not be the worst idea to take a project mixed in there.

13. Dennis Briggs RB Pennsylvania - A local back that has some ability, but lacked exposure. He does not come from a football powerhouse, and flew under the radar. I think Pitt will take two backs in this class, and the other one will be more highly regarded than Briggs.

14. Quintin Wirgins LB Pennsylvania - Wirgins is another local prospect, and seems like a fallback option already. Pitt missed on some of their top linebacker targets, and Wirgins has some ability. Temple was his only other division one offer, so you have to question that a bit. He is a productive player in AAAA and has size in his defense.

    
That is how I see things to date, but here is what Pitt should look to add before February position by position.

QB - Pitt should be done here. They need to battle some teams to keep Freebeck aboard, but I think he sticks with Pitt.

RB - Briggs is a nice start, but they would like to add another higher profile player. Shai McKenzie from nearby Washington, PA is priority one. Still Chris James from Illinois or Qadree Ollison from New York would be excellent additions. Strange enough, all three of these players have named a top 5, and Pitt is in all three of them.

WR - Pitt added 4 receivers last year, and have Zeise already this year. Still, adding a few more would be ideal. Jamil Kamara and Juwann Winfree are two four star prospects that have wvisited Pitt recently, and have them making their initial cuts. Pitt may be in good standing for both. Saeed Blacknall and KJ Williams are two other four star players that don't appear to have Pitt at the very top of their list, but they have not dismissed them completely. Dorian Baker from Ohio and Steve Ishmael of Florida are 3 star guys that Pitt will also monitor closely. Local athlete, Malik Hooker, would be an excellent addition also.

TE - I expect Pitt to be done with O'Neill.

OL - Pitt added five last season, and they will probably add 4 this season. Grimm and Hayes are a good start, but they would love to add local linemen, Alex Bookser. Brady Taylor from Ohio could also come into play. I think it is hard to pinpoint any other names at this point.

DT -  Ricky Walker from Virginia is a four star to keep an eye on. Two local guys, Brock Boxen and Jaleel Fields, also hold Pitt offers. They have two commits with Dintino and Herndon already, so look for one more defensive tackle, if any, to be added to the class.

DE - Pitt already has Shane Roy, but I could see them going for one more End.


LB -  I think Pitt should consider adding one, maybe two more. Jawhaun Bentley of DeMatha would be an ideal addition.

CB - Maddox is their only corner, but they will add one or two more if necessary. Jaquan Davidson is a local product that could commit eventually.

S - Dravon is the main target here. Also have to think they will go hard after Nicholson as well. Still,
Rasaan Stewart from Eastern PA will be mixed in there also.

Post draft top Pirate prospects.

                       The 2013 draft was an important event for the Pirates organization, simply because they added two first round picks. The two players technically have not signed, so you have to be mindful of that, because we all know what happened with Mark Appel last season. Also, another significant event would be the promotion of Gerrit Cole. I would still label Cole as a prospect, because there is no guarantee he will remian with the big club for good. Although, you would obvioulsy hope he can assert himself as a dominant major league pitcher. I will not include him in the list, just announcing he is still a "prospect" as of now.



1. Jameson Taillon 21yo RHP AA Altoona
Stats - 3-5 3.11 ERA 71 K's 27 BB 66.2 IP


Taillon is now the next in line to be called to the majors. He is having a productive campaign in AA to date, and has really done well with his strikeout numbers. His command has been on par for the most part, but it can still be better. Taillon is just like Cole, he is a power right hander with an electric fastball. Taillon is a former number two overall pick, but he came from high school. His development has taken time, but he is still just 21. I expect to see Taillon finish this season in AAA, even if it is just for a couple starts. He should start next year in AAA regardless, with a good chance to be in Pittsburgh by next June.


2. Gregory Polanco 21yo OF High-A Bradenton
Stats - .313 6 HR  30 RBI  23 SB 66 Hits

Polanco is the crown jewel of position players in the organization. He is also one of many talented young outfielders in the bottom levels of the farm sysem. Polanco could be the right fielder of the future with his 6-4 frame, and could make some significant jumps soon. He should be approaching AA, after doing exceptionally well in two levels of class A the past two seasons. It is believed his power will grow with age, and could be a solid bat in the middle of an order.


3. Luis Heredia 18yo RHP Extended Spring Training
Stats- N/A

 Heredia is an exciting player that is being who is being brought along slowly. He was signed out of Mexico as a 16 year old, and has all the tools to be a front end of the rotation guy. He pitched in short season last year, and it would be ideal if he made it to low-A this season. I do not see a big rush with this kid, especially with some of the depth that has been devloping elsewhere in the system. In a few years, his debut could be bigger than Cole's or Taillon's. Heredia has that kind of promise.

4. Alen Hanson 20yo SS High-A Bradenton
Stats - .278  3 HR  24 RBI  14 SB 62 Hits

Hanson is a very important player to the Pittsburgh organization. They have really struggled drafting and developing a middle infielder from within, and it really shows. AA and AAA are littered with plenty of guys that do not appear to be anything more than career minor leaguers and MLB bench players. Enter: Hanson. The 20 year old has great athleticism and showed some promise offensively last season. Like many young infeilders, defense is not all the way there yet. He has high expectations, and you have to hope he can pull through.

5. Stetson Allie 22yo 1B Low-A West Virginia
Stats - .322  16 HR  55 RBI  73 Hits

The Pirates drafted Stetson Allie as a pitcher that boasted an 101 MPH Fastball. So naturally, Allie has developed into one of the best power hitters in the minors. Allie has his some mammoth bombs this season, that have caught a lot of people's attention. Is he for real? It sure would be nice is he is. Allie has a long way to go, but he is having the best season of any minor league hitter for the Pirates. It is still hard to project his promotions at this point.

6. Austin Meadows 18yo OF Unsigned
Stats - N/A

It could be premature to put Meadows here, but I really think the Pirates drafted a big time player. Any draftee is hard to predict, but Meadows was the 5th best player in the entire draft. He fell to Pittsburgh at number 9, and the Pirates must persuade him away from his Clemson commitment. I do not think it will be a big deal, and he will join a talented group of young outfielders. Meadows has been compared to Cincinnati Reds star, Jay Bruce. He has a big, strong frame that can add power as he gets older. It will be at likely be 3-4 years until we see Meadows, unless he pulls a Mike Trout acceleration through the farm system.

7. Josh Bell 20yo RF Low-A West Virginia
Stats - .277  8 HR   45 RBI   65 Hits

Bell is another special outfielder in Class A. The Pirates took him in the second round of the 2011 draft, although most deemed him not draftable due to his strong commitment to Texas. A huge signing bonus played a role in luring a first round type talent to Pittsburgh. He missed large parts of last season with an injury, so he is repeating in West Virginia. He is still striking out a bit, but it appears Bell is going to be a power hitter in his career. He is a switch hitter, but more power comes when he hits as a lefty. I could see him moving up a class this year, but I could also see Huntington wanting him to get a full year in low-A.

8. Tyler Glasnow 19yo RHP Low-A West Virginia
Stats - 3-1    2.92 ERA    80 K   35 BB   52.1 IP

Glasnow is having an outstanding season. 80 strikeouts in 52 innings is pretty ridiculous. He is not really pitching anymore than 5 innings a start, so its evident the Pirates are letting him develop slowly. He had 11 starts last season, and this will be his first full professional season. Glasnow was a highly thought of prospect, and Pittsburgh used their 4th round selection in 2011 on him. He is a big, lanky pitcher that sticks out at 6-7. He has been pretty overpowering, simply by looking at his strikeout rate. It will be a while before we see Glasnow.

9. Reese McGuire 18yo C Unsigned
Stats - N/A

The Pirates had two top draft picks, and McGuire was their second selection at pick 14. McGuire is regarded as one of the better defensive catchers in recent memory. That alone should make McGuire have a bright future ahead. His bat obviously needs work, but that will be worked on in the minors. He has already declared that he will go with Pittsburgh over college baseball. Hopefully his deal can be worked out soon, and make his way to short season ball this year.

10. Barrett Barnes 21yo OF Low-A West Virginia
Stats - .200   3 RBI   3 Stolen Bases

It is obvious by his stats that Barnes has been hurt this season. Barnes just returned this week with two stints on the disabled list already. He is essentially last year's top draft pick with Appel not signing. He has some athletic ability, and looks to be a centerfielder down the line. He is in a log jam of excellent outfield prospects in the lower levels, that could potentially mean that one could be a piece in a deal at the deadline, if they need to make a move.

Pirates land two high school bats in 2013 draft.

                               The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to add two quality pieces into the organization tonight as they drafted twice in the first 14 picks in the draft. That was due to the Pirates failing to sign Mark Appel in last year's draft. The Pirates were compensated with the 9th pick, as Appel's gamble paid off as he was selected first this time around.  With their first selection, the Bucs chose Austin Meadows of Georgia. A few picks later the Pirates took Washington state catcher, Reese McGuire.  The Pirates seemingly have loaded up in pitching in recent drafts, but clearly offense was the priority in 20123 We now know the names, but its time to take a look into the picks a little further.

Austin Meadows 6-3 215 CF Grayson, Georgia.

 

 

 The Pirates made Meadows their first pick, and it seems like a very good one. The name Jay Bruce comes up when scouts look for a player to compare to Meadows. If the Pirates can find that kind of player with the 9th pick, it was well worth the Mark Appel gamble of last season. Meadows is a left handed batter, and should figure prominently into the future at PNC Park. He played exceptionally well in the IBAF tournament two summers ago for USA, by hitting .537 with 28 RBI. Meadows is regarded as a very good athlete, and was one of the higher rated ones in the draft. He can certainly hit, and could add some power down the line. For the most part he looks like he can play center field, but after doing some reading, some think a move to the corner could happen.  Meadows has a Clemson verbal commitment, but the Pirates should not have trouble signing him. Meadows also joins a very good crop of young outfielders on the farm. Yes, McCutchen and Marte are with the big club, but in the lower levels there are names like Gregory Polanco, Josh Bell, and Barrett Barnes that will be competing for jobs down the line.  It is a good problem to have.

 

 

 

Reese McGuire 6-1 190 C Kentwood, Washington.

 

Most, it not all, major mock draft experts had the Pirates linked to this kid at some point. Many thought McGuire's name would be called in the 9 spot, but luckily for the Pirates, he fell to 14. McGuire had a strong showing this Fall with the U18 USA Team, and ultimately rose as the top catching prospect just this Spring. His defense is highly regarded, and it will be his bat that needs developed. From what I have read, he can run, he has an arm, and is strong behind the plate. He has all the tools to be a polished major league catcher. He is also a left handed bat that should work well at PNC Park. The Pirates should have little trouble prying him away from his San Diego commitment.

 

 



 

 

I'll be sure to update if the Pirates make any exciting moves as the weekend goes on. 



So many kinds of fans.

                        Twitter is a weird place, but also a funny one. If you like sports, then you follow sports related people on there. It is a good way to watch a game, by getting thousands of opinions and comments from hundreds of different people on your feed. You also get to see breaking news unfold, again with up to the second opinions from sports writers, bloggers, tv personalities, or just common fans. You also get to learn quite a bit about certain people, and what they like to do. Let's learn about the different kind of fans.


Pitt fans - We ( I say we because I am one) are a strange bunch. We basically assume the worst at all times, because that is the kind of streak we are on. Between failed recruiting fiascos, coaching changes, and transfers.....Its been a hell of a ride lately. Not to mention having a basketball team be a dominant regular season program, but flop in March does not help spirits. Having a football team that can't live up to expectations, just causes mass hysteria every Fall. We as a whole are a mess.

Penguin fans - Pens fans are weird, because there are different kinds of them. Some like to point out

they watched them before Sidney Crosby, and they won't let you forget it. Some like to think they are "tough" because they watch Hockey, and Hockey players are tough, so that in turn makes them "tough". Some like to think they know more about hockey than the players and coaches themselves, and are not afraid to tweet the world hopelessly about it. Also, most if not all, ride the tide. If the Pens are on a 17 game winning streak phrases like "best team ever come out" but if they are losing "Fire Bylsma" and "Trade Malkin" also are said. And that basically goes from game to game.

Pirate fans - Pirate fans are goofy, and it probably comes from being terrible for many years. The team can be 15 games over, but people are constantly in panic mode. They like to come up with little twitter expressions and use them constantly.  #Tootblan #Hurdled #raiseit #Free(insert minor leaguer doing well) #WeirdBaseball #JerryMealsSaysItsSafe and too many more to mention. Case and point, if things are going right, Bucco fans just assume they will go wrong in a matter of games.

Steeler fans - Steeler fans are some sick people. They routinely forget that other things exist other than the Steelers. These are the people that are too old for Twitter asking the writers, "Do u think the Stillers will be able to run the ball n'at enough dis year?" They also like to brag about 6 Super Bowl rings, and will never let you forget that. They always like the backup quarterback, and will commonly refer to anyone on Baltimore a bitch, despite the Steelers playing the same way. They also believe "The Rooney's won't draft guys with character issues, we're too good for that." Or they like to bash a free agent like James Harrison for not resigning for less money. Like its some crazy notion that a player would rather play somewhere other than Pittsburgh? Are you serious? Really? I dare you to tell him that to his face.

Penn State fans - You are, we get it. Stop saying it.

Notre Dame fans - Are you Irish? Maybe. Are you Catholic? Maybe. Did you or your family go to Notre Dame? Nope.  You fit the criteria.

People that root against Pittsburgh teams just to be different fans - You guys are the worst. You really are. You revel in all of your friend's heartaches and just cause problems. Just stop it.

LeBron James fans - I can't stand you guys either. Everyone that doesn't like LeBron is a hater. Cool dude.

Soccer fans - Sorry, I just feel bad for you.

Hockey fans - "Hockey players are so tough, screw basketball"  No, screw you.

Basketball fans - I don't have a favorite team. I just float around to my favorite player, than act like its my favorite team.

Smart guy fan - I beat my opinions to death, and if you argue against me, I know more than you. So don't do it.

Twitter coach fan - I know what they did wrong, I would have done it this way. Call me Captain Hindsight.

Mention and criticize professional athlete fan - Its one thing to be upset with a player, mentioning him?  Really? You just ate a bag of potato chips and watched the game on your couch.  relax.

Ask for a retweet fan - I'm a grown man asking another grown man for a retweet on twitter.

Mention college athlete/recruit fan - Its just weird.

Call out bandwagon fan - Must prove over and over again that you grew up watching this team, and everyone else sucks.

Casual fan -  "Oh the game is on, cool i'll watch it."

Always going to the game fan - Just twitpicing away your awesome seats, while we are all at home or in a bar.


I think that covers most of it. A good number of those describe myself, so don't feel bad. Stay calm and Tweet on.

Carmelo Anthony is the true MVP

                            LeBron James won his fourth MVP award this week, and for the most part,  rightfully so. LeBron James is a fantastic player, and you will not hear me say differently. I firmly believe he is the best player in basketball. In fact, I truly believe he may be the best basketball player ever. But of course, that is a different debate in itself. The current debate stems from a simple interpretation of the award itself.  Does the MVP actually mean "valuable", or does it mean the best player?  I take the award as this.....what player provides more valuable skills to his team? I obviously think Carmelo Anthony did that for the Knicks more so than LeBron James did with the Heat. Here is how....

                      The Miami Heat have a pretty good roster. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh without
LeBron James still have a top 4 team in the Eastern Conference. LeBron obviously takes that team to a level where they are the undisputed best team in basketball. The fact of the matter is, they could at least compete for a championship or win a series or two without LeBron James. Now, look at the New York Knicks. They are the oldest team ever assembled. The spent most of the season without Melo's running mate, Amare Stoudemire. This left the Knicks with a hodge podge of NBA vets like Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, Kenyon Martin, Jason Kidd. The Knicks also ran with no names like Pablo Prigioni, Chris Copeland, and Iman Shumpert. I feel strong in saying, the Knicks are not even a playoff team without Carmelo Anthony, let alone the second best team in the Eastern Conference.


                    Now of course, some may look at numbers. Carmelo averages 28 points (by taking a lot of shots) and roughly 7 rebounds and less than 3 assists per game.  LeBron averages 26 points per game, with 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. It is clear, LeBron is more efficient, and he makes his teammates better. BUT, that is the kind of player he is. Carmelo Anthony has never been taken for a passing forward, or a guy that is going to bang down low. He is a scoring forward, and one of the best ever at doing just that. Carmelo should not be penalized for the style of game he plays, simply because that is exactly what the Knicks needed him to be. New York needed Anthony to score and take shots, and have the offense run through him. He is not a facilitator, he is a scorer. Miami has a couple of game changing players, the Knicks have just one, the MVP....Carmelo Anthony.

Analyzing the Steelers draft.

--  Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia - The Steelers addressed adding a solid impact player on defense. The

defensive side of the ball is still effective for the Black and Gold, but it is not getting any younger. Jones adds a dynamic player that will help bring youth to the position. A Linebacker unit of Timmons, Woodley, Jones, and perhaps Foote could be a force next season.. Jones had some injuries in his career, even some career threatening ones. He has always been a highly regarded player, and his season at Georgia even had him being projected as a top 10 talent. His combine workouts caused some doubts, but I firmly believe he was the best player available to the Steelers. This team needed to address plenty of holes, but getting Jones was a big one. With James Harrison moving on, the Steelers needed this type of guy. Jones should start right away, and it gives the Steelers a type of player that they can build a defense around.

-- Le'Veon Bell RB Michigan State - The Steelers lost Rashard Mendenhall, and Jonathon Dwyer and Isaac Redman do not appear to be the every down type of option. Le'Veon Bell has the typical Pittsburgh running back build. He is strong, physical, not outwardly fast, but quick enough. Bell is a workhorse, and in an era where you need more than one running back, he seems like a guy that could carry the load on his own. Obviously that will not happen, but examining his numbers at Michigan State, Bell carried the ball an astounding 382 times last season, which led the nation in carries. Bell was effective, and has surprising athleticism with the hurdles in his highlight reels. Perhaps Bell's best asset is his pass catching ability on third down. Bell has caught 67 passes in the past two seasons. He may not have been the back most were expecting, but with a young blossoming offensive line, this style could fit in with what the Steelers are looking to do.

-- Markus Wheaton WR Oregon State - After losing Mike Wallace to free agency, the Steelers needed to address the receiver position. With Antonio Brown being the firm number one option,

Emmanuel Sanders back for another season, and veterans Plaxico Burress and Jericho Cotchery in the fold, Pittsburgh needed an athlete to stretch the field. Wheaton is very fast vertically, and he could be the new Mike Wallace to the offense. While Wallace's hands came into question last season, his deep threat still provided a threat and opened it up for guys like Heath Miller and Antonio Brown. That is what Wheaton will likely do. He turned in a very productive season for Oregon State last season, and essentially can do almost identical things Wallace did. He will see the filed early on, and the Steelers certainly addressed that need.

-- Shamarko Thomas S Syracuse - A very good pick for the fourth round, and if he was any bigger, the guy would have been a second day pick. Thomas can lay down some big time hits, and should give the secondary some much needed athleticism.  With the injury prone Polamalu these days, Thomas should be on the field quite a bit. I have seen some Bob Sanders comparisons out there, and I can see why. Very physical and he is always around the ball. The theme of this draft screams "getting back to Steeler football" and that is a good thing.


--Landry Jones QB Oklahoma - I think it was important for the Steelers to draft a quarterback in this draft. They now have Bruce Gradkowski to be the main backup, as Batch and Leftwhich are

likely done in the Pittsburgh. Still, Pittsburgh needed a young arm to come in and at least grow in the system. Gradkowski is just a plug, but having a guy like Jones can be valuable, though. As you can see, Kevin Kolbs and Matt Flynns can bring you a solid return. Also, with Ben being Ben, Jones will get an opportunity throughout the years because of Roethlisberger's injuries. He has a good pedigree, and he finished his career as the Big 12's all time leading passer. His junior season was a big success, and was considered a top 2-3 round player. His senior season did not go as well, but his talent is there.

-- Terry Hawthorne CB Illinois - At this point, looking for starters is unrealistic. Hawthorne had a productive career at Illinois, and figures to be a 3rd or 4th type corner. He will see some time on special teams, and with injuries, he can work his way on the field. Corner is a tough position to predict sometimes. Hawthorne could be a starter down the line if he adjusts well to the league, but as of now, he is merely a special teamer/backup.


-- Justin Brown WR Oklahoma - The Steelers having already added Wheaton, figured they needed to bring in one more guy. I am fine with that. Sanders does not figure to be a long term guy, and this is a position where you can come from anywhere and make an impact. Antonio Brown will enter 2013 as the top option at receiver, being a former sixth round pick. Brown has some size and potential, and will be there to push veterans Burress and Cotchery.

-- Vince Williams LB Florida State - Williams is a born leader from all reports I have heard, and should come in and give great effort. He is not all that fast or athletic, but he knows how to play. The Steelers needed to add physicality and toughness in this draft, Williams helps in those departments.

-- Nick Williams DT Samford - Williams is a big guy, and could be a hidden gem coming from a small school. He is a perfect fit for an end in a 3-4 alignment, and those guys are not always easy to find. Ziggy Hood and Cam Heyward have been alright, but have not lived up to their potential. Maybe Williams can at least play in some situations.

Roster spots galore for 2013-14 Pitt basketball.

                       Pitt is in a very peculiar position. They return three starters from a 24 win tournament team, and that is usually a sign of good things to come. Now, set in the strangeness. Pitt lost two midseason transfers, a postseason transfer in Trey Zeigler, and an early NBA departure in Steven Adams. Add those losses with the graduation of Tray Woodall and Dante Taylor, the Panthers only have seven returning scholarships players for 2013-14. That is quite a roster turnover. Jamie Dixon has only three commitments to date, thus leaving three spots unused.

                 Pitt has talent, and there is no doubt about that. They still have some glaring holes, and  some noticeable weaknesses. Dixon currently sits without a true Center, and realistically only two true post players in all for next season. Pitt is also weak in the outside shooting department with Durand Johnson as the only true threat from the perimeter. This should certainly create some doubt for Panther fans. It is unfamiliar territory, especially with the transition to the ACC.

 
                      Jamie Dixon has been hitting the transfer and Junior College trail pretty hard, considering most High School prospects have decided on their college future. The Panthers need size and shooting. Pitt has been linked to Junior College Center, Joe Uchebo. Also, NYC guard, Jon Severe listed Pitt is his lists of finalists. Tulane transfer, Josh Davis, has been linked with many big programs, and Pitt is one of them. Still, its hard to imagine Pitt ending up with all three of them, if any at all. Pitt has enough pieces to compete in the ACC, and believe it or not, only a guy or two away from being a top 25 caliber team. There will be some new names at the Pete next season, and it could be for the better or worse depending on who they get.

Third annual insanely too early college basketball top 25.

1. Kentucky- It has to be Kentucky, right? The Wildcats welcome six of the nation's top 20 high school seniors. Andrew and Aaron Harrison become one of the nation's best backcourts instantly.  Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, and Marcus Lee will look to fill the void left by Nerlens Noel. Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress are returning to make it a star studded team with some experience. The Wildcats are easily the odds on favorites to win it all, and its pretty remarkable they can go from bounced in the first round of the NIT to preseason number one. If anyone could swing that, it would be John Calipari. 

2. Duke - I really like what Duke has lined up for next season. Quinn Cook returns as a solid, veteran point guard. Rasheed Sulaimon returns from a good freshman campaign and can be one of the best guards in the ACC.  From there, Duke welcomes Jabari Parker in to the fold. Parker is arguably the nation's top recruit, and at 6-8 can be a very difficult player to defend. Rodney Hood comes in as a very talented transfer from Mississippi State. Having the benefit of practicing with team this season, Hood should hit the ground running. Duke has tons of depth and talent, and with Coach K, the final four never seems too far away.

3. Michigan State- Assuming Adreian Payne and Gary Harris stick around, the Spartans will be returning just about everyone from last season's sweet 16 team. Keith Appling and Gary Harris were the top two scorers from last season in the backcourt. Brandon Dawson proved to be a good small forward, and Adreian Payne emerged as a top player. Coach Izzo has a ton of depth with this squad, and they should be the frontrunners of the Big Ten.

4. Marquette - The Golden Eagles have plenty coming back from an Elite Eight team, and they have an outstanding recruiting class. It does not seem right that a Buzz Williams team has this kind of preseason recognition, but they won't be  sneaking up anyone this season. Vander Blue(assuming he withdraws his name) will be back to lead the guard oriented attack. Devante Gardner emerged as a serious threat down low, and he also will be back. Jamil Wilson and Juan Anderson are two very good wings as well. Marquette will welcome prize recruit, 6-4 shooting guard JaJuan Johnson along with solid in-state recruits, Duane Wilson and Deonte Burton.

5. North Carolina - UNC still has one big piece that could return, and if James McAdoo decides to stay, the Tar Heels will be in good shape. They should be in good shape either way.  PJ Hairton is an excellent start to the team. He should be one of the top scorers in the ACC. His running mate is no slouch either in Reggie Bullock(if he withdraws). Marcus Paige returns after a strong freshman season at point guard. Along with a solid cast of role players, UNC has the talent to be a top tier team. Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks are two freshmen that should see minutes in the post, and Nate Britt will be a good backup to Paige.

6.  Arizona - Sean Miller will have a very talented group this season, and could make some serious noise in the postseason. The touted 2012 recruiting class did not come in and dominate right away, but the talent is still there. Kaleb Tarczewski should develop into a top flight big man. Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett will battle for minutes at the four, but the two sophomores should be improved. Miller was able to snag Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Aaron Gordon as five star small forwards in the recruiting cycle. Duquesne transfer, TJ McConnell will come in and be able to compete for a wide open point guard position and team up with Nick Johnson in the backcourt.

7. Louisville - The defending national champions will have some noticeable pieces missing going into next season, but should have enough to remain a final four contender. Russ Smith still being on the fence makes a difference. Chane Behannan and Wayne Blackshear are both back at the forward spots, along with sophomore, Montrezl Harrell there for depth. Luke Hancock had an excellent tournament run, and he will be one of the go to guys this season. Peyton Siva will be missed, but Terry Rozier should step right in and play. The lack of a Center is a big concern, but they still have enough athletes at the forward spots to contend.

8. Ohio State - The Buckeyes lose leading scorer, Deshaun Thomas, but bring back everything else. Aaron Craft is one of the best point guards in the country, and could be walking into his best offensive season yet. Lanzelle Smith should develop into a top scoring threat. LaQuentin Ross will need to step up his scoring this season. The Buckeyes need to offset the scoring loss of Thomas, and find a reliable big man, but they do have good guards and wings. Marc Loving is a true freshman that could contribute early in the post.

9. Connecticut - After a season on probation, the Huskies should climb back into the national scene. UConn played well throughout the season, and Kevin Ollie appears to be the right guy to uphold the strong tradition for the Huskies. Shabazz Napier is going to be a senior point guard that has a national championship under his belt, so you have to like his experience. Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun are excellent off ball scoring options, and should really form a lethal backcourt. DeAndre Daniels proved to be a good forward. UConn also has experienced role guys like Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander, and Enosch Wolf.

10. Memphis - Memphis has ao wealth of talent returning, and another wave coming in. The backcourt trio of Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Geron Johnson is outstanding. Shaq Goodwin will be the most experienced big man in the rotation, and he stands to improve heading into his sophomore season. The talent coming in for the Tigers will help make this a championship contender. Austin Nichols is the most highly touted of the bunch, and he should play immediately. Kuran Iverson and Nick King are two wings that should also see early time. Memphis does lack that force in the paint, but they are easily one of the most athletic teams in the college game.

April 8 Top Ten Pirate Prospects.

1. Gerrit Cole AAA Indianapolis RHP 22 years old. 

I think its pretty clear across the board that Gerrit Cole is the Pirates' top prospect. After a very solid
Spring, Cole let it be known throughout the organization that he can probably pitch in the big leagues this season. Whether it be for financial reasons or legitimate pitching concerns, he started the season at AAA.  I have no problem with it, because they did not have to rush him right away. The pitching has not played a huge role in the early season woes, its an offensive struggle currently. He will come up at some point this season, and he very well could take the league by storm. He has that kind of talent. He had a shaky first start this season, but by no means should it be alarming. It is too early for that.

2. Jameson Taillon AA Altoona RHP 21 years old.

Jameson Taillon is almost at that same level as Gerrit Cole. He possesses that electric front end of the rotation type of arm. He is an exciting prospect in his own right, and he should be at AAA by the season's end. Taillon could see Pittsburgh next season, but I do not mind easing these guys along. Other teams have rushed their guys, and they spend a few seasons bouncing around before they are full time major leaguers. Taillon is very young, but loaded with upside. He pitched very well in his first start in Altoona by allowing no runs, walking one, and striking out four in five innings of work.

 

3. Gregory Polanco A Bradenten OF 21 years old.

Polanco has outstanding upside, and can make some serious moves in the coming years within the organization. As we all well know, Andrew McCutchen is the only sure thing in the current Pirate outfield, and with an average cast of AA and AAA outfielders, Polanco will begin to stick out even more. He stole 40 bases last season, while also batting .325. He has some of the ability that makes you want to say "five tool" player. He could find his way in Altoona by the end of the season, but will spend the majority at Bradenten, unless he goes on an exceptional streak.

4. Alan Hanson A Bradenton SS 20 years old.

Hansen really emerged as a solid infield prospect last season. You would be able to find him among many of the top 100 prospect list out there. As most young shortstops do, he is not there 100% defensively. The athleticism and bat are noticeable. He is smallish, and you could see at second base at some point, but as of now he remains the top shortstop in the system. He had an outstanding first half last season with West Virginia, but cooled off considerably in the later parts of the season. Still, he has the tools, and he is so young.  I assume he moves along slowly, but could still be knocking on the major league door when he is 23, assuming he continues to progress.

5. Luis Heredia A Jamestown RHP 18 years old.

Without a doubt the most intriguing prospect in the system. He was a major coup for the international
staff, and one of the more higher profile signings the organization has ever had. He was signed at 16, with a 95 MPH fast ball and a 6-5 build. The potential was, and very much still is right there. He had  a very good campaign with short season, State College last year. That was going up against mainly college players in the equivalent as his senior year of high school. So yeah, he is ahead of the curve. It may be a while until he gets to PNC Park, but he will be one of the more highly anticipated minor leagues Pittsburgh has ever seen.

 

6. Josh Bell A West Virginia OF 20 years old.

Bell was a first round talent that fell into the Pirates lap a few years back. He was over slotted for his services, but it could prove to be a wise move for the organization. At 6-4, he has the potential to reaqlly be a solid corner outfielder down the line. An injury held him out most of last season, so he will be in low A West Virginia again. If he can adjust, and show what he needs to, he should be in Bradenton soon enough.

7. Barrett Barnes OF 21 years old.

Barnes was essentially the top draft pick of last year with Mark Appel going back to school. Barnes had an injury last season, but was playing well up until then. He has good speed, and could be a nice defensive outfielder down the road. I'm not sold on his hitting ability just yet, but that's what the minors are supposed to teach these guys.

8. Alex Dickerson AA Altoona 1B 22 years old.

Dickerson was a fairly high pick, and came as a pretty well polished hitter. He is not the greatest first baseman, but he holds his own. Dickerson is one of the few position players in AAA or AA that has legitimate prospect status. He's already started out well in Altoona, and could find himself in Indy if he stays productive. 

9. Wyatt Mathisen A West Virginia C 19 years old.

Wyatt Mathisen may not be the greatest prospect just yet, but I can see him turning into one. First of all, the flop of Tony Sanchez puts the position at a premium within the organization. Mathisen has good athleticism and a good enough bat to be drafted in the second round last year. At 19, he will be playing in low A ball as an everyday Catcher. If he proves he can hit, his value will go up immensely.

10. Clay Holmes A West Virginia RHP 20 years old.

 

Holmes had a good run in short season last year. I do not put him in the class with Cole, Taillon, Heredia because he does not appear to be that overpowering 1-2 guy in the rotation. Sounds like he relies on being more of a groundball type of pitcher. He had a bad start to this season, but he should work his way out of it.

STOP freaking out.

                       Perception wise, yeah this was a bad day for sure if you are a Pitt fan. Still, the Pitt fan in us all makes things worse than they typically are. Hell yeah Pitt has had some unfortunate luck over the past few years, but Pitt fans love the "woe as me" card a little too much. I will address each situation that has happened recently, and try to put a positive spin on all things, or for the very least, a realistic one. 

Jamie Dixon signed to a ten year extension.

This one is a little ridiculous. The guy is a good coach. Is the postseason success there, yet? Not enitrely. Pitt has had some good teams, and they have been close in the past. For whatever reason, Pitt fans or whoever follows the team somehow had high expectations for this past Pitt team. Case in point, how many tweets did you see, "Dixon can't win in the postseason" "Same old Pitt"  "They lost in the first round, AGAIN?" and so on and so forth.  FACTS

- This Pitt team was not very good.

-They lost in a 8-9 game, not a 3-14.

Yet, people still found a way to criticize Pitt for losing.  I agree, the way the lost was inexcusable, but losing in general was not.  Legitimately, what made Pitt good?  They had a lot of average players, and they had a lot of guys waiting for their potential to be reached. Dixon was able to gut out 12 conference wins with that unit. After the debacle in 2012, I would say that is pretty good improvment.

       Enough on my little skit on why the 2013 Pitt team was average. Jamie Dixon usually gets the most of his teams. He is a very good coach, for coaching minimal talent. Seriously, the guy earned a one seed with Nasir Robinson, Gary McGhee, and Brad Wannamaker in his starting lineup. Forgive me formyth you hear about Dixon is that his system is not recruit friendly, and it can not win.  NONSENSE.  It most certainly can win. Look at the Elite 8 team. It had two NBA second round picks, and it was one stop away from the Final Four. You see, talent is the issue, NOT the system, and not the coaching.

saying, but that is a damn good job.  Another

          To be successful, Dixon needs to find a lot of guys that fit his system, but also 2-3 guys that can flat out play. He needs to take more chances with high profile guys, and sacrifice some defense for some scoring.  Again, I must stress, it is not the system, it is who is in it.  Pitt was very limited this past season.  I think they have some pieces moving forward, but they need more athletes.

Rushel Shell Leaving.

Rushel Shell was the best High School running back from Pennsylvania since LeSean McCoy. It was absolutely a big coup to land him for Pitt. He could have gone anywhere, yet chose to stay close to

home. I'm sure the family aspect had to play a role, but he could have stayed up North and gone to another school. He took on being the hometown star role, and that is not always the easiest thing to do.  By the sounds of it, Paul Chryst did not lay things out easy for Rushel Shell. He challenged him to work harder and called him out when he did not. (At least that is the perception out there) Shell was the star player at Hopewell High, he could run over any kid in Pennsylvania, but college is a different game. He needed to work harder. Plain and Simple.

The leaving aspect makes very little sense. He was the guy at Pitt. Paul Chryst knows a thing or two about churning out good running backs, and Shell was playing in an offense built for him.  He was also close to his daughters. In terms of a better situation, there was not one. Playing time, level of competion, being the featured guy, and close to family. He really had everything going for him.  The relationship between him and the coaching staff must have been real shaky.  From player accounts, they seem caught off guard too. The really weird thing, Shell has been a good ambassador for the school the past few months. He helped recruit Tyler Boyd, and was putting in good words with plenty of top notch

guys. It is a very curious decision, but sometimes 19 year olds make those. The thing with Shell, if he was a problem in the locker room, than you will not miss him as much. I will take the team over one guy. He could have hurt, more than he helped.

The Pitt side of things, they lose a stud running back. That is the bad news. The good news is that they have some capable guys that can step in. They even better news, running backs are not terribly hard to find. Chryst made some guys out of nothing, Pitt turned Dion Lewis into a star as well. It can be done. Pitt also gets in even better standing with Shai McKenzie.  McKenzie is Pitt's top 2014 target on offense, and he is a fan of Pitt. He is being recruited by everyone, but states playing time is key. Shell will not be blocking his way now. At that same time, Shell can bad mouth Pitt to recruits, but that seems very far fetched.

Trey Zeigler Transferring. 

Hardly big news. Zeigler struggled mightly coming to Pitt from Central Michigan. Zeigler was supposed to come in and start, yet lost his job to James Robinson.  He also got a DUI, and saw his playing time dwindle down the stretch. It was clear he did not fit in here, and it was apparent he was not quite good enough to play at the highest levels of Division One. It hurts depth wise, but Zeigler would have had to make significant strides to become a high impact player.

Steven Adams Declaring for the NBA.

This just came at a very bad time. The news of the two transfers just had the fan base that loves to pity itself all fired up as it was. This was just a bad day for him to declare, but I am glad he just got it out of the way.  This is bad for Pitt, because they lose a very talented guy. This is not like Shell selfishly bailing on his team, Adams is going to the NBA. You know, something that happens ALL the time?  Adams was an orphan on the streets of New Zealand to being a first round pick, are some dumb Pitt fans really going to criticize that?  Please.  I understand he said he was going to stay, but you should

know never listen to a 19 year old. Hell, if it were between another year of school or the NBA and a seven figure paycheck, how many people would really stay amateur?

On the outside, this is good for Pitt perception. Dixon will get his first, first round draft pick while at Pitt.  That looks good to recruits, and it can get them in the door for a higher caliber of player. Adams just did not seem ready, and it threw people off. And again, the timing just seemed like another punch in the face. It may be the best option for Steve, and even if it isn't, I hope it works for him. The guy has unlimited potential. Pitt does need to replace him, and they actually have three other scholarships open. They appear to be in the works for a JUCO Center, a couple of shooting guards, and some other prospects.  The roster will be filled, and life will move on.



Opening Day roster reaction: The Pitching Staff.

                              I have been busy with Pitt, NCAA tournamen business, and of course High School Basketball. I love all things sports, but Pirates baseball has always been the backbone of this blog, at least I like to think it is. I'll try to keep up with the season and the events it brings as best as I can on the blog. Forewarning, I am not the most knowledgeable baseball guru, but I can hold my own. Again, I like to think so. I will tell it how it is, or how I see how it is. If you are looking for sabermetrics statistics, this probably is not the place for you. I do not understand it all, but I understand some people like it. I do not get why a trillion little acronyms tell me why Andrew McCutchen is the best centerfielder in baseball anymore than the usual stats do, but again its just not my cup of tea. So the forewarning is over, we can talk some baseball.

Starting rotation- The Pirates will anchor their staff with 36 year old righty, AJ Burnett. Burnett is coming off of a bit of a revivial season. He was able to be the main guy in Pittsburgh mostly, but like most of the Pittsburgh baseball club, he tailed off late in the season. He still possess a good fastball, and his control still appears to be on par. Burnett's best assets are his passion, and leadership. He is one of the leader's of the clubhouse, and younger guys seem to respond to him. The Pirates will be asking a lot of the veteran. I'm hopeful he can produce in the 15 win range again. After that,  Wandy Rodriguez will be the number 2 man in the rotation. The 34 year old lefty was the big trade acquistion last season, and came with mixed results. Overall, Rodriguez has been a pretty consistent big league pitcher, and I see him being able to post double digit wins again. He is an inning eater, and every rotation needs a few of those. James McDonald will enter as the third starting pitcher. He had a strange season last season, as he looked like an All Star for half the season, and flopped for the most part in the second half. You will hear about the great stuff and potential he possess, and you will see it too. The key is consistency. I get less thrilled with the potential of the remaining two spots. Francisco Liriano will begin the season on the DL, but he has had a less than ideal past few seasons. He may be able to turn some things around, but he needs to prove it.  Jonathan Sanchez will take his place, and that may not be a good thing. Sanchez had a few OK seasons with San Francisco, but nothing great for being in a good pitcher's park. He had a horrid 2012, and a bad Spring. Jeff Locke beat out Kyle McPhearson for the fifth spot. Both guys are organization guys with limited major league potential. Neither are more than fringe fifth starters, but they are not terrible. Locke gives the rotation three left handers, which does not excite me.  

Analysis- Simply put, Burnett needs to pitch pretty much on par with what he did last year. The rotation's success starts with him, and actually with the dead weight at the back end, he may need to do more than last year.  Rodriguez needs to find his grove in Pittsburgh. He struggled initially after the trade, but got it going somewhat. He still has some good seasons left in him, and the Pirates could sure use one. James McDonald is all about consistency, he can pitch like an ace on one night and a minor leaguer the next. Locke and Sanchez seem to be fillers for Liriano and Jeff Karstens. Karstens in return appears to be a filler for top prospect, Gerrit Cole. The Pirates can hang on to Cole longer if they hold out to June, so unless some unforseeable mess of injuries occurs, do not expect to see Cole before then. He will be in Pittsburgh around then, if all things hold true. The other top prospect, Jameson Taillon, seems a longshot to make Pittsburgh this year, but it could happen. The rotation can be a strength, but it is no doubt shaky. Consistency is the key.

My Grade- C

Bullpen- The Bullpen will look much different without Joel Hanrahan as its face. The two time all star was shipped up to Boston. (Dropkick Murpphy's reference: intended) The Pirates will have some familar faces from last season, some new intriguing ones, and being brutally honest, some bad ones.  Jason Grilli will assume the role as closer to start the season. The 36 year old can still bring the fastball, and is coming off the best season of his career. The Pirates found him out of nowhere (and sidenote--if nothing else, Neal Huntington can scout out relief pitching.) Grilli will need to be that guy to shut down and seal off close games, the Hammer was pretty good, and he also had a good entrance video, so Grilli has so much to live up to. After that, I see  Mark Melancon being pretty good. He had a good Spring training, and the talent is there. The cliche "change of scenery" can definitely apply here. He has a good fastball, and has closer potential down the line. Hanrahan had similar credentials before joining the Pirates, and he turned out to be pretty good. Jared Hughes is another right hander that can be placed at the back of the bullpen. He looks like a bully out on the mound, and he had a tremendous Spring following up a solid 2012 campaign. Tony Watson will be the top left hander. He had a miserable Spring, and an OK 2012. I think Watson can be a desent option for Hurdle in situational use. Justin Wilson was kept on as another lefty, and I like what he can become. He throws in the high 90's and can strikeout a lot of batters, and he is only 25. He was a starter for most of his minor league career, but I like the thought of him in the Bullpen.  Jeanmar Gomez is young and was a starting pitcher in Cleveland up until now. I am not exactly sure how or why he is in the Pirates' bullpen. Chris Leroux had a 8.59 ERA in Spring Training, and he is on the 25 man roster. That is all I need to say.

Analysis- Joel Hanrahan is a little better than some Pirate fans would like to admit, and he will be missed. The comfort of knowing he was there, was a nice luxury. I am not a big Grilli guy, and I will be surprised if he remains the closer throughout the season. I like what Melancon can be. Guys like Hughes, Wilson, and Watson are homegrown guys, and they can be reliable. After that, I say there are some MAJOR probelems. Leroux? Gomez? Ehhh, I bet this will be a revolving door.

My Grade- C-

The Last One

                        This is not meant to be a nostalgic sob story by an old time sport's writer distraught about the Big East conference as we know it ending. Unfortunatley, it will just be a young bloggers goodbye to the greatest college basketball conference ever assembled. There is no real great place to begin when describing the Big East and its postseason tournament. It is dripping wet with college basketball history and lore. This piece will not do it justice, but I am going to give it Hell.

                 Where to start, ah yes, The Garden. The Mecca, The World's most famous arena. Is there possibly a better venue? Not a chance. The arena is built for this. Sure, the Knicks and Rangers are the tennents, but the Garden is for Big East Basketball. Plain and simple. The collection of fans it brings together, and the playground of Manhattan just beckoning outside these hallowed walls, it is indescribible. The fans are the atmosphere, but something about that building brings it to a whole new level. I will dare to say that is the best atmosphere in all of college basketball. It does not have the Final Four importance, nor does it have the national relevance that the first weekend of the tournament has, and it certainly does not have that on campus feel. But it is better. Ask someone that has been there.


                     I am a veteran of five Big East tournaments. I have witnessed four Big East Tournament Titles, and have been to close to twenty games inside the Garden overall. The passion this tournament brings trumps that of the NCAA tournament. Its the Garden, you are not just rooting against some of these teams, you hate them. You hate their fans, and they hate you. Its college basketball at its most pure level. UConn, Syracuse?  Calhoun, Boeheim, Huggins?  They were the villains that took over Gotham for one week in the middle of March annually. But, no more.

The allure of the Big East tournament was and still is simple. A weekend in New York in March. check. Watching some of the best basketball money can buy. check. Need I say more?  That is why I am going to miss it.

-Seeing Gerry McNamara takeover a town for a weekend (Hell, I was half rooting for him towards the end) -The collection of iconic coaches roaming the sideline, Calhoun, Pitino, Huggins, Boeheim, Dixon, Wright, Thompson III. 
-The level of play with the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Emeka Okafor, Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith, and so on and on and on and on......
-UConn, Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova,Cincinnati, Notre Dame all in the same building in one weekend
-Walking down Broadway wearing your team colors proudly.
-Having some wild stories to tell, or well, ehh maybe not tell.

                   It sucks, it is over. Still,  the name will lives on, and half of the league will continue to have this weekend, but they know it will never be the same. How could it?  Butler and Xavier are not Pitt and Syracuse. As a Pitt fan, how am I going to get excited about the ACC tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina? How as a town can Greensboro expect to create excitment for Pitt, Syracuse, Louisville, and Notre Dame fans? It can not. The Big East tournament was one of a kind, and it is dead. It is something that will be talked about as long as college basketball is being played. The Big East had it right. Now all they will have will be the two minute montages ESPN put together.

             My last and greatest Big East tournament story took place just this past weekend, my friend calls me Saturday around noon. "Do you want to go to the Big East Championship, its the last one." I think it took me all of two seconds to say yes. Seven hours later we are scalping tickets for $100 outside of Pennsylvania Station. We were there, we made the last one. A long night of bickering Syracuse fans, celebrating Saint Patrick's Day, and waking up on a hotel room floor with a giant hole in my wallet later.....was it worth it?  No Doubt. I saw the last Big East Tournament game, and that is nothing I will ever forget.