Black n' Gold Blitz

by: Jeff

This section of the blog is a place where I am going to devote my time to talking about the sports teams that I know and love...Pittsburgh sports. I am an avid Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates (yes, even the Pirates) fan. I have alot of thoughts to share with all those Black n' Gold fans out there, so here goes:

- The Steelers are getting ready to start OTAs today (Tuesday) and all anyone is talking about is Ben Roethlisberger and his "relationship" with new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley. Some consider this is a news story, but is it? I don't understand why we feel that players need to really like and get along with their coaches. Some of the greatest coaches of all time were hard nosed individuals that didn't hold anyone's hand (i.e. - Lombardi, Ditka, Landry - just to name a few).

Yet we still always want to treat players with "kid gloves". I loved the hiring of Todd Haley and actually predicted it once Bruce Arians was let go. Haley is a Pittsburgh guy and is a hard nosed coach. He won't tolerate soft players, and that is okay. So what if he yells at Ben if he throws a bad pick...I'd like to see more of that with the Steelers and other teams in the NFL. In my opinion, the Steelers will be better for dumping Arians by the curb. Sometimes change is good, and I think it was indeed time for change. Lets just hope the players can be "big boys", treat their jobs like a real job, and actually get to work and learn this playbook inside and out before the preseason. Time will tell.

- The NHL playoffs are winding down with the conference finals in full swing, but for all but 4 fan bases, their offseason has begun. The Penguins not so graceful exit from the playoffs was depressing. Nonetheless, Ray Shero (Penguins GM) has a lot of decisions to make this offseason. One of those is how to handle the top 3 Centers on the team. Jordan Staal, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby make up the nucleus and heart of the Penguins offense. With that said, the salary cap era states that in the next 3 years one of those players will most likely have to go.

Rumors have been swirling about Jordon Staal possibly going to Toronto, or Carolina to play with his brother Eric...this isn't the first year that these rumors have started. I remember last season when it was rumored that Jordan Staal was traded to Tampa Bay for Steven Stamkos. Anyone who knows anything about hockey knows that deal would never go down straight up. Other players would be involved on the Penguins end. Which leads me to my next point. As much as I love Jordan Staal, if the writing is on the wall that he will be the man without a chair when the salary cap music stops, then the Pens should try to get something in return. They desperately need solid defensemen who don't constantly look to pinch down into the offensive zone too quickly (i.e. - Letang, Lovejoy, Martin) and then get beat the other way off a sloppy turnover or missed shot. Jordan Staal is great, but is he a guy that is labeled as untouchable in today's NHL trade market? Heck no...you want to keep Malkin and Crosby together and hope they get something in return. If he stays, thats great, but if he has to go you might as well get something in return for him.

- Currently the Pittsburgh Pirates are 20-22 as of May 22nd and are only 3.0 games out of the NL Central and standing in 3rd place in the division. I must say (as I'm sure all Pirates fans will say) that I am extremely skeptical with this team. The saving grace for the Buccos this year has been their pitching and a guy named Andrew McCutcheon. I have no doubt that McCutcheon is going to keep improving and will be an All-Star again this year, but what about the pitching? Every Pirates fan was beaming with excitement last year at the All-Star break when the Pirates were over .500 and were contending the for the division crown, but you saw the pitching collapse in the second half and the hap hazard hitting was exposed. The hitting hasn't changed (except for McCutcheon who is hitting .336 right now), and the pitching is keep the team barely afloat. The Pirates have too many holes to contend, but they might be able to break that dreaded losing seasons streak.

They have no power hitter (except Pedro Alvarez and that is a stretch), they have no one intimidating to bat behind McCutcheon, they lack quality depth in their starting rotation, not to mention the lack of a good catcher. All of this, and alot more, say that this team is still a few years away from possibly contending for a division crown and a playoff spot, but for all the doom and gloom I've been talking about there is also reason for hope. Look at the quality young talent on this team: Andrew McCutcheon (OF), Alex Presley (OF), Jose Tabata (OF), Neil Walker (2B), Josh Harrison (IF), and still some quality players coming up in the farm system (Chase D'Arnaud). All I am hoping for is a winning season...not a World Series Championship, but a winning season. Lets hope the time is now!

Until Next Time...Go Pittsburgh!