.
BRADENTON, Fla. – Brief and to the Point …
>> My Wednesday column is about the Pirates’ pitch-perfect prioritizing of elite pitching.
All I’ll add here is a little extra oomph to my paragraph in there about how big all these guys are. Can’t stress this enough: Used to be you’d walk through minor-league camp, and all the pitchers looked like a young Brian Burres, small and thin. Now, it’s like watching the linebackers walk around in Latrobe. They don’t look like they’re there to face hitters. They look like they’re there to eat hitters.
Neal Huntington and his staff long have sought bigger bodies, believing it’s a path to better velocity and durability. It might or might not work, but it’s certainly in full effect.
>> Raise your hand if you had Sidney Crosby returning on a line with Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy.
Yeah, me neither.
I see what Dan Bylsma’s doing — forcibly limiting Crosby’s minutes as he returns with three road games in four days — and appreciate it. But I liked even better that Bylsma allowed that Crosby and Jordan Staal could skate together before long.
>> The opening of NFL free agency brought an expected nothing for the Steelers — no money means no money — but there was at least one powerful message: When the Bucs signed free-agent wide receiver Vincent Jackson to a five-year, $55.5 million contract, it essentially set the bar for what Mike Wallace might expect if/when he hits the open market.
In other words, that’s the price. The Steelers don’t have to come up with it now, but they will next year.
Would you pay that?
I’ll let you go first, then chime in tomorrow.
In the meantime, Willie Gay wants to stay.
>> Down goes Wofford! Tonight! Print it, bay-beeeeee!
No, I can’t see, and wouldn’t want, the Steelers dedicating that significant a percentage of their payroll to Wallace. He runs fast, and he’d be missed, but at that amount he’s just not the all-around football player to deserve it.
William Gay…this guy terrorizes me. Just when I think that he’s a debacle he steps up and puts up 4 or 5 really solid games. I’d take him back, at the right price, with the hope that Brown and/or Cortez begin to take snaps from him.
Glad to have you on-site in Bradenton. Can’t wait for that Matt Hague article. In the meantime, spend a little while watching Pedro swing and try to convince me that he’s more than a .230 hitter that runs into one every once in a while that goes a long way.
DK: Hague? Biertempfel just wrote him for yesterday. Check our Pirates page.
Love the Willie Gay analysis. At least you see the good. Most don’t.
@DK…. “I confess….”
…that you write about pitching like John Madden talks about quarterbacks… top shelf, DK.
Dejan,
These young pitchers are so good, They Might Be Giants.
Wow, what a crazy night. First I watch my BYU boys come back and win from 25 points down, and then I see highlights of Pedro Ciriaco hitting a monster walk-off homer and in-the-park home run for the Red Sox.
And very, very enjoyable column today, DK. It’s truly amazing that we can get excited about anything Pirates anymore, but it’s tough to avoid it with these guys.
No! Jackson got such a deal because the Bucs are so far under the cap. 11m per year is too much unless your Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, et al. Somewhere in the range of 40-44m for 6 or 7 years should be the limit for Wallace. Especially if they sign him before he becomes unrestricted.
System will not take morning links, get message saying “Your comment has been marked as spam or unwanted by Mollom. It could not be accepted.”
Great Article today DK! We are finally getting close. Very exciting! Go Bucs!
Uh-oh…trouble in the blog…first Groat yesterday with half his comments missing. Now JAL can’t post links. See what happens when DK goes away???!!
I never dreamed Bylsma would put Sid on a line with Cookie and TK, but yes, I do love it. Let Sid EASE his way in this time back. Especially with some really tough games coming up against the Rangers and Philly. I like it.
I am so excited for tomorrow’s game I could just dance around the office!
I’m also hoping we hear today that Letang is coming back tomorrow as well.
I tried to post smaller sections and got same message
JAL’s Poor Side of Town Morning Links
GENERAL DAILY UPDATED BASEBALL SITES
1- MLB Transactions
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
Wow can post 2 at time–that would take forever–to do even that had to go through another page tying in a code. Might post a few of what I consider the best
Amend that, now won’t even take 1, I surrender.
JAL….just tried posting your links from the Plus page. I got the same error.
Good to see that Echo isn’t the only blog software that ‘acts up’.
DK……I agree….so tired of those tough, pitch to contact guys.
Gimme guys who can overpower batters. And we might have THREE of them?
ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh baby!!!
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Btw, did everyone enjoy those play in games last night? Talk about come backs….BOTH games!!!
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Thanks for the effort JAL!
“Neal Huntington and his staff long have sought bigger bodies,”
I don’t know about the people on his staff, but this seems obvious for Neal Huntington. I mean the guy is about 5’5″. At that size, who wouldn’t want a bigger body.
Would I want to pay Wallace $11m a year for 5 years? NO. And I wouldn’t pay Vincent Jackson that much either. But I am not some desperate GM either (talking about the Bucs)
JAL, go on strike! File a grievance with the union
I miss the links already :/
Sorry, I forget the
with my earlier post.
TC, are you giving Drew competition again?
JAL,
That’s the same message I got 4 times yesterday when I tried to post.
It would only post my first line and cut off in mid-sentence all the rest of my post.
I took your advice yesterday afternoon and quit trying! To quote you, “There is no reason on the web.”
Interesting that the web problems here at the Trib are coinciding with the launch of the new-look website of the ‘other major newspaper’ in Pittsburgh.
Which, incidentally, I liken to dressing a ninety-five year old man in a Hawaiian shirt. Complete with the ‘rainbow.’
Are we in some future defining moment with the web? Certainly miss the reliable JAL links. Doesn’t the PG “New look” web site suck? I, of course, see conspiracy s involved here. Hope I’m wrong, as I have occasionally been known to be.
Stuart
If JAL can’t post his links, we inmates will riot.
We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way, Trib.
What am I supposed to do? Just wander out into the dark scary forest of sports websites without the guiding hand of JAL? With no morning music link to accompany me?
Get it together Trib Techies.
Does anyone know the guaranteed money on Vincent Jackson’s contract?
Stuart, yes the other papers’ new look does suck…badly!
Someone please shine a light over OshKosh’s way before he falls flat on his face!
@Nater
$26mm is guaranteed, if I’m not mistaken.
JohninOshkosh
The music link did post , number 10, Title song Poor Side of Town , Johnny Rivers, 1966. Rivers first hit the charts in 1963 with the TV theme song Secret Agent Man. Poor Side of Town, his only number 1, was in the middle of string of songs that charted from 1966 through 1977. Rivers still performs, mostly at resorts and casinos. Theme this week is the top 7 songs on the KDKA Aces of the Air sound survey, October 31 1966. This song was number 4, down from number 2 the week before.
I would sign Wallace. He is an essential part of the offense.
I wish #56 (Wood) had earned his big $ contract from last season, but it still doesnt make me gun shy to pay an elite player.
I would rather have Wallace than a Justin Blackmon type, so it just makes sense to pay #17.
2-MLB Trade Rumors-Pirates
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/pittsburgh_pirates/
3 Yahoo Free Agent Tracker
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AvN8KLXkNW0TcRjzSCagLIMBbgM6?slug=jp-passan_ultimate_free_agent_tracker_baseball_110211
4 Pittsburgh Pirates 2012 Spring Training Tracker
http://www.piratesprospects.com/st2012
5 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Broadcast Schedule
http://blogs.piratesprospects.com/williams/2012-pittsburgh-pirates-spring-training-broadcast-schedule/
PIRATE BLOGS
6—Pirates Prospects
Gifted and Talented
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2012/03/gifted-and-talented.html
Pedro Alvarez Working On Bouncing Back From 2011 Season
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2012/03/pedro-alvarez-working-on-bouncing-back-from-2011-season.html
Pirates Notebook: No Reason Meek’s Velocity Won’t Return
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2012/03/pirates-notebook-no-reason-meeks-velocity-wont-return.html
Prospect Notebook: Gerrit Cole Is a Special Pitcher
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2012/03/prospect-notebook-gerrit-cole-is-a-special-pitcher.html
Pirates Notebook: Hague Battling for Bench Job
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2012/03/pirates-notebook-hague-battling-for-bench-job.html
7 Rumbunter
Pittsburgh Pirates: What Coach Hurdle Said / The Rumbunter Podcast
http://rumbunter.com/2012/03/13/pittsburgh-pirates-what-coach-hurdle-said-the-rumbunter-podcast/
Opening Day Reminiscing – 2011
http://rumbunter.com/2012/03/13/opening-day-reminiscing-2011/
8 Bucs Dugout
The Pirates’ 25-Man Roster: Another Take For Spring Training
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2012/3/12/2866241/the-pirates-25-man-roster-another-take-for-spring-training
9 McEffect
Bold Predictions for 2012 MLB Season
http://www.mceffect.com/2012/03/bold-predictions-for-2012-mlb-season.html
10 The Green Weenie
Hanny
http://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2012/03/hanny.html
11 Hyzdu Headquarters
The Little Engine That Could
http://hyzduhq.blogspot.com/2012/03/little-engine-that-could.html
NEWSPAPERS and MAGAZINES
12 KDKA
Bucs: Hurdle Wants Alvarez Agressive From First Pitch
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/03/14/bucs-hurdle-wants-alvarez-agressive-from-first-pitch/
13 CBC
Canadian hurler Leroux learns to channel aggression
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/story/2012/03/13/sp-mlb-leroux-pirates-spring-training.html
14 Examiner
Treanor expects big things from Tribe
http://www.examiner.com/indianapolis-indians-in-indianapolis/treanor-expects-big-things-from-tribe
15 Broadcast Newsroom
Pittsburgh Pirates Expand Broadcast Partnership with Skyview Networks to include Satellite Distribution to its Radio Network
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/article/Pittsburgh-Pirates-Expand-Broadcast-Partnership-with-Skyview-Networks-to-include-Satellite-Distribution-to-its-Radio-Network-1922868
I see it now, JAL. Guess I was disoriented with not seeing the group of links together. Thanks for your efforts.
16 Tribune Review
Pirates prospect Justin Wilson searching for role
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_786339.html
SPORTS WEBSITES
17 PBC Site
Notebook: With ‘pen in flux, Meek could be key for Bucs
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120313&content_id=27244702¬ebook_id=27244954&vkey=notebook_pit&c_id=pit
18 Bleacher Report
2012 MLB Predictions: Six Teams That Could Be 2012′s Pittsburgh Pirates
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1102539-2012-mlb-predictions-six-teams-that-could-be-2012s-pittsburg-pirates
19 Call to the Pen
2012 Player Projection: Erik Bedard
http://calltothepen.com/2012/03/13/2012-player-projection-erik-bedard/
Steelers Blogs
20 Behind the Steel Curtain
Assessing the Steelers’ Drafting Success During the Kevin Colbert Era, Part I
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/3/13/2867764/assessing-the-steelers-drafting-success-during-the-kevin-colbert-era
San Francisco’s Addition of Randy Moss Kicks Off Free Agency
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/3/13/2864136/san-francisco-49ers-randy-moss-nfl-free-agency
Steelers Give Wallace a First Round Tender, Original Round Tenders to Rest
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/3/13/2867094/steelers-give-wallace-a-first-round-tender-original-round-tenders-to
21 Steelers Depot
- No New Contract For Mike Wallace As 2012 Free Agency Period Begins
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/03/no-new-contract-for-mike-wallace-as-2012-free-agency-period-begins/
22 Nice Pick Cower
The Steelers Appetite for Reconstruction
http://nicepickcowher.com/2012/03/13/the-steelers-appetite-for-reconstruction/
Pitt Blogs
23 Pitt Blather
A Confluence of Angst and Whining
http://www.pittblather.com/2012/03/13/a-confluence-of-angst-and-whining/
24 Cardiac Hill
2012 Pitt Football Spring Camp: Things To Watch
http://www.cardiachill.com/2012/3/13/2862590/pitt-football-spring-practices-camp-pittsburgh-panthers-paul-chryst-recruiting-rushel-shell
WVU Blogs
25 Metro News
10 Great Moments On The Huggins Show
http://www.wvmetronews.com/wvu.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=51549
26 WV Illustrated
Quick Hits: Spring Practice Day 2
http://www.wvillustrated.com/story/17151057/quick-hits-spring-practice-day-2
Bob Huggins Teleconference Prior to Leaving For NCAA Tournament
http://www.wvillustrated.com/story/17147223/bob-huggins-teleconference-prior-to-leaving-for-ncaa-tournament
PENGUIN BLOGS
26 Pensburgh
Sidney Crosby to return Thursday vs New York Rangers
http://www.pensburgh.com/2012/3/13/2867879/sidney-crosby-to-return-thursday-vs-new-york-rangers
Odds are strong for Penguins/Flyers first round matchup
http://www.pensburgh.com/2012/3/13/2867440/odds-are-strong-for-penguins-flyers-first-round-matchup
Soccer(football)
27 Sky Sports
Gerrard remains Captain Marvel
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3496776,00.html
28 World Soccer Daily
World Soccer Daily: 10 stories you need to read, 13th March, 2012
http://www.worldsoccer.com/247/world-soccer-daily-10-stories-you-need-to-read-13th-march-2012
I predict Jeff Karstens pitches opening day.
Regarding Wallace, I’m not a football pro, by any means, but I’m thinking if you have a #7 with healthy feet (to plant them for long bombs), and he can hit #17 for long receptions, you have a winning combination. I’d sign him, but the price seems a bit steep. (Hope I didn’t sound too irrational here)
Just got a nice e-mail from the Tribs web designer explaining the problem what they are doing to fix it. Has to do with trying to keep spam off the blogs.
Trying to keep spam off? Well, I guess my posts won’t be making it onto the site anymore.
LOL John!
Speaking of Fine Young Cannibals – did you ever notice how much Roland Gift, the lead singer, resembles former Reds slugger George Foster ?
Milo. I was thinking the same thing regarding Karstens pitching the opener. I think he has earned it!
BTW. How come we don’t here Allie’s name in the up and coming young guns conversation anymore? I know that he might end up being in the pen but you would think he would still be in the conversation??? What happened?
@Petro
Maybe because he pitched a grand total of 26 innings last year ? What a great way to develop a pitcher.
Petro,
Allie had massive control problems. He’s still a work in progress.
From now on I will refer to Syracuse as “The Fab-less Five”.
I am still wondering how a player becomes academically ineligible in the middle of a semester.
JAL,
Haven’t you ever seen Animal House? He’s probably on double secret probation.
@JAL
You’re not suggesting they might bend the rules at Bernie Fine U. are you ?
Just want to echo others’ sentiments about the “other paper’s” new look. It sucks.
@JAL – Apparently that is how long it takes the NCAA to read through transcripts…
Re: Mike Wallace – Love the guy, but there is no way I would shell out that kind of money for a receiver.
My vote on the suck meter is a 10.
If they are trying to keep spam off blogs, why would it let the first 10-12 words of my posts through and delete the rest?
If “they” hadn’t fixed Dejan’s clock, I would be a dissatisfied customer! I have to give ‘em that though.
Opening Day lineup and batting order, except for catcher, going today for Pirates.
@Jal
Mollom is a unique attempt to stop spam – it utilizes a third party system and does some pretty neat stuff to identify spam. The issue is that I think it requires somewhat of a learning process, so they may be experiencing that now. Otherwise, good stuff.
If for no other reason, I post this because it’s been running through my head all day (truly, a scary place):
That is an odd thing to be running through your head, Kenerdivanis. I used to work about 1/2 block away from the Milwaukee City Hall. It has not featured the “Welcome Milwaukee Visitors” on its tower for years. That Yiddish hopscotch song at the theme’s beginning is very catchy, though. Thanks for putting it in my head now!
@John
Odd things run through my head at the oddest times. It’s just part of my charm.
K-nerd, that is very scary indeed!
Darn ear worms anyway…
@Jandy
Ear worms can be a real pain, especially when you wake up in the middle of the night with the Laverne and Shirley theme running through your head and hours later, you still can’t get rid of it. Not that I’m speaking from personal experience or anything…
Whatever you do, don’t ask Ed Marinaro about Laverne & Shirley. Just trust me on that one.
Well, K-nerd (I hope you don’t mind the nickname you picked up here, I like it!) now I have the Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel going thru my head for the last two days, I guess I heard it on the radio and it won’t leave me alone!
“People writing songs that voices never shared…and no one dared…disturb the sounds of silence.” UGH!
Milo, ok we won’t ask Ed, we’ll ask you!
@Milo
Waitaminute! Ed Marinaro from Hill Street Blues was on Laverne & Shirley? When did this happen?
@Jandy
Let’s just say he didn’t want to talk about it. Or his football career, for that matter.
Milo:
I remember Marinaro was on the show; What was his beef with it?
BTW-the best 70′s TV theme song is a tie between the gospel infused Jeffersons theme and the theme from the Mary Tyler Moore show (covered in a very rocking fashion from Joan Jett and the great Husker Du).
Who can forget Mary washing her Mustang in that Fran Tarkington jersey? (see I tied this post into sports).
Blister in the Sun runs through my head all day at work….and, “Let’s be careful out there”
Dang, OshKoshB’Gosh, you’re GOOD!
@Milo
If Ed didn’t want to talk about those things, then what else could he possibly talk about?
@Ken
I never did ask about Hill Street because I didn’t watch it. You know, “…I have this new project…”. That was 10 years ago, still waiting. Let’s sum it up with – I met him once, he wasn’t very nice.
@Milo
As they used to say during the Wall Street Post era of the Mr. Tony show, that’s information for life.
Mike D’Antoni has “resigned”. That Lin-sanity sure has fizzled.
Can “The Zen Master” be far behind ?
@Milo
Phil Jackson to the Knicks? Even if it doesn’t happen, you can bet the New York media will be clammoring for it.
Milo:
i went to the Knicks/Bucks game in Milwaukee last Friday night. Every time Lin was shooting free throws, a large group of fans would chant “overrated!” I felt bad for the kid. ESPN, the NBA, and others did a great disservice to him by feverishly hyping him in the name of marketing. He clearly needs a lot of work. Also, in the player driven world of the NBA, it didn’t help that Melo was dissatisfied with both Lin’s and D’Antoni’s presence on the team.
Sanity has been restored to the TribVerse, and disaster has been avoided.
Together, we nerds are STRONG!
@Milo-
If I were Phil, I don’t think I would take that job. They just don’t seem to have the grit (and depth, for that matter) of a championship squad. Now, maybe the prospect of playing for Jackson could lure some nice players in the offseason, but with the roster as currently constituted? Nope.
@JohninOshkosh-
Speaking of Lin free throws, I couldn’t believe when I saw the other day that he’s only hitting them at 68%. For an NBA point guard? Ouch.
Aglebagel:
Yeah, the Knicks are not a very good team. I agree with you that Jackson, despite his history with the team, would/should not want to take that job. Plus, Phil has never been into rebuilding projects. If he were inclined to take a rebuilding job, it might be cool if he took over the Nets next year. With their highly anticipated move to Brooklyn and their ties with Jay-Z, it would be good for the league, the city, I think.