<![CDATA[Pittsburgh Sports Forum - Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins & Pirates Message Board & Blog]]> http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/ en Sun, 19 May 2013 08:18:53 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Pittsburgh Sports Forum - Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins & Pirates Message Board & Blog]]> http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/ Game 43: Astros @ Pirates 05.18.13 Live Game Thread! http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15816-Game-43-Astros-Pirates-05-18-13-Live-Game-Thread!?goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 22:50:52 GMT Following a stunning late-inning rally, the Pittsburgh Pirates (http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-pirates) send the NL strikeout... Following a stunning late-inning rally, the Pittsburgh Pirates send the NL strikeout leader to the mound against the most strikeout-prone team in the majors.
A.J. Burnett will try to lead the surging Pirates to their season-high fifth straight win Saturday night when they take on the AL-worst Houston Astros at PNC Park.After Pedro Alvarez hit a game-tying homer in the eighth, the Pirates were gifted a 5-4 victory Friday night when Houston's Jimmy Paredes and Jake Elmore collided and dropped a pop-up with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth.The Pirates (25-17) won for the seventh time in eight games to move a season-high eight games over .500."I like the direction we're headed, the effort and the attitude," manager Clint Hurdle said.Now Hurdle turns to Burnett (3-4, 2.73 ERA), who could be in line for a big day against a Houston offense that has already amassed 417 strikeouts.The right-hander has fanned 72 and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in each of his nine starts.The Pirates, though, have given him only two runs over his four defeats, including a 5-1 loss at Milwaukee on Monday. He matched a season low with six strikeouts and allowed three earned runs over seven innings.While he's 4-5 with a 4.54 ERA in 11 career meetings versus the Astros, Burnett has won his last two against them, yielding three runs and striking out 16 over 15 1/3 innings.Burnett, though, has had trouble keeping runners close. Milwaukee stole six bases, and the 13 steals he's allowed rank among the most in the league. Pittsburgh's catchers have yielded 39 stolen bases, also among the league's worst totals.The Astros (11-31), however, have only 21 steals and rank in the bottom third of the majors in stolen base percentage (61.8).Jose Altuve, who is expected to be activated from the bereavement list Saturday following the death of his grandmother, Brandon Barnes and Marwin Gonzalez lead Houston with four stolen bases apiece.Carlos Pena has hit safely in six straight games, but he's 6 for 37 (.162) with two homers and 14 strikeouts in this matchup.Scheduled starter Erik Bedard (0-2, 6.67) showed some signs of improvement by reaching the fifth inning for the first time in his last start on Saturday, giving up two runs and striking out seven versus Texas, but Houston's bullpen blew a two-run lead in an 8-7 loss. That's been a common theme for a relief corps that is last in the majors with 30 home runs allowed and a 4.99 ERA.Bedard, who went 7-14 with a 4.15 ERA for Pittsburgh last season, is 4-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 12 career starts at PNC Park and facing the Pirates for the first time.Although the Pirates are hitting just .231 against left-handers, they're hitting .297 against them over their last 16 games.Starling Marte leads Pittsburgh with a .417 (15 for 36) batting average, while Gaby Sanchezis 11 for 32 (.344) with three homers when facing left-handers.Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5 with a homer Friday and is hitting .388 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 26 career games against the Astros at PNC Park.

Gameday Matchup

Houston Pittsburgh
W-L 11-31 25-17
Night 9-23 17-10
Grass 11-31 25-17
Current Streak L1 W4
Last 10 3-7 7-3


Pitching Matchup

Houston Pittsburgh
E. Bedard
0-2, 6.67 ERA

Last Game:
5/11 vs TEX
5.0 IP, 2 ER
Dec = ND		 A. Burnett
3-4, 2.73 ERA

Last Game:
5/13 vs MIL
7.0 IP, 3 ER
Dec = Loss


Gameday Lineups

NO. Houston Pittsburgh
1. R. Grossman, CF S. Marte, LF
2. T. Crowe, LF J. Tabata, RF
3. J. Altuve, 2B A. McCutchen, CF
4. J. Castro, C G. Sanchez, 1B
5. C. Carter, RF R. Martin, C
6. C. Pena, 1B B. Inge, 3B
7. M. Dominguez, 3B N. Walker, 2B
8. M. Gonzalez, SS J. Mercer, SS
9. E. Bedard, P A. Burnett, P


Injury Report

Houston
Pittsburgh
View MLB injury report


Gameday Line

FAVORITE OPEN CUR UNDERDOG O/U
@Pittsburgh 240.0 270.0 Houston 7.5


Regular Season Series

Pittsburgh leads 1-0 (as of Sat 5/18)
Fri 5/17 @PIT 5, HOU 4 Recap
May 18, 2013 HOU (Bedard) @ PIT (Burnett) 7:05 PM ET
May 19, 2013 HOU (Harrell) @ PIT (Locke) 1:35 PM ET

]]> Pirates Game Day Ballpark Indiana Pittsburgh Fan http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15816-Game-43-Astros-Pirates-05-18-13-Live-Game-Thread! <![CDATA[The team that picks up Vince Young won't regret it.]]> http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15815-The-team-that-picks-up-Vince-Young-won-t-regret-it?goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 21:36:29 GMT Vince Young could start with the Jets. And go to playoffs.
If the steelers picked up Vince Young, if Big Ben went down, we wouldn't miss a beat, same kind of game.:sofa: ]]> Steelers Talk turftoegotme http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15815-The-team-that-picks-up-Vince-Young-won-t-regret-it <![CDATA[Brenden Morrow's contribution a big one]]> http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15814-Brenden-Morrow-s-contribution-a-big-one?goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 19:43:36 GMT Brenden Morrow's contribution a big one
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...ig-one-688127/
May 18, 2013 12:21 am
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On a night when Sidney Crosby recorded his second career playoff hat trick and created a buzz around the hockey world with his jaw-dropping performance in the Penguins' 4-3 victory against Ottawa in Game 2 of their second-round series Friday night, it was up to the player with the worst plus-minus rating on the team to score the winning goal.
Brenden Morrow was a minus-3 in the first seven playoff games, but he came through with the game-deciding goal with 10:56 remaining in the second period when he deflected a Paul Martin shot past backup goaltender Robin Lehner.
"It's just as fun watching Sid do his thing, but it's good to contribute, too," said Morrow, who recorded his first playoff goal as a Penguin.
Morrow was acquired near the trade deadline from the Dallas Stars to provide some scoring punch as a top-six forward. But shortly after Morrow arrived in Pittsburgh, the Penguins traded for Jarome Iginla, who has assumed a role as a top-six forward on the top two lines.
Morrow, the captain of the Stars when he was traded, had been relegated to third-line and sometimes fourth-line duty in recent games.
"Throughout the lineup everyone is willing to check their egos at the door and do what's best for the team," Morrow said. "I'm in that same boat. Whatever coach Dan [Bylsma] thinks is best for the team. We're all pulling on that same rope, and we're having success with it."
Morrow's teammates were happy to see him come through with a big goal. He scored six goals in 15 games during the regular season for the Penguins, but his only two points in the playoffs had been assists.
"He's played so hard," Iginla said. "He's been great for us. He's one of our physical guys, kind of in a shutdown role. But he's been getting great looks, great shots. In front of the net, he's always creating havoc, does stuff on the forecheck.
"Earlier in the game, he had some good looks around the net. It was great to see him get that tip. It was a big goal. He's a guy you hate to play against. You're glad he's on your team."
Despite his recent struggles, Bylsma continued to play Morrow in some important situations. He has used him some as a penalty killer and on the second power play unit.
The winning goal came seconds after a power play ended, and the second unit provided some quality chances before Morrow scored.
"We want those big guys playing as many minutes as they can get," Morrow said. "Sometimes, they're a little gassed and get off. The recipe is to have them out there as much as we can get them. But tonight we came up with a big one."
Lehner originally believed Morrow used a high stick to tip the shot past him, but replays indicated it was a legal deflection.
"It was coming towards my head," Lehner said. "Even if I'm on my knees, I'm pretty tall. I put my glove in front of my forehead there. I know the puck is going right there and obviously it didn't. Someone deflected so my first reaction was to see if it was a high stick. It was probably a good call."
Morrow isn't worried about style points. He just hopes his first playoff goal will lead to more points, period.
"If you don't believe in yourself no one is going to," he said. "None of my goals are really pretty. That was another going in the net, hitting you and going in. Hopefully now they'll come a little easier."
"I like to score in bunches. Hopefully, this heats up and pucks start finding the net. I'm happy to get that one and we'll go from there."

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published May 18, 2013 12:19 am


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2TfvFXSzc ]]> Pens Talk Skeeter http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15814-Brenden-Morrow-s-contribution-a-big-one 3 Adjustments Pittsburgh Penguins Must Make http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15813-3-Adjustments-Pittsburgh-Penguins-Must-Make?goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 19:35:41 GMT Adjustments Pittsburgh Penguins Must Make to Continue Stanley Cup Playoff Run By Steve Rodenbaugh (Contributor) on May 17, 2013... Adjustments Pittsburgh Penguins Must Make to Continue Stanley Cup Playoff Run
By
Steve Rodenbaugh
(Contributor) on May 17, 2013 http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...up-playoff-run


Seeking to end their four-year run of postseason disappointments, the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2013 NHL Playoffs as the popular choice among many hockey experts to once again hoist the Stanley Cup.

Having survived a hard-fought first-round series against the New York Islanders, the Penguins emerged as a different team than the one that started the playoffs. By replacing Marc-Andre Fleury with Tomas Vokoun in net and inserting Tyler Kennedy and Joe Vitale in place of Tanner Glass and Jussi Jokinen, Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma has shown that he is willing to make the necessary adjustments.

The question remains whether the Penguin players themselves are willing to make the necessary adjustments as well.

As the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begins, here are three adjustments that the Penguins must make if they are to continue their march to the Stanley Cup

Avoid Unneccesary Penalties*:)

In the regular season, taking a bad penalty can cost you a game. In the playoffs, that game can cost you a series.

That is why the Penguins must avoid taking bad penalties and minimize their opponent's power-play chances. During their first-round matchup against the New York Islanders, penalties to both teams played a big role in the series.

In Game 3, back-to-back Islander penalties led to two quick power-play goals as the Penguins tied the game. In overtime, Chris Kunitz scored the game-winning goal on another power play after Brad Strait was called for holding Sidney Crosby.

In Game 4, the Penguins were called for four offensive-zone penalties. During the second period, a goaltender interference call on Matt Cooke resulted in only the second power-play goal in the series by the Islanders, who built on that momentum to win the game and tie the series.

In order to continue their run through the playoffs, the Penguins must play a physical but disciplined game and avoid taking unnecessary or retaliatory penalties.

Given the bad blood that exists between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators, that may prove difficult in their second-round matchup.

Get Traffic in Front of the Opponent's Net*:)

Facing a hot goaltender in Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins must show a willingness to put bodies in front of the net in the hopes of scoring "ugly goals."

As a team loaded with offensive talent, Pittsburgh seems content at times to play a perimeter game and look to make the perfect play instead of making the simplest one. As a result, they have struggled at times to score goals in the playoffs against defensive-minded teams like the Senators.

The Penguins have had success in the playoffs against the Senators in the past and Anderson is winless against the Penguins this year. However, he has proven to be capable of stealing games for the Senators as he did against Montreal in the first round.

While the acquisitions of Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla have made them bigger and more physical, the Penguins as a team must show a willingness to get to the front of the net to win in the playoffs.

Eliminate Turnovers*:)

While goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was made the scapegoat for the Penguins’ struggles against the Islanders in their first-round matchup, the real culprit was the team's tendency to turn the puck over.

Throughout the six-game series, the Penguins totaled 51 giveaways to the Islanders' 37. In their loss in Game 2, the Pens had 11 giveaways to the Isles' two. In Game 6, all three Islander goals were the direct result of defensive-zone turnovers.

Usually in the playoffs, the team that wins does the little things well like clearing pucks out of the defensive zone, getting pucks deep in the offensive zone and avoiding costly turnovers. If the Penguins are to advance, they must find a way to take better care of the puck and avoid turnovers.

Otherwise, it won't matter who the starting goaltender is or how talented this Penguins team may be.



It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint*:)

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, success is often dependent upon the ability to adjust on the fly, whether that adjustment occurs between periods, between games or between series.

Having shown the ability to adjust to a younger and faster New York Islanders team in the first round, the Penguins must continue to make adjustments against a bigger and stronger Ottawa Senators team.

Penguins fans can only hope that next time it won't take four games and a sense of desperation before they do.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...off-run/page/5 ]]> Pens Talk Skeeter http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15813-3-Adjustments-Pittsburgh-Penguins-Must-Make Penguins Win the Stanley Cup with Tomas Vokoun in Net? http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15812-Penguins-Win-the-Stanley-Cup-with-Tomas-Vokoun-in-Net?goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 19:21:52 GMT Can the Pittsburgh Penguins Win the Stanley Cup with Tomas Vokoun in Net? By Nicholas Goss (Featured Columnist) on May 15, 2013... Can the Pittsburgh Penguins Win the Stanley Cup with Tomas Vokoun in Net?
By
Nicholas Goss
(Featured Columnist) on May 15, 2013
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...oun-in-the-net

When the Pittsburgh Penguins found themselves in an unexpected 2-2 first-round series tie with the New York Islanders, head coach Dan Bylsma made the decision to replace struggling goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with veteran backup Tomas Vokoun.

Vokoun pitched a shutout in Game 5 and then helped his team close out the Islanders in a Game 6 overtime victory on the road.

With a win against the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Vokoun has established himself as the undisputed No. 1 goalie for the Penguins with a 3-0 record, a 1.28 GAA and a .962 save percentage since taking over.

But can this team win the Stanley Cup with the 36-year-old netminder anchoring the back end? To put it simply, Vokoun does have the ability to lead his team to a championship, and there are a few reasons why.




Will Vokoun lead the Penguins to a Stanley Cup title?

The biggest difference between Vokoun and Fleury is that the Czech netminder makes timely saves late in games that instill confidence in his teammates.

Fleury allowed too many confidence-deflating goals against the Islanders (many of which should have been easy saves). When a goaltender is giving up soft goals and allows the opposition to dominate third periods (Fleury allowed six third-period goals in his last three starts), teams start to panic.

Vokoun is cool, calm and collected in net and positions himself very well, which lessens the chances of a fluky bounce off the end boards sneaking into his net.

In the series opener against the Senators, he allowed a bad-angle shot to get past him—his first soft goal this postseason. But unlike Fleury, Vokoun was able to quickly move on and focus on the next save.

He bounced back and shut the door for the rest of the game, not allowing that soft goal to impact his confidence or performance. This is the kind of mental toughness that makes him a reliable goaltender.

Once Vokoun became the starter, the Penguins started to protect the puck better (about one less turnover per game), the penalty kill has improved and the wins have started to pile up.

Pittsburgh's penalty kill has to be effective for this team to make a deep playoff run, and with Vokoun, the Penguins are not allowing the opposition to capitalize on the power play.

It's very important for Pittsburgh to play well at even strength, because relying on its power play to carry the team to a championship is not an ideal situation (regardless of how successful it has been with the man advantage).

In his last three starts of the Islanders series, Fleury allowed three even-strength goals per game, while Vokoun has allowed a total of just four even-strength goals in his last three appearances.

Vokoun's consistency is impressive, and it will give the Penguins a great chance when the referees put their whistles away and let the players play (as normally happens in the later rounds).
What Vokoun has done thus far has been remarkable, but we really shouldn't be surprised. He's been one of the league's best goaltenders since the 2004-05 lockout, and his career stats are especially impressive for someone who has been stuck on a lot of bad teams.

Vokoun has won 300 games at the NHL level with a save percentage of .917 and has 51 shutouts since making his debut in '96-97. He knows what it takes to win and is highly motivated to capture the first championship of his career.

Having not played a single postseason game since 2007, Vokoun's performance against the Islanders under all the difficult circumstances proved that he's capable of leading his team to a title. He had just 11 games of playoff experience and never played past the first round, but you wouldn't know it.

The change in net has proven to be the right decision by Bylsma, and unless Vokoun's performance significantly drops off and the team is in danger of elimination, Fleury should not get his job back this season.

The Penguins' best chance of winning a Stanley Cup is with Tomas Vokoun between the pipes, because he's talented enough to beat elite teams, he's mentally tougher than Fleury and he doesn't crumble when the pressure mounts.





Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter. He was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs in Boston.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...oun-in-the-net ]]> Pens Talk Skeeter http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15812-Penguins-Win-the-Stanley-Cup-with-Tomas-Vokoun-in-Net Game 42 Astros @ Pirates 05.17.13 Live Game Thread! http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15811-Game-42-Astros-Pirates-05-17-13-Live-Game-Thread!?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 23:34:44 GMT For anyone who wants to post in it. I won't be. Watching the Pens! ]]> Pirates Game Day Ballpark Indiana Pittsburgh Fan http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15811-Game-42-Astros-Pirates-05-17-13-Live-Game-Thread! The tickets are Here!!!!!! http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15810-The-tickets-are-Here!!!!!!?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 20:50:26 GMT The Tickets for our 4th Annual Gathering/Blog-a-Palooza have arrived, they can be paid for by clicking on the donation button for PSF and paying... The Tickets for our 4th Annual Gathering/Blog-a-Palooza have arrived, they can be paid for by clicking on the donation button for PSF and paying through Paypal using a debit/credit card. That gives you an instant electronic receipt as proof of payment and me an instant record of your payment. There's nothing left now to do but count down the days until on helluva party and the best Gathering yet. ]]> Steelreign http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15810-The-tickets-are-Here!!!!!! Draft : And The Winner of The Mock Draft Challenge Is........ http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15809-And-The-Winner-of-The-Mock-Draft-Challenge-Is?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 19:34:05 GMT *Point System* *Point system for the The Steelers (http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/6-The-Steelers-Forum) Draft* 1st Round... Point System

Point system for the The Steelers Draft

1st Round Pick Correct = 20 points
2nd Round Pick Correct = 23 points
3rd Round Pick Correct = 25 points
4th Round Pick Correct = 27 points
5th Round Pick Correct = 28 points
6th Round Pick Correct = 29 Points
7th Round Pick Correct = 30 Points

Percentage Points System for the NFL 1st Round :

10-20% right = 10 points
21-39% right = 20 points
40-59% right = 30 points
60-69% right = 40 points
70-99% right = 50 points


Tie Breaker = Whoever picks the most overall number correct.


Point Totals for Mock Draft Challenge is:

Steelreign: 20 pts (First round of Steelers Mock Draft + 2 picks right in NFL first round)
IPF: 20 pts (First round of Steelers Mock Draft + 1 pick right in NFL first round)
Buckeye Hoppy: 20 pts (First round of Steelers Mock draft, Didn't do First round of NFL Draft)
Hambert: 10 pts (No Steelers picks correct, but got at least 10% of NFL first round correct)
Mr. Pittsburgh: 10 pts (No Steelers picks correct, but got at least 10% of NFL first round correct)
Casey Jones: 0 pts
Kipper: 0 pts
Steeler_Salerno: 0 pts

Steelreign wins The Mock Draft Challenge on a Tiebreaker with IPF and Buckeye Hoppy based on most overall picks in the first round of NFL draft since they each got the Steelers first round pick correct.

Buckeye Hoppy, I strongly believe you would have won this challenge had you submitted a NFL first round mock draft:D

Thanks to everybody who participated. Kipper and I will build upon this years Challenge and be able to make improvements for next years 2nd annual Mock Draft Challenge. ]]> Steelers Talk Steelreign http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15809-And-The-Winner-of-The-Mock-Draft-Challenge-Is PLAYOFFS R2G2 : Penguins vs. Senators : 05.17.13 : Live Game Thread! http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15808-PLAYOFFS-R2G2-Penguins-vs-Senators-05-17-13-Live-Game-Thread!?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 19:20:11 GMT [TR] [TD] **Penguins Report: Game Day vs. Ottawa...]]>


Penguins Report: Game Day vs. Ottawa (Game 2)


Friday, 05.17.2013 / 10:00 AM / Penguins Report
Pittsburgh Penguins

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SOUNDS HEARD AROUND THE ROOM

Dan Bylsma








Sidney Crosby








James Neal








Joe Vitale








--Sam Kasan

SENATORS ROUND UP



























--Sam Kasan & Drew Hancherick

THEY SAID IT
Quotes out of the Penguins locker room...








--Michelle Crechiolo and Wes Crosby

VOKOUN STARTING
After practice Tomas Vokoun confirmed he will be starting in goal for Game 2.

"Just prepare for the game. No matter what, you prepare the same way," he said when asked his thoughts on his fourth consecutive start. "Nothing really changes. When you play, you just do everything (the same) and that’s about it."

--Michelle Crechiolo

PENS PRACTICE PICS
This may be one of the greatest photos ever used in the Pens Report

A smile and a mustache hides under that jaw protector


Despres tries to score on starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun


These Pens are all wearing matching white jerseys


Dupuis' beard never fails to amaze me


Kunitz and Neal stretch in the exact same spot every skate


The expression on Joey V.'s face - "oh no, you didn't!"


Douglas "Crankshaft" Murray


Dupuis inspects a hangnail while Reirden chuckles at a joke we'll never know


Linemates Jarome "Iggy" Iginla and Evgeni "Geno" Malkin


Goalie BFFs


That is one withering stare


Tony Granato talks to Neal with a random ladder photobombing the shot


Iggy hard at work while Brooksy and Kuni take a water break


A tremendous shot of the captain


Group shot

--Michelle Crechiolo and Drew Hancherick

MORNING SKATE DEETS
Kris Letang and Craig Adams were the only two Pens players missing from the morning skate. Both were at practice Thursday. Jussi Jokinen and Mark Eaton were inserted in their spots.

Here is how things shook out...
Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Iginla-Malkin-Neal
Morrow-Sutter-Cooke
Jokinen-Vitale-Kennedy

Martin-Orpik
Eaton-Niskanen
Murray-Engelland
(Despres-Bortuzzo)

1st PP: Martin, Iginla on points. Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz up front. (Halfway thru, Neal replaced Iginla with Malkin moving to point).
2nd PP: Niskanen, Dupuis on points. Neal, Morrow, Kennedy up front. (Halfway thru, Iginla replaced Neal and played point with Dupuis moving up front).

--Sam Kasan

WHO IS EVGENI MALKIN?
You know you've made it when you are the answer (or question?) in the game show Jeopardy! Major fail by Jed who guessed "Who's Crosby?" But big props to host Alex Trebek, who nailed the pronunciation of Geno's name.

I bet Sean Connery would have gotten the right answer. "Not so fast Trebek!"








--Sam Kasan

DUPUIS FINALLY GETTING RECOGNITION
Dupuis’ skill was evident during the Penguins’ first-round series against the New York Islanders, when he scored five goals through six games, including one in Pittsburgh’s series-clinching 4-3 overtime victory in Game 6.

“I think he’s always had the speed and strength,” captain Sidney Crosby said, “but he’s going to a lot of tough areas and he’s getting opportunities to put it in the back of the net. So, I think his scoring touch is probably something that’s developed a little more over the last couple years and with his speed, he’s going to get into those situations and those positions.”

Dupuis has enjoyed the most productive years of his career during the past two seasons, averaging 0.79 points per game this season and 0.71 the year prior. He attributes much of his success to playing alongside Crosby, but while the captain was sidelined for the final 12 games of the regular season, Dupuis continued to produce at a rapid pace – posting 12 points (3G-9A) during that period.

Full story here.


(Getty Images)

--Sam Kasan

CHARITABLE SIDE OF MATT COOKE
Most people only know one side of Matt Cooke - his tough, physical hockey side. What they don't see is the large amount of charitable work he performs with the help of team chaplain Brad Henderson.

After the service finished up, Cooke was touched and sincerely grateful when he learned that the team’s Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation would be donating the proceeds of a 50-50 raffle from this season totaling $15,000 – along with a $10,000 grant of their own for a total of $25,000 – to the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, a charity that Henderson is the president of and that Cooke is actively involved in.

Cooke traveled to Haiti for a humanitarian trip last August with Henderson through the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, which has been dedicated to helping orphans in the country devastated by an earthquake three years ago (full story on the trip here). Cooke has experienced their sobering living conditions, so he knows just how much this will help the children he spent time with and grew to love.
“I think it’s overwhelming, especially to have the support of the organization that employs me to stand behind me and get involved in the organizations that we’re involved with,” Cooke said. “The money that was raised, it goes without saying how much it means to not only the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, but their involvement in Haiti and what that can provide for kids without parents or a home down there.”
Full story here.



--Sam Kasan

START ME UP
Good morning Pens fans! Tonight Pittsburgh will host the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at CONSOL Energy Center at 7:30 p.m. The Pens will take the ice at 10:30 a.m. for their morning skate. They made a few lineup changes at Thursday's practice. We'll see if those hold for today. The Sens have the ice at 11:30 a.m.

Stay right here for the latest news and coverage to get you ready for Game 2!!

KIPPER'S SONG FOR THE GAME

Jermaine Jackson - All Revved Up from the Beverly Hills Cop II SDTK. I went super cheesy today because I just watched Beverly Hills Cop II the other day and the title seemed like something the Pens crowd at cEC needs to be tonight
]]> Pens Game Day Arena Kipper http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15808-PLAYOFFS-R2G2-Penguins-vs-Senators-05-17-13-Live-Game-Thread! BUCN Perfect : Burnett and Grilli: Fan Favorites http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15807-Burnett-and-Grilli-Fan-Favorites?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 19:03:27 GMT What’s the appeal of AJ Burnett and Jason Grilli? Is it AJB’s league leading 72 SOs? Grilli’s league leading 16 saves in his first season as a...]]> What’s the appeal of AJ Burnett and Jason Grilli? Is it AJB’s league leading 72 SOs? Grilli’s league leading 16 saves in his first season as a closer?

NO.

However, that isn’t to say those two things don’t make them more appealing to the crowd.

AJB is the veteran leader of the Pirates pitching staff. His twitter default picture? The Bat Signal with his number in the middle. His background? One of his STFD t-shirts. His appearance? Total bad a**. In the clubhouse, he’s known as a man of few words, but when he does talk, everyone listens. He started out as a loose cannon at the beginning of his pitching career, and I don’t think that comes as a surprise to anyone. Now that he’s a veteran ball player, his attitude is expressed in his style on and off the field.

Rumor has it he pierced one of his nipples himself. Brutal. His tattoos are a wide array of things, from wife Karen’s initials between his shoulder blades to Bruce Lee on his arm. But its these fearless qualities that make him a fan favorite. Guys love him because he’s everything they want to be. Girls love him because he’s that bada** they all want to date. Fans love him because he isn’t afraid to tell batters to STFD or come out of the dugout to backup a teammate being threatened by an opposing player.

AJB reminds me of my dad and Bill Cowher. They all know how to give you that stare down that says you better cut that bullsh*t out RIGHT NOW or else. That look literally made me and my siblings become absolutely silent and quit whatever we were doing. He didn’t even need to say a word. We would just scatter. Cowher had that same effect on the Steelers. AJB has that menacing, death stare down to a science.

Grilli doesn’t have that bada** quality about him like AJ, but he does have the leadership quality. If there’s one other thing we love in Pittsburgh besides bada**, its people who get the job done the right way the first time. We love hardworking people who go out there and show ‘em how it’s done. We also have a firm belief that it should be done in a humble manner. Showboats need not apply in any sport here in the Burgh. Grilli fits that idea perfectly.

As the leader of the bullpen, Grilli has adopted Melancon’s nickname for it, the “shark tank.” He posted a picture to his twitter today that says “get bit” with a shark biting a baseball bat underneath. The nickname has quickly become a sensation because it fits so well. He gets on the mound, rips into the batters, and ends the game. The fan excitement surrounding the “shark tank” can be seen during every game all over twitter. Pirate fans use that hash tag to show support for the Bucco bullpen.

They both bring a very different set of qualities to the table as players, but it the end, it’s those qualities that make them great leaders as well as fan favorites. ]]> Gretch326 http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15807-Burnett-and-Grilli-Fan-Favorites Lawnmower help! http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15806-Lawnmower-help!?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 18:56:54 GMT Today, I got the trusty lawn mower out of storage to get back to the swing of things. I plugged that sucker in and then remembered why I put it in... Today, I got the trusty lawn mower out of storage to get back to the swing of things. I plugged that sucker in and then remembered why I put it in storage in the first place - it blew a fuse in the box. One fresh fuse screwed into place later...

I need to ask if any of you good folks around the Pittsburgh area are getting rid of an old lawnmower. Electric, gas, push-along... I really don't mind.

Thanks for the thunks! :beer: ]]> War Machine http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15806-Lawnmower-help! <![CDATA[Black n' Gold Blitz : Pirates Have Golden Opportunity at PNC Park]]> http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15805-Pirates-Have-Golden-Opportunity-at-PNC-Park?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 17:01:47 GMT Sometimes the Pittsburgh Pirates leave me speechless. Like when I type / tweet "Pirates take 3 of 4 from Brewers at PNC Park". I can't believe I just typed that, but I'm extremely happy to type it! Also things like "Clint Barmes might be the Pirates' hottest hitter right now." I just can't believe all of it! Nonetheless, the Pirates are sitting with the 2nd Wild Card Playoff birth and tied for the 3rd best record in the NL. They gutted out a 24-17 record through the toughest beginning schedule in all of MLB, and they are about to be rewarded for their hard work. What is the reward? Back to back home stints with the Astros and the Cubs could be just what the doctor ordered to get this team in serious consideration as a legitimate contender as we meander towards the calendar month of June. However, another psychiatric test needs to be passed before I go stating that this Pirates team is any different from the last two teams.


To me, this psychiatric test is one that can transcend any sport or team, but its one that several Pittsburgh sports teams struggle with (especially the Steelers)...what is it you ask? Putting teams away that have no business contending with you on the playing field. The Steelers do this regularly when they let losing teams like the Browns and Chiefs hang in (or win) games when it should be a romp. The Pirates fall susceptible to this as well. It seems the Pirates struggle with the Cubs, and they've struggled with the Astros (especially when Wandy Rodriguez pitched for them). To me, the next 6 games are HUGE for the Pirates. In my opinion, if they don't take 4 games of the next 6 then doubt will certainly start to creep into my mind. I'm not going to say that all is lost, but at the same time these are games that the Pirates should win...that is, if they are the team we all expect to see night in and night out.


Breaking down the pitching still seems like the Pirates shouldn't have any issue with either team in the next 6 games. The toughest matchup, in my opinion, is the pesky Jeff Samardzija of the Cubs. There is something about that guy that stumps the Pirates' bats. He isn't pitching particularly well (he does play for the Cubs after all) and is sporting a 2-5 record, but you guessed it...one of those wins was vs the Pirates. The Pirates pitching rotation is good and is due to get better when some arms return to the lineup. Charlie Morton and Jeff Karstens will help the Buccos in one way or another. In the meantime, the Pirates are set up perfectly to extend their winning streak. I said it earlier in this article, and I'll say it again, these next 6 games will tell you alot about the Pirates. It might not be there fate, but it will be a telling home stretch for the Buccos. My guess? They win 5 of 6 and surpass the Reds in the WC and Division standings. Just call it a hunch. ]]> BnGBlitz http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15805-Pirates-Have-Golden-Opportunity-at-PNC-Park BUCN Perfect : The #MLB13CUTCH Campaign http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15804-The-MLB13CUTCH-Campaign?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 15:15:51 GMT First things first: My name is Gretchen, I’m 28 years old, and a lover of everything dealing with sports in Pittsburgh. I’m a Pitt and RMU alumni... First things first: My name is Gretchen, I’m 28 years old, and a lover of everything dealing with sports in Pittsburgh. I’m a Pitt and RMU alumni with passion and dedication to my hometown teams. Secondly: I’m blonde, sassy, tattooed, fun, unique, and smart. If you don’t like a female with opinions who knows her way around the field, court, or ice, you probably won’t like me. Just know that either way, it doesn’t make me or break me.

I was fourth in the voting for the #MLB13CUTCH campaign on Twitter and Facebook. Had my Twitter not been suspended numerous times that week for tweeting too much, I would have voted more. At the close of the campaign, Andrew McCutchen had 108,147 votes, and the next closest player was C.C. Sabathia with 89,054. When asked why this campaign meant so much to me, I had to stop for a minute and think about it. I realized a few things…

We are Pittsburgh, the City of Champions. We are a blue collar city, and we fight to the death in everything we do. We aren’t quitters, whiners, or losers. We battle back when in the face of adversity. Let’s face it, the Buccos haven’t had a winning season since 1992. I was eight years old. I barely have a memory of them being a great ball club. You know what I do remember? Meeting Cutch when the Buccos first drafted him. I was in my second year of college and working for Dick’s Sporting Goods. This campaign was the perfect opportunity to show the world that we may not be number one, but our players are important to us as fans.

I wanted the bragging rights for myself and for the city. Not because I came in fourth, but because I was a part of something bigger, I helped Cutch get on that cover. C.C. and some of the other players leaned on their famous friends to glean votes. P Diddy and LeBron James were both tapped to help. Cutch simply had a loyal following of Bucco fans. Pretty awesome if you ask me. No, I don’t play video games and didn’t buy the game. Why? It wasn’t about the game. It was about putting feelings and differences aside and backing up Cutch, presumably a guy who will be mentioned in Bucco history for years to come.

Like I mentioned, I was fourth in voting, with 921 tweets. I was the ONLY female in the top five voters. My love of sports can be shown by this contest. I’m a girl in the sports world surrounded by mostly men. I catch backlash for it once in awhile. People who are close minded get upset I know more than the average girl. But, the amount of love and support I got during the campaign was astounding. I cheered on everyone who was tweeting Cutch. I got all my Facebook and Twitter followers involved. I met so many Bucco fans from everywhere across the US. It was truly an experience I will never forget.

That campaign changed something in me and it made me realize that I have the ability to inspire people in 140 characters or less. It made me realize how many people support my wit and my sass. It led me to winning tickets to a game with the other bloggers here, and ultimately it has now led me to you. My new audience.


~Gx
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]]> Gretch326 http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15804-The-MLB13CUTCH-Campaign Battling Bucs : First Quarter Grades http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15803-First-Quarter-Grades?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 15:07:02 GMT The season is roughly one quarter of the way complete. At 24-17 the Pirates are sitting in a nice position but with a lot of games in front of them.... The season is roughly one quarter of the way complete. At 24-17 the Pirates are sitting in a nice position but with a lot of games in front of them. It is still early enough in the season that it still feels new but yet we have a rather large sample of data to draw on with 41 games on the books. Some players have helped the Pirates get to their current spot while others might have possibly hindered them let’s take a look back and see how the players are faring at the quarter pole.

Russell Martin
Let me start by saying man do I have some crow to eat. Martin was the Pirates big free agent splash this past offseason and while I didn’t have anything really negative to say about Martin I wasn’t a big fan of the signing as I thought the money would have been better spent on an arm. So far this season Martin has been rock solid behind the plate and has been the Pirates best offensive weapon.
Grade: A

Michael McKenry
Now I won’t eat as much crow here as I did for Martin. I never believed McKenry should be the starting catcher but rather I felt he would be a good player to have in a time share with a less expensive free agent catcher. So far this season McKenry has been a disaster as a defensive catcher but has been an asset with the bat. He is showing himself to be a good solid reserve catcher and really with Martin that is all we need him to be
Grade: C

Garrett Jones
Jones is having a typical Jones year. He has been rock solid with the bat providing some good pop and settling into the cleanup spot due to Alvarez’s struggles but his defense has once again been poor. The bright side to his defense is that according to advanced defensive metrics his poor play is almost entirely a product of his time in the OF as a 1B he has been roughly neutral meaning not giving the Pirates any value with his defense but not losing any either. As long as Hurdle keeps Jones out of the outfield he is a valuable commodity for this club.
Grade: B

Gaby Sanchez
I’ll admit I wasn’t thrilled when the Pirates gave up the competitive balance pick for Sanchez. Value wise it was fine but the added flexibility the allotted pool for that pick would have given the Pirates in this year’s draft would have been nice to hang on to. However despite my doubts Gaby has proven to be a good value for the Pirates. He is showing good plate discipline having easily the highest walk rate on the team and overall his bat has been strong. He is probably best used in his current role however as the top pinch hitter and compliment to Jones. The only knock so far has been his defense at 1st base as it hasn’t been quite as good as advertised.
Grade: B

Neil Walker
Walker is having a typical Walker like year except the power isn’t there yet and that has been disappointing. He is hitting the ball well though as his 31.1% line drive rate is the highest on the team and sooner or later some of those line drives are going to start falling and going for extra bases. On the downside Walker missed a couple weeks due to injury and has really struggled this season against left handers. There is nothing you can do about the injury but I would like to see him improve his numbers against lefties even if it is only slightly.
Grade: C+

Clint Barmes
Once again Barmes has been a disappointment with the bat. His start to 2013 is actually slightly better than his 2012 start but with an OPS in the .500s it still isn’t good enough. The bright side is that his defense has still been solid and that lately he has been on a bit of a hot streak with a 7 game hitting streak but even with all that he still doesn’t provide much value unless he can get his offensive production up a little higher. With the dearth of shortstop talent in the league having a guy like Barmes isn’t the worst thing but obviously it could be better.
Grade: C

Jordy Mercer
Mercer hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time but in the little he has received he has been impressive. He is showing some surprising power with a team high .606 slugging percentage but so far he hasn’t shown much of an ability to take a walk with a 2.90 BB%. Despite the good power numbers his line drive rate is very low at 7.4% so he isn’t squaring up on the ball all that particularly well. Defensively speaking he has been solid in his limited chances.
Grade: I (incomplete)

John McDonald
I never understood the point of adding John McDonald to this roster. Given the right team his skill set could add some value but with a light hitting bench and a defensive first shortstop his potential impact on the Pirates seemed minimal. Not surprisingly McDonald has been awful with the bat but somewhat surprisingly his defense at shortstop has also been rather poor meaning he has brought essentially nothing to the table.
Grade: D

Pedro Alvarez
To date Alvarez has been awful with the bat. His .188/.237/.336 line cannot be tolerated. He has been a detriment to this team but sadly there doesn’t appear to be much of an alternative. Sitting him for a few days at this point would probably be a good idea but giving up on him this year is not something the Pirates can do yet. There is some hope for Alvarez as his 6 HR is tied for the team high, his line drive rate of 20.0% is solid and his BABIP of .228 suggests he has been unlucky but his strike out remains above 30% which is a big cause of his problems. Defensively speaking he has actually been fairly solid.
Grade: D

Brandon Inge
I never really seen the difference between what Inge brings to the table and what Josh Harrison did so I never really understood why the Pirates added him to the team but nevertheless his presence there isn’t a bad thing as he can be useful in the right role. So far this season Hurdle is using Inge in a little larger role than I would like but I’m hoping most of that has to do with the injuries suffered by Walker and Tabata. Inge has been pretty bad with the bat so far this season as Barmes is actually out hitting him but he has shown a good glove and provided the team with a spark when he came off the DL.
Grade: C-

Starling Marte
Marte has begun to cool off as of late but there is no denying that he has been excellent this season. He is showing good power and excellent speed and has just been an all around offensive force. He also hasn’t struck out as much as I was afraid he might. The only downside I can see is that his walk rate is too low but given the kind of contact he has been making I can live with that. Defensively speaking Marte has been sensational in LF but the advanced metrics really don’t like what he has done in his limited time in center.
Grade: A

Andrew McCutchen
It hasn’t been the same McCutchen we saw last year but he has still been very solid so far. McCutchen’s overall numbers seem just average but he is still displaying great plate discipline (8.9 BB%, 10.7 K%) and hitting the ball well (23.1 LD% and 38.8 FB%). I’m thinking it is just a matter of time before he catches fire. Also on the positive side his defense in center field which has been frequently criticized has been good so far this season.
Grade: B-

Travis Snider
Snider is having a bit of an interesting season so far. The power potential we all know is in him hasn’t been there but he has done an excellent job adjusting to his role as a number two hitter. By all means Snider is off to a great start but it just isn’t the kind of great start we all hoped and envisioned he would have. He has been a very valuable hitter though and we cannot take anything away from that. His defense though has been a little shaky in right field so hopefully that gets straightened out.
Grade: B

Jose Tabata
The highly criticized Jose Tabata is off to a very solid start of his own. He has been the hitting the ball really well and between him and Travis Snider the Pirates are getting very good production out of right field. Tabata is displaying his great on base skills despite the fact his walk rate is a little lower than what it usually is when he is doing well. In the field Tabata has been about neutral with his glove. It has been an interesting competition between him and Snider for playing time in RF and that should continue going forward.
Grade: B

A.J. Burnett
What can one say about Burnett? He has been nothing short of excellent since he joined the Pirates. This season he has easily been the Pirates best starting pitcher and he has ramped up his strikeouts. I would like to see Burnett go a little deeper into games but he has been improving on that lately and with how he has been pitching it is really difficult to even be critical of that. The advanced numbers suggest he has been every bit as good if not better than what his regular numbers say.
Grade: A

Wandy Rodriguez
Rodriguez hasn’t been dominating hitters like Burnett but he has been very solid. He is doing an excellent job limiting the amount of free passes he allows but his strike outs are a little lower than I would like to see them. The numbers suggest he has probably been a bit lucky so far but Rodriguez knows how to pitch and I think that should help him avoid too big of a regression going forward.
Grade: B-

Jeff Locke
There is a segment of Pirates fans that were a little disappointed when Jeff Locke made the rotation out of Spring Training but I wasn’t one of them. I felt Locke had earned a chance to show what he could do at the major league level. So far he has shown himself to be a decent starter and somewhere who can hold down a back of the rotation job. His overall numbers show him to be having a very good season but even more so than Wandy he has been lucky. The strike outs aren’t there like we want to see them and the walks are a touch too high and these are both areas Locke will need to improve on going forward in order to avoid a big regression.
Grade: B-

James McDonald
Call it what you will good JMac and bad JMac, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but the point is we saw both JMacs this season but unfortunately more often than not it was bad JMac on the mound. When he pitched this season something just didn’t look right with McDonald and now he is on the DL hopefully getting whatever it was straightened out. He has undoubtedly been a disappointment this season but I am holding out hope he can come back and contribute some time this season
Grade: D

Jonathan Sanchez
Yikes! Let’s just pretend he was never here … OK?
Grade: F

Jeanmar Gomez
Gomez has pitched well so far but the Pirates are getting lucky with him. He isn’t someone you want to keep in your rotation for too long and the Pirates would be best served getting him out of there before he seriously hurts them. The one thing Gomez is doing very well is getting ground balls and that coupled with his ability to go multiple innings make him useful long reliever but not a starter. I think the funniest thing with Gomez right now is that his LOB% (strand rate) as a starter is currently 100%. His ERA is 1.93 as a starter solely because he has allowed 1.93 HR/9.
Grade: C+

Francisco Liriano
It is difficult to read too much into two starts but Liriano has been impressive so far. In order to keep things going fairly well this season the Pirates are probably going to need Liriano to continue pitching well and join Burnett and Rodriguez at the top of the rotation. Liriano is getting a fair number of strike outs which is good and his walk rate hasn’t been outrageous but he isn’t getting ground balls at the frequency he is used to and it would be a plus if he could start going just a little deeper into games.
Grade: I (incomplete)

Jason Grilli
Do I really need to say anything here? Grilli has been simply amazing as the closer. His strike out rate is sky high and he has been nearly perfect on the mound.
Grade: A

Mark Melancon
Basically everything I said about Grilli applies here. Melancon’s strike out rate isn’t quite as impressive as Grilli’s but it is still good and his walk rate is minuscule. He has quite simply been phenomenal.
Grade: A

Tony Watson
Watson has been rather poor so far this season although I contend some of that is from poor usage of him rather than poor pitching by him. He has done a much better job avoiding allowing walks this season and the numbers seem to suggest he is due for an improvement. So far this season Watson has been the weak link in the bullpen but honestly if a guy like him is the weak link thing are going very very well.
Grade: D

Justin Wilson
Wilson has been great in a relief role. His walk rate is too high but he is offsetting that by not allowing many hits. Overall he is due for some regression but even so he has the look of a very good high leverage multiple inning reliever essentially slotting right into the role Brad Lincoln occupied last season.
Grade: B+

Vin Mazzaro
Mazzaro has been really effective out of the bullpen. He isn’t striking out many hitters but he isn’t walking may either and is inducing a lot of ground balls which more than makes up for the lack of strike outs. Overall Mazzaro hasn’t been the best pitcher out of the bullpen for the Pirates but as a 6th or 7th reliever he is certainly getting the job done.
Grade: B-

Jared Hughes
Hughes is a lot like Watson except from the right side. He isn’t a pitcher you want at the back of your bullpen but he has the skill set to be a solid middle reliever but unfortunately at times players like him are going to struggle and that is exactly what happened to Hughes this season. Hughes had a rough start to the season and now finds himself in AAA. He is pitching well there and will probably be back up some time this season to provide some bullpen depth.
Grade: D

Bryan Morris
Morris essentially replaced Hughes on the roster and while he is getting good results with his 2.84 ERA the rest of his numbers suggests he really hasn’t been that much better. Morris isn’t getting many strike outs and is walking a ton but is inducing a lot of ground balls (which outside of Grilli and Watson is a theme for Pirates relievers so far). Morris has the makings of a solid reliever but still has some work to do to get there.
Grade: C-

Jose Contreras
Contreras has only pitched in 4 games and in those games he has been hit around pretty good but his numbers suggests a lot of that is bad luck. He has a 4.50 ERA but his xFIP is a good looking 2.86. Contreras is doing everything you want to be doing, inducing ground balls, getting strike outs and limiting free passes so I think he’ll be fine going forward.
Grade: I (incomplete)

Others
There are a few players here I haven’t mentioned. Phillip Irwin and Chris Leroux have also pitched for the Pirates this season and Alex Presley and Josh Harrison have both been up in the majors for a short time in a bench role. Overall these players had minimal impact on the first quarter of the season. Leroux was bad in his few chances and is now out of the organization but the other three can and very well might been seen from again. Also special mention to Duke Welker who spent 3 days with the team but didn’t get to play.
Grade: I (incomplete) ]]> battlingbucs http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15803-First-Quarter-Grades Extra days off for TV getting good reception http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15802-Extra-days-off-for-TV-getting-good-reception?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 03:31:46 GMT Extra days off for TV getting good reception Read more:... Extra days off for TV getting good reception

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2TW7wojvo

May 16, 2013 12:56 am


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By Shelly Anderson and Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


There will be two sets of two-day breaks in the second-round playoff series between the Penguins and Ottawa Senators -- one now between Games 1 and 2, another between Games 3 and 4.

Those are designed to accommodate television, not to benefit the teams, but a sampling of Penguins players showed most don't have feelings about the extra time off and those who do like it.

"I don't really care," defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "At first, they told us we had two days off between [Games] 1 and 2, then back-to-back [days] for 2 and 3. That didn't make too much sense to us.

"From a playing standpoint, as long as we're not playing back-to-back, I don't think anyone minds. I don't mind having two days off, that's for sure."

Right winger Tyler Kennedy agreed.

"I think rest is always a good thing right now," he said. "At the end of the year, the more rest you get, the more you can prepare for the game and the better it is for the team."

The Penguins won the opener Tuesday, 4-1. Game 2 won't be played until Friday night.

"You do want to keep playing, keep the excitement going. But, at the same time, guys are dealing with little injuries," Penguins winger James Neal said. "You can rest up and get ready. It's going to be a long series. We know that, so added rest is always good."

Coach Dan Bylsma backed Kennedy and Neal's assessment, but he downplayed the idea that the longer breaks would be momentum-killers.

"You get an extra day's rest, and it means something for injuries and getting some rest," Bylsma said. "But games don't carry over as much as you'd like them to, momentum game to game. That certainly will be the case between [Games] 1 and 2, and 3 and 4."

Both teams held optional practices Wednesday. Bylsma called it a "purposeful" day.

"[In addition to] rest and recover, we treated it as a practice, but a practice off the ice with our [team] meeting," Bylsma said.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2TW86ddFn ]]> Pens Talk Skeeter http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15802-Extra-days-off-for-TV-getting-good-reception