Penguins/NHL
INSIDE BUZZ
Wildcard Chase
*1. LA Dodgers 65-52 (+3.5)
*2. St Louis Cardinals 62-56
* Miami Marlins 62-56
Pittsburgh Pirates 60-56
New York Mets 59-59
Six weeks to go in the baseball season and the narrative has changed in a big way over the last week for the Pirates.
A bridge season?
No so much.
The National League has so much mediocrity, there’s no excuse for the Pirates not to grab one of the final wildcard spots.
The Pirates recent turnaround, 7-3 in their last 10 games, has also been a good run for management that had a bad PR week in the immediate fallout of the Pirates cost cutting trades.
All three trade acquisitions at the Major League level, Felipe Rivero, Ivan Nova and Antonio Bastardo, are making immediate contributions.
Rivero/Nova/Bastardo > Melancon/Liriano?
Now it’s also not a stretch that ownership gets the best of both worlds.
Cut salary at the trade deadline and earn a fourth straight playoff berth.
Amid the Pirates recent turnaround and the emergence of starters Jameson Taillon, Chad Kuhl, is still questions about Gerrit Cole.
A problem for Cole is left handed hitters have figured him out. Lefties are hitting .309 against Cole this season.
The slider just isn’t where it was in past years and the lack of a changeup has raised a red flag with scouts. A lot of the off-speed movement is high.
Way too small of a sample to say that Andrew McCutchen has fully turned a corner and is back, but McCutchen’s .444 on-base percentage so far in August is the first step in the right direction.
Vick contacts Steelers?
[hide]
QB Mike Vick has reached out to the Steelers in the past 48 hours, expressing interest in a return. The Steelers are evaluating QB options with Bruce Gradkowski possibly facing season ending injured reserve. Gradkowski has a tear in his hamstring.
Steelers officials believe a ruling could come down by Friday in the Le’Veon Bell situation. The Steelers were told in early August that a decision will be announced by the end of the business day on the 22nd. However, the NFL moves at it’s own speed on these situations.
As the Steelers continue to work with agent Tom Condon on finalizing a 6 year extension with David DeCastro, super agent Drew Rosenhaus met with Steelers GM Kevin Colbert for two hours on Friday afternoon. Rosenhaus also met with a member of the ownership team. Rosenhaus is eyeing a reworked contract for Antonio Brown and also represents Lawrence Timmons who is entering the final year of his deal.
Vesey camp schedules meeting with Penguins
Agents Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli have expanded the list of teams they and client Jimmy Vesey plan to meet with.
The list has gone from originally six teams to now eight as meetings will take place in Boston all-day Tuesday and on Wednesday morning.
The eight teams awarded meetings are the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, two of the primary front-runners, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins and Islanders, originally not on Vesey’s selected six-team list, will enter the meetings as the biggest longshots to sign Vesey.
The Penguins will make their pitch on Tuesday morning.
Wilkes Barre head coach Clark Donatelli is the brother of Peter Donatelli, one of the primary agents advising Vesey. A source says Peter Donatelli recommended on giving the Penguins an opportunity to make a pitch.[/hide]
Soooo Cullen is back? Is this where people lose their fucking minds because we signed old legs?
In the 1940s 25% of Sams family was incestuous In the 1970s 66% of Sams family was incestuous By the early 2000s 100% incestuous, with the one-eyed cyclops known as Sam being the only living member left on the spiraly family tree branch. The Cyclops Clan was over 100 strong in the 1940s, but by 2004, Sam only had a brother, uncle, father, and grandfather living. Sadly, that one guy died early that year, leaving Sam alone. What changed? The women died young, most from complications of their 12 year old bodies giving birth. The men, grew depressed without their… Read more »
This was all confirmed as I types “Sams fa…” into google
Spot on.
Try with Americans being obese and lazy since 1940 you fat fuckk
Your obesity rate has tripled, chunky. Ignore the facts, though. You know how you do.
Here’s a question for the room. Who’s the only one in here that can be considered a 350lb bag of festering French-Canadian assholes?
And here’s a question to the obvious answer of the previous question. When given two identical contracts, why does the American lead the league in scoring while the Canadian have the worst year of his overrated career?
In the 1960’s
40% of blacks owned their business.
87% black families were two parents
Today less then 7% blacks own their business.
25% black families are two parent.
What changed other than proliferation of democratic party control of the major urban areas and the rise of the culture and soul destroying welfare state.
So fuckk you npl and your democratic black lives matter program you fat gayy Democrat
You’re an idiot. You don’t even live here. Worry about your own shit hole. Nothing you say has any impact, because you’re an idiot and no one cares about the opinion of idiots. Why post this in a sports forum anyway? Do everyone a favor and post somewhere else. Better yet, eat a bullet so you’re no longer a burden on your country or anyone around you.
I would love to see the source of this claim
The best part is, I just spent about 2 seconds on google on this… I cannot find a shread of anything to support it. Minority owned businesses overall are skyrocketing. I found stats that black owned business is up 35.7ish % since 2007 and most of that women. (2.8 Million businesses give or take).
Up the source, I am actually asking you for once to post a link someone will look at lol.
1960 – African Americans made up 10.55% of the total US population at about 19 million people. So you have hard data to prove that coming out of the civil rights movement of the 50s the African American population responsible for 40% of all businesses or 40% of that number owned businesses? to be clear that 1st one is highly unlikely due to the fact that they were just over coming a lot of societal obstacles but the second one equates to 7.5 Million businesses… there are about 28 million small businesses today… in a world where the US population… Read more »
You do have to be careful with that data though – especially with women – I can’t tell you how many small businesses just transfer title to, say, their wife’s name, because of the benefits of being “minority owned.” Typical big government b/s that doesn’t even come close to accomplishing what it tries to do.
True, Im more interested in debunking assholes claim then really looking deep into the stats TBH lol.
I gotcha. I’m sure sam’s data isn’t even in the ballpark of reality. That’s not to say that I disagree with the notion that years upon years of democratic control in large urban areas have stifled growth among minority communities. But sam sure isn’t the one to be making the argument.
Pirates have won 8 of 11. SP ERA in that time has been 3.41. Sadly, if you take out Cole’s two starts in that time, that figure drops to 2.57. If the rotation remains stable, and Cole finds his game again, this team should make the WC in a very mediocre NL this year.
Can you even imagine what this team could be if they even pretended to care about competing for a championship? They’re putting a team together with scotch tape and popsicle sticks and they’re still competing for a chance at a play-in game.
I think they use glue sticks. Not as messy.
Probably cheaper.
They prefer cost-effective. With glue sticks, you get more years of control.
Oh indeed – glue sticks last longer – that’s for damn sure.
this conversation is cute, If they signed Greinke or Price or any of the top tier pitchers they would still be competing for WC because the cubs are just that good.. When it comes to Happ, the pirates could have spent more of toronto’s money bc Toronto would have kept giving more and more to aquire the guy. But what does that do other than f the market up for every SP at that point? bunch of checker players who “dont care” weighing in is always good for laughs though… SPEND MONEY THATS HOW CHAMPIONSHIPS GET WON! just ask the… Read more »
that checker player comment was on point, as I most certainly don’t care about the battling buccos. good stuff.
Anytime!
You have to understand. Benny gets a 1099 from pirateball.com
yep, agreed liriano trade was BS, not happy with how they approached last offseason, but I know you and the truth dont get along. You hate this team yet definitely have an unbiased opinion, right? I hate bowling, therefore I dont pay attention or try to weigh in, hint hint. Every baseball expert out there said Jays needed to figure out how to replace Price, Happ was who they targeted, so how is that an excuse??? Yeah I see his record today, but unlike you I admit that if they would have given this guy a 3 year deal I… Read more »
4-15, 143.2ip, 5.59era, 1.42whip. That’s the combined stats of ever SP that was traded at or leading up to the TD but somehow getting some of that would show more of a willingness to wanting to win than the 3.41era of the current rotation?
Why are you limiting it to the trade deadline? Who said anything about that?
That was just the most recent information but honestly looking at the pitcher that were available over the winter there are still very few players that were realistic options that would have provided much more than what the Pirates actually had. Players like Price or Grenkie are never going to be legitimate options for anyone other than the top 5-6 teams and even going into the 2nd tier of players, with the exception of Cuerto & Fister(who I think should have been pursued heavily) I can’t think of anyone that was a considerable upgrade, especially not for what they were… Read more »
that happ guy was available. reasonable contract as well.
3 years 40M based on an above average half season after 4.5 seasons of subpar performances, for a 33 year old SP seemed like a lot at the time. In hindsight, its a bargain.
It really didn’t seem like too much. Those numbers always seem “high” at this point because $13 million for a starting pitcher still seems absurd – but when the good ones are making twice that consistently, it’s really just the going rate for an average to above average pitcher. It’s the cost of doing business. I remember when Bobby Bonilla was the highest paid player in baseball at $5.25 million or something.
that cat is still getting paid through 2035.
see note below, if pirates offered 3 years 45, bluejays would have just offered 3 years 48 from most of the reports out there. Think about that fanbase at the beginning of the year, they replaced David Price with a guy who had a 5+ERA at the midpoint of last season…….
Seriously. All that you do is make excuses for them.
How many people are in this camp anyhow?
What camp?
Gay camp
Ohhhh, well it makes sense why you knew the answer then.
What a comeback win by the blue Jays
Good thing you brought this to the attention of all the Blue Jays fans that post here.
You lost your team because you didnt support them, ur not welcomed as a jays fan
Darzuk sign yet?
Ryan Wilson has a good article up on Vesey. Odd like to see him here, but part of me wonders if he’s worth all the hype. A lot of good college players struggle with the transition to the nhl. Overall, I wouldn’t mind taking the risk, but of we don’t get him, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Ladd Hudler is still the big fish in the pond.
There is no risk. It’s an entry level deal with performance based bonuses. If he flops, you’re out the cost of fourth liner. No biggie.
Remember when Mike Johnston was hired – which Sam predicted would be a great success – and we got a solid picture of MJs forehead?
More amateur stock photo usage: bag of baseballs or salary “cap” ?
The Hockey Press® @TheHockeyPress
#NHL NEWS: Carey Price is “100% good to go” for the World Cup of Hockey tournament.
Sits out the whole year but can’t wait to play in the World Cup! So Canadian. If those idiots in Montreal had a lick of common sense, they’d be irate.
Isn’t that the case for Malkin usually
But you said this only happens with russians – that’s the point, dipshit.
Sam and yoda are a rare type of stupid. I’m not sure if they were born that way, or the school systems just failed them (probably both), but it’s entertaining watching them try to interact with people outside of their range of intellect. It’s like watching a robot malfunction.
st.bleury will be the 1st backup goaltender to make the hall of fame
You mean the 1st back up to win 500 career games
what do you mean carey price? i thought st.bleury was the pride of canada and a 1st ballot hall of famer. st.bleury has to be the starter, right?
You know what people do when you type the words “I thought?” They disregard everything that immediately follows. It’s the same phenomenon that happens when sam posts a youtube link.
Must be alienzzzz
must mean your patron saint is a backup
do your reptilian overlords know you have spilled secrets on the internet?
This isnt the olympics its a NHL/NHLPA event
I think you need to take the comment for what it was, Jeff.
Oh right i forgot every post on here must relate to sam in some way
its really pathetic when you start to pout.
Great post. If everyone just doesn’t respond to him he will go away.
In fairness same has been running his mouth about the World Cup vs Malkin most of the year so the comparison stands.
I don’t think Vessey has NHL top 6 hands.
Well, you can’t even spell his name right, so that makes me question your keen attention to detail….
Vesey is a pipe dream
The hype on this kid is gonna have him ink at more than hes probably worth. I know he is limited to entry level but the bonus structure would price him out of Pittsburgh. That noted he is 23 and the way bonuses work for this he may be somewhat limited in those earning as well. Either way I doubt there is a real chance he comes to Pittsburgh, the can fit it under the cap I do believe but it doesnt leave much after that
He’s capped at what he can sign for – he’s locked in to a $925k base salary and bonuses that he’d have to earn. Those bonuses wouldn’t effect teh cap until next year if achieved. They’d have zero issue fitting him in.
I stand corrected then, I thought the bonus piece would price him out… also there is a bonus cushion I had forgot about
Typical American as soon as it’s American it gets over hyped just like eichel,parise to name a few now watch this clown be a bust just like Brian Lawton
Right. As Jonathan Toews collects $10.5 million a year for 55 points and his faceoff ability.
How’s parise doing? Tough he was the savior for the wild. Yet only thing he has been doing is killing coaches and steal paychecks
You tough wrong! Who on here claimed he was the savior of the wild? Was I sick that day? You can point to him all that you want – his cap hit is $3 million less than Canadian Fraud Jonathan Toews.
Parise takes a lot of bonus money come July 1st it’s not against the cap but enough to milk money from the organization when he doesn’t deserve
His bonus money counts against the cap, retard.
Wait… so now Parise is the only one taking bonus money that isnt against the cap?
FTR.. Parise last received 5 million as the final piece in his bonus in 2015. He has received nothing for bonus money since. I mean this shit is all over the net same… at least try you fucking moron
Eichel was great his 1st year… Parise was a mid round pick that fell due to his size but then immediately became a star with some great 30 goal campaigns in NJ peaking at 45 goals and 94 points. His only issue is he misses some time annually but usually in the realm of 10 games. The fact that scoring is down league wide but he is still scoring at or near a 30 goal pace means his supposed demise is not remotely close to what you’re claiming. He had a shitty 2016 by most accounts but was still on… Read more »
You really think parise deserves more money then sid? Why because he had one 94point season? Oh forgot he does the little things yet when it comes to sid people don’t see that about him. Specially Mr.Stain
Where did he say that Parise deserves more money than Sid? Or can’t you read.
A: he isn’t getting more money than Sid and B: I never said that you yoda
Also I am waiting on your explanation on the Lawton comparison…
I like how the blackhawks give two guys an identical contract. The American leads the league in scoring and the Canadian shits his pants.
That’s a brilliant post.
Have a chance to play with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel – umm, no thanks- take my chances else where
The problem is that here he only has an opportunity to possibly play with those guys whereas other teams are rumored to be guaranteeing him a top 6 spot. Guaranteeing an unproven prospect a role is a risk the Pens don’t need to be taking, if he isn’t willing to come here and compete with the other young guys for playing time then happily move along.
I’m sure the blackhawks are “pitching” him on the idea of playing with Toews and Kane – there’s no way they’re just going to keep him there if he’s not contributing. There are no guarantees. Maybe the Devils will make that guarantee about him playing alongside of Travis fucking Zajac, but that’s not exactly the same thing.
Obviously just rumors at this point but it seems that most believe that Chicago is in fact guaranteeing him a spot in the top 6 and time on the pp, the later he will not see in Pittsburgh,
Again – if he’s not producing, they’re not going to just leave him there. So it’s one of a multitude of things – his camp will realize that he’s going to have to earn his time, or he won’t player there / the “guarantee” is overblown, and they’re promising him an open spot that he can compete for. There’s nothing they can offer that this team can’t. The Penguins should absolutely pitch to him that they see him in the top 6, and should flat out guarantee him a spot there presuming he produces. Clearly, the PP is going to… Read more »
Well we definitely agree on the last statement but I’m not sure we agree on the rest. Chicago at this point has no other options to fill their void in the top 6 whereas Pittsburgh’s option may not be ideal they do have players currently on the roster that can fill the void. Chicago is in a much better position to “guarantee” a top 6 spot because they have no one else who can take that role away from Vesey even if he struggles which is not the case in Pittsburgh where if he struggles he’s going to lose his… Read more »
So your argument is that they have the ability to tolerate his potential ineffectiveness.
No it’s more that they have the ability to make a legitimate guarantee due to lack of other options, I admit that I’m probably splitting hairs with this argument but I see a big difference in guaranteeing a player a spot because you have no one else to compete with him and guaranteeing a player the opportunity to compete for the spot which is how I see the difference between Chicago and Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh he’ll have to perform from day 1 just to hold the spot and may not even break camp with the spot if he struggles throughout… Read more »
All he’d get is an opportunity, no ffn way he’s given a guarantee. That’s just nonsense, Bowman is not an idiot. If Vesey is a top 6 NHL forward (I don’t think he is) he will play in the top 6 on any gawd damn team. If it his highest desire, the shittier the team the more likely he plays in top 6.
Exactly strike. That’s precisely the point. I don’t give a flying fuck who they have behind him – if he goes 10 games and isn’t producing, they’re trying other things. This is a team with stanley cup aspirations every year – they’re guaranteeing nothing.
So – no Jay – I disagree – it’s not that both teams can make that guarantee – it’s that neither can.
Even if it’s not a guarantee, in Chicago he would be battling player like Panik, Mashinter and Rasmussem, all of who have no business in the top 6, for playing time whereas in Pittsburgh he would be battling players like Sheary, Rust and Wilson, who may not be ideal top 6 players but have shown the ability to be serviceable in those roles. If playing in the top 6 and on the powerplay are key factors in his decision making process then Chicago is definitely a more attractive destination than Pittsburgh.
Because he knows sid has his own like and Kessel too he doesn’t want to play on a 3rd line with washed up players that are the most expensive 3rd line center in the league
You guys remember when Sam said Kessel was on the third line?
So, is Yoda still here?
No only when article talks about fleury
Pete and Clark Donatelli are brothers?
https://m.popkey.co/08d4a1/vzRbY.gif
Yes, but unfortuneately not very close. Pete banged Clark’s date on prom night and there has been a lot of tension ever since.
8/18: Vessey signs with Boston
8/19: WBS fires Donatelli