THE BLACK-N-GOLD NEWS
PIRATES
As Labor Day weekend approached, it was not a good week for Pittsburgh's Boys of Summer. The week opened for our Buccos with some roster moves as the rosters were expanded on September 1. The Pirates called up OFs Jaff Decker and Travis Snider, C Elias Diaz, RH Radhames Liz and LH Bobby LaFromboise. RH Rob Scahill was activated from the DL and RH Casey Sadler was transferred to the 60-day DL. Speaking of Diaz, congrats go out to the Indy backstop as he was named an International League postseason All-Star.
Tuesday night the Pirates troubles in Miller Park, AKA The House of Horrors, continued as they dropped the first game of their 3-game series by a score of 7-4.
Wednesday brought another loss to the Brew Crew, 9-4. It also brought more roster changes as INF Pedro Florimon was called up and RH Deolis Guerra was moved to the 60-day DL.
Thursday started on a good note for the Buccos. CF Andrew McCutchen was named NL Player of the Month for August. This is the 4th time in Cutch's career that he's received this honor. Congrats, Cutch! Some more roster news occurred. The Pirates announced that OF/1B Corey Hart would not be activated from the DL this season, thus ending his career with the Black-N-Gold. The Pirates promptly went out and were swept by Hart's old team, the Brewers, 5-3.
Friday night the setting was switched to St Louie. The Pirates began a 3-game series with the NL Central-leading Cardinals. Friday night saw the Bucs deck the Cards, 9-3. Also on Friday, 2 minor leaguers on the Pirates Bradenton roster received honors. Both OF Austin Meadows and 2B Erich Weiss were named end-of-season High-A All-Stars for the Florida State League. Congrats!
Saturday saw another showdown with St Louie. This time the Pirates fell, 4-1. Sunday's rubber game took place under the lights of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. The Pirates again showed the nation how we do it, Black-N-Gold-style, with a 7-1 victory.
The Pirates had to follow-up Sunday night's game with a matinee in Cincy for Labor Day. Boy, it was a labor watching this one as the Pirates committed 4 miscues on their way to another loss to the Reds, 3-1. Before the game the Buccos activated 1B/OF Travis Ishikawa from the DL. After the game, Manager Clint Hurdle proclaimed that RH AJ Burnett would make his return to the rotation on Thursday night at home versus Milwaukee.
It was a roller coaster week for our Pirates and will continue to have it's ups and downs as the Bucs are 5.5 back of St Louie in the NL Central with 26 games to play and the Cubbies on their tail for the top Wild Card at 2 games back. If our Pirates want to get in, they'd better make sure they go out and win. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!
STEELERS
Our Steelers kicked off the week by obtaining their 3rd kicker of the preseason, trading a conditional draft pick to the Jags for Josh Scobee. This move puzzles Mrs. Black-N-Gold as they had Jay Feely in for a visit when they signed Garrett Hartley. Scobee brings with him a price tag that eats up more salary cap space and cost the team a draft pick. Really, all this could have been avoided had the Steelers brought in an extra leg to training camp.
More moves were made as the aforementioned Hartley and rookie CB Senquez Golson were placed on IR. Also, OL Mike Adams will start the season on the PUP list.
The NFL announced that they have denied WR Martvis Bryant's appeal of his 4-game suspension for marijuana use. That means Bryant, who was expected to have a breakout season, will miss a quarter of the Steelers regular season schedule. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey is expected to start in Bryant's absence.
The Steelers also re-structured some contracts this week to free up salary cap space. WR Antonio Brown, TE Heath Miller, K Shaun Suisham, and LB Lawrence Timmons all had their deals re-done. Hopefully, this makes AB a happy camper as he was not pleased with his previous salary structure.
The Steelers may have moved around some money in hopes of signing free agent NT Phil Taylor, who visited the South Side offices. However, the Steelers decided not to sign Taylor for health reasons (knee).
Thursday evening was the final tune-up for the regular season with the Steelers visiting Carolina. Unfortunately, the results were about the same. The lost to the Pantherw 23-6, finishing the preseason with a 1-4 mark. Mrs. Black-N-Gold understands that the preseason record doesn't count but she is concerned about the play of the Black-N-Gold during the exhibition season. She'll touch on that when she gives you her Steelers season preview tomorrow.
Meanwhile, more moves were made to get down to the 53-man roster limit. P Brad Wing was traded to the Giants for a conditional pick (perhaps the one we lost in the Scobee deal?). The Turk paid a visit to several players that hoped to catch on: RB Jawon Chisolm, RB Josh Harris, DL Matt Conrath, DL Ethan Hemer, DL Mike Thornton, S Jordan Dangerfield, S Alden Darby, S Gerod Holliman, OL Reese Dismukes, OL BJ Finney, OL Doug Legursky, CB Kevin Fogg, CB BW Webb, LB LJ Fort, LB Shayon Green, LB Howard Jones, WR Shakim Phillips, & WR Jarrod West. They placed OL Kevin Palmer and Mitchell Van Dyk on the Waived/Injured List. A signing was made as they added CB Ross Cockrell.
Sunday brought about more movement. They signed RB Jordan Todman and DE Caushaud Lyons and cut CB Doran Grant and DE/LB Anthony Chickillo.
The team captains were announced. Congrats to DL Cam Heyward (defense), QB Ben Roethlisberger (offense), CB William Gay (defense) and DB Robert Golden (special teams).
The Steelers also made it official as they placed C Maurkice Pouncey on the IR Return List. Pouncey is eligible to make his season-debut in the Oakland game. Legursky was brought back to take Pouncey's roster spot.
And now it's time for the games to count. The countdown to kickoff has begun as the Steelers travel to New England to square off against the Patriots on Thursday Night Football. The Steelers will have their hands full since Tom Brady's suspension was overturned by a judge, voiding the Deflategate suspension. Meanwhile, the Steelers will be without the injured Pouncey and the suspended Bryant and RB Le'Veon Bell. Time to play like you mean it. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
PENGUINS
Our Penguins continue to get ready for training camp and the run to the Cup. Players have conducted their own workouts at the Pens training complex. One player who is getting into shape for the season is newly-acquired F Phil Kessel. Kessel has been training with former Penguin and fitness guru Gary Roberts. Reports are that the usually rotund Kessel has shed 13 pounds during the offseason. Mrs. Black-N-Gold is happy to hear this as one of the knocks on Kessel has been his lack of conditioning. Another strike against Kessel was his reluctance to play in the spotlight of hockey-crazed fans and media in Toronto.
Mrs. Black-N-Gold can't help but wonder, if the Pens get off to a bad start, and Kessel plays particularly poor, will the crown-jewel of GM Jim Rutherford's offseason wilt under the scrutiny that a slow start would bring? Sure, Kessel is happy that most of the attention will be paid to C Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. But would a slow start out of the gates draw Kessel the fan's and media's ire? Mrs. Black-N-Gold doesn't want to go there. Yet. Get ready for the season and ready to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. Let's Go Pens!!!
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