THE BLACK-N-GOLD NEWS
STEELERS
Last week started off on a losing note for our Steelers. They lost last Sunday's showdown with AFC North-leading Cincinnati, 16-10. That wasn't the only loss they suffered. RB Le'Veon Bell was knocked out of the game with a knee. Congrats to QB Ben Roethlisberger who became just the 9th QB in NFL history to pass for over 40,000 yards with one team. It's a shame he threw 3 picks on the day to contribute to the loss.
The following day it was officially announced that #26 was out for the year with a torn MCL. The Steelers signed former Rams RB Isaiah Pead to add some depth to their depleted running attack.
Another roster move was made mid-week when the team released WR Tyler Murphy and called up CB Doran Grant from the practice squad. And still one more move came as the Steelers released RB/Returner Dri Archer and signed WR/Returner Jacoby Jones. Jones was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Chargers. He's no stranger to Steelers fans from his days with the Baltimorons. It was only a few Thanksgivings ago that Coach Tomlin danced a little two-step with Jones as he sprinted down the sidelines to return a TD in a Steelers loss. Let's hope the coach doesn't have flashbacks if/when Jacoby does the same for the Black-N-Gold.
The Steelers continued to keep their playoff hopes alive when they defeated the Oakland Raiders this past Sunday in a 38-35, heart-stopping win. Don't look now but Big Ben had to leave this game midway through the 4th quarter. He suffered a mid-foot sprain and is expected to just miss a few weeks. Whew!
Meanwhile, QB Landry Jones filled in admirably in Ben's abscence. Hopefully he can do the same this week when the Cleveland Clowns come to town. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
PENGUINS
When last we saw our Pens they were in the early goings of a winning streak that would take them to all the way to western Canada. They edged former Coach Dan Bylsma's new team, the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 before hitting the road for the Great White North.
Along the way, they also did some roster shuffling. They sent F Kevin Porter back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That cleared the way for F Eric Fehr to make his long-awaited Pens debut. Fehr debuted in fine fashion, scoring his first goal (shorthanded) for the Black-N-Gold in a 4-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs. F Matt Cullen also picked up his first career goal for the Pens in that contest. G Marc-Andre Fleury was credited with the shutout, the 40th of his career. Congrats to Fehr, Cullen and Flower!
The Pens also nipped the Canucklheads 3-2. In that game, Fehr found the net again with another shorty. He became the 1st player in NHL history to score a shorthanded goal in his 1st 2 games played with a team. Congrats again to Fehr!
We learned that over Halloween weekend Baby Pens D Derrick Pouliot was cited for public drunkenness in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Not too cool if you want to make it back to the big club, dude.
This past weekend the Pens were given a health scare. W Pascal Dupuis was not in the lineup for the Pens 2-1 win over Edmonton. Duper was taken to the hospital for examination. The team announced it was not related to his recent blood clot issues. Duper rejoined the team in the locker room following their victory but was still not cleared to play.
Saturday night saw the Pens road trip and winning streak come to an end. They fell to the Flames 5-2. Congrats to W David Perron who scored the 300th point of his career!
Yesterday brought the return of Duper to the ice when he practiced with the Pens at their complex in Cranberry. Hopefully he'll be back in the lineup when the Pens take the ice tomorrow night against the Montreal Canadiens. Let's Go Pens!!!
PIRATES
Our Pirates made some roster moves this week. The Braves acquired Indy RH Chris Volstad. Volstad spent the season in Triple A last year to provide the organization some pitching depth.
CF Andrew McCutchen collected some new hardware in the last week. Cutch was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award. This award goes to the player that "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team". Congrats to Cutch for the honor!
Some Pirates prospects also received honors this week. OF Austin Meadows and C Reese McGuire were named AFL Fall Stars. Meadows celebrated by hitting a home run in the game. Congrats to both Austin and Reese! See you in the Black-N-Gold at PNC Park soon!
Of course there were more moves in the early goings of the offseason. RH Deolis Guerra elected for free agency rather than be outrighted to Triple A Indy. The Bucs declined their 2016 option for RH Radhames Liz, making him a free agent. 3B Aramis Ramirez made it official when he announced his retirement from MLB. The Buccos added INF Gift Ngoepe to their 40-man roster.
The Bucs announced that RH Casey Sadler had undergone Tommy John surgery in October and would miss all of the 2016 season. The Pirates outrighted both Sadler and RH Brandon Cumpton to Triple A Indy. The Pirates lost another player when Oakland claimed OF/1B Andrew Lambo off of waivers.
Rumors abounded yesterday that the Pirates had won the bidding rights to KBO 1B Byung-Ho Park, INF Jung Ho Kang's former teammate. That rumor turned out to be unfounded when it was officially announced that the Minny Twins won the bidding.
The Pirates made some front office promotions. Pro scout Ron Hopkins and national supervisor Matt Ruebel were named special assistants to GM Neal Huntington.
One last move was made. The Pirates claimed RH Guido Knudson off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
The hot stove is only now beginning to warm up. Many more moves will be made before winter is over. Hopefully they'll be moves that will get our Pirates to a World Series in 2016. Keep it here for the latest. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment