Tim Benz stories, Page 153
Tim Benz: Penguins better finish or they’ll be finished a lot quicker than we thought
For a team that is supposed to have a lot of finishers, the Penguins haven’t finished much of anything during the playoffs lately. And if that trend doesn’t change fast, they’ll be finished in the reformatted 2020 NHL postseason a lot quicker than the hockey world anticipated. The Penguins lost...
First Call: Notre Dame-ACC football deal not as bad as some conference fans believe
For Friday’s “First Call,” we take a closer look at ACC football’s sudden addition of Notre Dame this year. And we try to dispel some of the knee-jerk, negative reaction to it. Although it’s totally understandable. I mean, c’mon. It’s Notre Dame. Ugh. On Wednesday, a torrent of anti-Notre Dame...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Joe Musgrove over-slotted as top starter? Pirates hitting, bullpen woes.
A week into Major League Baseball’s return, we are already seeing some interesting trends in the fantasy sports world. So far, most of them aren’t great for the Pirates. Especially when you look at their bullpen and batting order. In our weekly fantasy sports podcast, Jeff Erickson and I dive...
Tim Benz: For JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner, it can’t just be ‘Ben is back!’
The impact of Ben Roethlisberger’s absence on the 2019 Steelers offense extended well beyond who was throwing the football. Sure, the Steelers’ starting quarterback does that better than his backups, Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges. That’s why the Steelers were only an eight-win team last season instead of one that...
First Call: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson makes all-out pitch to sign Antonio Brown
For “First Call” Thursday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is applying a full-court press when it comes to former Steeler Antonio Brown. He wants him in purple and black. On three different occasions since Apr. 1, Jackson has either worked out with Brown, propped him up online, or spoken of...
Penguins power play concerns, Canadiens ‘equalizing factor’ besides Carey Price
There’s one continuing narrative about the Penguins preliminary round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. “The Canadiens have a chance to steal the series if Carey Price stands on his head in goal!” Sure. That could be true. But our TribLive hockey beat writer, Seth Rorabaugh, has a different theory...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ Mitch Keller fixing shortcomings he identified
During the Pirates’ rebooted training camp at PNC Park, starting pitcher Mitch Keller identified two specific goals to hone his arsenal. • Develop a changeup. • Get the spin and movement on his fastball to equal its often-electric velocity. So far, so good to start Year 2 of his big-league...
Bring the noise! Joe Klimchak pulls off MLB’s crowd noise plan at PNC Park
If you are a Pirates fan who has ever been to PNC Park, you know who Joe Klimchak is. You may not know his last name off the top of your head. But you know his face. And his voice. Klimchak is the longtime Pirates in-game host at the stadium....
First Call: Is Antonio Brown leveraging Patriots opt outs? Penguins problems. Canadiens lose.
Wednesday’s “First Call” checks on Antonio Brown’s latest plea to get back into the NFL. Is he appealing to a former team once again? We also talk about future plans for a Steelers draft choice and a former coach. Plus, a look at how the Montreal Canadiens did in their...
U mad, bro? Fans torn on Ben Roethlisberger, shred Pirates bullpen, defend Stephon Tuitt
Steelers and Pirates fans shouldn’t be mad about anything. Because this week’s “U mad, bro?” is coming a day early. I was looking at the rest of the week’s schedule and realized it was best if we just got our rage out a little earlier than normal. Because, apparently, a...
Context for Penguins’ Zach Aston-Reese quote on Canadiens top line
Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese didn’t lack for honesty Monday in Toronto. The winger was asked about the potential of his line matching up against the top-scoring unit of the Montreal Canadiens in the preliminary-round series between the clubs. That unit likely will be Phillip Danault (47 points) flanked by Tomas...
Tim Benz: PNC Park opener like we may never see again. Let’s hope so, anyway.
Curiosity. That’s what drew me so deeply into 2020’s coronavirus-delayed first weekend of Major League Baseball. Well, that, and desperation for any sort of live sports whatsoever. Just having the games back is what mattered most. Fans in the stands or not. I wasn’t eagerly looking forward to what “Pandemic...
First Call: Steelers’ Stephon Tuitt defiantly tweets he won’t kneel during anthem
For the second day in a row, “First Call” takes a look at another sports figure with Pittsburgh ties sounding off about kneeling during the anthem. On Monday, it was Aliquippa and Pitt legend Mike Ditka. The former Chicago Bears coach told TMZ, “If you can’t respect our national anthem,...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s new baby, former NBA coach rips Mike Ditka over anthem-kneeling quote
For “First Call” on Monday, former Steelers star Antonio Brown is a father again. A pro sports coaching peer is challenging Mike Ditka on his anthem-kneeling stance. Major League Baseball’s ghost runner rule has already ripped a hole in the space-time continuum. ‘Iron Mike’ is mad Pro Football Hall of...
Tim Benz: Patchwork Pirates, odd MLB season deliver as advertised over first weekend
The first weekend of Major League Baseball in the coronavirus era was exactly as advertised — not just for the local team but league-wide. From an MLB perspective, viewers across the country quickly got used to cardboard cutout fans, manufactured crowd noise and runners beginning extra innings at second base....
Mark Madden on Sidney Crosby’s status: ‘Since they won’t tell us, I assume there is potential worry’
As the Penguins head to the Toronto hub for the NHL playoffs, two major questions hang over the franchise. How healthy, really, is Sidney Crosby? And who will be the starting goaltender? Well, who will be the starting goaltender by the end of the postseason, at least? Mark Madden and...
Tim Benz: You have to laugh at Le’Veon Bell’s rant against former teammate
I’m not sure how good of an arm former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has, but I bet he could spin a decent halfback-option pass or two for the New York Jets if needed. After Saturday, though, I am sure he can throw stones from a glass house. Over the...
Fantasy podcast: Baseball is back! Mookie’s millions. Missing out on PNC Park may hurt Blue Jays.
Baseball is back! So that means fantasy sports players have their hobby back as well. What better day to have Jeff Erickson join us from RotoWire to look at the start of the Major League Baseball season. We talk about how crucial it is for fantasy owners to watch teams...
First Call: Antonio Brown is actually 100% right about something. Lyke on gambling. Fitzgerald on Blue Jays.
Friday’s “First Call” tackles three big topics before we hit the weekend. College sports gambling. Why the Toronto Blue Jays were snubbed in Pittsburgh. And Antonio Brown — for perhaps the first time in his life — may have a point. When Himmothy is right, Himmothy is right Here’s something...
Top issue as Pittsburgh sports return: How much can Ben Roethlisberger fix the Steelers offense?
All week at “Breakfast with Benz,” we’ve been tackling the biggest issues surrounding Pittsburgh’s three pro sports teams as our region’s franchises return to play after a four-month absence thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. The Steelers will be the last team back. That’s if the NFL can get off the...
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot ‘having a difficult time’ finishing schedule, swallowing loss of City Game
Pro sports and college football coaches are dealing with the pitfalls of trying to launch a season during the coronavirus outbreak. So are college basketball coaches. But they are also doing so while still coping with the premature ending to their previous seasons as a result of the same pandemic....
Biggest issues as Pittsburgh sports return: How far will Penguins go in revamped playoffs?
The Penguins are taking part in the rebooted NHL playoff format. And it’s not with the goal of soaking in Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition and the scenery of Edmonton. No. The goal is to win a sixth Stanley Cup. The Penguins have a good chance of doing so in 2020...
U mad, bro? Readers rant about Antonio Brown, Penguins goalies, banned Blue Jays, Steelers O-line
“Return to play” must be a real emotional lightning bolt. Because we’ve got people fired up about all three of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams. Readers are ready to pounce on Antonio Brown’s “retirement,” the state stopping the Toronto Blue Jays from playing at PNC Park, Matt Murray’s glove hand, and...
First Call: Steelers’ most improved player in 2020 will be …
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at an interesting question posed about the Pittsburgh Steelers by NFL.com: Who will be this year’s most improved player on the team? Their answer is a good one. In this case, however, let’s not overlook the obvious. NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund posted a column...
Biggest issues as Pittsburgh sports return: Can Steelers defense recreate 2019 dominance?
Two of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams are on their way back to competition after the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The Pirates open their season on Friday in St. Louis. The Penguins are supposed to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference hub city of Toronto on July 28. That’s also when...
