Tim Benz stories, Page 154
Proximity and schedule not the only reasons why Blue Jays may come to PNC Park
Wait. What’s the proposed trade? The Pittsburgh Penguins straight up for the Toronto Blue Jays? Sorry, Toronto. You are going to have to do better than that. Perhaps if you still had Kawhi Leonard on the Raptors, we could talk. But for now, don’t you think you should at least...
You’re shaky about Matt Murray as Penguins goalie? OK. Do you really trust Tristan Jarry?
So, you’re concerned about Penguins goalie Matt Murray. You’ve heard he’s been sluggish in training camp. You haven’t been wild about his regular-season performance the last few years. You think he may not be back in Pittsburgh next season anyway because of his contract situation. And you are starting to...
Biggest issues as Pittsburgh sports return: Will Jake Guentzel’s comeback get Penguins another Stanley Cup?
Our long wait for the return of Pittsburgh’s professional sports scene is hopefully coming to an end. The Pirates are playing warmup games. Their regular-season debut is slated for Friday in St. Louis. The Penguins’ first exhibition game is July 28 against the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s also the day the...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s latest ‘retirement’ and wallowing in the Twitter mockery
Antonio Brown is making it sound like he’s done playing football. The former Steelers All-Pro hinted at retirement on Twitter Monday. For Tuesday’s “First Call,” we analyze where Brown may be going with this approach and some of the online reaction to his “announcement.” Mr. Big Chest made some big...
First Call: Steelers’ Zach Banner burns Browns, Jack Nicklaus beats covid-19, NFL loophole in virus opt-out
Monday’s “First Call” features a Twitter blast against the Cleveland Browns from Steelers offensive lineman Zach Banner. There’s a strange loophole in the NFL’s coronavirus opt-out plan. A golf legend beat covid-19. And a familiar baseball name with local ties is now a free agent. Zach’s zinger Steelers offensive tackle...
What’s going on with Penguins’ Sidney Crosby? Mark Madden has sources telling him what’s up.
Based on the Penguins’ history when it comes to their players’ health, I’m sure we all had the same thought when the team returned to practice during the coronavirus pandemic. “Sid is going to get it. Mumps. Concussions. A broken jaw from a teammate’s slapshot. He’s gonna get the virus.”...
Biggest issues as Pittsburgh sports return to play: Which Josh Bell will Pirates get
It seems as if Pittsburgh’s three professional sports teams finally are on the verge of returning to play after the coronavirus lockdown. The Pirates’ first regular-season game is Friday. The Penguins’ first exhibition game is July 28 against the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s also the day the Steelers are supposed to...
5 big 2020 Pirates questions: Will a short season help the Pirates?
Our “Breakfast With Benz” Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training 2.0 coverage has built all week to this. We’ve posed one crucial question per day about the Pirates as they prepare for the 2020 shortened season. We looked at the batting order and the starting rotation. We analyzed the bullpen and tried...
U mad, bro?: The media is too mean to Matt Murray, Matt Feiler and Mayor Peduto
Some Pittsburgh Steelers fans feel the need to defend a player that was never even insulted. Some Penguins fans are ticked about the media trying to quell a goalie controversy that the same fans are claiming they didn’t want to see in the first place. And the mayor of Pittsburgh...
Pirates won’t be the only team using ‘piggyback’ tandem. How will it impact fantasy leagues?
If you’re already tired of hearing about the Pirates “piggyback” starting idea, too bad. They aren’t going to be the only team employing that type of tactic in this herky-jerky 2020 Major League Baseball season. That’s what Jeff Erickson tells us in this week’s “Breakfast With Benz” fantasy sports podcast....
Five big 2020 Pirates questions: How does the bullpen come together?
This week at “Breakfast With Benz,” we have isolated one major question surrounding the Pirates per day as they ramp up for the start of this delayed 2020 season. So far we have looked at the lineup, the starting rotation, and the future of first-round draft choice Cole Tucker. Thursday’s...
First Call: ‘Dave Parker Day’ is Friday. Celebrating the day The Cobra uncoiled.
You’re calling off sick on Friday, right? What? You’re not? How come? Did you forget it’s “Dave Parker Day”? Yup! Tomorrow is the 41st anniversary of “The Cobra’s” MVP performance in the All-Star Game, July 17, 1979. That’s when the Pirates right fielder gunned down two American League runners with...
Is Matt Murray struggling in net during Penguins training camp?
Our TribLIVE colleague Mark Madden had an interesting Penguins nugget about the goaltenders on his radio show on 105.9 The X Wednesday. Madden said that he has been getting Twitter direct messages and reports from some colleagues in the media who have been attending Penguins “Phase 3” training camp practices...
5 big 2020 Pirates questions: Can the starting rotation keep team afloat?
With the Pirates ramping up to their 60-game sprint of a season, each day this week at “Breakfast With Benz,” we will be examining the five most pressing questions facing the team. The Pirates open the season on Friday, July 24 in St. Louis. Tuesday’s question: What should the Pirates...
First Call: Which Steeler has best chance at making his first Pro Bowl in 2020? Devin Bush? Or someone else?
NFL.com came up with a list of players — one per franchise — poised to make their first Pro Bowl. The Steelers nominee was second-year linebacker Devin Bush. Devin. Bush.PLAYMAKER. @_Dbush11 : CBS: NFL app // Yahoo Sports appWatch free on mobile: pic.twitter.com/YjufHcm2hT— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2019 Good...
A look at how Toronto ‘hockey bubble’ will be set up for Penguins
As the Penguins get ready for existence inside the Toronto hockey hub, we tracked down a guy who could paint a picture for us of what the surroundings will be like for the team. Mike Zeisberger joins us for Wednesday’s podcast. He’s based out of Toronto and writes for NHL.com....
Penguins’ Kris Letang on why he decided to play, David Morehouse on NHL schedule for 2020-21
On Monday, the Penguins opened training camp to prepare for 2020’s rebooted “NHL in a bubble” format. The quest for the Stanley Cup officially resumed in Cranberry at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. But first there is the quest to escape practices without the whole team contracting coronavirus. Easier said...
5 big 2020 Pirates questions: What should be done with Cole Tucker?
The Pirates are ramping up to their 60-game sprint of a season at PNC Park’s “Spring Training 2.0.” The Major League Baseball schedule starts for the Pirates on Friday, July 24 in St. Louis. So each day this week at “Breakfast With Benz,” we will be examining the five most...
First Call: Praise for Steelers T.J. Watt, criticism of James Conner, odds on Washington’s nickname, NFL face shields
Tuesday’s “First Call” finds praise for Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, but criticism for running back James Conner. Also a peek at the new design for NFL faceguards in the covid-19 era. And betting odds for Washington’s new NFL nickname. My idea won’t win. But it is the best of the...
5 big 2020 Pirates questions: Can the Pirates hit their way to relevance?
The Pirates are ramping up to their 60-game sprint of a season at PNC Park’s “Spring Training 2.0.” The Major League Baseball schedule starts for the Pirates on Friday, July 24 in St. Louis. So each day this week at “Breakfast With Benz,” we will be examining the five most...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster ‘won’t be very good, then he’ll leave,’ Notre Dame should ‘kick rocks’
If you listen to our “Madden Monday” podcasts weekly, then you know Mark Madden’s strong affection for Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Obviously, Mark is JuJu’s biggest fan. So when Smith-Schuster celebrated subscriber No. 1,000,000 to his YouTube channel, you knew Mark would be the first one in line to...
First Call: Antonio Brown gets $5 million settlement from Patriots. Look how he celebrated for his birthday.
Former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown fell into some money and celebrates in style. That’s how we kick off Monday’s “First Call.” Also, ESPN gives a little love to two Steelers stars. And Yasiel Puig is getting some interest. Guess what. It’s not from the Pirates. I know. You’re shocked, right?...
Former WPIAL star Terrelle Pryor interested in joining Steelers, has talked to Patriots
Former WPIAL superstar Terrelle Pryor wants to get back into the National Football League. And the Jeannette Jayhawk alum says he’d prefer to play with either New England or his hometown Steelers. Pryor tells TMZ that he’s been in touch with approximately five teams. The free agent wide receiver and...
First Call: How the Big Ten’s decision may impact Pitt, Notre Dame, West Virginia and others
Sometimes this job requires you to act like you have all the answers. All the time. Immediately. Even if you don’t. Saying “I don’t know” feels like a cop-out. But when it comes to asking what the football ripple effects will be from Thursday’s decision by the Big Ten to...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Cam Heyward, Zach Banner strong voices after DeSean Jackson comments
In June, when Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he couldn’t condone players protesting the national anthem, he was excoriated by athletes throughout the sports world. By the media. And on Twitter. He went from one of the most popular players in football to a national pariah overnight. To be clear,...
