Tim Benz stories, Page 184
Tim Benz: Can ‘Sweet Feet’ Shaun Sarrett fill Mike Munchak’s shoes with Steelers?
Everybody is in on the joke now. Not just the offensive linemen. “There you go, ‘Sweet Feet,’ ” Ben Roethlisberger hollered as he walked past a throng of media waiting for new offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett. “Uh, I mean, coach Shaun.” It’s been the running joke of Steelers spring...
Tim Benz: 10 years after 1st Cup, expectations change for Crosby, Malkin
Penguins fans have had a lot of fun anniversaries to celebrate lately. • The 35th anniversary of drafting Mario Lemieux was Sunday. • The end of this season marked the 30th anniversary of Lemieux’s 199-point campaign in 1989. • Today is the 10th anniversary of the 2009 Stanley Cup championship...
First Call: Antonio Brown is a singer now; enough Drake in the NBA Finals, already!
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Antonio Brown dabbles in Le’Veon Bell territory. Emotional reaction to Kevin Durant’s injury. Kyle Rudolph is staying with the Vikings. And, please, enough Drake! Move over Le’V Mr. Big Chest is Mr. Big Voice now. Yup. A.B. is trying his hand at singing now. View this...
Paul Steigerwald reflects on Penguins drafting Mario Lemieux
What did you do for “Happy Mario Day?” Did you go down the YouTube Mario Lemieux highlight rabbit hole? Wear a No. 66 jersey to Sunday dinner? Maybe place a bouquet at the statue in front of PPG Paints Arena? Those are all completely appropriate responses, by the way. However...
Tim Benz: Sick of ex-Pirates yet? Charlie Morton’s Cy Young-caliber year continues
Tired of hearing about how those ex-Pirates are blossoming in Tampa after the Chris Archer trade? Austin Meadows and that annoying .346 batting average to lead the American League. Tyler Glasnow and that 1.80 ERA before his injury. Tired of being reminded that Gerrit Cole is leading Major League Baseball...
Tim Benz: Josh Donaldson’s antics vs. Pirates prove MLB players don’t get it
If this is Major League Baseball’s idea of “letting the kids play,” then it shouldn’t. Because the kids can’t handle themselves. Whether it’s Derek Dietrich posing for every home run he hits, Max Muncy acting like a first-inning homer in June is a walk-off homer in October, Madison Bumgarner channeling...
First Call: MLB world offers prayers for David Ortiz; A.J. Green wants to stay with Bengals
In Monday’s “First Call,” an update on David Ortiz’s health after he was shot over the weekend. A.J. Green wants to remain a Bengal. Tensions rise in the N.L. West. Praying for Papi Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez reached out to former teammate David Ortiz on Sunday night after Ortiz...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Mario Lemieux memories, Pirates problems, state of Steelers
Well, what do you know? It’s a “Madden Monday” podcast … on a Monday! Will wonders never cease? Between holidays, vacation days and our mutually busy concert schedule, Mark Madden and I haven’t been able to connect on a Monday for the past few weeks, pushing our usual post back...
Tim Benz: Francisco Liriano latest issue for Pirates pitching staff
The Pirates don’t need this. It appears Francisco Liriano may be turning into their latest problem, after having previously been one of their most reliable performers. Liriano allowed a two-run homer to Mike Moustakas in the eighth inning Sunday. Mike Moustakas continues to hurt the Pirates. This is his 12th...
Tim Benz: This decade of Steelers football isn’t what numbers suggest
This was an interesting find by TribLive’s Chris Adamski. He came across this table compiled by German stats guy René Bugner. No commentary from Bugner. Just the numbers. It’s a list of the best decades ever compiled by NFL teams. His numbers outline the best combined regular-season and playoff win-loss...
First Call: Penguins trade chip besides Phil Kessel?; blown call stings Bruins
In “First Call” Friday, there may be a trade chip on the Penguins besides Phil Kessel. The Bruins got screwed in the Stanley Cup Final. The Big Ten/ACC Challenge should be fantastic. Who else besides Phil? The Athletic listed its top 20 trade candidates. Two Penguins made it. Writer Craig...
Fantasy sports podcast: Andrew McCutchen’s injury, Pirates trade rumors
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. One of our big topics of conversation is Andrew McCutchen’s injury. How will the Phillies adjust? And how should fantasy owners of McCutchen adjust? There’s been some talk of the Phillies perhaps being interested in Starling Marte. We kick...
Tim Benz: Could Phillies replace Andrew McCutchen with Starling Marte?
Part of the reason the Pirates traded Andrew McCutchen is that they had Starling Marte. Now that McCutchen’s newest team has lost him for the season, might the Phillies try to replace him with Marte? That seems to be a percolating possibility, if you believe what is being written about...
Tim Benz: NFL playoff expansion actually makes some sense
In a perfect world, the National Football League would trim its preseason by at least two games, keep its regular season at 16 games and leave the playoff bracket alone. But it’s far from a perfect world, even in the NFL. The collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season....
Pirates draft pick Blake Sabol discusses being Troy Polamalu’s cousin, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s friend
Remember how quiet and shy Troy Polamalu was when he was first drafted by the Steelers? Now picture the exact opposite. That’s his second cousin, Blake Sabol. And that’s who the Pirates drafted in the seventh round out of Southern Cal. If the catcher-turned-outfielder is as comfortable at the plate...
First Call: Could Clint Frazier-to-Pirates talk heat back up?; analyst picks Bills over Patriots
Thursday’s “First Call” includes a Penn State alum making a crazy NFL pick. A Penn State commit staying true to State College. And a reason why the Yankees may be shopping Clint Frazier to the Pirates again. Say what?! NFL Network analyst — and Penn State product — Michael Robinson...
U mad, bro? Raging Reds fans, puking Pirates fans, Le’Veon Bell defenders
There is a disturbing lack of “Phil DePhense Phoundation” emails in “U mad, bro?” this week. Don’t they know “the media is trying to run Phil out of town” again? But their absence has been filled by angry Pirates fans, raging Reds fans and NFL fans who want to call...
Tim Benz: Attacks on Pirates’ Steve Blass are shameful, unwarranted
I’m not going to defend Steve Blass. Mainly because the Pirates broadcaster’s six-decade-long reputation in baseball should stand on its own. It’s a reputation of being an ambassador of the game, rooted in his ability to be well-liked and respected by those of many different races and nationalities. For 36...
First Call: Browns drama starts to emerge; bunt breaks up no-hitter
In “First Call” Wednesday, the Browns are dealing with some drama of their own. Arizona is still mad about Super Bowl XLIII. And a team broke up a no-hitter with a bunt. Browns drama The Steelers have had their share of drama in recent years while attempting to win the...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s praise for Jets QB Sam Darnold a little much
So how was Le’Veon Bell’s first day at his new school? The former Steelers running back went through his first minicamp practice with the Jets on Tuesday. Bell says he can already tell that he is going to be more of a leader in New York than he was in...
High school coach dismisses arm worries for Pirates 1st-rounder Quinn Priester
The Pirates selected Quinn Priester in the first round of the MLB Draft on Monday. In this podcast, I interviewed his coach, Ryan Passaglia. Passaglia coached Priester at Cary-Grove High School in Illinois and has been working with the right-hander since he was in middle school. Priester has committed to...
Pirates draft Troy Polamalu’s cousin in 7th round
We haven’t seen Troy Polamalu at Heinz Field in quite some time. But maybe he’ll be at PNC Park soon. To watch his cousin. The Steelers legend has a second cousin named Blake Sabol, who’s a standout baseball player at Southern Cal. And he just got drafted by the Pirates....
Tim Benz: NFL preseason long overdue for change. Some Steelers agree.
I’ve long been an advocate of ditching the NFL’s preseason. Or at least cutting it back to two games. The risk associated with core roster players participating is massive, even if their reps are limited. By extension, their snaps are usually so few that the reward of playing a couple...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden talk JuJu’s prom, Phil Kessel trade, Pirates pros and cons
I know. This has become a trend. It’s another “Madden Monday” podcast on a Tuesday. Between Memorial Day weekend and concert activities, Mark Madden and I have had a few three-day weekends of late. We’ll get on a proper schedule again eventually. Or, if not, no big deal. It’s summer....
Tim Benz: Bryan Reynolds’ tools are fixing 2 Pirates trades at once
The defense of the Chris Archer trade always has been, and always will be, its intent. It was a rare moment the Pirates went for it. A rare instance when they sacrificed prospects to get an established veteran, with a willingness to absorb salary in the process. Criticism of that...
