Sports category, Page 2400
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer to start despite broken nose
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is scheduled to pitch Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, a day after breaking his nose during batting practice. Scherzer was injured Tuesday when he took a ball off his face while attempting a bunt. The team says a CT scan was negative....
First Call: Penguins rivals making moves; ‘He Hate Me’ is safe
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” there’s news about two rivals of the Penguins. “He Hate Me” has been found. And Trevor Williams isn’t the only guy making a comeback Wednesday at PNC Park. What are they up to? The Flyers are making moves. Philadelphia acquired San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun...
Fantasy sports podcast: Penguins lead hockey interest, MLB offense soars, NBA chaos
We’ve moved up our Rotowire fantasy sports podcast for the week. Good timing. There’s a lot to get to in the fantasy sports world with Jeff Erickson. That record-setting Padres-Rockies series over the weekend was reason enough. Then there is the injury to Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard and the improvement...
Steelers 2-a-days: What is Mark Barron’s role? Is undrafted Garrett Brumfield a sleeper?
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between...
Tim Benz: For Steelers, what will ‘The Hybrid’ Sutton Smith be?
Sixth-round draft pick Sutton Smith is as engaging and energetic an interview as the Steelers have drafted in years. Can we give “The Chief Award” to a rookie? What if he doesn’t make the team out of camp? Does that matter? During minicamp, the Northern Illinois product — and St....
Tim Benz: Eliminate drafts? Please. Stop feeling bad for athletes
In the NFL this offseason, we heard a lot of wailing on behalf of Le’Veon Bell because he was a victim of that mean ol’ franchise tag. And some even praised Antonio Brown for forcing his way out of a valid contract in Pittsburgh. Because, you know, those nasty owners...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates missed the mark in Mitch Keller’s PNC Park debutVideo
As PNC Park debuts go, Mitch Keller’s lacked sizzle. Not to mention a victory. Keller was as much to blame for that as the Pittsburgh Pirates are, as both his major-league debut and second start were disappointing defeats at Cincinnati and Atlanta, respectively. The buildup you would expect for a...
Podcast part 3: Eric Kasperowicz explains recruiting process, recalls college days
As a 1993 Parade All-American, then-North Hills standout quarterback Eric Kasperowicz had more scholarship offers than he could count. In the end, his choice came down to Pitt, Penn State, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and Syracuse. “Being a family guy, I knew deep down I wasn’t going to go far...
Pirates minor league report for June 18, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 37-31) defeated Buffalo (Blue Jays), 5-2. LHP Cam Vieaux (2-0, 4.15) earned the victory after pitching six innings with six strikeouts and two runs allowed on four hits. Vieaux did not surrender a hit through five innings. 1B Will Craig (.279) went 2 for 4 with a two-run...
Mitch Keller improves in PNC Park debut, but Pirates lose to Tigers
The Pittsburgh Pirates committed a pair of errors in one inning, leading to two unearned runs by the Detroit Tigers. They left eight runners on base after the fourth inning, and they managed only one hit in 10 tries with teammates in scoring position. Under those circumstances, no one should...
Fans arrive in droves to honor Broncos’ Pat Bowlen at public tributeVideo
DENVER — Some wore full costumes and others sported jerseys, including one Denver Broncos supporter with “P. Bowlen” on the back. Quite a few devotees stood in the rain for about an hour before making their way inside the stadium. The fans arrived in droves Tuesday to pay respect to...
Kevin Gorman: Ray Searage wears bull’s-eye as Pirates deal with pitching problemsVideo
Ray Searage hears the criticism. How could he not? The strength of the Pittsburgh Pirates was supposed to be the pitching staff, with a strong starting rotation and a loaded bullpen. Instead, the Pirates have dealt with disaster, as pitching became their biggest problem. A dozen pitchers have spent time...
Pirates’ Hurdle likes juggling five outfielders
Clint Hurdle has five outfielders on his roster, which is one more than he usually needs. It’s a nice problem — and it could come in handy at trade deadline time — but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager said he solves it by “feel” and “conversation.” But there are constants that...
Derry native Ward hopes to make impact for Seton Hill baseball
Pitcher Omar Ward pondered the future of his college career like he was glaring in at his catcher. The hard-throwing right-hander saw a sign, but shook it off and waited for a new one. Curve or slider? To stay or to go? When he finally realized his best option was...
Penguins trade chatter doesn’t take Sidney Crosby by surprise
As a disappointing end to the season gave way to a summer filled with trade talk surrounding even cornerstone players such as Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby wasn’t surprised. Three of his 14 NHL seasons ended with a parade, which means 11 didn’t. He knew...
North Huntingdon’s Austen Swankler awaits NHL Draft
North Huntingdon native Austen Swankler did quite a bit to catch the attention of NHL teams in the past year. Now all that’s left to do is wait to hear if one of them calls his name this weekend. Swankler, a 6-foot, 181-pound forward, is a candidate to be selected...
U.S. women welcome tough test vs. Sweden in World Cup
LE HAVRE, France — Victory is the goal for the United States in its group stage finale against Sweden, even though a loss might give the Americans an easier path through the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup. “I think it’s in our team’s DNA to want to win...
WPGA Junior tournament features strong field
Latrobe graduate Brady Pevarnik, South Fayette’s Luke Lestini, Central Catholic’s Neal Shipley and Fox Chapel’s Gregor Meyer are just some of the top golfers competing in the 99th annual Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Junior Championship on Wednesday at Westmoreland Country Club in Export. The four golfers from the WPIAL all...
NFL teams up with NCAA for next round of safety improvements
INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL’s top medical experts are asking college football physicians and trainers to help make the game safer. They want the NCAA to pitch in, too. Dr. Allen Sills and Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president for health and safety initiatives, spent Monday and Tuesday in Indianapolis...
Texas’ Jaxson Hayes headlights big men in NBA Draft
Jaxson Hayes needed only a year at Texas to put himself at the front of the class of big men in Thursday’s NBA Draft. The freshman could go late in the lottery, headlining a list of intriguing talents as the role of the big man has evolved in the NBA...
France detains soccer great Michel Platini in 2022 World Cup probe
PARIS — French police investigating whether corruption played a role in the stunning decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar took 1980s soccer superstar and former top executive Michel Platini into custody Tuesday for questioning. Platini’s representatives denied any wrongdoing on his part, saying he is “absolutely confident...
Sharks re-signing Erik Karlsson sets table for busy NHL offseason
Erik Karlsson had no wanderlust to test the free-agent market before re-signing in San Jose. “I never thought outside that box,” Karlsson said. “I’m happy that it didn’t get to that.” A handful of other teams aren’t so happy because the two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman would have been the best...
Former XFL, NFL running back Rod Smart, known as ‘He Hate Me,’ found safe after being reported missing in South Carolina
Update: Lancaster County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office has given a positive update about the whereabouts of Rod Smart. The department announced on its Facebook page that Smart has been located and is currently safe. “Mr. Smart has been located and he is safe at this time,” the post read. “We appreciate...
Ex-Pirate Jordy Mercer nostalgic on return to PNC Park with Tigers
It rains a lot in Taloga, Okla., these days. Which means the grass is green, the wheat crop is strong and, thankfully, the wildfires that plagued the tiny town (population, 310) last spring have not returned. The only bad news is Taloga’s favorite son isn’t playing baseball. Jordy Mercer, who...
Doug Ferguson: Score not true measure of when U.S. Open is good test
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The leaderboard next to the 18th green at the U.S. Open again was filled with red numbers under par. The only difference was the scenery. This was Pebble Beach, set along the rugged California coast. Gary Woodland finished at 271 for a three-shot victory over Brooks...
