Sports category, Page 969
Pirates catcher Austin Hedges returns from concussion injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates activated catcher Austin Hedges from the concussion injured list Friday and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup — batting ninth— against the St. Louis Cardinals. To make room for Hedges on the active roster, catcher Tyler Heineman was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Hedges was 0 for...
A move-by-move look at Ron Hextall’s tenure as Penguins general manager
Here is a look at the significant deals made by Ron Hextall in his two-plus years as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins: April 11, 2021 Penguins acquire: Forward Jeff Carter Los Angeles Kings acquire: 2022 third-round pick (conditional), a 2023 fourth-round pick Carter was good at first, filling in...
Steelers add punter Braden Mann on waivers claim from Jets
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have some competition at punter in training camp. Braden Mann, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets, was awarded to the Steelers on a waivers claim Friday. He was cut by the Jets after they signed veteran Thomas Morstead....
The future of the Penguins hockey operations remains to be seen
The Pittsburgh Penguins were supposed to be off Friday. Typically, a day after their regular season finale, they take a respite to heal injuries and clear their heads before they gear up for the postseason. And that certainly did take place on Friday. Just without the part of preparing for...
Fenway Sports Group non-committal on future of Penguins coach Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan’s job as Penguins coach is safe — for now. After the team’s ownership group Friday announced a major shakeup at the top of its front office, a Fenway Sports Group executive was complimentary of Sullivan’s work but said his fate would be left with the team’s next director...
Former Steeler Ryan Shazier, others get chance to show media skills at NFL workshopVideo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jason Kelce has excelled as one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen for his ability to quickly adjust blocking schemes and make split-second decisions to ensure his quarterback has a clean pocket. The Philadelphia Eagles center has discovered that translating that to a television or radio audience...
Rory McIlroy to forfeit $3 million by skipping RBC HeritageVideo
Rory McIlroy withdrawing from the RBC Heritage this week means he will forfeit $3 million from his Player Impact Program bonus. The PGA Tour confirmed Friday that McIlroy, who received $9 million of his potential $12 million bonus in January, will not be getting the balance. The PIP, which began...
NBA play-in thus far a friend of underdogs. Will it continue? Best Bets for April 14
By JIM DERRY | Home Field Sports Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer. Here are...
Kansas State pass rusher, Tennessee wide receiver meet with Steelers
Edge rusher and wide receiver — positions the Pittsburgh Steelers have not addressed yet in free agency — remain places of emphasis in the pre-draft scouting process. The Steelers rounded out the week by conducting top-30 visits Friday with Kansas State outside linebacker Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Tennessee wide receiver Cedric...
Mark Madden: Here’s a starting point for the Penguins’ next GM to fix this mess
As the Pittsburgh Penguins begin a crucial and difficult offseason, a lot must change. It started with GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey ops Brian Burke being fired. A good replacement GM won’t be easily found. It’s not an attractive job: An elderly roster encumbered by eight players with...
Penguins fire general manager Ron Hextall and president Brian Burke
At the beginning, it was almost absurd. Comical, even. One of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ greatest villains became their general manager. In the end, he became vilified for completely different reasons few could laugh at (outside Philadelphia). On Friday, Ron Hextall’s tenure as the 11th general manager in the history of...
Chase Elliott set to make NASCAR Cup return at Martinsville: See picks to win, full field odds
By SPENCER URQUHART | Home Field Sports The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to one of its most iconic tracks in Martinsville, and there could be more excitement at the front than there’s been the past few weeks. That’s because Hendrick Motorsports star driver Chase Elliott will make his return...
Despite visit with Steelers, OLB Bud Dupree agrees to contract with Falcons
Bud Dupree won’t be reuniting with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. Although the former Steelers outside linebacker met with the organization April 1 about a possible return, he decided Friday to sign a contract with the Atlanta Falcons, according to WSB-TV in Atlanta. The decision sends Dupree back to his...
Former Robert Morris University goalie suits up for 1st NHL game
Reid Cooper was just a play away from making some local hockey history Thursday night. The former Robert Morris Colonial signed an amateur tryout contract with the Washington Capitals to be their backup goaltender during the franchise’s regular-season finale against the New Jersey Devils. If Cooper had gotten on the...
10 Penn State players to watch in Blue-White Game
The Blue-White Game is almost here. Penn State will close spring camp with its annual scrimmage at 2 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Thousands of fans will descend on Happy Valley for the festivities and an extended look at the Nittany Lions, new and old. Here are 10 players to...
Wild plan to ride ‘Gus Bus’ and Marc-Andre Fleury in true goalie tandem
ST. PAUL, Minn. — When the Minnesota Wild brought back Marc-Andre Fleury and traded Cam Talbot for Filip Gustavsson last summer, their outlook in the net seemed obvious. Fleury was the three-time Stanley Cup winner with 19 seasons in the NHL who would be the primary goalie. Gustavsson was the...
Report: Steelers to sign special teams player, former Clemson LB/S Tanner Muse
Tanner Muse, a core special teams player who spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, is negotiating with the Steelers on a contract, NFL Network reported Friday. Muse, 26, became a free agent in March when the Seahawks declined to tender him a contract as a restricted free...
MLB players find less time for small talk with pitch clock
DENVER — Home plate used to be a place where the sociable Brandon Crawford would touch base with catchers and umpires. Just a casual conversation to catch up: How’s the family? What’s up? That sort of thing. These days, the San Francisco Giants infielder keeps the chatter to a minimum....
With new coach, colors, location, Maulers return for 2nd USFL season
Like the league that brings a spring alternative for football-starved fans, the Pittsburgh Maulers return for a second season this weekend. The team wouldn’t mind all similarities to 2022 ending there, however. The Maulers are coming off a season that was the worst in the eight-team USFL, a 1-9 finish...
Tim Benz: Penguins find comically fitting way in Columbus to end ‘failure of a season’
There was a macabre fascination to the way the Pittsburgh Penguins regular season finale played out in Columbus. The Pens lost to the awful Blue Jackets 3-2. In overtime. After blowing a third period lead. To a significantly inferior foe. While outshooting the opponent and making a journeyman goalie in...
Pitt Take 5: Pat Narduzzi will keep eyes open, whistle at the ready during Blue-Gold Game
Pitt shuts down spring drills Saturday with the Blue-Gold Game, and the one sight coach Pat Narduzzi wants to see over all others is everyone walking out of Acrisure Stadium without the aid of crutches, walking boots or slings used to stabilize injured arms or shoulders. Spring ball is necessary...
Analysis: A stunning lack of support for veteran stars torpedoed Penguins’ season
Ron Hextall was almost indignant over the question. On July 13, less than a day after he had re-signed superstar center Evgeni Malkin — to say nothing of his successful efforts in re-signing franchise defenseman Kris Letang seven days earlier — Hextall was asked what gave him faith that retaining...
3 takeaways: Penguins put a bow on season with a last blown 3rd-period lead
Three takeaways from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season-ending 3-2 overtime loss at Columbus: One final blown lead The Penguins’ inability to protect third-period leads is a frustrating component within their overall performance this season that hardly needs elaborated upon. Entering Thursday night, their nine total losses in such situations led the...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger gets pushback on Lamar Jackson comments; Devin Bush on leaving Steelers for Seattle
Friday’s “First Call” features fallout from Ben Roethlisberger’s critique of Lamar Jackson. Ex-Steeler Devin Bush discusses his move to Seattle. And there will be a Pittsburgh influence in the new ownership group of the Washington Commanders. Ruffling Raven feathers During the latest episode of his “Footbahlin’ with Ben” podcast, former...
Pirates farm report for April 13, 2023: Jase Bowen homers in Greensboro win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-7) lost 3-2 to St. Paul (Twins). RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1, 4.76) gave up a run in the eighth to take the loss. LHP Cam Alldred (2.16) started and went four innings, surrendering two runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. RF Miguel Andujar (.182)...
