Tim Benz Columns category, Page 59

After a week off, “Madden Monday” is back at “Breakfast With Benz.” And two things haven’t changed at all since I last spoke with Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE. The Pittsburgh Pirates keep losing, and we keep waiting to see what’s going on with the Penguins’ pursuit...

These days, just about the only thing that the Pirates may be hitting at the right time is the All-Star break. After losing three of four in Los Angeles, manager Derek Shelton’s team is 6-17 in its last 23 games. So the Buccos are limping into their final series before...

Two former Penguins with Stanley Cup rings. Two different radio stations. Two different opinions on whether the Penguins should pay a high price for Erik Karlsson. The Penguins are believed to be in the trade market to acquire the Norris Trophy winner. Most reports are that the Pens and the...

Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting forecast for Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. An ex-Penguins player is about to be surrounded by some familiar faces. A WPIAL basketball product is now on Team USA. And Pirates fans are about to read something they probably don’t want to consider regarding the upcoming...

Thursday’s “First Call” has a big reveal for former Pitt star Darrelle Revis regarding his Hall of Fame induction. An ex-Steeler is taking on some off-field responsibilities with his new franchise. We have gambling odds on the Calder Trophy, a preview of Thursdays’ Pirates-Dodgers pitching matchup, and an interesting prediction...

Holding the top overall choice in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft provides two rare opportunities for the Pittsburgh Pirates. 1. Theoretically, they can just make a pure baseball decision on a player, and money doesn’t have to come into play. 2. Theoretically, they can’t screw it up. Theoretically. That’s...

Many of us are coming off a four-day weekend. The rain finally stopped for the Fourth of July. And we are still more than a month away from the Pittsburgh Steelers really doing anything to get you upset. But that didn’t stop plenty of people from filling up my inbox...

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made a recent appearance on the L3 Leadership podcast. It was in advance of the Urban Impact ManUp Pittsburgh conference that he does annually. As noted Monday at SteelersNow.com, Tomlin discussed what he deemed to be the hardest year he’s had coaching in the NFL since...

This is probably a tough hypothetical for Penguins fans to embrace, but work with me on this one. What if it had been ex-Penguins general manager Ron Hextall who had signed goaltender Tristan Jarry to a $5.3 million contract over five years? What if that had been his parting shot?...

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins decided to retain goalie Tristan Jarry in free agency, signing him to a five-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $5.375 million. New Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas called keeping Tristan Jarry “the best bet to make for our club” in...

If you are someone who feels that Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar got snubbed for the 2023 All-Star game, you aren’t alone. Numerous national outlets such as The Sporting News, Bleacher Report, USA Today and CBS Sports listed Bednar among their All-Star snubs. How is David Bednar not an All-Star?—...

Suggesting that the Pittsburgh Pirates will draft LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with Major League Baseball’s top draft pick next month has become an increasingly popular opinion. That’s largely because there’s a growing belief that longtime perceived No. 1 pick — LSU outfielder Dylan Crews — will ask for more money...

Friday’s “First Call” takes yet another look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inside linebacker position. One blossoming Steeler makes a list of young NFL superstars. And an ex-Steelers defensive back has a new team. Plus the Penguins draft got at least one mediocre review, and we check in on the next...

You could tell it was a question Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan had been mulling over himself before it was asked of him during a media session Wednesday. In advance of Day 1 of the NHL Draft in Nashville, Sullivan was asked about the NHL being a “copycat league,” and,...

Since last week’s “U mad, bro?” posted, we saw the Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing streak peak at 10 games. There’s talk of Mike Tomlin getting a contract extension from the Steelers even though he hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. And two of the Pirates’ top players were mentioned in...

Steelers star T.J. Watt loses ground in one offseason ranking. Connor Bedard will make his debut in Pittsburgh against Sidney Crosby. The Pirates will square off against an old friend Wednesday afternoon. We know Duquesne’s Atlantic 10 opponents. And an all-time goaltending great has an all-time televised mishap. All that...

Wednesday’s “First Call” explains how football fans can watch the RedZone channel this year. Wherever wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins winds up, it appears he’s likely to face the Steelers. Dalvin Cook has an offer from an AFC playoff team. Shohei Ohtani continues to sparkle. And a former Duquesne basketball player...

The Pittsburgh Penguins select 14th in Wednesday night’s NHL draft. On Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, I spoke with NHL.com draft analyst Adam Kimelman about a six-pack of players who may be in the conversation for the Pens at that slot. Nate Danielson This is who Kimelman sent to the...

So, Pirates fans, if you liked the trade rumor surrounding Andrew McCutchen on Monday, then you are going to love the one floated about Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller on Tuesday. Started by the same person. It was MLB Network insider Jon Morosi who reported earlier this week that the Texas...

Even when Andrew McCutchen was reacquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason amidst a wave of nostalgic applause, one nagging question remained. Are they really going to keep him all year? Well, as the last day of June approaches, the first Cutch trade rumor has cropped up. It comes from...

According to ESPN.com, the long-perceived No. 1 pick in next month’s Major League Baseball draft may not want to play for the team that has the No. 1 pick. That team happens to be the Pittsburgh Pirates. ESPN writer Kiley McDaniel posted a mock draft Monday morning. In it, he...

Tuesday’s “First Call” features Antonio Brown’s latest problem. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a “fantasy sleeper.” We look at the Pirates’ upcoming homestand. It’s another stop for a Western Pennsylvania hoops alum. And we look at Robert Morris’ return to the ice for women’s hockey. Suing A.B. Antonio Brown might get...

In listening to Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas speak Friday, TribLIVE’s Mark Madden seemed to walk away with two impressions. Take what he said to be legit. But also read between the lines of what he’s saying. For instance, when Dubas addressed the media last week, he...

Whenever the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Buffalo Bills, the connection between Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott is frequently discussed. It goes back to their playing days together at William and Mary, and it’s a time in their lives both men have fondly referenced over the years. Expect the two W&M...