U mad, bro?: As the weather heats up, so do the debates over Mike Tomlin's extension, the Pirates' offense

We can complain about the heat in Pittsburgh as much as we want, it’s not going anywhere.

That hasn’t stopped us the past few days, though, has it?

We can complain about the Pirates’ anemic offense and Mike Tomlin’s playoff drought with the Steelers as much as we want too. Similarly, my guess is those things aren’t changing any time soon. But we aren’t ceasing our complaints on those fronts either.

At least not in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

This guy appreciates my angst about the Pirates’ “get away day” lineup versus the Cardinals last Thursday.

Amen. Disgraceful for a major league team.

— Denny Casciotti (@yossa72) June 14, 2024

Playing a little fast and loose with the phrase “major league team” with that lineup, aren’t you?

Gary also has some angst about the Pirates’ offense.

“How can Andy Haines still have a job? Why doesn’t the media more often and consistently call for Haines to be fired? By the way, Shelton is also terrible. He should be fired as well, extension or no extension.”

Probably because the media realizes that firing a hitting coach on a team with almost no good hitters is like trying to bail out the hull of the Titanic with a Solo cup.

But, yeah, sure. Fire him. They can’t do worse.

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Bob responded to my column about the Steelers’ lack of wide receiver depth.

“Why is no one talking about getting a WR during and after the training camp cuts that always occur? Sometimes quality and talented players become available.”

No one, Bob? I feel like that’s all I ever hear from any Steelers fan I come across. “They’ll get one in August! Why are you writing about it in May and June! Hater! You just want clicks!”

Sure. What writer doesn’t “want clicks”? But what I really want is for the Steelers to get a No. 2 receiver.

They need one. And I’ll keep writing that they need one until they actually get one.

To my point, here’s what Rich had to say about my stance on Mike Tomlin’s contract extension.

More clickbait.

— RichGrandell (@GrandellRich) June 14, 2024

Rich, you have a Pirates emblem as your logo. Pardon me if I’m dubious of what your baseline is when it comes to acceptable levels of constructive criticism.

Rocky advances this defense of Tomlin.

TJ and Cam love him…that’s all I got.

— RockyBaruffi (@RockyBaruffi) June 15, 2024

T.J. and Cam have been part of zero playoff wins the past seven years. That’s all I got.

Damion didn’t like my column on Tomlin’s extension either.

The most disturbing part of these articles is the fact that we constantly overlook the of lack talent Kevin Colbert drafted over the 2nd half of his tenure. A man can only field the team he has & a few of those rosters wouldn’t have even smelled the playoffs without Tomlin.

— Damion Jay (@DamionJay3) June 13, 2024

You say that as if Tomlin has no say in roster construction, which is totally false. Name for me the last draft choice, free agent or trade acquisition that Tomlin had forced upon him?

You can’t. It’s never happened.

This guy, though, defends Damion (and Tomlin) to the hilt.

Well he won a ring and had a winning record every year after. Did Belichek, Mcvay, Carroll.....I get trying to have a hot take but at least know your head from your hind end https://t.co/8mgWylVxVS

— Steven (@Steven152876) June 13, 2024

1. What does this have to do with Tomlin’s roster construction?

2. How is stating Tomlin’s seven-year playoff drought a “hot take”?

3. It’s not a “winning season” streak. It’s “non-losing” seasons. You can’t even claim “winning seasons” since there are three 8-8 seasons in there.

4. After his first ring, Belichick had 18 more consecutive winning seasons — one more than Tomlin’s current “non-losing” streak.

5. So, where’s your head?

Besides up your own “hind end,” of course.

Finally, I had cause to repost one of my favorite columns recently. It was the one about former Pirates catcher Mike LaValliere cussing out Randy Marsh 10 years after the umpire helped ruin Game 7 of the NLCS in 1992.

This is my favorite "Spanky" story of all time: How THAT game in 1992 nearly resulted in him getting ejected from a (pre) game in spring training years later https://t.co/vpMiCNxYyu https://t.co/PVVeZBDkMM

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) June 19, 2024

Here is how “Laukkanen5” responded.

Thx for this. I have said since that day Marsh strikezone on Berryhill at bat changed Pirates history. He should of struck out twice that at bat

— Laukkanen5 (@laukkanen511952) June 19, 2024

My friend, this is why “U mad, bro?” exists. There is no anger like fermented, bubbling, repressed anger over a ball-strike call 32 years ago. That’s vintage anger. That’s what makes this column what it is.

And I applaud you for revealing it!