At the All Star Break this year, the Pirates are 44-50. The six games under .500 is a two game improvement from at the Break last year, but can hardly been seen as a success. But, it also could be much worse. While it is seems invitable that the Pirates are headed for a 16th straight losing season, their are signs that things are beginning to change inside the club and at the top. Here is a breakdown of the Pirates first half.
OF- A
With the outfield of Nate McLouth, Xavier Nady and Jason Bay, the Pirates are sporting their best outfield since Bonds, Bonilla, and Van Slyke. You can't say enough about the job McLouth has done this year for the Bucs. He leads the club in home runs, RBIs, runs, and stolen bases. Add that to the great defense he has played, the timely hits he always seems to get, and you finally have a worthy successor to old Andy Van in center. Xavier Nady's days as a Pirates seemed numbered, as he has drawn multiple teams interest. Here's a hint, with the Tampa Bay Rays being very interested, you can use some players from their plentiful farm system to restock the Pirates all-but barren one. Would be sad to see him go, as his .321 average is sixth in the NL, but right now the best thing he can do for the Pirates is get some young players for him. Jason Bay has rebounded quite nicely from a slogging 2007, as he is right there with McLouth in offensive leader categories.
INF-C-
Adam LaRoche can't seem to get it through his head that the season starts in April, not July. He has been swinging a hot bat as of late, but what good is a first baseman that doesn't show for the first couple months of the season? Freddy Sanchez can't seem to get it right at the plate. Batting in the .220s consitantly throughout the season has left plenty of heads scrathing, and either the shoulder problem is worse then he lets on, or it is a huge mental hindrence. His defense hasn't been effected as much, so I am guessing it is the latter. Jack Wilson should his value to the club when he sat out most of the first two months, as no one the Pirates tried to fill his spot with was as good at the plate or with the glove. Wilson drew interest from the Dodgers, but they don't seem to be willing to pay the price the Pirates are asking for. Jose Batista had an awful April, but has he picked up in the recent months at the plate, and has done a serviceable job in the field. But with Pedro Alverez's drafting, he doesn't seem to be anchored at the hot corner in the near future.
C- B+
Ryan Doumit has settled in at catcher finally. His offense has always been his strength, but he has improved mightily behind the plate, and with his dealings with the stuff. Now if he could only avoid the injury bug that always seems to nag him, he could be breakout talent. Raul Chavez has been a solid veteran presence, and has collected some timely hits. Ronnie Paulino finally got the demotion that he earned all of last season, as his no accountability and flat-out laziness was finally dealt with.
SP- F
If there was such a thing as an F+, I would certainly give it. The Pirates have the worst staff ERA, opponents batting average, and have allowed the most runs in the league. It is mindboggling how the Pirates have drafted pitcher after pitcher in the 1st Round this decade, and don't have one sure-fire ace to show for it. They barely have any serviceable pitchers to show for it. Paul Maholm has been a lone bright spot, as he is 4-0 over the last month, and (shocker!) has an ERA under 5 at 3.93. Zach Duke has been inconsistent, and needs to work on keeping the ball down more. Tom Gorzelanny has been awful in every sense of the word. Double walks then strikeouts, an ERA at 7, the worst for any starter in Majors. Was sent down to try to figure things out, but it seems he is the next in the line of Pirate pitchers that are good one year, and awful the next. Ian Snell has been just as bad, going 3-8 and with an ERA at 6 and half. Snell battles, but its often in a losing effort. Phil Dumatrait has been decent, but shoulder trouble has slowed him down. Matt Morris was horrendous in the first month and a half, and was cut loose, despite the 9 million hit the club had to take.
RP- C-
Matt Capps started off 15 for 15 in saves, but shoulder trouble lead to a drop in velocity and five blown saves. Being on the shelf until the September really does hurt the club. Damaso Marte is as good as a lefty specialist as you will find in the league, and has gotten better against righties. He has stepped in quite nicely for Capps, and again will draw interest at the trade deadline. Tyler Yates has been the Pirates workhorse, logging the most innings, and for the most part has been a steady arm. Franquelis Osaria struggles to keep his sinker down, and when he doesn't he absolutley gets pounded. John Grabow is another good lefty specialist, but has a bad tendacy for give up the long ball to righties. It looks like John Van Benschoten has finally gotten his last chance at the Majors, and T.J. Beam just seems to be serving as a space filler. Sean Burnett has been ok, but doesn't look like he will recover the form he had before arm surgery. Denny Bautista has been ok ever since his acqusition, but also hasn't been overwhelming.
Bench- A
The Pirates are sporting the best bench that they have had in a long while. Jason Michaels is batting .412 with RISP, and has two game-winning homers against the Cardinals. Chris Gomez is simalarly batting .345 with RISP, and has played solid defense around the infield. Doug Mientkiewicz has provided the type of veteran leadership the Pirates have severly lacked all through their losing streak, as he is never afraid to get dirty or get in the face of a team mate. Luis Rivas might be the exception, as he struggled at the plate when given playing time after Wilson's injury.
Manangement- B
John Russel has done well in first half season behind the club. He doesn't make the excuses that his predecessor did, or alienate his team as his former did either. Also the demotion that were given to Gorzelanny and Paulino, along with the release of Morris, I just can't see Dave Littlefield and his minions doing. They would have allowed all of them to lanquish. Neal Hungtington will earn his stripes if he can deal some players and see if he can acquire actual solid major league talent in return. The drafting of Pedro Alverez was certainly a big step in the right direction, as once again, I can't see Littlefield anteing up either.
Well, it took a couple of generations, but the Yankees will once again play baseball in the city of Pittsburgh. The last time that happened, there was slightly more at stake.
That being of course the 1960 World Series. The overmatched Pirates scrapped with the Yanks of Mantle, Maris, Berrea, and Ford and found a way to win in the end. That being of course one of the most dramatic moments in all of sports, and was recently voted the greatest moment in Pittsburgh sports history; that being Bill Mazeroski's 9th inning walk-off homer to win a crazy Game 7 and the series.
Maz will throw out the first pitch tonight, and fitting honor for the man who is still involved with the Pirates organization. Some people scoff at Inter-League play, but I think series like this are the reason to have it. The Pirates and their fans have no other chance to see the teams like the Yankees, and the historical preisdent of the series also add interest.
Around the Diamond for the Bucs
-People are complaining that every chance the Pirates get at going over .500, they fail. Let's realize that they are over-achieving to be four under right now. Look at some the individual numbers on the team. Ian Snell, 3-7 ERA close to 6. Tom Gorzelanny 5-6 with a ERA at 6 and a half. And those are supposed to be the top of rotation guys. If before the year you told me that the Pirates would have the worst staff ERA in the league I would say they would be 25 games under .500, not 4. They have gotten nothing from Adam LaRoche, very little from Jose Batista. Freddy Sanchez is trying to battle through a shoulder injury, but he hurting himself and his team with a lack of production.
-Speaking of Sanchez, someone needs to sit him down and tell him to shut it down for the year. The shoulder is obviously not getting any better, and neither is his play. He needs surgery and rest, and both right now.
-Man, if Ryan Doumit could only stay healthy. Ditto for Xavier Nady.
-Is it bad that Ian Snell is starting to remind me of Oliver Perez?
-Nate McLouth should be starting the All-Star Game for the National League. He is playing that well. But, seeing that nobody knows who he is, and the Pirates can't do the hometown ballot box stuffing that they did for Jason Bay two years ago, he has no chance.
-Should the Pirates stay the course and make moves to improve the farm system so they can have a chance at competing down the road or should they keep the roster at present and try for over .500? I realize that being over .500 is not the long term goal of a team, but few teams have had 15+ summers of losing. In fact only one has. I think you have to crawl before you can walk.
-Are the Pirates four games under .500 with Jim Tracy at the helm? Not a chance. The Pirates have shown more willingness to play for Russel in three months then they did for Tracy in 2 years.
-Similarly, does Dave Littlefield draft Pedro Alverez this past draft? I highly doubt it.
-The Pirates have drafted pitchers in the first round 10 of the last 12 drafts prior to Alverez. Off that 10, only one didn't have to have major arm surgery. John Van Benschoten and Bryan Bullington are lost causes. Kris Benson did have a hot wife. Bobby Bradley sure did have a bunch of tattos. Paul Maholm is decent, if inconsistent. They might be able to salvage Brad Lincoln. Daniel Moskos still is wrong pick.
-Any wonder the Pirates have lost for so long with a farmy system producing like that?
Last night, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. Anybody who has read me before knows this is not the result I wanted. But I will start by congratulating the Red Wings and their fans. The Red Wings are a great team and they played like it. They more then deserved to win. For supporting my Steelers on their Super Bowl XL run I can never really hate Detroit. In fact, I hold very little bitterness this morning. Enjoy the Cup Detroit, you did indeed earn it.
The sun did actually rise this morning over my homeland of Western Pennsylvania. However it came with a vicious thunderstorm that woke me up. If life was a movie, some people would call that imagery. If you are a fan of any team, you are going to get your heart broken. That is the nature of the beast. You remember the great times, but somehow, the heartbreaks stay with you just as long.
I wonder why Marc-Andre Fleury, who's legendary performance in Game 5 will still be reveard around this area, leans back on a puck and goes in. I wonder why Marian Hossa, who may very well have played his last game in a Pens uniform, chips a puck over Osgood and it rattles along the crease and doesn't go in. That's life. I wish things could have been different. But they aren't. Hossa sitting on the ice and blankly staring off into space after the shot didn't go in summed up how Pens fans felt on the whole last night.
But not this morning. Yes, it was disappointing to lose last night. But, when you remember what a ride this 2007-08 season was, you feel pride. Pride of a team that was counted out several times this season. I can remember the day after Sidney Crosby went out, most experts proclaimed the Pens wouldn't make the playoffs. Not only did they, but they finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference. The gutsy performance of this team throughout the year was inspiring. Key player after key player went down, and just kept playing their game.
Names that will be doomed to obscurity like Eric Minard, Connor James, Jonathan Filewich, and Ryan Stone helped get the Pens to last night. Moments like Jarkko Ruutu scoring the game winner in the shot out over Ottawa Thanksgiving Night that turned around the season. Like Sidney Crosby scoring the game winner amongst the snow and 70,000 people. Like Kris Letang helping the Pens sweep their Western Canadian trip. Like Evgeni Malkin refusing to let the team fall off after Sid went down. The same goes for Ty Conklin.
The playoffs were thrilling to say the least. Absolutley demolishing Ottawa, the team that did the same to them the year before, and doing the same to rivals New York and Philadelphia. I was lucky enough to attend Game 1 against the Flyers, and it was the best live sporting event I have ever attended.
They say nobody remembers the team that loses a championship game or series. The fans of the losers obviosly beg to differ. But these Pens won't fail to be remembered. This was a young team that is on the verge of fulling relizing its potential. The Pens will go through changes this off-season as do all teams, and the team that takes the ice for the 2008-09 season could be radically different. But with the players that are in place, another run like this with a happier ending won't be just wishful thinking.
So, I offer a great big thanks and round of applause to the 2007-2008 Pittsburgh Penguins. It wasn't that long ago that the Pens were the worst team in the league, and in danger of moving. Those type of lows make losing yesterday not so bad by comparison. A big salute to all the free agents, if that was their last game in Pens uniforms, thanks. To Sid, Geno, Jordan, Marc-Andre, Gonch, Ryan: the future is still brigh, and we will have our day. Can't we just skip the whole off-season thing have it be October now?
No matter how this series ends, Game 5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals will go down as an instant classic. The game had it all. Detroit was literally seconds away from clinching the Cup. I mean 34.3 seconds away. That was after the Pens had blown a 2-0 lead, and had missed on several chances to extend the lead.
The late second and pretty much all of the third period have been indicitive of the series. The Red Wings totally dominated play. The Pens were giving it all, but were down a man, and Ryan Malone was out there maybe on guts alone after taking a puck to the face.
After Brain Rafalski scored to lead the Wings all the way back, it was over. The glorious season and playoff run was over. Sid's goal in the Winter Classic. Malkin carrying the team on his back. Ty Conklin's admirable backup job. Wasting the Sens, Rangers, and Flyers in succession. They were all about to become footnotes to a season that wasn't meant to be. The Red Wings had the clamps on, and the Joe Lewis was ready to celebrate. But then, Max Talbot.
Max Talbot was the one tapped by head coach Michael Therrian to come on as the extra attacker when Fleury was pulled. It looked just a formaltiy when Henrik Zetterburg skated at center ice with the puck, ready to end it for good, but he was turned away. Evgeni Malkin, had nice keep that found its way onto Marian Hossa's stick. Hossa threw toward's the net, and there was Talbot, hacking once, twice, and behind Chris Osgood the puck went.
As big o####oal as I ever seen a Penguin score. That goes right up there with Kasper in Buffalo, Nedved in 4 OTS against the Caps, and Mario's winner against the Blackhawks. The Pens were dead, and suddenly they were alive. The season was over, and suddenly it was extended.
If the Red Wings were stunned, they didn't show it in the first OT. They were using Marc-Andre Fleury as a they own personal shooting gallery. Good chance after good chance. Holmstrem on the doorstep. But Fleury answered every single time. Now Fleury has been a bit average so far in the Finals. No more though, and he was absolutley legendary last night. You can't say enough about it. Fleury simply refused to let his team lose.
In the third OT, Yuri Huddler, the man responsible for the bitter lose in Game 4, clipped Rob Scuderi in the face and drew blood. Automatic four minutes. The Pens power play had looked lost all night, and you were wondering if this was going to make a difference at all. But there was Gonch, gingerly coming onto the ice after taking a header into the boards in the 2nd period. There was Petr Sykora, who hasn't been visible at all these Finals. There was Malkin, who is having as poor of a Finals as you could have, putting it right on Sykora's tape. Shot. Game over. Game 6 back in Pittsburgh.
About 12 hours later as I write this, I still can't believe the Pens are playing. I will say they have no business still being alive. The Red Wings dominated for long stretches, but just couldn't put it away. Beyond the glamour, the Pens have just brought themselves one more game. They are still being dominated just about any way you want to look at it.
But they are still alive. And that is certainly something. Last night was a reflection of this season. They never quit. You saw the mental toughness and determination that this team built up over a season where star after star went down. I'm sure it will get lost among the hoopla, but credit the Pens defenseman. Skating a man down, they did just about anything possible to try to extend the series. Credit Ryan Malone for sucking it up big time. Credit Sykora for coming through on his called shot, even if he was joking. And again, above credit Marc-Andre Fleury. He is the reason why the Pens are still playing.
Like I said in the opening, Game 5 is an instant classic. It's true meaning will probably be determined by how Game 6 turns out. But the fact there is even going to be a Game 6 is shocking. There is nothing like the Stanley Cup Finals, and somehow, someway the Pens staived off elimanation, and have earned a second life.
On Saturday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins will compete for Hockey's Holy Grail, the Stanley Cup. They of course will face the Detroit Red Wings, in what all observers and fans think will be a very entertaining series.
The Pens ran roughshod through the Eastern Conference, and they blew away the Senators, Rangers, and Flyers in succession, while only losing two games.
But of course they didn't get to this far overnight. It has been a long, hard road since they were a mess of a franchise and team. Here are the reasons, in no particular order, that the Penguins are now on the cusp of their 3rd Title.
1. Michel Therrian- He isn't universally loved inside the Pens lockeroom, but the hardline coached has completly turned his team around, in a very short amount of time. Therrian took over for the Great Edzo (I am choosing not to try to butcher his name) behind the Penguins bench just midway through the 2005-06 season. Edzo was simply overmatched as a head coach, and clearly wasn't cut out to be the man running things. His team played sloppy, no-accoutability hockey. The defensemen seemed to be making it up as they went along, and their play reflected it. Therrian was head coach previously with the Montreal Canadians and the was the head coach the Pens farm team before being promoted. He wasn't no time making in impact. Less then two weeks into his stint, he ripped his team like few coaches have ever ripped their team publicly. He called out his team's effort, and wondered if they were trying to be the worst defensive team in the league. When new GM Ray Shero was brought in, it was conventional thinking that since Therrian wasn't Shero's guy, he would be fired for someone who would be. Shero did surprise quite a few people when he elected to to keep Therrian, and the move has payed off. Therrian has done what no other Pens coach has been able to do, not even the great Bob Johnson and Scotty Bowman, play defensive hockey first. Therrian's has dogged the team ever since he was brought in on his defensive system, and the team has responded to it. Team star Sidney Crosby was an early convert to his system, and Therrian credits him with saleing it to the rest of the team. Therrian's coaching has payed off in the vastly improved play of Rob Scuderi and Brooks Orpik. Sergei Gonchar has always been renowned for his offensive ability, but has turned into a Norris snub for this year. The Pens are first in the playoffs with a GAA of 1.86 and that is no accident or fluke. While it is now gotten recently recognized, the defensive play has been strong for most of year, despite several injuries along the blueline. Therrian has mananged his stars the right way, as he urging of Evgeni Malkin to live up to his superstar ability after Crosby went down in mid January, raised him to a MVP candidate. The Pens play accountable hockey on both ends, e####ally defensive, and Therrian is a big part of the reason why.
2. Top Draft Picks- A product of being a bad team like the Penguins were in the first part of the season is getting top draft picks. While it was a bit of no-brainers to pick the guys the Penguins have picked, the baseball team across town has had top picks for the last decade and a half and have royally screwed it up just about everytime. So it isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. Brooks Orpik has turned into a solid defenseman, complemanting his hitting ability that he always showed. Ryan Whitney has been quiet in the playoffs, but has great offensive ability. He still needs to work on things defensively, but has not made the big mistake so far in the playoffs. The Pens moved up to take Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003, and surprised observers taking a goalie No. 1. The Pens look like genuises now for it, as Fleury has played remarkably well in the playoffs. Despite putting up 40 wins last year, people still questioned the ability of Fleury, and the questions seemed legimate as he started out shaky this year. After missing three months with a high ankle sprain, he has missed very few things as of late. Ty Conklin performed admirably in Fleury's absence, but Fleury's earned back his starting job, and has rewarded the faith put him in him with some big time play. Fans were disappointed when the Penguins didn't win the 2004 draft lottery, as that meant not being able to pick Alexander Ovechkin. But they got second, and they were to pick another Russian, Evgeni Malkin. It took a while to get Malkin here, but he has been worth the wait. He has followed up his Calder Trophey winning year with a MVP candidate year. Malkin was just amazing in the time Crosby was out of the lineup, and has been very good in these playoffs, scoring 19 points. Of course the luck turned for the better, the day the ping pong bounced right, and they won post-lockout lottery, and the rights to select Sidney Crosby. Crosby has been all that was advertised and more. The youngest captain, scoring champion and MVP is the franchise player the Penguins hoped he would be. His work ethic has rubbed off on his team, as they have joked that there is no such thing as a voluntary practice with Crosby on your team. Jordan Staal developed well ahead of everybody's time table, and third in the stable of great young centermen. Staal's scoring dropped off from his first year, but his defensive play is nothing short of spectactular, and is a future, multi Selke award winner. Bank on that.
3. Mario Lemeiux- The partron saint of hockey in Pittsburgh is the reason why there is even hockey in Pittsburgh. The franchise great has been just as remarkable from the owner's box. It was Mario that saved this team multiple times. It was Mario that kept this team afloat despite some staggering financial loses. He balked at saleing the team to Jim Belseli, when we wanted to move the team to Hamilton, ON. He fought tooth and nail with local and state governments to get a new arena for his team, and finally got it secured. The new arena will be ready for 2010, with a great team ready to occupy it. No athlete in the history of team sports have ever done what Mario has done for the Penguins, on and off the field or ice as it would be.
4. Ray Shero- The current GM of the Penguins has picked where he legendary predecessor, Graig Patrick left off. While Patrick's staff drafted well, he moved some poor free agents moves in Ziggy Palffy and Jocelyn Thibuilt that spelled his doom. Shero has taken Graig's nature of a bold trade-deadline deal and ran with it. Bringing in Georges Laraque and Gary Roberts brought much needed grit to the team. Trading for Marian Hossa, even if he leaves after this year, will mark my words, go down as one of the great steals of all time. Everybody still thinks the Pens gave up too much for him, and I still don't see it. Pascal Dupuis who just the throw-in in that deal, has played great two-way hockey, and has been a solid contributor on the first line. Hal Gill has been another great acquisition, being a large force on the blueline that they were lacking. Signing Jarrko Ruutu, Mark Eaton, Ty Conklin, Petr Sykora, Adam Hall, and Darryl Sydor have all worked out spendidly.
5. The Lockout- The Lockout had a devestating effect on hockey. The NHL is still trying to recover in some ways. But the changes that the lockout brought about have defiantely helped the Pens. The salary cap that small market teams like the Penguins pushed for has helped them greatly in leveling the financial field. Ironically it could be their undoing this summer(but I am not raining on the parade as of right now). The emphasis on calling clutching and grabbing, allowing for a more offensive game has helped. And while there is still plenty that goes on that isn't called, we aren't in the glory days of the Trap where he took a player getting punched in the face to get a call. If only the league would wise up and get the hell off of Vs., and the benefits off the Lockout would be more apparent.
6. The Massive NHL Conspiracy- Since the Penguins have so much young talent, it only makes sense that they get all the breaks. No penalty ever called against them is ever legit in any way, shape of form, so the referees on league orders make sure everything goes the Pens way. It has nothing to do with the superior skills that the Pens players have as individuals or as a team, so the NHL has to fix the Pens games for them. The Senators, Rangers, and Flyers were on to something, but thankfully the Pens due to fixed calls and pre-determined outcomes were dispatched quickly. Also, Gary Bettman was the third gunman on the Grassy Knoll, while a not-quite-in-the-womb Mario Lemieux was his getaway driver.
Obviously I'm joking about the last reason. That is just a jab at all those that think the Pens are in Finals because of some conspiracy, getting calls, or whatever other stupid reason. Here a fact for you people. The NBA has their great young star in LeBron James in the NBA Finals last year. They drew the lowest ratings ever. Having the young stars in the Finals doesn't guarantee anything. And obviously the NHL could care less about ratings as they have allowed their playoffs, and the first two games of the Finals to be shown in Vs.
Despite getting some false hope with Kimo Timonen(or as some people would have you believe, the second coming of Bobby Orr) returning, the Pens finished off the Flyers with a 6-0 thrashing at Mellon Arena. The Pens are a perfect 8-0 on home ice, and haven't lost at the Arena formally known as Civic since February. More importantly, the Pens clinched the Eastern Conference Championship, and third trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Pens did exactly what they needed to do. They came out flying, and never looked back. After Ryan Malone deflected in Sidney Crosby's shot/pass, it was all but over. Evegeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Malone again, Jordan Staal, and Pascal Dupuis would finish off the route and give the Pens the series win.
The Pens won this game because they did what they didn't do in Game 4: come out ready to finish the series. The Flyers staived off elimanation in that game because they came out more energy, and got the Pens to take penalties. The early penalty drew by Max Talbot and insuing power play conversion set a clear tone for the game. The Pens were more disciplined this game, being physical without taking the penalty. The Flyers didn't come out and lie down. They were beaten soundly by a better team that was in the right frame of mind.
So far the Pens have shown that when they are properly focused, they are a hard team to beat. Give credit to the Flyers, they fought hard all series, but were down-in by superior talent. They had a remarkable climb out of the cellar, and have nothing to be upset about.
As for the Pens, it has been a long road since 2003 when they were the worst team in the league by far. Getting Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin was a big help, but the Penguins re-built their team the right way. They drafted smartly, and developed their talent in a impressive way. Making moves like acquiring Georges Laraque, Gary Roberts, Hal Gill, Pascal Dupuis, and Marian Hossa have all worked out in ####s. The Pens have been absolute force in the playoffs, as their Game 5 win gives them an impressive 12-2 playoff record.
But this if far from the final step. As evidenced by post-game interviews, the Pens are not satisfied with what they have accomplished so far. Their is still one more mountain to climb, and it the toughest one to scale. But these Penguins, born of so much promise, are one step away from relizing that promise. They are as determined as they are skilled. They will have to wait for their next opponent, and while they can't enjoy this win that much, us fans that have been there through thick and thin certainly can. To quote the great Mike Lange when the Penguins clinched their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991: "You can spit shine your shoes, because we are going dancing with Lord Stanley".
The Penguins and Rangers are returning to New York for Games 3 and 4 of their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals series. It is a bit of a surprise that the series is 2-0 in the Pens advantage.
In was common thinking that the Pens couldn't retain their level of play that they had over the Senators. The Rangers were a tougher opponent, more talented, and would be more interested then the Senators. So far the Rangers have been all of that. But, it hasn't mattered all that much.
The Rangers are playing their hardest right now. Jaromir Jagr who has had problems focusing in the playoffs in the past, obviously wants to win this series bad. He forechecking, skating, shooting, and passing to the best of his ability. Chris Drury has been a menance on the penalty kill. Marc Staal is a great young defenseman, But it hasn't been good enough.
In Game 1, the Rangers blew a 3-0 lead. With their vaunted defense and King Henrik in the net, that wasn't supposed to happen. After the Pens answered with two quick goals, it had turned into a Penguins style game. A scoring battle ultimately favors the Pens and they won Game 1 with a steller comeback effort.
Game 2 though was the Rangers game. They were playing tight defense through the neutral zone. Lundquist was wall in the net, denying the Pens at every turn. But, the Pens scored in a nifty backhand-to-forehand move by Jordan Staal on the power play to go up 1-0. You would figure that the Pens and their fans would be nervous over not filling the net like they did Game 1. This where perception of the Penguins should change.
Right now, the Pens supposed weakness, their defense, is outclassing the Rangers vaunted D. They playing a tight forecheck, and when the Rangers are getting chances, they aren't great chances. After the Rangers picked up three goals on the Pens to open Game 1, the Pens D has really clamped down. Marc-Andre Fleury is out-dueling King Henrik right now, after pitching his second shutout of the year. The Rangers played their game, and lost. That says a lot of how well the Penguins can adapt their play right now.
And maybe if the Rangers would focus on themselves, and instead of worrying about this supposed conspiracy that the refs and league have against them, they might not be in a 2-0 hole. They complained for calls before the series, and have continued to do so. They have complained Crosby is a diver, the Rangers are getting the short end of the stick in terms of calls, and blah blah blah. If they put all that energy they have into complaining about every call into their game, they wouldn;t be where they are at right now. Their have been missed calls on both sides, and when Fedor Tyutin blantantly pushes down Crosby with his free hand, its a penalty. There are things you can control and things you can't. Referreeing isn't one them, and if they want to win this series, they had better start focusing on something else.
And don't make the mistake of thinking the Pens are stealing this series. They have been the better team on the ice, period. They are playing better, complete hockey right now then anybody is. This isn't the one-dimensonal team that a lot of people would like you to think they are. You show up to play the Penguins right now, you had best bring you best and then some, because anything less will result in a loss.
That being said, Game 3 is going to be a measuring stick game for the Pens. We are going to find out how good this team really is. Going on the road, in a hostile enviroment, against a team that is fuming right now, is going to seriously test the mettle of the Penguins. The Pens are winless in Madison Square Garden this year, but that is irrevelent right now. The Pens have considerably raised their game in the post-season, and have proved they can win on the road. Game 3 should be a very entertaining game and interesting to see how both teams come out.
The Pens completed their through domination of the Ottawa Senators with a 3-1 win, completing a four game sweep. The sweep was the Pens first of any opponent since the sweep in the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals over the Blackhawks. The Pens win their first playoff series then the 2001 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals over the Buffalo Sabres.
Give the Senators some credit. They did come out and play like there was no tomorrow when everybody had pronounced them dead. I'm sure Sens fans and their ridiclous press corps in Ottawa will say they get jobbed repeatedly in this series, and the Pens stole it. That is just sour grapes and not being in touch with reality. The long and the short of it is the Pens were the vastly superior team in this series and results of the games show that.
I'm sorry folks, but the Sens in no way deserved to win this series. Consider this stat. The Sens lead in the series for a grand total of 4:28. And it took them to Game 3 to take that lead. Credit Martin Gerber, Anton Volchenkov, and Sean Donovan because they were the only Sens to show up in this series. Despite Gerber's fantasic performance, he still gave up 15 goals in four games, but it still could have been a whole lot more. Volchenkov was a warrior the whole series, battling the whole time despite taking a Evegeni Malkin slap shot to the face. Donovan got the Sens rally started in Game 2, and was constantly driving to the net.
As for the Pens, they are starting to look like a force to be reckon with, Crosby finished with 8 points, Malkin with 7. Marian Hossa put everything he could on net, and is playing great on the defensive side. The power play has been off an on, but it is showing signs of coming around. They also were able to get contributions from role players like Jarkko Ruutu and Maxim Talbot.
Most importantly the Pens are showing they can win anyway you want to play it. You want to try to score with them, they can do that. And that defense being a big weak spot? How about five goals against the entire series? Not to mention the Senators never scored in the first period. The defense played smart, disciplined hockey while putting the clamps on the Sens. Also Marc-Andre Fleury is playing out of his mind right now. He wasn't tested much by the Sens, but he always answered them when they pushed.
So the young Pens know have their first playoff series win under their belts. They were very impressive in this series, but they weren't perfect. They took some bad penalties in the Game 1, and gave up a three goal lead in Game 2. But they kept their compusure on the road, and let the Senators take stupid penalty after stupid penalty. The rest of the league had better take notice, because this team is the real deal. The Pens now get to rest up and wait for their second round opponent.
The same two teams. A lot of the same players. But this time there was a different team dominating the play. The Pens went right at the Senators from the drop of the puck, and the Pens rolled the Senators 4-0. The win gives the Pens a pivotal 1-0 lead in the series, as the Senators really could have used the first game. It was really kind of weird how this first game mirrored the first one of last year's series.
First of all, how huge was Gary Roberts last night for the Pens? Roberts had made screwing the Sens in the playoffs his life's work, and he did so again last night. Roberts, who a lot of people weren't sure was going to be ready to play after missing three months with a broken ankle, set the tone early. First of all he bumped Wade Redden off the puck, and came in front of the net, and flipped a backhander past Martin Gerber. Like the Sens scoring 1:38 into the first game last year set the tone for how the series would play out, Roberts' goal at 1:08 felt the same way. He was apart of a incredible cycle in the second period, where the Sens weren't able to get the puck off of him and linemates Georges Laraque and Max Talbot. Roberts added the capper with a minute and half left, but wasn't content with that. A late scrum ensued after he checked a Senator, and be forced off the ice by the refs while looking to take on three different Sens. Trust me those that were looking to fight Roberts, the refs did you a favor.
Another thing that was big for the Pens last night was Evgeni Malkin. Malkin had a goal and two assists, already topping his performance from last year's playoffs. The poke check on Mike Commodore that lead to the 2-1 break and Pens second goal was a thing of beauty. Malkin was playing tight defense all night, and back checking well. If he gets going along with Crosby who nearily missed his first goal of the playoffs, the Pens are going to hard to stop.
Kind of lost in the shuffle was the performance of Marc-Andre Fleury and the defense. This is clearly not the same unit the Sens shredded last year. The Sens had some big chances to get back in the game, as they had two 5-3s, both for over 50 seconds. Those kills were just huge. Including the 5-3s, the Sens were 0-7 on the PP, and Corey Stillman's clanker off the pipe was the closet they got to scoring. The Pens sent a message that they won't be pushed around like they were last year. Martin LaPointe went after Fleury and was slammed to the ice by Talbot. Granted Fleury intiated the scrum, but that type of stand was rare last year. Wade Redden went after Crosby, and Ryan Whitney of all people, probably the least physical of all the Pens, gave him a through beatdown. The Sens were never able to get into a clear rhythm and hard time generating 5-5. Jason Spezza said after the game that Pens weren't the better team 5-5. Apprentely he played in another game last night. Fleury wasn't tested much, but when he was, he answered. The questions about him are starting to be silenced.
The Pens did what they needed to do. They jumped on the Senators early and often. Martin Gerber was the only thng standing between the Pens putting up 8 last night. Give him much credit, because he was the only player that showed up for the Sens last night. The Canadian press dubbed the Sens a sleeping giant the Pens should fear. Take out the giant and fear part and you have it right. The goal for any team starting out ont the road is to get a split, and the Sens are going to go back to the drawing board to get that. Bank on Alfredsson being rushed back into this series, because without him, the Sens are a punchless, directionless team. The Pens kept their home ice advantage, and will look for much of the same in Game 2 on Friday.
Tonight starts a journey for the Pittsburgh Penguins that is hopefully a long one. A second straight very successful regular season has netted them the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference, and a first round rematch of last year with the Ottawa Senators. While the Sens steamrolled a wide-eyed, glad to be there Pens last year, this year is defiantely different. The Pens dealt with a ton of adversity this year, seemingly losing key player after key player for long stretches. Not the least of which was Captain and franchise wunderkid Sidney Crosby. While last year the Pens could slide on a first round exit, they cannot this year. They made the extra investment in trades to add to the core players, and deep run is expected. Here is the keys to the Pens success, not only in the first round, but hopefully throughout the playoffs.
1. Marc-Andre Fleury- It is no secret that you need solid goaltending to do anything in the playoffs. Fleury was terrific down the stretch after missing a large portion of the season with a high ankle sprain. During that time, Tyler Conklin did an extraordinary job of filling in,. The Pens wouldn't be where they are today without the job Conklin did in the middle part of the season. As for Fleury, he has to continue what made him successful in his last handful of starts. Like in the regular season, he will probably see a lot of shots, and he must be up to the task. Last year the Sens blitzed Fleury every game, but Fleury kept the Pens from losing by 8 goals every game. He has more help this year, but needs the same type of performance if the Pens are to go far.
2. Evgeni Malkin- The Pens MVP this season disappeared in the playoffs last year. That type of performance lead people to doubt if the Penguins could surivive without Crosby. Malkin responded with the best hockey of his young career, leading the to a division title when most people though they would miss the playoffs entirely. Now Malkin has cooled down in recent weeks, and has to pick things up this year. He lead the Pens in goals, assists, points, and was one of two Pens to play all 82 games this year. His line of himself, Ryan Malone, and Petr Sykora was as potent as there was in the NHL for awhile, and has to get back to that peak again. An underrated part of his game is how well his defensive game progressed this year, and if they can get both ends of the game going the Pens will be a tough beat.
3. Faceoffs- It's not that the Pens are bad at faceoffs, they are terrible. The leading faceoff man is Sidney Crosby at 51%. The playoffs have a funny way of exposing a team biggest weakness, no matter how small it might have been during the regular season. There will be a time when the Pens will need to win a draw, and they have no one can absolutley win one. They are going to have to baredown in this area, because this is unquestionably their biggest weakness.
4. Defense- Believe me when I say this, this is an underrated strength of this team. When Michel Terrina arrived in Pittsburgh, the Pens were unquestionable the worst defensive team in the league. It took time, but he has built a solid unit despite losing Mark Eaton in late December for the season. There are rumors he could return during the playoffs, but they don't need him to push himself to get back. Getting back Rob Scuderi after a suffering a broken finger has been a huge lift. Brooks Orpik is playing the best hockey of his career, as he is not only hitting like he usually does, but is playing much smarter defense. With Darryl Sydor, Hal Gill, and Sergei Gonchar they have a veteran presence on the blueline, and some toughness with Gill. Kris Letang has played great since his mid-season promotion, e####ally on the defensive side. Ryan Whitney is a bit of a wild-card, as he can score with the best of them, but is prone to ghastly errors in his own zone. The Sens flew right through the Pens last year, and they have to be the more physical team this time around.
5. Toughness- The Pens has yet to live down the be-physical-and-they-will-fold tag. The Pens proved their mental toughness in dealing with the injuries and just contining to play their game. The Pens were 16-8-4 without Crosby in the lineup. Compare that to the Senators 3-8-1 mark without Daniel Alfredsson. A totally classless piece was written in the Ottawa Sun calling for the Senators to head hunt the Pens and go after Crosby's injured ankle, even though the writer named the wrong ankle. The Senators are beat up right now, and the only way to bring the Pens down to where they are is beat them down physically. The Pens have Gill, Georges Laraque, and Jarkko Ruutu to help that end, but they can't be on the ice at all times. A team toughness, e####ally is going to be needed. If they get past the Sens, they will have to deal this type of play again and again.
6. Sidney Crosby- This is the captain's time to shine. Crosby didn't have a terrible first forrey into the playoffs last year, but it wasn't that memorable either. Crosby had to fight through a serious high ankle sprain that sidelined him in the middle part of the season. The Pens played very well without him, but make no mistake, the Pens need Sid to live up to the expectations that come with a player of his caliber this time of year. Mario Lemeiux always shined for the Pens in the playoffs, and saved most of his best play for them. The Sens will be targeting him every shift, and he has to find a way to make plays. Getting Marian Hossa involved will be huge towards the Penguins success.
Tomorrow starts the 121st season of Pirates baseball. Is there any reason that this season will be any different then the previous 15? It is well documented that the Pirates haven't had a winning season since old Bush was in office. As much changes were made in manangement of the team, there were little to none to the team that will take the field tomorrow. And that is a team that won 68 games last year. Even though (GASP!) their payroll will exceed $50 million this year, it will still be $25 million less then everybody else in the division. Here is a preview of the 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Position Players
C- Ronnie Paulino, Ryan Doumit
He may not know it, but Ronnie Paulino's career is at a crossroads. After a good rookie year, Paulino's effort in his sophomore season was nothing short of embrassessing. His effort was almost non-existant, he fell off at the plate, and his defense was atrocious. Yet, for reasons still not explained, he continuely got a free pass from Jim Tracy and made start after start. Paulino dropped some weight before reporting to camp this year, but didn't have a much improved spring. Ryan Doumit pushed Paulino hard in camp, but Paulino will get the starting nod. This could be temporary. New manager John Russel has liked Doumit's work behind the plate, and if Paulino struggles like he did last year, he will find himself on the bench. Doumit has been a serviceable player over the years, but he hasn't been able to keep himself healthy. If Paulino does show up this year, Doumit is bound to get some starts in the outfield as he proved adequate there.
INF- Jack Wilson, Luis Rivas, Jose Batista, Chris Gomez, Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Doug Mientkiewicz
In a kind of repete of last year, Freddy Sanchez isn't fully healthy coming into this season. Sanchez had off-season shoulder surgery to take care of a problem that hampered him last season. Sanchez had a light load for most of camp, but still said he felt pain his shoulder as late as last week. Apprentely he is fine, and won't start the season on the DL. It could be awhile before he is able to be the starting 2nd baseman. To a lot of people's surprise, Jack Wilson is still a Pirate. Him and Sanchez are solid up the middle, and if Wilson could stretch his final month at plate last year season wide, it would be a huge boost for the Bucs. Batista has been ok with the glove, but he must pick things up at the plate. LaRoche has to avoid the horrendous start he got off to last season. He was struggling to keep his average above .100 through the first month and half last season. LaRoche came on la ter in the season, but it was much too late. LaRoche reported early to camp to try to combat his slow starts, and had a good spring. But when it turns for real, he can't whilt like he did last year. Gomez was the big off-season signing, and probably won't make a big difference this season. Rivas surprised in making the team, as he had a great spring batting over .340. The former highly touted prospect hit rock bottom last year, but has seemed to rebound here. He could see the start tomorrow and through the first couple of weeks. Doug Mientkiewicz will see spot starts at 1st, and possibly some in the outfield.
OF- Nate McLouth, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Nyjer Morgan
Jason Bay has to have a rebound year. Bay had his worst offensive season of his career last year. As he nosedived from May on, crash landing at .247 with only 21 homers. Even though he never blamed it, a shaky knee can explain most of that. What isn't explainable is the massive mental laspes that he had in left field. The Pirates seemed ready to part with Bay, but couldn't find a suitable deal. A rebound year could peak team's interest yet again, and if the Pirates find the right move, they should deal Bay. It does seem like a foregone conclusion that Nady will be dealt this year. Nady lead the Pirates in homers and RBIs last year, despite a nagging hamstring injury for most of the season. With Nate McLouth, the Pirates may have finally found the heir apparent to Andy Van Slyke. It only took them a decade and half. McLouth doesn't do anything great, but he does them all very well. He has speed, and plate discipline, a rare commodity on the Pirates. The Pirates record was significantly better with McLouth in center field and at the top of the lineup. Morgan lost out to McLouth in spring training, but will still be kept up with the big club to some surprise. Morgan has to improve at the plate, but is already a very good defensively.
Pitchers
SP- Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Matt Morris, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm
Gorzo lead the Pirates in wins last year, and was the best starter for the Bucs last year. But there has been numerous Pirates pitchers the last few years that haven't been able to sustain one season to the next. Gorzo looks to break that string, as he is one few pitchers that pitchers have that can throw it past people. Ian Snell had a terrific first half, then fell apart and had a so-so second half. Snell has 15-game winning talent, but can get flustered easily like he did at times last years. Paul Maholm might be the key pitcher for the Pirates this year. Even though his record didn't reflect it, Maholm was the best pitcher for the Bucs in the second half of the year. He also had two of the three complete games last year. Duke struggled through an injury filled year, and even when he was healthy he wasn't anything special. Duke will be the single biggest beneficary of the Jim Tracy staff purge, and he is already throwing like it. Matt Morris had made it clear he doesn't want to be here, and that is fine. He never should have been here in the first place. The only way he is getting out is pitching well enough to make somebody want to pick up that 9.5 million dollar deal,
RP- Matt Capps, John Grabow, Damarso Marte, Evan Meek, Tyler Yates, Franquelis Osoria, Phil Dumatrait
With Capps, the Pirates have a great hidden gem of a closer. Capps is a hammer, and relishes being in the closer role. Marte is a as good of a left handed specialist as there is in the league. Lefties batted .043 against him last year. Grabow continues to be steady. Keeping a third lefty is a bit questionable in Dumatrait, espiecally with a lack of depth in the bullpen. The recently acquired Yates was steady for the Braves last year. Osoria impressed late last season, and has been ok through camp. Meek is probably just a spot filler.
Final Analysis- The front office changes that needed to be made were finally done so. Gone are Jim Tracy, Dave Littlefield, and Kevin McClathy and in there place seems to better baseball people. Steve Pearce, Andrew McCutheon, and Neil Walker are the future of this team, and all are waiting in AAA. They are all still probably a year away. This will be a transistional year for the Bucs. The current front office is still left with a lot of the previous ones messes. The Pirates will have to lean hard on their pitching, because the offense is still going to be pretty punchless. They were drilled endlessly this spring, so at the very least they should be a more fundamentally sound team then they were. The party line has been that the Pirates underachieved last year. That is true, but even if they reach full potential this year, that still won't get them to .500 and break the streak.
In this decade, it's almost like death and taxes. The Pitt Panthers have made the Final in the Big East Tournament every year except 2000 and '05. The only problem has been getting the win, as they had only one, in 2003. Well, now they can say they have two.
The Panthers overcame Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, and finally No. 1 seed Georgetown to win the Big East Tournament. Pitt joined Syracuse in 2006 as the only teams to win the tournament after playing on the first day.
Ironically enough, the last improbable win over Georgetown was the only one against a team that hadn't beat them in the regular season. Pitt was able to avenge losses over Cinnci, Marquette, and Louisville.
Georgetown almost look unstoppable in their first two games. What Pitt did that West Virginia and Villanova didn't was answer Georgetown when they went on their runs. Georgetown jumped out to a 6-0, and held a 22-15 lead midway through the first half. The Hoyas were used to punching and knocking out. Pitt took the blows and kept counter punching.
Georgetown did seem a bit surprised that Pitt didn't go away early. After all these two teams met in the final last year, and Georgetown absolutley steamrolled Pitt. What made a differance is that they didn't have a big man that was afraid of Hibbert this time around. DeJuan Blair is undersized center at 6'7, but he has a passion and tenancity to his game that most don't have. Blair and Tyrelle Biggs battled Hibbert all night, and never allowed him to get into a rhythm. The Pitt guards locked down their counterparts, and Pitt was able to build a big lead in second half.
In all of their games, Pitt overcame some dreadful foul shooting. It was e####ally bad last night, as Georgetown began fouling Pitt at the 4 minute mark. But Pitt has shown a kind of weird ability to hit them when it counts. DeJuan Blair missed two foul shots at the end of regulation that could have sealed the Louisville game, but Pitt made all 9 fouls shots in OT. Lavaunce Fields was a terrible 1-8, but at the end of the game hit 3 of 4.
This is the second Big East Title for Pitt. This was most of the surprising of the two. Pitt played some pretty inconsistant ball down the stretch, getting blown out at West Virginia in their second to last game. Some thought the Panthers needed a win in the finally against DePaul just to secure a spot in the tournament.
But Pitt showed the type of toughness and grit that has become asscioated with the program this decade. I myself thought Pitt was pretty much one and done. Credit Sam Young for taking the Panthers on his back and taking them to the final game. There was also big contributions from Ronald Ramon, Gilbert Brown, Blair, Fields, and role players Keith Benjamin and Biggs.
I am still not sure of the Panthers Big Dance chances, you would figure all the poor foul shooting performances would have to catch up with them sometime. But, if the Panthers play like they did these last four days, a deep run isn't out of the question.
Also, you think Pitt wants to play all their games at MSG? They went undeafeated there this year, including their dramatic win over Duke in December.
Long time Steelers color analyst Myron Cope passed away this morning at 79. Cope had been battling various health ailments over the last few years, including multiple bouts with pneumonia.
Cope was the Steelers color analyst for 35 years. He worked first along Jack Fleming and then Bill Hillgrove in later years. Cope was known for a very colorful style, coming up with many zany catch phrases, songs, and general craziness from the booth. He hosted a long running and popular radio talk show, and contributed many commantaries to local news stations.
His raspy, high-pitched yelp was his trademark. Once one heard his voice, it was instantly recognizable and unforgettable. In a way, Cope was a kind of mascot for the Steelers over the years. Save the Cheif himself, no one person is more identifiable with Steelers football.
Cope also has the distinction of creating one of most well known and recognizable gimmicks in sports, the Terrible Towel. The Steelers asked Cope if he could come up with something to get the fans involved at the game. A week before a 1975 regular season game, Cope implored people on his radio show to bring a gold towel to the Steelers game that Sunday. The towel waving quickly caught on, and eventually became the mass produced product of the Terrible Towel. While he did create it, Cope didn't have a large cash in on it. Almost all of the proceeds of Terrible Towel sales go to charities that Myron supported. Terrible Towels have been a staple at Steeler games for over three decades, and have become the easiet way to identify the Steeler Nation.
Before Cope became a broadcaster for the Steelers, he was well respected sports writer in Pittsburgh and nationally. Cope wrote pieces for the Saturday Evening Post and Sports Illustrated. His expose on Muhammad Ali is widely considered one of the finest pieces sports journalism ever done. He also wrote a very famous piece on Roberto Clemente that got him a reputation as hypocondriac.
About the truest compliment that I could give Cope is that he was a true Pittsburgh original. Quite simply, there is no one like him and it safe bet that there won't be any one else like him. In a town with some very distinct sports announcers in Bob Prince and Mike Lange, Cope towered above all. You knew you weren't too far from Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania when you heard Cope's voice. It was like a homing beacon.
Cope was already missed in booth as he retired after the 2004 season. An attempt to get him to Detroit to announce Super Bowl XL was voided by his poor health. Myron Cope will always be the voice of the Steelers, no matter who comes after him. To all Steeler fans, give your Terrible Towel a wave in memorum. Yoi and double Yoi.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a most unexpected big splash before today's trade deadline, as they acquired maybe the best player available, Marian Hossa. Hossa was acquired from Atlanta along with Pascal Dupuis for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Espisito, and this coming year's first round pick. This is, to say the least, a bold move. While getting Hossa is big splash, it is also a very big gamble. With this move the Penguins have made it very clear that they want to win, and win now.
Along with Hossa and Dupuis, the Penguins also acquired Hal Gill from Toronto. The 6'7 defenseman offers the type of physical presence on the blueline that the Pens have desperatedly needed. Here is the breakdown of both deals.
Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Espisito, and 2008 1st Round Pick
The Good- Marian Hossa is certified sniper. He has 56 points along with 26 goals. The acqusition of Hossa finally gives Sidney Crosby a legit, natural scoring winger. The Penguins power play, which is already lethal, adds a another big threat. When everything is up and going, the first PP unit will be Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Gonchar, and Whitney. To the rest of the league, good luck stopping that on a consistent basis. Pascal Dupuis doesn't score that much, but does add some more grit to the 3rd or 4th line, which ever one he ends up on. Armstrong and Christensen were given multiple chances alongside Crosby, and neither could score consistantly.
The Bad- Getting Hossa really flies in the face of the Penguins front office policies. All along the Penguins brass has said that they wouldn't morgage the current crop of players for rented players. Hossa is more then obviously that. He is a free agent after this year, and it seems doubtful that the Pens would re-sign him. Hossa would seem to demand top dollar, and the Pens have to worry about extending Malkin soon. Also, the giving away of draft picks is odd, as the Pens have built the team from the draft. The Penguins lockeroom has tremendous chemistry, as most of the players are young and have come up through the system together. Trading away team and fan favorite Colby Armstrong seriously messes with that chemistry. Both Armstrong and Christensen have more points then Dupuis.
Hal Gill for 2008 2nd and 5th Round Picks
The Good- The Penguins have needed a more physical presence on the blueline for a while, and Gill defiantely delivers that. At an imposing 6'7 and 255, Gill will give the type of defensive agitator the Pens haven't had since Ulf Sammuelson. Gill will pair with Georges Laraque as the Pens' enforcers. Gill brings some valuable playoff experience with him.
The Bad- At 32, Gill is no spring chicken. Gill is a physical guy, and majority of the Pens defenseman are stay-at-home, position style players. A meshing of two could be difficult. Also, does Gill have a future in Pittsburgh beyond this year? With this move, the Penguins will know be without their 1st, 2nd, and 5th round picks next year.
Final Analysis
To use a poker analogy as I did in the title, the Pens have now pushed all their chips to the middle of the table. The Pens were sitting pretty, but have really turned up the heat on themselves and the rest of the league. The Pens had a successful run last year despite being elimanated in the first round. Manangement has sent a resounding message that won't be good enough this year. With Crosby and Malkin on the team, the window of oppurtunity would seem to be open for years to come, but the Pens aren't taking any chances. Hossa is a great regular season player, but has come up short in the playoffs throughout his career. In 55 career playoff games, Hossa has 13 goals. Last year with Atlanta, he logged a grand total of 1 point, an assist. Make no mistake, this is a Cup or bust move. The Pens do have a history of this sort of thing, as they have acquired Paul Coffey and Ron Francis at the trade deadline in the past. The deal for Francis sealed a Cup for the Pens in '91. The deal for Francis also had a lot of people talking about messing with chemistry talk that his move is getting. Those fears proved to be unfounded. But then again, the Pens have missed with this type of thing. Markus Nashlund was shipped away for basically nothing. Were these moves that needed to be made? Were these good deals? The answer to those can only come in June, and Penguins participating then.
Hope supposedly springs eternal this time of year. Pitcher and catchers report for a majority of clubs today, as baseball could desperately use any headlines that do not involve the names Roger Clemens or Brian McNammee. Today officially opens the 2008 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The season represents a new era for the club, as the Pirates as an entirely new regime on and off the field. But as much change as there has been behind the scenes, there has been very little on the field. The starting rotation has already been announced, and there is only one everyday position up for grabs. There is already naysayers pronouncing a 16th consectutive losing season is a mere fomality. The Pirates say that this year will be different, and that things are going to change. Hardened, cyanical Pirates fans like myself have heard this song and dance routine many times before, but at the very least there appears to be some early signs that things have changed. How things play out for the Bucs this year could be formualated in Spring Training. Here are the most pressing questions for this coming spring training and season beyond it.
1. Center of Attention- The only position that the Pirates have opened for competition has been a franchise weak spot ever since Andy Van Slyke stopped protrolling it over a decade ago. Whether it has been Adrian Brown, Jacob Brumfield, Jermaine Allensworth, Mike Kingery, or Tike Redman, the Pirates have been long on decent fielding light litting center fielders. Last year's starter out of spring training Chris Duffy has already been committed to start the season at AAA Indianapolis. The battle for the starting centerfielder will between steady bench player who saw a good deal of time last year, Nate McLouth, and late season call-up that caught fire Nayjar Morgan. Morgan may still be a bit too raw at the plate, but the man can move on the basepaths and plays solid defense. McLouth has much of the same package, but he is a bit more consistent at the plate. McLouth does have a bit of power, where as Morgan is almost strictly a single and doubles hitter. Since both haver pretty good gloves, the winner of the contest will be whoever can get on base with the most consistency. The Pirates have long struggled to find a leadoff man who can get on base with frequency, and then make an impact on the bases when they got on. With the Pirates offensive struggles over recent years, a steady leadoff man who can get on base is a must. If the Pirates can't fix this problem, don't expect much change from the Pirates offense this year.
2. Attitude- A very damning article was written the day after the Pirates fired Jim Tracy on clubhouse happenings during the season. The article quoted an unnamed source that painted the Pirates as anywhere from apathetic to downright lazy when it came to approaching their profession. Stories of certain players more concerned about ping pong tournaments and card games rather then on the field play fit how the Pirates played on the field last year. There are no two ways about it, the effort and attitude in which the Pirates played baseball under Jim Tracy was nothing short of emberassing. Now Jim Tracy mananged his club with great apathy, but the Pirate players are paid professionals and the stories shamed them greatly. Ronnie Paulino was the greatest culprit of this, as he regulary jogged out groundballs, and looked like a lost child behind the plate. He may be the franchises' biggest name player, but Jason Bay was just disgusting to watch last year. Struggles at the plate will happen, but by the way he played defense was inexcuseable, The fact that the couldn't remember what base to throw to in key situtions would just bewildering. New GM Neal Huntington made contact with all of his players, and told them what is expected out of them. New mananger John Russel has talked a lot of creating a winning atomsphere. That has to start with the players themselves. Word is that Ronnie Paulino is slimmed down and has looked better in primilary workouts. Mananagment got rid of malecontents Jose Castillo(that should have happened a long time ago) and Soloman Torres, but they were far from the only ones in the clubhouse. The attitude must change, and it is long overdue. Players must be held accountable for sloppy play, no matter who they are. A change in the players' attitude and focus could really help the Pirates.
3. Set Rotation?- As much as the Pirates starters struggled last year outside of Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelany, it is a big question why the Pirates have already announced their starting five for the coming season. Along with Snell and Gorzo, there will be Matt Morris, Zach Duke, and Paul Maholm. Duke continued his fall from rookie grace, as he was injured for most of the season and never was on track when he wasn't. The departing of Jim Colburn will undoubtably help Duke who needlessly had his mechanics messed up by Colburn, and hasn't been the same since. Paul Maholm was hit or miss in the early part of the season, as he would diasterous outings, but also threw two of the three complete games for the Bucs. Maholm got better as the season went on, but couldn't get any run support. He has to make a big stride this year for the Bucs to do anything this year. Matt Morris has already blasted the Pirates as a team that can't compete. And while he may be trying to buy his ticket out of Pittsburgh, there are simply nobody that will be as stupid as David Littlefield was to take on that contract with how
