Stay Strong Bucco Fans; They'll Be Back

Did you hear that sound? It's the familiar sound of the fair-weather Pirate fans abandoning ship. For many, the current 4 game skid is like watching Old School for the third time and knowing exactly what is going to happen before it happens. In this case though, it's not Will Ferrell streaking; it's the Pirates lackluster offense failing to muster together a few runs to support great pitching efforts.

However, my words of wisdom to the Pirates faithful: Stay strong, they'll be back.

This team was good enough to be the best team in the majors through the first half of the season. Compiling a franchise best 51 wins before July is not an accident. They say pitching wins championships, so it's not surprising that the Pirates pitching staff was the best in baseball during that stretch as well.

If one thing is for sure, this pitching staff appears to have what it takes to maintain the superhuman stats they posted in the first half. A little more help by the Pirates offense and they are still the best in baseball.

Now, the reality of the situation is the Pirates need a few current players to play better and they need to consider upgrading a few positions before the deadline. Hopefully a player or two can be added to strengthen the offense just enough to put together an extra run or two per game.

Regardless, hang in there. Every MLB team hits a rough patch, or multiple rough patches, throughout the course of a grueling 162 game season. The best team in baseball didn't suddenly become the worst. This is just a bump in the road right now, not a collapse. (I told myself that over and over until I believed it enough to write this...)

So, hang in there Bucco fans...They'll be streaking like Will Ferrell again before you know it

The Pirates have their work cut out after All Star break

It's easy to get caught up in the emotion of our hometown Pirates leading baseball in wins as we head into July. And rightfully so. After 20 years of losing, it's pretty awesome to see the Buccos continue to pile up the wins.

Emotion aside, most Pirate fans are cautiously optimistic after experiencing the late season melt-downs in recent years. Taking a look ahead at the schedule after the All Star break validates the cautious optimism.

July - Post All Star Break

@ Reds - Although the Reds have dropped 7 of their last 10 games, they should continue to contend for the remainder of the season. They are far better when playing at home.

@ Nationals (4 gm series) - The Nats are beginning to play to the potential that most people expected before the season. They are currently a game over .500 and getting Bryce Harper back soon. They also play well at home (22-16 home record is the same as St. Louis).

@ Marlins - For most of the season, the Marlins have been terrible. That said, they are one of the hottest teams in baseball (7-3) over their last 10 games and they've played well in June. In the month of June, the Marlins have series victories against the Mets, Cardinals, Giants, Twins, and are on the verge of taking 3 of 4 from the Padres.

vs Cardinals (5 gm series) - The Cards are 2 games behind the Pirates in the NL Central, but most "experts" believe the Cardinals are still the favorite to win the division. The Cards are struggling recently, but it would be hard to imagine they will struggle for an extended period of time.

In August, the schedule lightens up a little bit as the Pirates play NL West teams 17 times. Every team in the NL West is within 5 games of .500 and nobody is dominating to this point. The greatest challenge will be playing the Cardinals 6 times, but the Pirates could conceivably come out of August unscathed.

In my opinion, the first 4 series after the All Star break could have an impact on the direction the club goes for the rest of the season. Two division rivals, an under-performing quality team, and a shitty team riding a hot streak makes it tough to come out of the gate strong. But if they come out strong, it will be #BUCN awesome.

Let's Go Bucs!

Identity of the 2013 Pirates

Last night's shutout victory over the Cincinnati Reds may have been a defining moment of the season. It also may be an indication that the Pittsburgh Pirates now feel like they belong in the NL Central division race.

The Pirates have played second fiddle to the Cardinals and Reds for several years. We've watched the Reds bully the lowly Pirates and we've watched the Pirates roll over and take it. Those days, however, seem to be behind us. The Pirates aren't going to take it anymore.

In consecutive seasons, the Reds have been throwing at Pirates star Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen was drilled in the back by Cincinnati pitcher Mike Leake again Monday night. After Aroldis Chapman almost decapitated Neil Walker with a 99 MPH fastball, the Pirates were just waiting for their opportunity to send a message back to the schoolyard bully.

Last night, Charlie Morton drilled Shin-Soo Choo in his Choo-Soo Shin on the first pitch of the ballgame. Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos was obviously displeased as he yelled at Morton from the dugout.

Yelling from the dugout was all the Reds did to "stand up for themselves" as the Pirates put an exclamation point on the victory by shutting out the Reds.

The Pirates appear to have an identity for the first time in a long time. Veteran leaders like AJ Burnett and Russell Martin have a lot to do with the tough guy mentality this team possesses. That same leadership will be a significant reason this club will continue to win ballgames and refuse to be bullied.

Expect this team to still be in contention in September. Regardless, the final 2 games of this series will be fun to watch.

Tony Sanchez deserves a callup

Tony Sanchez has always been adequate defensively to play in the big leagues. However, his hitting needed some refinement before taking the next step. He appears to have turned the corner this year and he could be an immediate upgrade for the big league club.

In only 138 AB’s this season, Sanchez is batting an impressive .297, 7 HR, 15 doubles, and 27 RBI. He also adds a .393 OBP and a .951 OPS to solidify his numbers.

Sanchez’s defense is not quite Russell Martin good, but he’d be a significant upgrade over Michael McKenry. In 2012 and 2013, Sanchez has thrown out 27.5% of base stealers. In comparison, Russell Martin has thrown out an astonishing 43% this year, up from 24% last season with the Yankees….And Michael McKenry has only thrown out only 7% this season, down from 18% last season.

Sanchez is 25 years old and seems ready to make his big league debut. The Pirates need to focus on improving the big league club with home grown players as quickly as possible. I believe it’s just a matter of time before we see Tony Sanchez in black and gold.

Should the Pirates give Ricky Nolasco a look-see?

They say in baseball you can never have enough starting pitching. To validate that statement, take a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates current situation. Just a week ago, the starting rotation was among the best in baseball. As of today, they've lost Jeanmar Gomez for an unknown period of time and yesterday Wandy Rodriguez left the game with forearm tightness after throwing only 14 pitches.

It appears the Pirates top 3 choices to fill the 2 open spots are Charlie Morton, Garrit Cole, and James McDonald. Unfortunately, all 3 are unproven commodities as they've never completed an entire successful season at the major league level.

So that brings up my next question. The Marlins are rumored to be shopping Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco would be a 4th or 5th guy in the rotation, but that's what the Pirates need right now. Despite Nolasco's 3-6 record with the Marlins this year, he's posting fairly impressive numbers: 3.61 ERA, 1.130 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, and he's averaged 6.31 innings per start. Over the last 5 seasons, Nolasco has been an innings eater averaging 190 innings per season.

Nolasco is due to make 11.5 mil this year, the final year of his contract in Miami. I'm assuming the Pirates could eat a large chunk of his remaining salary without parting with prospects. Or if they choose, maybe a few mid level prospects could get the deal done with the Marlins picking up a larger chunk of the remaining salary.

Nolasco is not a great starting pitcher, but he's above average, proven, and capable of staying healthy for the rest of the season. As the Pirates continue to strive to stay in contention for the remainder of the season, does it make sense to make a run right now at a proven commodity in Ricky Nolasco?

Jay Bell brings nothing to the table

After the 2012 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates hired Jay Bell to be their new hitting coach. The Pirates hoped Jay Bell could turn the putrid hitting Pirates around. The 2012 Pirates finished near the bottom of every offensive statistical category.

So, let’s take a look at Jay Bell’s body of work through the first couple months of the 2013 season.

2012 – AVG .243 (25th in MLB)
2013 – AVG .235 (27th in MLB)

2012 – OBP .304 (27th in MLB)
2013 – OBP .300 (26th in MLB)

2012 – SLG .395 (19th in MLB)
2013 – SLG .377 (24th in MLB)

2012 – OPS .699 (25th in MLB)
2013 – OPS .677 (25th in MLB)

It may not be fair to judge just yet as we still have 4 months of baseball to play. However, at first glance, it’s safe to say Jay Bell has done nothing to improve the club offensively. In fact, they're worse than last year’s team.

The 2013 Pirates are 25th in runs scored, 26th in hits, 24th in walks, and 6th in strikeouts. The team is proving to be undisciplined and several players are regressing (McCutchen, Jones, Martin, Walker, and Marte lately).

You can’t help to wonder if Jay Bell could be on the hot seat in the near future. Despite the complete lack of offense, pitching has enabled the club to still have a great record. At some point, the offense is going to have to come around for this team to have any chance of sustaining their winning ways.

Until then, how patient will Pittsburgh be with Jay Bell?

The 2013 Pirates have what it takes

It's May 30th and the Pittsburgh Pirates (33-20) have the second best record in baseball. The Pirates are off to their best start in 20 years after surviving a brutal April schedule and then winning 18 games so far in May. Pirates fans or cautiously optimistic, and rightfully so, after watching consecutive late season collapses. However, this year feels incredibly different than the last two seasons. There are several players / factors that make this team for real.

Starting Pitching - The starting pitching staff is the best rotation the Pirates have had in a very long time. AJ Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez are savvy veterans that will keep the Pirates in the game nearly every time they take the hill. Francisco Liriano is proving to be healthy and looks unhittable at times. Newcomers Jeff Locke and Jeanmar Gomez have added stability to the back end of the rotation. The starting rotation's 3.53 ERA is the 6th best in the major leagues.

Bullpen - The Bucco bullpen is the best in the business. They lead the MLB in wins (13), saves (24), and batting average (.212) and are 2 strikeouts shy of the major league lead. The bullpen, dubbed the #SharkTank, has been absolutely incredible and I don't see any weaknesses at this point. Unfortunately, their 185.1 innings pitched leads the National League and they have a 20 inning lead on 2nd place San Francisco. The starting pitching has to go deeper into games, but the bullpen has been potent and will continue to aid in the success of the team.

Russell Martin - Russell Martin brought something very special to this club when he arrived this spring. Martin's swagger, tenacity, confidence, and leadership has helped shape the identity of the team. He's among the best defensive catchers in the league and he's willing to do anything to help the team win. He calls a great game, frames pitches well, and solved the "swipe as many bags as you can" epidemic we've become accustomed to. Whether Martin is climbing the dugout fence trying to catch a foul ball or coming through with a big hit at the plate, he brings leadership the club has lacked in prior years. In my opinion, Russell Martin is one of the key contributors to the Pirates success thus far.

Andrew McCutchen - The Pirates have been successful so far this season without Andrew McCutchen playing like Andrew McCutchen. Don't get me wrong, Cutch hasn't been terrible, but he's nowhere close to playing the way he did for most of last season. Lately, McCutchen has been centering the ball well and he appears to be on the cusp of becoming a terror again at the plate. Look out NL Central when McCutchen puts it all together.

Pedro Alvarez - Despite hitting only .200 so far, Alvarez is on track to hit 35+ home runs and 100+ RBI. The Pirates offense has been punchless at times and Alvarez hasn't had one of his famous prolonged hot streaks. His production is still necessary for the offense to have success and he's quietly been doing just that. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up hitting over 40 homers this year. Alvarez's increased production will help the club continue to win.

Jason Grilli - It's hard to believe Jason Grilli is having the best season of his career at the age of 36. He leads the majors in saves (22) and has converted every opportunity. In 24.2 innings pitched, Grilli has 38 strikeouts, an opposing batting average of .141, and a 1.09 ERA. Successful teams often have a great closer and the Pirates have the best in baseball.

We Are Family - This Bucco team has been building a family atmosphere for the last 3 or 4 years. They have fun together and they appear to play for each other. Veterans like Brandon Inge and AJ Burnett not only provide leadership, but they help provide a loose atmosphere and a sense of directions for the younger core. Most championship caliber teams in any sport have the "It Factor" in the clubhouse and this team seems to have "It".

I'm not ready to say this club has what it takes to make a World Series run, but I never imagined they'd have the second best record in baseball at the end of May either. The Pirates play all 9 innings and have reminded opposing teams of that numerous times this season. One thing is for certain though - I don't see a second half collapse on deck this year. This team is just different.

The Pittsburgh Pirates - Career Revival Specialists

Over the course of the last 20 seasons, one thing has been consistent with the Pittsburgh Pirates . They’ve struggled terribly at developing young pitching and “fixing” veteran pitchers that lost their mojo. Times have changed, however, and the modern day Pittsburgh Pirates (and Ray Searage) deserve a lot of credit for developing pitching and reviving pitchers that appeared to be lost.

In terms of fixing veteran pitching, look no further than Pirates ace AJ Burnett. The Yankees couldn’t wait to unload the aging Burnett. The Yankees wanted to unload him bad enough that they agreed to pay a large chunk of his salary for the Pirates to take him…and rightfully so. Burnett’s time in New York featured the worst control of his career with career highs in wild pitches and walks with a 34-35 record and a 4.81 ERA. Burnett certainly appeared to be a past-his-prime pitcher that the Yankees severely overpaid for.

The Pirates gladly took Burnett off the Yankees hands and successfully revived his career. In 1 ¼ seasons, Burnett is 19-14 with a 3.04 ERA and he’s leading the NL in strikeouts currently. Burnett’s control has improved drastically from his time in New York. Burnett walked approximately 25% less batters last season than his average in New York and he’s no longer throwing wild pitches at an alarming rate. He’s an all-star candidate at 36 years old and can thank the Pirates for reviving his career.

Next on the list is Francisco Liriano. If Liriano can sustain the level of dominance we’ve seen in his first 3 games as a Pirate, it could be one of the Pirates greatest success stories this season. Liriano, once a sure-fire superstar, has dissipated over the last several seasons and the end of his baseball career seemed imminent. Not so fast…The Pittsburgh Pirates brought Liriano in, adjusted his arm slot, and he appears to be closer to the rising star he once was than a player fading out of baseball. In 3 starts with the Pirates, Liriano is 3-0 with an ERA of 1.00 in 18 IP. His control has improved significantly as he’s only allowed 6 walks. Most importantly, his 25 strikeouts display that he’s missing a lot of bats. Maybe it’s too soon to say the Pirates have revived Liriano’s career, but at first glance he’s showing top of the rotation stuff.

The list keeps going too. Wandy Rodriguez didn’t have his best years toward the end of his Astro’s career, albeit not as bad as Burnett and Liriano. Regardless, Rodriguez is the picture of consistency when he takes the hill for the Pirates.
How about Mark Melancon? He was acquired from Boston in the Joel Hanrahan trade. He struggled mightily in Boston last season as he posted a 6.20 ERA in 25 IP. The Pirates got their hands on him and he’s a potential all-star and a superb set up pitcher for Jason Grilli. Melancon currently has a 0.72 ERA in 25 IP with 26 strikeouts. Yep, another Pirates revival.

By the way, did somebody mention Jason Grilli? Oh yeah, Grilli was plucked out of the Phillies farm system a few years ago by the Pirates. Now he’s the major league leader in saves. His 1.31 ERA and 32 strikeouts in only 20.2 IP at 36 years old are just another Pirates revival project.

From a development perspective, Jeff Locke and Jeanmar Gomez are solidifying the back of the starting rotation. Both pitchers have outperformed their expectations and both have been brilliant. You have to pat the Pirates on the back for the development of these guys. Even more help is on the way with Charlie Morton and Jeff Karstens working on returning from injuries. James McDonald might be the ultimate revival project at this point, but I'm not as hopeful for him.

Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage deserves a lot of credit for the performance we’ve seen from the pitching staff so far this season. As a unit, they’ve posted the best team ERA in the major leagues in May. Searage's pitching staff ranks 2nd in the NL in both ERA and strikeouts.

The revival projects have been impressive and here’s to hoping John McDonald hits 35 homers when he returns from the DL. It would be par for the course. Let’s Go Bucs!

Is leadoff spot holding Marte back?

Starling Marte gives Pirates fans a lot to be excited about. Marte currently leads the Pirates in OBP (.376), batting average (.309), hits (55), stolen bases (10), and runs (33). Marte plays above average defense in PNC Park’s spacious left field and he has an arm strong enough to make the opposing dugout strongly consider not running the bases aggressively when the ball is in his hands.

Despite Marte’s uncanny success hitting to lead off a game, I question whether batting Marte in the leadoff position is holding him back from blossoming into a McCutchen-esque superstar? If the Pirates have a significant weakness in the lineup, it’s the lack of a true leadoff hitter. Marte has assumed that role admirably and has certainly provided a spark to the top of the lineup, but you have to wonder how much more productive Marte could be if he were hitting in a position to drive in runs (maybe 3rd or 5th) instead of leadoff.

There’s nobody on the Pirates current roster that is a prototypical leadoff hitter. In the coming seasons, it would be interesting to see Marte and McCutchen hitting back to back in the lineup. Surprisingly enough, a quick comparison at both players’ MiLB numbers show very similar statistics:

Marte – Total AB’s (1796), BA (.303), HR (39), RBI (240), OBP (.361), OPS (.823)
McCutchen - Total AB’s (1967), BA (.286), HR (43), RBI (232), OBP (.362), OPS (.785)

Minor league statistics may not be the greatest predictor of MLB production, but the similarities are eye opening. If the Pirates can somehow find a productive leadoff hitter, the Marte / McCutchen tandem in the middle of the lineup may finally be one that opposing hitters will fear. Until then, we may be seeing only a glimpse of Marte's capabilities.

Pirates - 3 Upcoming Must-Win Series'

Pirates fans have a skewed idea of a successful season. After 20 consecutive losing seasons, most of us would consider breaking the historically awful streak a success. For others, "success" may mean making the playoffs. Regardless, achieving either goal may come down to winning an extra game or two throughout the season. For that reason, the Pittsburgh Pirates are about to begin a 10 game home stand that they must dominate.

The Pirates are sitting comfortably at 21-16 and only 2 1/2 games out of first place as they prepare for 10 home games agasint the Brewers (15-20), Astros (10-28), and the Cubs (15-22). After this stretch, the schedule becomes signigicantly more difficult. The Buccos then head to Milwaukee for a 3 game series, a 4 game series with Detroit (2 away, 2 home), a home series against the Reds, and then a series in Atlanta.

It's not fair to say the next 10 games are must-win, but to account for the difficult upcoming schedule, the Pirates need to come away from this home stand with 7 wins. An opportunistic team needs to create as much space in the win/loss column as possible while the gettin'is good and right now...the gettin' is good.

OTHER NOTES

* Of the remaining games in May, 13 are home and 5 are away.

* The Cardinals next 13 games are against teams with losing records (Mets, Brewers, Padres, Dodgers)

* The Reds next 12 games are against teams with losing records (Marlins, Phillies, Mets, Cubs)

* John McDonald sucks

Steelers Draft Grades

The 2013 NFL draft is in the books and the Pittsburgh Steelers have made their selections. The Steelers draft shaped up to include the following:

17. Jarvis Jones, outside linebacker, Georgia.
48. Le'Veon Bell, running back, Michigan State.
79. Markus Wheaton, receiver, Oregon State.
111. Shamarko Thomas, strong safety, Syracuse.
115. Landry Jones, quarterback, Oklahoma.
150. Terry Hawthorne, cornerback, Illinois.
186. Justin Brown, receiver, Oklahoma.
206. Vince Williams, inside linebacker, Florida State.
223. Nick Williams, defensive end, Samford.


Everyone has an opinion on draft success, but only time will tell whether this draft can be considered a boom or bust. Regardless, listed below are the draft grades for the Pittsburgh Steelers by multiple NFL analysts.

NFL Draft Scout

I love the addition of Jarvis Jones in the first round. Forget about all of the medical and workout questions. The thing to remember with him is that he led the country in sacks (14.5), tackles for loss (24.5) and forced fumbles (seven) this past season and is used to playing as a 3-4 rush linebacker, so there is no adjustment here. Le'Veon Bell is another big back who'll not only pound defenders but slip by (or leap) over them. Markus Wheaton is a virtual clone of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, the lean, highly athletic wideouts the club has stolen in the middle rounds of past years. Of their third-day picks, I'm highest on cornerback Terry Hawthorne and developmental defensive lineman Nicholas Williams.

Grade: B+


Pete Prisco

Best pick: I love third-round receiver Markus Wheaton out of Oregon State. He could be the next mid-round pick to star at receiver.

Questionable move: Taking Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell in the second round. I just think he takes too long to get to the line of scrimmage. He is more of a plodder.

Third-day gem: I love fifth-round corner Terry Hawthorne to fit in nicely in what the Steelers want from their corners.

Analysis: General manager Kevin Colbert is one of the best in the business. He likes picking productive college players. First-round pick Jarvis Jones was that and more. The Bell pick lowers the grade.

Grade: B-

Sports Illustrated

The Steelers hit on four needs with their first four picks: OLB (Jarvis Jones), running back (Le’Veon Bell, who fits this offense but may not have warranted pick 48), receiver (Markus Wheaton) and safety (Shamarko Thomas). And then they picked QB Landry Jones. It’s a great fit for Jones — Ben Roethlisberger’s frequently hurt and the Steelers’ aerial attack plays to Jones’ strengths. The pick was still a surprising one.

Grade: B-plus

Rotoworld

Overview: There's a lot to like about this draft on paper. Just keep in mind Pittsburgh sent a 2014 third-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for No. 111. Hard-hitting Thomas was a value there, but may only help on special teams for the next year and is a tight-hipped safety prospect, which is why he was available in round four. Jones and Bell are day-one starters, while Wheaton should have every opportunity to win a job in three-receiver sets as the "X" when Emmanuel Sanders kicks inside to the slot. Vince Williams is a physical inside thumper. Nick is built ideally to play five-technique end in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense and has developmental athleticism. Hawthorne was once a projected future first-rounder. Jones has a great arm and quick release, though he'll have to improve his in-pocket courage to pan out. I think the Steelers added good football players and can expect immediate impact from two to three acquisitions, but giving up next year's third-rounder is still bothersome when the team cannot be sure Thomas will be a productive NFL player.

Grade: C+

Walterfootball.com

Goals Entering the 2013 NFL Draft: The Steelers lost a number of key veterans this offseason like James Harrison, Keenan Lewis, Willie Colon, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace. They need to replace those departed players. Of course, they won't reach to fill these holes; Pittsburgh, as it always does, will take advantage of the dumb teams drafting in front of them and catch falling prospects.

2013 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Sure enough, Pittsburgh's front office laughed as the top pass-rusher in this class, Jarvis Jones, fell right into its lap at No. 17. It's amazing that despite being designed to help the lesser teams, all the NFL Draft does is strengthen the superior ones.

The Steelers had a number of outstanding selections. Markus Wheaton, considered a second-round prospect, could be a worthy replacement for Mike Wallace despite being chosen at No. 79. The next pick (No. 111), Shamarko Thomas, was also snagged off the board a round later than projected. Thomas won't start right away, but will eventually be pushed into the starting lineup once Pittsburgh's aging safeties move on or get injured.

Pittsburgh addressed some needs late with some sound selections, but two picks weigh this class down. I'm not a fan of Le'Veon Bell as a second-rounder because he's yet another slow back out of the Big Ten. The Landry Jones choice was even worse. There were undrafted free agent quarterbacks who are better than him - Matt Scott and Tyler Bray, for example.

Despite these two picks, the Steelers still deserve a high grade for yet another successful draft class.

Grade: A-

My Analysis

I have to be honest here. I haven't watched every snap of every player the Steelers drafted or did not draft. I'm sure the Steelers did see every snap as they drafted the players they believe are best suited to succeed in their system. I'm not going to assign a grade yet as I will wait a few years to see how the recent picks perform. I have to trust Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin, and the Steelers scouting staff. Let's review in 2016.

Jeff Locke Adds Stability to the Back of Pirates Rotation

Jeff Locke was masterful today for the second time in as many starts. Locke, a former 1st pick of the 2nd round for the Atlanta Braves, has been nearly unhittable for much of the season thus far. Locke was acquired by the Pirates (along with Gorkys Hernandez and Charlie Morton) in a trade with Atlanta for OF Nate McClouth. Locke, imprioving to 3-1 on the season, has experienced success at nearly every level of professional baseball. Some of his accolades include:

* Baseball America Rookie All-Star (2007)

* Carolina League Pitcher of the Week (April 28 - May 4, 2009)

* Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star (2010)

* Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star (2011)

Locke does not have an overpowering fastball, but he locates his pitches well. His above average changeup and effective curve ball keep hitters off balance and contribute to his big league success. Locke's control is his greatest asset and he displayed that ability today while he held to Cardinals to only 3 hits through 7 shutout innings. Locke improved his ERA to 2.83 on the season and he's proving that he is more than capable of adding stability to the back of the Pirates rotation.

2013 (4) Round Steelers Mock Draft

The 2013 NFL draft will be extremely important for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team finds themselves in a position they are not very familiar with. Over the last 2 seasons, there has been a veteran exodus with very limited depth and/or talent waiting to adequately fill the vacancies. The Steelers need to draft playmakers this year who are capable of stepping in and contributing in year 1 and that mindset may alter the Steelers' traditional draft philosophy.

4 Round Mock Draft

Round 1

Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

The Steelers definitely have greater needs than offensive guard, but Warmack is too good to pass up at pick 17 as some analysists believe he is the best player in the draft. Warmack could start in year 1 and would be a tremendous upgrade in the running game. An interior line featuring David Decastro, Maurkice Pouncey, and Chance Warmack would immediately make the Steelers a force in the runnning game. The best defense is an offense that can assemble long scoring drives and Warmack would help do just that. The addition of Warmack would give the team 3 potential pro bowl linemen.

Round 2

Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

Kevin Minter is a hard hitting, explosive, sure tackler who defenses the run exquisitely. The Steelers limited depth at ILB forced them to resign Larry Foote during the off-season and the team has a great need for a young and capable replacement. Minter was one of the most productive players on LSU's defense and his play would definitely translate to the Steelers 3-4 defense. Minter may not be available at his point in the 2nd round, but his draft stock has fallen recently and he would be a phenomenal pick at #48 as he could be a long-term, productive starter.

Round 3

Stedman Bailey, WR, WVU

At 5'10", Bailey lacks the ideal WR height. But what Bailey lacks in height, he makes up for it with superb route running, quickness, and great hands. His big play ability could help fill the void created when Mike Wallace left for Miami. Bailey projects to be a slot receiver at the next level and that could play to the Steelers offensive mindset. Bailey could be an extremely productive addition to the depleted WR corps. Opposing defenses will have their hands full trying to cover Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Stedman Bailey, and Heath Miller (when he returns) on pasing downs.

Round 4

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

Mathieu is the most controversial prospect in the draft. His off-field rap sheet could give Charlie Sheen a run for his money. That said, Mathieu appears to be on the path to redemption and is conciously working to repair his image and is very focused on making football his #1 priority in life. Mathieu is a risk in round 4, but the reward far outweighs the risk. Mathieu's splash play ability, great instincts, durability, and overall play are superb enough to make him a top 5 or 10 draft pick without the off-field issues. The Steelers have a great need for playmakers in the secondary and Mathieu is worth the risk. If he pans out, he could be one of their greatest 4th round picks ever. His kick return ability is an added bonus as well.

Pirates - The Good and the Ugly

The Pittsburgh Pirates season is in its infancy, yet the club has already faced a roller coaster of ups and downs. We’ve seen stretches of great pitching and absolutely no hitting, mediocre pitching and quality hitting, and poor pitching and poor hitting – and we’re only 9 games into the season. However, this is typical for a baseball season and every team goes through the same trials and tribulations. The Pirates seem to be suffering more than any team this year, but here’s a look at The Good and The Ugly so far this season:

The Good

Starling Marte – Marte is a cut above every player on the roster right now. Marte has 2 hits in each of the last 5 games and is batting .333 on the season. Marte is leading the Pirates in batting average, hits, runs, triples, OBP, OPS, and SLG. Some folks questioned whether Marte would live up to his “5-Tool” potential and he seems to be answering the call after 9 games.

Pitching - With the exception of yesterday's game, the Pirates pitching has been rock solid. The 3.74 team ERA ranks 6th in the National League and 2nd behind the Cardinals (3.59) in the NL Central. The starting pitching has been reliable for the most part and the bull pen has been lights out.

AJ Burnett – Although AJ is 0-2 after 2 starts, he boasts a 3.27 ERA and 19 strikeouts in only 11 innings. Burnett has allowed 4 runs in 2 starts but hasn’t received the run support necessary to win.

Wandy Rodriguez – Wandy is arguably the most consistent pitcher on the Pirates roster. He has been the picture of consistency for many years and we’ve come to expect a quality start every time he takes the hill. Although he left his last start early with a strained hamstring, he isn't expected to be placed on the disabled list. Wandy is sporting an ERA of 1.00 after 9 innings of work. Solid.

Standings - The Pirates have been both completely awful and really good this season. It’s hard to tell which Pirates team will show up on any given day. Even with the significant ups and downs, the Pirates are only 2 games out of first place with a 3-6 record behind the Reds and Cardinals - with an upcoming series with the Reds.

Bullpen - Assembling a quality bullpen continues to be a strength of the current Pirates front office. With a combined 12 innings of work, Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, and Justin Wilson are yet to give up a run. They’ve combined for 13 strikeouts and only 1 walk.

Jared Hughes - It doesn't matter what Hughes' stats look like. What does matter is his attitude and approach to the game. Every time he's called to action, he comes in like he's ready to kill somebody. I love his demeanor and think the Pirates could use a little more of it. I'm not a fan of the Bryce Harper attitude, but that type of player is one that elevates people around them. #EmbraceTheCrazy

The Ugly

Offense – The Pirates are dead last in Major League Baseball in batting average (.153). The team average is .45 points lower than the next to last place Cubs. The Pirates are also last in baseball in hits, home runs, OBP, SLG, OPS, and total bases.

Mental Mistakes – Poor base running, fielding gaffes, and coaching have been issues through 9 games. The Pirates need to clean up the mental aspect of their game if they have any chance of beating the top teams in baseball.

Pedro Alvarez – With 30 AB’s on the season, Pedro has 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 14 K’s. His .067 batting average and lack of run production is a significant reason the Pirates are 3-6. When Alvarez has had the opportunity to drive in runs, he’s failed miserably. He needs to improve drastically and consistently for the Pirates to be legitimate contenders.

Russell Martin – We were hopeful that Russell Martin would be a significant upgrade over the putrid hitting Rod Barajas. Although Martin typically doesn’t hit for a good batting average (.211 last season), he has some pop in his bat to make up for it. His 40+ home runs over the last 2 seasons and his tremendous defense behind the plate made him an attractive option for the Pirates. However, after 23 AB’s, Martin has only 1 hit, 0 HR, and a .043 batting average.

Andrew McCutchen – I was reluctant to lump Cutch into this group, but in reality, he isn’t producing like he needs to for the Pirates to be a threat. In 30 AB’s, Cutch has 7 hits, 1 HR, 6 RBI, and 4 SB with a .233 batting average. McCutchen’s stats look impressive compared to his teammates, but he’s not producing in the manner he should be as the team’s only superstar player.

Jonathan Sanchez – Sanchez had a decent first start, but today’s effort was a quick reminder why he has had difficulty sticking with any major league team over the last couple of years. In my opinion, the Pirates have better, younger options within the organization that should be given an opportunity in the rotation (McPherson, Irwin, Johnson, and maybe Oliver should be given an opportunity)

Recap

I could continue to pick the team apart. With the exception of Marte, I could have lumped the entire team in to the “Ugly” category. Clint Barmes, Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker, Gaby Sanchez, and Russell Martin are all batting under .103. It’s tough to win baseball games when the entire team is slumping.

At the end of the day, every team experiences ups and downs and hot and cold streaks. The Pirates are definitely going through a cold streak, but we’ve seen this same group of guys play during hot streaks as well. When they are good, they are really good. When they are bad, they are really bad. The club needs to find a happy medium where they can compete in close games and find a way to win. They need to win more than 50% of their games to break the longest losing streak in professional sports and it would be nice to begin that journey in the upcoming series against the Reds.

Pirates Have Been Awful - Immediate Improvements Needed

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been a huge disappointment after their first two series of the season. The club appeared to be poised to break the 20 year losing streak and maybe even compete for the division crown. However, the team is looking like the same team that collapsed in the second half of last season instead of the promising young team ready to turn the corner. Their .119 team batting average is last in baseball…by a huge margin.

I am very disappointed by the sluggish start, but it’s early in the season and I’m optimistic the team can turn around their early misfortune. The pitching has been above average and ranks amongst the best in Major League Baseball. If the quality pitching continues, the Pirates will still have an opportunity to assemble a winning season. Unfortunately, the offense has been non-existent and must start producing runs if the club has any shot of hanging around .500 at any point this season. Faced with the most difficult April schedule in all of baseball, just surviving the early part of the schedule will be an emotional victory. In order to turn things around, I’ve assembled a list of things that must happen:

• Pitching will have to continue to be above average. We’ve come to expect the ageless AJ Burnett to mow down the opposition. With 19 strikeouts after his first two starts, Burnett is on track to have a phenomenal season. The rest of the pitching staff was strong enough to rank as the 2nd best rotation in all of baseball before tonight’s game. They likely won’t continue at that pace, but anything close to it will be enough to give the team an opportunity to win more than they lose.

• 1st Base – The Garret Jones / Gaby Sanchez tandem must start to produce. Jones is batting .163 with 0 RBI and Sanchez is batting .063 with 2 RBI. The team must improve significantly at 1st base to be competitive.

• 2nd Base – Neil Walker must revert to Neil Walker-ish form. Walker is off to a very slow start batting a measly .100 with 0 RBI. He has been a consistent contributor in his time with Pittsburgh, but he will have revert to the hitter he has been over the last couple of seasons very soon.

* SS – Clint Barmes needs to produce more offensively. Barmes currently ranks third on the team in batting average. Sounds good right? Unfortunately, his lowly .154 batting average is good enough to be the third best on the team. Barmes has never been a great stick, but he will have to improve at least 80 - 100 points for his offensive production to be acceptable.

• 3B – Pedro Alvarez must become one of the most fearful hitters in the National League. Alvarez is currently one of most significant areas of concern. Pedro’s hot and cold streaks must end for the Pirates to be a serious contender. Alvarez is a prototypical cleanup hitter with the power he has displayed. He could be a perennial 30-40 home run type of player. Unfortunately, Pedro is batting an anemic .091 with 1 RBI after 22 AB’s. More concerning, his 10K’s are enough to rank 5th in all of baseball at this point. Pedro Alvarez must become a consistent run-producing cleanup hitter for the Pirates to be a legitimate contender. Pedro has already slid to 6th in the batting order and has been a huge disappointment early in the season. He looks lost at the plate needs to improve significantly.

• C – Russell Martin needs to hit like a Yankee. Martin’s lack of offensive success is nothing new for Pirates catchers and his .000 batting average after 14 AB’s is par for the course. I will give Martin credit for being a great game-managing catcher, but his offensive statistics will have to be similar to what he did in New York for the team to be a contender. It’s unlikely Martin will post similar power numbers in Pittsburgh as PNC Park is not as hitter friendly as Yankee Stadium, but he must start driving the ball soon for the Pirates to start scoring more runs. Heck, a hit or two here and there would be nice at this point.

• LF – Starling Marte needs to evolve as a leadoff hitter. Marte has been fairly impressive in his first season as a full time starter. Although his .261 BA leads the team after 6 games, he will have to continue to develop as a leadoff hitter for the team to be successful. Marte will have to get on base frequently and put himself in scoring position to be an asset in the leadoff role. His defense has been up to par, but his offense must continue to develop. I’d like to see Marte improve his .292 OBP and be a terror on the base paths for opposing teams.

• CF – Andrew McCutchen needs to play like it’s 2012. Cutch finally hit his first home run tonight and the first home run for a club that was yearning for it’s first offensive home run. It’s not fair to expect McCutchen to tear up the league like he did for most of last season, but he’s going to have to improve offensively on what he’s done so far this season. He’s leading the team in RBI (4) and stolen bases (4), but his .238 batting average needs to climb over .300 for the team to be successful. He’s the best player on the team and the unquestioned leader. He needs to lead by example and help right the ship.

• RF – The Garrett Jones / Jose Tabata / Travis Snider tandem in right field has been awful and needs a significant upgrade. Between the three of them, they’ve mustered up 3 hits in 31 AB’s. Somebody has to step up and start producing in right field. It’s only a matter of time before the Pirates give Alex Presely another shot. Presley finished the spring with a batting average over .300 and he’s batting .412 with a home run and a double after 4 games at AAA Indianapolis. Regardless, the team needs production in RF to be competitive and I’m not opposed to giving Presley another shot on the big league roster if the other 3 guys do not turn it around quickly.

• Garrit Cole needs to dominate AAA. Many Pirate fans are counting on Cole to arrive in Pittsburgh sometime in June and bring an immediate shot to the arm of the pitching staff. His first start in AAA Indianapolis wasn’t all that impressive as he allowed 5 hits and 3 runs in only 4 innings of work in his first start. The fireballer only had 2 strikeouts in his first outing. The future of the Pittsburgh Pirates is depending on Cole developing into one of the league’s top tier pitchers. For the Pirates to be successful this year, Cole needs to arrive in June and be an upgrade to the starting rotation.

Whether you agree or disagree with how the Pirates brass spent their payroll dollars this season, it’s encouraging to see the payroll likely climb to a figure greater than 70 million. Unfortunately, the Pirates aren’t seeing the return on their investment so far this season. Thankfully, I’m writing this only 6 games into the season, but the club must survive a difficult April so they are not scratching and clawing later in the season to be relevant. Hopefully the upcoming road trip to Arizona will be the first step in turning the corner. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an entire team slump before, but these guys continue to impress me. If they can find a way to get hot as a team, they could even the score very quickly. Here’s to a great series in AZ. Let’s go Bucs! #BUCN.

Bob Nutting - Good Businessman, Bad Owner

Bob Nutting became the principle owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007. Nutting was the Chairman of the Board for the Pirates since 2003 and has been part of 10 consecutive losing seasons in his tenure. A baseball man he is not, but a business man he certainly is. Aside from his interests with the Pirates, Nutting is also the Chairman of Seven Springs Mountain Resort and President and CEO of Ogden Newspapers. Bob Nutting may not be a baseball guy, but he knows how to run profitable organizations and grow them to their potential.

The Ogden family was part of an investor group (with Kevin McClatchy as the CEO) that purchased the Pirates in 1996 for only 95 million dollars. After numerous losing seasons, McClatchy decided to move on from the organization and Bob Nutting stepped in as the principle owner in 2007.

Bob Nutting, the business man, knows how to turn a lump of coal into a diamond. Since purchasing the club for 95 million in 1996, the team has grown in valuation exponentially to a 2013 value of 472 million. The 472 million valuation represents an astonishing 43% inrease over the 2012 valuation. Even with the 472 million dollar valuation, the Pirates are still ranked only 27th out of 30 MLB teams in net worth. In fact, the Yankees valuation is currently 2.3 billion (Approx 1.8 billion higher than the Pirates). However, here's where Bob Nutting flexes has mental muscles. The Pirates operating income is 19 TIMES greater than the Yankees. As of March 2013, Forbes reports the Yankees operating income as 1.4 mil compared to the Pirates' 26.8 mil. In fact, only 5 teams in the MLB have a higher operating income than the Pittsburgh Pirates (Cubs, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, and A's).

So, what incentive does Bob Nutting have to assemble a winning baseball team? Regardless of valuation, the Pittsburgh Pirates are a profitable organization. In fairness, Nutting has allowed the payroll to climb to 69 million this year and it appears the club is sticking to the plan set in place by Frank Coonely and Neal Huntington to build through the draft and sign their own players. At the end of the day, Nutting may not be the owner that will help assemble a winning baseball team, but he is the owner that will continue to make the team a successful organization from a financial perspective.

My issue with Bob Nutting is the amount of operating income. When your team hasn't experienced a winning season in two decades, you shouldn't have the 6th highest operating income in the league. I understand owning the team is a business for Nutting and he's running the business profitably, but as the owner of a professional sports organization, he owes it to the lifelong fans and the sport to do his best to put a winning team on the field. In his tenure with the Pirates, Nutting has not done his best assemble a winning team. I can't help but think how things might be different if Mark Cuban would have purchased the Pirates...


Forbes 2013 MLB Valuation - Pittsburgh Pirates

Owner: Robert Nutting
Championships: 5
Price Paid: $92 M
Year Purchased: 1996
Revenue : $178 M
Operating Income : $26.8 M
Debt/Value : 27%
Player Expenses : $69 M
Gate Receipts : $40 M
Wins-to-player cost ratio : 151
Revenue per Fan: $40
Metro Area Population: 2.4 M

Profile

The Pirates posted their 20th consecutive losing season in 2012. But the Pirates have improved a lot on the field and have been in the playoff picture for much of the past two seasons. Owner Bob Nutting has been spending a lot on drafting potential stars and has publicly stated he will use the increase in MLB's new national broadcasting television deal--worth $25 million a year more on average starting in 2014--on improving the team. Attendance jumped 8% last year to 26,148 per game.

Hello Steelers. It's Me. Mediocrity.

As a die hard Steeler fan and eternal optimist, it pains me to write this article. Although I'm optimistic, I'm also realistic. The Steelers are on a one way ticket to mediocrity.

Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers scratched, clawed, and fought their way to an 8-8 record. The organization hasn't had a .500 season since 2006. The difference, in 2006 the organization was beginning to get better. After 2012, the organization seems to be in a world of trouble. A decade of overall poor drafting forced the Steelers to sign old veterans to large contracts; a practice the Steelers are known for not partaking. Now, the team is salary cap cash strapped (say that 10 times) and have nothing to show for it.

As if the mediocre season weren't bad enough, their offseason is shaping up like this:

* Mike Wallace went to Miami for Fitz money. (We thought he was crazy when he said that's what he wanted)

* #1 RB Rashard Mendenhall went to Arizona (Rightfully so)

* Willie Colon was cleansed and handed his walking papers

* They cut the strongest of the apes, Silverback James Harrison

* Starting LT Max Starks is unlikely to be resigned

* Casey Hampton might not be far behind

* Keenan Lewis is visiting the Saints and I'm sure they'd prefer he didn't leave town without a contract

* Backup S Ryan Mundy is visiting the Giants

* Chris Rainey cut for doing Chris Rainey-like activities


On a positive note, the following transactions were made in an effort to improve the organization:

* Signed Jonathan Dwyer

* Signed Isaac Redman

* Signed Bruce Gradkowski to backup Ben (His career 52% completion rate, 5.72 yards per completion, and 33 turnovers in 36 games played get me real excited for when Ben goes down)

* Signed Ramon Foster to a 3 yr deal (This one actually excites me - not kidding)

* Larry Foote signed for 3 years (Are you f'ing kidding me?)

* Signed Plaxico Burress to a 1 yr deal

* Signed LS Greg Warren


As the roster stands currently, here's a positional look at the world of shit the Steelers are in:

QB - Ben is still playing at a high level, but his tendency to get injured is concerning. Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch haven't been resigned, but the Steelers hope to fix that problem with the recent addition of Bruce Gradkowsi. As I mentioned above, Bruce Gradkowski has never been very successful in the NFL. After 8 seasons, to expect anything different in Pittsburgh would be insane. The Steelers lack adequate depth behind Ben.

RB - Rashard Mendenhall battled the injury bug last year and was ineffective when he did play. The organization was hopeful that Redman and Dwyer would pack the punch they needed, but outside of a few good games, the young running back tandem came up short. Both backs would serve as better complementary backs than starters, but the Steelers currently have no other options (or cap space). The team lacks a true #1 running back.

WR - The Steelers most productive receiver, Mike Wallace, is now a Dolphin. Jerricho Cotchery is currently a free agent, but would love to come back to Pittsburgh. Plaxico Burress signed a 1 yr deal to return. That leaves the organization with Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Plax. There's an obvious deficiency at WR that needs to be addressed.

TE - Heath Miller was having the best season of his career before suffering a devastating knee injury. He may not be capable of returning until after the first month of the regular season, so the team will be relying on a TE tandem of David Paulsen and David Johnson. There is no way team David will be able to make up for what the Steelers are losing in Heath Miller. Hopefully Miller can heal ahead of schedule and return the same player he was before the injury.

FB - Will Johnson came onto the scene in his rookie campaign and played admirably. It appears he will have the chance to play in 2013 as well.

Offensive Line - With the departure of Starks and Colon, the Steelers must replace two starters. Mike Adams, Marcus Gilbert, and David DeCastro must all take a leap forward next season and assume starting roles. Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster will continue to anchor the line. The untested young guys leave a big guestion mark on the line. The 3 new starters are all recent draft picks, so I will give them a pass until they have a larger body of work under their belts. The lack of experience is concerning though.

Defensive Line: It seems likely that Casey Hampton may have played his last game as a Steeler, but he hasn't been cut yet. Even so, Hampton is aging and far less productive than he once was. Steve McClendon has been showing signs of being capable of starting and may have the opportunity to do so in 2013. The organization attempted to get younger and stronger on the defensive line by drafting two defensive ends in the first round in recent drafts (Cam Heyward and Ziggy Hood). Neither players have done anything yet to prove they were worthy of the first round pick. Hopefully they blossom in 2013, but at this point in time, they haven't lived up to their expectations. Defensive line could be a problem.

LB - Usually, when the Steelers let a guy like James Harrison go, they have a young gun waiting in the wings. This time, they have a BB gun in Jason Worilds as the favorite to step in. Worlilds may be ok, but he isn't physically capable of replacing James Harrison. That's understandable as James Harrison's don't come around too often. Because of a serious lack of depth, the Steelers were forced to resign an aging Larry Foote. If you watch film from last season, Larry Foote clearly isn't the player he used to be. Lamarr Woodley, accused of not putting the gym time in last season, had a very poor season. Statistically and physically, he took a step backward. Thankfully, Lawrence Timmons emerged as the Steelers best linebacker last season and we can only hope he builds on the momentum. Linebacker, usually a strength, is currently a weakness for the Steelers.

CB - Who didn't want to scratch their eyelids off last season watching Ike Taylor repeatedly get beat deep? His best attribute was his ability to grab the back of the opponent's jersey to eagerly take the passing interference call. However, he's currently the lone starting CB on the roster. Keenan Lewis remains unsigned and has a visit with the Saints scheduled. Lewis emerged last season as a very athletic and capable CB that the Steelers should find a way to sign long term. Cortez Allen emerged as a young splash player and hopefully has a bright future. However, as it stands, the Steelers have an aging CB on the decline and a young and inexperienced player as their lone starting candidates.

S - Ryan Clark had a fantastic 2012 season. He registered 102 tackles, picked off 2 passes, and forced 2 fumbles. He arguably was one of the better safeties in the NFL. We can't say the same for Troy Polamalu though. Another injury plagued season made him a non-factor for most of the year. Polamalu posted a lowly 32 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, and 0 FF. Very un-Troy like. Even with Clark's strong season, age is going to be a factor for both players. Oh yeah, there is no plan B for either player in terms of depth. Will Allen? Ouch.


After review, the Steelers have serious concerns. They are aging in key positions with nobody ready to step in and their young talent hasn't proven to be ready to lead the team back to relevance. Aside from play on the field, they've been experiencing problems in the locker room that aren't characteristic of Steeler teams. There's a definite lack of leadership and playmakers on the team. The Steelers would be fortunate to post another 8-8 season in 2013, but don't be surprised if they have a top 10 draft pick in the 2014 draft. Doom and gloom. Mediocrity.

Who'd you rather - Tomlin vs. Cowher - A statistical analysis

If you had to choose, which coach has done a better job in Pittsburgh - Mike Tomlin or Bill Cowher? Mike Tomlin has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 6 years, so I compared Cowher's last 6 years in Pittsburgh to Tomlin's tenure. It's interesting to see how philosophies have changed and the ultimate impact they've had on the team. I'm not sure who's better, but take a look at the data and you decide.

Tomlin's Tenure: 2007 - 2012 (6 seasons) --- Cowher's Tenure: 2001 - 2006 (Final 6 seasons)

RECORD
Tomlin: 63 - 33
Cowher: 63 - 32 - 1

Super Bowl Victories
Tomlin: 1
Cowher: 1

DEFENSE

Pass Yds Allowed
Tomlin: 17,921
Cowher: 18,840

Pass TD's Allowed
Tomlin: 105
Cowher: 108

Rush Yds Allowed
Tomlin: 8,211
Cowher: 8,398

Rush TD's Allowed
Tomlin: 41
Cowher: 62

Turnovers Forced
Tomlin: 146
Cowher: 180

Sacks
Tomlin: 254
Cowher: 267

Tackles For Loss
Tomlin: 255
Cowher: 593

Defensive Recap - Overall, Tomlin's defenses have given up 1,106 fewer yards than Cowher's. The greatest differences is in touchdowns allowed, specifically rushing touchdowns. Cowher's defenses allowed 21 more rushing touchdowns than Tomlin's.

Cowher's defenses forced more turnovers and got to the quarterback more often. The stat that jumps off the page is the Tackles For Loss. Cowher's defenses produced an astonishing 338 more tackles for loss than Tomlin's. The increase in sacks, tackles for loss, and turnovers implicates Cowher's defenses did a better job controlling the line of scrimmage.


OFFENSE

Passing Yds
Tomlin: 21,962
Cowher: 19,628

Passing TD's
Tomlin: 151
Cowher: 125

Rushing Yds
Tomlin: 11,015
Cowher: 13,061

Rushing TD's
Tomlin: 71
Cowher: 95

Turnovers
Tomlin: 105
Cowher: 130

Sacks Allowed
Tomlin: 268
Cowher: 224

Offensive Recap: Tomlin's era displays an obvious shift in philosophy. The offense shifted from run-first to pass-first. Part of the shift has to do with the maturation of Ben Roethlisberger and part of the shift has to do with a change in the NFL overall. Regardless of offensive philosophy, both offenses produced an almost equal amount of touchdowns (Tomlin - 222) and (Cowher - 220).

The greatest difference displayed is the sacks allowed. The offensive line has been a black eye for Tomlin during his tenure, but he also asked his quarterback to throw the ball 279 times more than Cowher. Surprisingly, Tomlin's teams have turned the ball over 25 times less than Cowher's, despite the increase in pass attempts.


FINAL THOUGHTS

Deciding which coach is better requires more analysis than the data here, but I was surprised by some of the data points. Tomlin's D gives up less yards and points and Cowher's D created more sacks and turnovers. Tomlin's offenses created significantly more passing touchdowns; Cowher's created more rushing touchdowns. Both coaches won a Super Bowl and had an identical number of wins during the 6 year review period.

So, you make the call. Who's the better coach?

Screw the financials - Garrit Cole should start season in Pittsburgh

I've spent some time reading opinions on whether prized Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Garrit Cole should make the Pirates opening day roster. Just about every opinion I read suggested Cole should start the season with AAA Indianapolis. The opinions all featured two common points of view:

1: Cole needs a few more games in the minor leagues to fine-tune his game and finish developing his off-speed pitches. More importantly, Cole has very little experience pitching at the AAA level.

2: Strictly financials - By keeping Cole in the minors until at least June, the Pirates can secure an extra year of control of Cole and he would not become a free agent until after the 2019 season.

My opinion on both arguments is bullshit and bullshit. Realistically, what is pitching in AAA for a few months going to accomplish for Cole that he can't fine-tune in the big leagues? Even with his "unpolished" skills, his raw talent makes him a better starting pitching candidate than several of the guys competing for spots in the rotation. When you look at guys like James McDonald, Jeff Locke, Kyle McPherson, and Franciso Liriano - they all have one thing in common. They are all huge quesetion marks. McDonald self destructed after a strong first half last year. Liriano has been self destructing for several years and Locke and McPherson are untested at the big league level. I'd rather have Garrit Cole pitching ahead of all of those guys.

So far this spring, Cole has displayed that he has the necessary tools to compete against professional hitters. Against Spain a few weeks ago, Cole struck out the first 6 batters he faced. Today against the Orioles, Cole efficiently earned a win while only throwing 23 pitches (17 strikes) through 4 innings. Although he allowed a 2-run home run, he only surrendered 2 hits and 1 walk and managed to face only 14 batters through 4 innings. Not too shabby.

On the second argument - Financials. I completely understand the argument. However, if Cole becomes the pitcher we all hope he will be, won't the Pirates try to secure him to a long-term deal a few years before he becomes a free agent? The Pirates were faced with the same dilemma when Andrew McCutchen was knocking on the door of a big league promotion. The Pirates opted to wait until June to bring McCutchen up, but it didn't really matter in the end as the Pirates locked McCutchen up with a long-term deal long before he reached the end of his contract.

Second, the Pirates weren't on the cusp of contention when they considered bringing McCutchen up. There was really no reason to waste a year of arbitration eligibility by rushing McCutchen up to the bigs. However, the organization is in a different position this time around. The Pirates have flirted with contention 2 seasons in a row and a full year of Garrit Cole could be the difference this season. With so many question marks on the back end of the rotation, Cole has the potential to be a significant upgrade and could add depth and stability to a rotation that seemingly doesn't have any. Although he is a question mark as well, it's a calculated risk I'm willing to take.

I believe Cole is ready to compete at the Major League level right now and the Pirates are foolish to potentially sacrifice wins in April and May for the sole reason of securing an extra year of Cole control. The team has the potential to win and contend now and they should capitalize on the opportunity.

Mike Wallace won't be the same without Big Ben

In his first 4 seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Wallace has compiled over 4,000 yards receiving and an astounding 32 touchdowns. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch on his 235 career receptions. Statistically speaking, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's the most coveted free agent available.

However, my message to the teams considering opening up the pocket book: Caveat Emptor.

Would Mike Wallace have the impressive career numbers if he didn't play with Ben Roethlisberger and his backyard style of football? How many times over the last 4 years has Ben extended plays by scrambling, shredding would-be tacklers, avoiding pressure, and then finding a wide open receiver down the field? It's become commonplace with Big Ben.

When Roethlisberger misses games, Wallace's production dips with it. Big Ben's ability to extend plays and throw a pretty deep ball are part of what has helped Mike Wallace become such a viable deep threat. It's really hard for any corner to cover any receiver for an extended period of time, let alone a receiver with Mike Wallace's speed. How about this astonishing stat - 35% of Mike Wallace's career receiving yards have come on pass plays greater than 31 yards. That has backyard football written all over it.

Mike Wallace's career receiving stats on receptions over 31 yards: 29 Rec, 1,418 yds, 17TD. Yes, 17 TD's.

I've heard 2 potential landing spots for Wallace: Miami and Minnesota. Ryan Tannehill and Christian Ponder...Ryan Tannehill is the better of the 2 QB's, but he is nowhere close to Ben Roethlisberger. Mike Wallace will never again have the same level of success he did in Pittsburgh with Ben Roethlisberger.

Miami seems to be the most likely landing spot from all of the rumor mills I've read. So, I decided to take a look at Tannehill's skill set and how it compares to Ben. I found a few tidbits that really interested me at SunSentinal.com. They reviewed several attributes a quarterback must have to be considered "elite":

4. Playmaking - 2 - He's produced some respectable plays, but let us not pretend that he looks like Robert Griffin III or Andrew Luck out there. You can argue he needs more weapons like his two contemporaries, but don't act like you're seeing countless daring throws that just miss the receivers or tight ends. That's not accurate, and neither is Tannehill most of the season (59.0 percent completion).

5. Arm Strength - 4 - He doesn't have a Joe Flacco arm, but Tannehill has the kind of arm that can throw the 15 yard out on a rope, and that's critical. I'm told only 25 percent of NFL quarterbacks can make that throw. However, we haven't seen many deep balls with touch on it connect in stride. Even Chad Pennington had some of those.

6. Athleticism (mobility) - 3 - Tannehill is effective on roll out plays, but he sparingly uses his mobility, unlike RGIII or Russell Wilson. That's not always a bad thing but it would be nice to see him extend a few drives with his legs like he did twice against Seattle. If Tannehill ran for two first downs a game his score and Miami's offense would improve.


So, Ryan Tannehill lacks elite playmaking ability, arm strengh, touch on deep balls, and athleticism to have superior mobility. Hey Mike Wallace, enjoy your money, but your days as a top flight receiver are over if you are playing with any QB not named Ben Roethlisberger.

Pirates NEED Kyle Lohse

In 2012 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Kyle Lohse was absolutely incredible. Lohse posted an incredible 16-3 record with an even more incredible 2.83 ERA. He led the league in winning percentage and games started while finishing 7th in Cy Young voting. Despite his video-game like statistics, he is currently unemployed and can't find a job.

A few factors contribute significantly to Lohse's current unemployment status:

* If a team signs Lohse, they must forfeit their 1st round pick in the upcoming draft.

* Lohse is 34 years old and is said to be looking for a 3 year deal in the neighborhood of 60-65 million.

* Securing a long-term deal with a mid 30's pitcher is risky due to injury concerns.


I believe that the shrinking market for Lohse will force him to lessen his contractual demands. He may consider signing a one year pillow contract similar to what Edwin Jackson did last year. Jackson signed a 1-year, 11 million dollar deal with the Nationals and parlayed that into a 4 year, 52 million dollar deal with the Cubs. However, if I am GM of the Pirates, I'd consider giving going "all in" on Lohse preferably with a 2 year deal. Will he be expensive? Yes. However, Lohse currently isn't in a position of leverage because of the 1st round pick forfeiture and the Pirates may be able to sign him at a more reasonable number.

Reasons why the Pirates must make this move:

1. Lohse would immediately bump Burnett out of the #1 role. The rotation would transform the Pirates from pretenders to contenders overnight. Imagine the top 3 starters in the rotation being Lohse, Burnett, and Rodriguez! That resembles a REAL rotation that would rival nearly every rotation in the NL.

2. The Pirates have (2) 1st round picks. They would have to surrender the 14th overall pick, but they still own the 9th overall pick because Mark Appel didn't sign after being drafted last year. They could use one of their picks to get better now without totally mortgaging their future.

3. Hopefully in June, Garrit Cole will be joining the rotation. Add him to Lohse, Burnett, and Rodriguez and it might be the best rotation in the NL.

The Pirates are quietly assembling a quality team. Offensively, the team has the capabilities of packing a punch. Strenghening the starting rotation could help transform this team from a .500 or slightly better club to a division winning club. The Pirates have already opened up the wallet a little more this year, but this move makes sense and could be a defining moment in Pittsburgh becoming a baseball town again.

Hoka Hey

Steelers Should Draft Honey Badger

The thought of the Steelers drafting Tyrann Mathieu is almost comical. It would likely never happen as the organization strives to bring in high character guys and "Honey Badger" already has an off the field track record bad enough to make most teams shy away. However, the Steelers aren't in a position to be picky. The team has a great need for playmakers coming off of a season that featured very few splash plays. Mathieu is a first round talent that has the playmaking skills the Steelers so desperately need. SunSentenial.com describes Mathieu as having "an Ed Reed-like knack for ball-hawking and making big plays whether it was a game-changing interception or fumble recovery as a defensive back, or as a crafty and elusive punt returner."

In my estimation, there's a possibility Mathieu will be available when the Steelers draft in the 3rd round. Over the last decade, the 3rd round has been one of the Steelers most productive rounds. The Steelers 3rd round picks have netted several current and former NFL starters and significant role players like Chris Hope, Max Starks, Trai Essex, Matt Spaeth, Mike Wallace, Kraig Urbik, Emmanuel Sanders, Curtis Brown, and most recently Sean Spence. Drafting Tyrann Mathieu in the 3rd is still a low risk - high reward pick that could add to the organization's 3rd round success.

Tyrann Mathieu is a first round talent and should absolutely be considered. Ike Taylor isn't getting any younger and Keenan Lewis is a free agent. Mathieu would help to fill an immediate void and he has the potential to be a great NFL cornerback. More importantly, Mathieu is trying very hard to turn his life around and to repair his damaged reputation. He's been to rehab, counseling, and he has a support system constructed of current NFL football stars like Patrick Peterson, Corey Webster, Darrelle Revis, and Morris Claiborne. He communicates with his support team on a daily basis.

Mathieu was asked if he was aware of how much money he's lost with his off the field issues. He responded by saying, "Yeah, millions. At the end of the day I'm not focused on money right now. I just want to start playing football again because for my whole life I played it for free. To play now for a couple hundred thousand dollars, it's still football to me." Mathieu also wants to drop the Honey Badger monikor as it's not representative of who he is today.

Tyrann Mathieu is doing and saying all of the right things. People deserve a second chance and the Steelers would be blessed to land him in 3rd round. He would fill a definite void on the team and could help solidify the aging secondary for years to come. He's worth the risk.

Trade Big Ben - Now or Never Time

Let me preface this post by saying that I love watching Ben Roethlisberger play football. He's big, strong, athletic and he's arguably a top 5 QB right now. I'm not in favor of trading Ben because I do not like him, but I'm in favor of trading Ben for sake of the salvaging the team's future.

I mentioned this idea in a previous post, but I'm sold on the idea now more than ever. The Steelers are in salary cap hell right now. They are restructuring restructured contracts in an effort to comply with the NFL salary cap. The team has aging veterans that should be released, but there is inadequate depth to fill in and produce at a playoff caliber level. Poor drafting overall for the last decade had created a significant problem. Even with Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers could be faced with mediocrity for a few years while they attempt to rebuild the organization.

Ben still has a few years of high level play in him. Because of that, Ben still has high quality trade value. Why spend 12 million a year for a guy that doesn't have the supporting cast to legitimately make another Super Bowl run though?

Although the move would be vastly unpopular, I'm in favor of making a run at the #1 pick in the draft. The Kansas City Chiefs hold the #1 pick and Andy Reid would gladly trade it for a quarterback that could make an immediate impact and secure his job for a few years. The Steelers could use the pick to draft the top quarterback in the draft (Geno Smith) and begin building for the future. Smith is like Roethlisberger in many aspects. He's big, mobile, and has great arm strength. Additionally, Roethlisberger would warrant additional draft pick(s) that the Steelers could use to continue to rebuild the depthless organization.

This would be a risky, ballsy move...but sometimes successful executives make risky, ballsy decisions to be successful. It's now or never time and the Steelers should consider making an unpopular decision that would help build for the future and help relieve them from salary cap hell.

Could the Perfect Storm Propel the Pirates to the Playoffs?

I've been thinking about the upcoming Pirates baseball season and I can't help but think what would happen if "The Perfect Storm" occurs in the Pirates clubhouse. We've seen improvements to the club over the last few seasons, but they seem to have been missing a few key pieces to take the next step. That said, the organization added a few pieces that could either help the cause or push them into a 21st losing season. So, I thought of several best case scenarios that could put the Bucs in position to win the division and make the playoffs. Yes, win the division.

Here's my optimistic, Pirates-homer, glass half full, perfect storm analysis:

1B - Garrett Jones - Although Garrett Jones split time between RF and 1B last season, he put up his best statistical numbers of his career. He batted a respectable .274 with 27 hr and 86 RBI. For a good portion of the season, he was one of the club's most reliable hitters. Jones suprisingly led the club with hr/ab with 17.4. With a crowded outfield this season, it's likely Jones will spend most of his time at 1B in a platoon role with Gaby Sanchez. If Jones can produce similar numbers in 2013, the Pirates will have plenty of pop at 1B.

2b - Neil Walker - Walker missed a good bit of time toward the end of the 2012 season with a nagging back injury, but he still managed to post quality numbers at the plate. Walker hit .280 with 14 hr and 69 RBi. Walker has become a quality major league second baseman and his ability to hit the baseball makes him a very complete player. Walker could be on track for his best season ever. It wouldn't be shocking if Walker flirts with .300 and hits over 20 hr while playing quality defense.

SS - Clint Barmes - If the infield has a weak link, it's most definitely Clint Barmes. Barmes had a rough 2012 campaign at the plate as his .229 batting average was 20 points lower than his career average. Barmes baffles me in the field sometimes too. Last season, he often made very difficult plays seem routine while booting routine plays that are consistently made at the high school level. Barmes appeared to benefit from Clint Hurdle's inexplicable sense of loyalty. However, if Barmes can play decent defense and displays a batting average closer to his career average, he could contribute to the club winning a few more games.

3B - Pedro Alvarez. Pedro and I have a love/hate relationship that he isn't aware of. It's hard not to fall in love with Alvarez's raw power, but his inconsistent play and strikeout rate tend to drive the common fan insane. His production comes in bunches and then he likes to disappear for a few weeks. All said, Pedro had a breakout season of sorts in 2012. He popped 30 home runs while driving in 85 to help ease the pain of his strikeouts and .244 batting average. If Pedro can find a way to put it all together in 2013, he could rival Andrew McCutchen for the most beloved Pirate role. One interesting fact - The Pirates 3B/1B combo was second in the NL in home runs in 2012 and was 1 home run shy of tying the Washington Nationals for the most corner infield home runs in the NL. A more consistent Pedro could be a lot of fun to watch.

C - Russell Martin - Martin's best season was in 2007 with the Dodgers. Martin had a career high batting average (.293) while hitting 19 home runs. However, Martin's batting average has decreased every season after and bottomed out last season with the Yankees where he posted a lowly .211 average. The hitter friendly ballpark in New York helped his power numbers as he hit 39 home runs in two seasons with the Yankees. What Martin brings to the Pirates is superior defense compared to their recent starting catchers (Ryan Doumit, Rod Barajas). Martin could be a very nice addition if he can somehow, someway maintain similar power numbers and inch his batting average closer to his .260 career average - while offerng much improved defense.

Infield Recap

The Pirates 2013 infield could produce a lot of offense this season. It's quite possible that 3 of the 4 starting infielders will hit more than 20 home runs this season - with the exception being Clint Barmes...cause he sucks. Regardless of production, Russell Martin will be an improvement over Rod Barajas behind the dish - even if he only posts similar numbers to his 2012 Yankees season.

LF - Starling Marte - Marte struggled at times during his rookie campaign, but he did enough to display all of tools he has at his disposal. He hits for power, he can hit for average, he runs very well and is a savvy base stealer, he plays great defense, and he unquestionably has the best OF arm. In only 47 games played in 2012, Marte posted a .257 batting average with 5 home runs and 17 RBI. He also swiped 12 bases in that short period of time. It appears the Pirates plan to use Marte as a leadoff hitter and if he breaks out in 2013, he could be one of the best leadoff hitters in the NL. He has some work to do, but he's a career .303 hitter in the minor leagues and has all of the tools to be a very quality major league player.

CF - Andrew McCutchen - Cutch is the face of the organization and undoubtedly the Pirates best player. In 2012, McCutchen seemed superhuman for most of the season. Cutch finished 2012 with a .327 batting average accompanied by 31 home runs and 96 RBI. However, in the latter half of 2012, McCutchen's production dropped off considerably. Although McCutchen may be the fastest big leaguer when running from 1st to 3rd, his raw speed doesn't seem to translate to stealing bases. McCutchen has been working on the art of base stealing over the offseason and that addition to his arsenal makes him an even more complete player. If he can find a way to be productive for a complete season and increase his number of stolen bases, his 2013 season has the possibility of surpassing his tremendous 2012 season.

RF - Travis Snider - I hate to discount some of the other outfield options, but it seems evident that Travis Snider will be the starting right fielder when the team opens up the season in April. Snider was acquired from the Blue Jays for relief pitcher Brad Lincoln to help bolster the outfield. Snider was once a heralded prospect drafted in the frist round. He has a great deal of talent, but he's yet to put together a highly productive season. His best major league season was in 2010 with the Jays where he hit 14 home runs in less than 300 at bats. I have some doubts with Snider, but sometimes a change of scenery is the best thing for a player with his talent. If Snider flourishes with the Pirates, he could be a quality addition to the outfield. If not, but Pirates have a plethora of depth in the outfield with Jose Tabata likely topping that list.

Outfield Recap

The outfield features more question marks than answers, but if the perfect storm occurs in the outfield, but Pirates will have a very productive and capable squad. Jose Tabata and Alex Presley are quality depth options and both have had some success at the big league level.

Starting Pitchers

AJ Burnett - AJ revived his career in Pittsburgh last season. The Yankees practically paid the Bucs to take him and he ended up having a tremendous season as he cemented himself as the ace of the staff. Burnett led the Pirates in wins (16), ERA (3.51) and strikeouts (180). Coming from New York to Pittsburgh, Burnett allowed 30% fewer walks and 45% fewer home runs and posted his best season since his rookie season. AJ has won a minimum of 10 games in each of his last 8 seasons and there is no reason to believe he won't do the same in 2013. Burnett will be making his first opening day start of his quality major league career at 36 years of age. In a perfect storm, Burnett will have similar success in 2013 as he did in 2012. Increased offensive output may help his cause as well.

Wandy Rodriguez - Wandy had a phenomenal career in Houston and most Pirate fans (me included) hated when he pitched against the Pirates. Wandy was a strikeout pitcher and a front of the rotation guy for a long time. The Pirates acquired Rodriguez to bolster the rotation while they were making a playoff run last year. Although his strikeout numbers have dissipated, he is still a very quality major league starting pitcher. Despite a slow start in Pittsburgh, he calmed down and regained his composure. In 75 innings of work with the Pirates, Wandy posted a 3.72 ERA with a strikeout rate of 6.0/9IP and 9 of his 12 starts were "quality starts". AJ and Wandy make for a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.

James McDonald - JMAC has proven that he can be extremely effective on the bump as a starting pitcher. At the midway point of the season, he appeared to lose his stuff. He had difficulty locating pitches and lost his confidence completely. Despite him falling apart, he finished the season with a 12-8 record and a 4.21 ERA with 7.95 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. If JMAC can pull himself together in 2013, the Pirates could rival any team with their top 3 starting pitchers.

Franciso Liriano - I love this signing. A fresh start in the National League with the Pirates could be just what the doctor ordered for Liriano to revive his career ala AJ Burnett. He is an effective strikeout pitcher, but his control has been a problem in recent years. In his last 3 seasons, he's posted an ERA over 5 and a BB/9 IP over 5, despite maintaining a strikeout rate over 9K's per 9 IP. Hopefully, when he's not injuring himself trying to startle his children, he's working on getting his mind right and regaining the control he once had. In a perfect storm, Liriano returns to his dominating fashion and becomes a reliable 4th starter.

Jeff Locke, Kyle McPherson, Jeff Karstens, Charlie Morton - The 5th starter is up in the air at this point. It looks like Jeff Locke has the early lead, but it's hard to argue if the nod is given to Jeff Karstens. Over the last few seasons, there are several consistencies with Jeff Karstens: He's always fighting for a job and he consistently keeps the Pirates in the game when he starts. Morton is hopeful to return at some point from Tommy John surgery and Kyle McPherson has the ability to start as well.

Pitching Recap

If nothing else, the Pirates have more starting pitching depth than they've had in a very long time. I didn't even mention that Garrit Cole will likely join the rotation at some point early in the season. Cole will likely become the Pirates best pitcher quickly and Jameson Taillon might not be too far behind him. The Pirates pitching staff should be more than adequate for the season with the interchangeable parts they have on the roster.

My Take

I believe this is the year the Pirates break the Godforsaken losing streak. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if they contend for the division and make the playoffs. The young core of the club should all be hitting their prime together and the young additions and veterans might just give this team the spunk they need to get the job done.

My Unexpected Trip to Arizona Cactus League Spring Training

I live in PA and work as a Regional Sales Manager for a manufacturer based just outside of Altoona. My job is to grow sales with key distributors within my region (TX, AZ, NM, CO, and UT). So, half of my year is spent traveling in the southwest. It sounds pretty cool, but I spend a lot of time away from my wife and 3 boys. It can be very tiring mentally and physically. However, sometimes there are fringe benefits and experiences that are priceless. One of those experiences happened this week.

I flew into Phoenix early Monday morning with plans to spend time with 3 different resellers throughout the week. On Tuesday, I didn't have to meet with my customers until noon. Knowing that pitchers and catchers reported on Monday for nearly every team in AZ, I decided to stop at the Diablo Stadium complex in Tempe to see the California Angels. I arrived in the morning just in time to see the hoard of pitchers and catchers coming out of the clubhouse and spreading out across 6 fields. I didn't expect to see many position players as they weren't required to report just yet.

I was quickly amazed by how up close and personal people are to the players at Spring Training. It's the equivalent of watching a little league baseball game. You hear all of the coaches instructions, player conversations, etc. More shockingly, there were no more than 25-30 fans there to watch practice - even with free admission.

As I walked through the complex, I could hear the the sound of baseballs exploding off of a bat. To my surprise, I walked up to a field used for batting practice to find two position players that arrived early to camp taking some morning hacks - Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.



Although I'm a die hard Pirate fan, there isn't much more exciting than watching two of baseball's greatest sluggers quietly taking batting practice. Pujols seemed to be working on situational hitting, rather than popping the ball out of the park. Hamilton had other ideas - He hit quite a few monster shots. I was fortunate enough to snag one of them.



Then I walked over to the field where the catchers were working out. I watched Mike Scioscia instruct the big league catchers in bunt-fielding drills and coaching them up like a little league coach. After the catcher's drills, Chris Ianetta walked past me holding a few baseballs. I made some small talk with him and he discovered that I had 2 boys currently in little league. He proceeded to sign a few balls for me to give to boys - Awesome guy.

On my way out of the complex, I noticed the MLB-ESPN tour bus and saw the makeshift TV set in the parking lot. I walked over to see the one and only Tim Kurkjian up close and personal. I was staring at him the way a 7 year old stares at a giraffe at the zoo. I'm pretty sure he realized I was surprised to see him on set, so he gave me a friendly wave and said hello - likely hoping I would walk away and stop creeping him out.



Then - off to work. But, there's more to the story...

Today, I was making joint sales calls with a sales rep when we passed the Chicago Cubs Spring Training complex in Mesa, AZ. The Cubs were just taking the field, so the rep asked if I'd like to stop and check it out. That was a no-brainer for me.

Once again, I was surprised that more people were not in attendance. I arrived in time to see a group taking BP, including Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo is a physical specimen and has tremendous pop in his bat. He put on a power display poking several balls well over the 375 mark with 10ft fences surrounding the field. As I stood behind the backstop watching BP, Theo Epstein walked directly in front of me to chat with Manager Dale Svuem and to observe his investments taking their hacks. As he was blocking my view, I jokingly said, "Hey Theo, I'd like to watch too." He and Dale both turned around with big grins and engaged in light hearted conversation. Once again, I was totally shocked how up close and personal people are at Spring Training to the players and team brass. They were both fantastic, down to earth guys - Although Theo looks more like a bat boy than a GM in person.

We didn't have a lot of time to spend at the park, so we stopped by one more field in the complex in time to catch the pitchers going through fielding drills. They had the pitchers separated into groups that were obviously developed based on their status with the organization. Starting pitchers were working together, relievers in another group, and minor leaguers in another. I watched the starting pitchers (Jeff Smardja, Edwin Jackson, and Matt Garza to name a few) repeatedly do the fake throw home, ground ball to 1st, cover the bag drill. They must have each done the drill 100 times before moving on to the "hit a line drive at your face - repeatedly drill"...seriously.



Unfortunately, I had to go back to work and left the Cubs facility. The experiences at both complexes were incredible and I never would have had the opportunity if not for my job. Although my job has its drawbacks, it also enables me to see things I may have never seen otherwise. What an awesome experience.