By Ross Insana: Legendary wrestling public address announcer Michael Buffer uttered those words many of times, but the world-renowned phrase could not be far from the truth tomorrow night at PNC Park when Pirates top prospect Gerrit Cole makes his Major League debut. This is in fact the “main event” that has been two years in the making for Pirates fans and the time has finally arrived. Since rumors began floating around on Friday of his apparent promotion and subsequent Major League debut, ... Read More
All-22: Ike Taylor and “Trail” Technique
Last time, we talked about the basics of Cover 2. Today, we’ll again look at this scheme in action and how playing “trail” technique led to an Ike Taylor interception Week 9 against the Giants. First and ten for the Giants who are in Weak I out of 21 (2 RBs, 1 TE) personnel. The Steelers are playing Cover 2 Man out of their 3-4 base. Same overall scheme as in Cover 2 (two deep shell) but the CBs play man coverage with the linebackers out in the flats. With Ryan Clark over the top to play ... Read More
Plaxico Burress still thinks he can play with Steelers
Last season the Pittsburgh Steelers chose to only carry four receivers on their roster. In March, Mike Wallace, who served as the team’s number one receiver in 2012, left on the first day of free agency to sign with the Miami Dolphins. Then during the 2013 NFL Draft the Steelers drafted two wide receivers, which begs the questions: who gets a roster spot and who finds themselves on the outside looking in when the final cuts are made? As the 2013 season gets closer (we are 3 months away from ... Read More
Wild Things avoid sweep, down Crushers 6-1
The Washington Wild Things offense just need a warm Sunday afternoon to get their juices flowing. With two home runs and two doubles, the Wild Things were able to muster up six runs and pull out a 6-1 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers to avoid the weekend sweep. Strong pitching has been key for the Wild Things all season and, finally, a starting pitcher was able to keep the Crushers offense in check. Shawn Smith pitched a complete game and only allowed one run off of eight hits, while ... Read More
Are the current steroid punishments taking fans away from the game?
Within the week, the MLB's ongoing investigation of the Biogenesis Clinic in Florida has heated up immensely. But I want to take a step away from the moral values and the legal issues of this case and look at something else. I want to look at undoubtedly the biggest reasons why you, the fans, watch sports in the first place. Entertainment. Growing up in the 1990's, I was immersed into baseball in the prime of the Mark McGwire vs. Sammy Sosa home run battle. I was eight years old in 1998 and, ... Read More
San Jose SaberCats Beat The Pittsburgh Power In The Battle Of The Backups
It was the battle of backup quarterbacks in San Jose as the Sabercats (8-3) hosted the Pittsburgh Power (3-8). In the end San Jose’s Mitch Mustain got the better of Pittsburgh’s Derek Cassidy and the SaberCats won 68-54 in a game that came down to the final play. Both teams traded scores back and forth until Pittsburgh failed to score on the final possession of the first half. They were also stopped on the first possession of the second half. Two miscues by the Sabercats gave the Power ... Read More
Late game hits derail Wild Things
The Washington Wild Things let the hits pile up and eventually fell to the Lake Erie Crushers, 9-1. Starting pitcher and pitching coach Gary Lee has been spectacular on the mound this season. It'd be nothing less than an understatement to see he didn't live up to that standard on the mound for the Wild Things tonight. The woes started early for Lee and the Wild Things. On the very first pitch of the game, Lee nailed Crushers right fielder Kevin Berard right in the back to send him to ... Read More
2013 NBA Mock Draft: Is Pitt’s Steven Adams a lottery pick?
With the NBA Finals underway, all but two teams have their eyes completely on June’s NBA Draft. There has been a lot of movement in the two weeks since my last mock. With that being said, let’s take a look at the NBA Finals edition of my 2013 NBA Mock Draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the clock. 1. Cleveland Cavaliers Player Name: Nerlens Noel Position, School: PF, Kentucky Usually by now, we know who the No. 1 pick is going to be, but the Cavs have yet to say Noel is their ... Read More
It’s time to say goodbye to Dan Bylsma
After the Penguins were embarrassingly eliminated in the first round last postseason, changes were vowed and changes were made. Jordan Staal was traded for Brandon Sutter and a few defensive prospects, Zbynek Michalek was traded back to Phoenix, and Arron Asham was let go. Dan Bylsma, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury all stayed but the leash was noticeably shorter heading into the 2013 season. Once again, the regular season showed promise from all Penguin personnel as the team rattled ... Read More
Yinzer of the Week: Jovan Rosa
With the Wild Things season well under way, they find themselves teetering back and forth with the top spot in the East Division of the Frontier League. Lately, strong pitching has been the key for Washington, but there's been one guy on the offensive side of things that has been a huge part of that success. Third baseman Jovan Rosa has been on a hot streak lately. The Wild Things played five games this week and during that stretch, Rosa has picked up twelve hits including three doubles and a ... Read More