Steelers send 5 to Pro Bowl; 3 more as alternates

Antonio Brown is heading to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl

Another season almost in the books, another mass quantity of black and gold chosen to represent their peers at the Pro Bowl.  It's the 11th straight season the Steelers are sending multiple players to the NFL all-star gala, and although none of them want to be in Honolulu on January 29, the honor holds meaning for these players.  Hopefully for the Steelers contingent, they will be preparing for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. 

Leading the Pro Bowl charge for the Steelers are Safety Troy Polamalu, QB Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey, and WR's Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown.  Brown was chosen as a Special teams/Kickoff returner.  Furthermore, three Steelers were named as alternates for the game:  OLB James Harrison as a 1st alternate, OLB LaMarr Woodley and safety Ryan Clark as 2nd alternates. 

WR Mike Wallace was voted in as a starter for the Pro Bowl

Polamalu will be heading to his seventh Pro Bowl, Big Ben to his second, Pouncey goes for his second consecutive year, and Wallace and Brown give the "Young Money" crew their first trips to the game.

The Pro Bowl is once again being played the week before the Super Bowl, so any players slated to be at the big game (the REAL big game) will skip the Pro Bowl.  Alternates will fill those slots, as they have each year.

Pouncey is again heading to Hawaii

Pro Bowl voting was a combination of fans, coaches, and players and many experts consider it to be an inexact science, similar to the fan vote for the MLB All Star Game.  However, the number of players selected from the Steelers shows the power of a fan base that defies the usual logistics of sports teams.  Steeler Nation came through again on this one!

Bucco Monday: News, Notes, Rumors on the Pittsburgh Pirates

Jeff Clement re-signed to a minor-league deal last week.

After a flurry of movement throughout November and early December, the Pirates have taken a "wait and see" approach to the hot stove market as we head towards the end of the year.  Despite rumors linking the Bucs to free agent 1B Derrek Lee, 1B Carlos Pena, and 1B Casey Kotchman, the Pirates have not pulled the trigger on a full-time first baseman.  This could either mean that the team is content heading to Spring Training with the current Garrett Jones/Casey McGehee situation, or they are waiting for the right moment on a remaining free agent.

Your Bucco Monday report for this week:

- The annual PirateFest came and went over the December 16-18 weekend, with no real news to report.  Newly-signed SS Clint Barmes was on hand, as were many current players and "alumni" - including all-time fan favorite Andy Van Slyke.  It was nice to see "Slick" back in the 'Burgh.  Count me as someone who would love to see him working the young Pirates outfielders this spring.

- Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan has heard his name come up in trade talks for the second consecutive offseason.  He spoke with Karen Price of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on 12/19.

RP Ryota Igarashi signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates.

- The Pirates began refilling their bullpen slots with the signing of RP Ryota Igarashi to a minor-league deal.  Igarashi spent last season with the Mets, posting a 4.66 ERA and 9.8 K/9 in 38 2/3 IP.  Igarashi has a fastball that can reach 94mph but has struggled with command.  The right-hander will compete for the slot opened by the trade of Jose Veras.

- 1B/C Jeff Clement re-signed with the Pirates on 12/20, agreeing to a minor-league deal.  After spending 2010 in Pittsburgh and being considered a major disappointment, Clement spent all of 2011 in the Pirates minor-league system.

INF Anderson Hernandez

- The Pirates also signed ML veteran infielder Anderson Hernandez to a minor-league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.  Hernandez last played in the majors in 2010, and has appeared in 240 ML games in 6 seasons with the Mets, Astros, Indians, and Nationals. 

The NL Central has been busy this off-season, and the recent acquisition of SP Mat Latos by the Cincinnati Reds was just the latest major move by a Pirates division rival.  The Reds trade for Latos was met by a mixed bag of responses from Reds fans.  Some felt the move was needed, and will give the Reds the true ace arm they need to contend for the National league pennant in 2012, while others felt that GM Walt Jocketty gave up too much prospect value.  The trade with San Diego netted the Reds a top-flight starter in Latos, but at the cost of top prospects in Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger, and toolsy major league veteran SP Edinson Volquez.  A recent trade between the Nationals and Athletics was scrutinized heavily as well, with SP Gio Gonzalez heading to Washington for a bevy of top-flight youngsters.

How would Pirates fans react to a similar deal by Neal Huntington if the Bucs found themselves in the NL Central race again come July?  After spending such a high percentage of the organizations resources on rebuilding the farm system, the Pirates would probably need to include 3-4 of their top ten prospects to land a Latos or Gonzalez-type SP at the deadline.  At some point, the Pirates will be in a position to consider this sort of deal - and it may come sooner than most fans think.

A list of the Pirates Top 11 Prospects was recently posted at Baseball Prospectus.  Should the Pirates be within 3 games of 1st place on July 31, who would you approve of Huntington dangling in front of teams in exchange for a #1 starter?  Gerrit Cole?  Jameson Taillon?

Steelers take care of business vs. STL, still much to be decided in 2011

Charlie Batch shook off the rust and dust to beat the St. Louis Sheep

The Steelers did their part today, systematically taking apart the St. Louis Rams at Heinz Field, behind the efforts of QB Charlie Batch and RB Rashard Mendenhall.  Final score 27-0 in favor of the good guys.  The Sheep had nothing to give this week after nearly upsetting the Bengals last weekend, and even with RB Steven Jackson eclipsing 100+ yards on the day (and in turn clinching his 7th straight 1,000 yard rushing season), the Steelers were simply too much for the Rams to handle.

Despite only playing sparingly since preseason, Batch looked spry for his 37-year old self.  He made several plays with his mobility, starting with finding Mendenhall on a screen pass early in the 1st Quarter that set the tone for the rest of the game.  The Rams fought hard to keep the score close at half, 13-0.  From then on, it was all Steelers. 

The Steelers went into this game knowing full well that after the egg they laid in San Francisco last Monday, they needed some improbable help today in the form of wins by Cleveland and Miami.  Cleveland fought back against the Ravens, but lost 20-14.  Joshua Cribbs returned another punt for a TD (84 yards in the 3rd Quarter) to get the Browns back in the game, followed by a Seneca Wallace to Evan Moore TD with 8:22 left in the 4th Quarter to pull within one score..  The Ravens defense did what they have done at home all season and put the clamps on the comeback.

In Foxboro, the Patriots got into a hole early as the Dolphins took a 17-0 lead into halftime.  After that, Brady took over.  The Pats marched down the field on the first possession of the 2nd half to make it 17-3, the morbid New England defense kept the Dolphins from doing any more damage which gave the Pats time to rebound and take a 27-17 lead with 2:56 left in the game.  Miami scored a TD (Moore to Bess, 15 yards) with 1:48 but elected to kickoff instead of trying an on-side kick.  The Patriots ran out the clock and the dream was over for the Miami Dolphins.

The dreams of the Pittsburgh Steelers now come down to Week 17 and an all-out prayer.  The Cincinnati Bengals are one win away from a playoff berth, win and they are in.  The Bengals will host THE RAVENS next week, so for the Steelers to win the AFC North they need the Bengals to play balls out and beat the Ravens. 

The Patriots have locked up either the #1 or #2 seed.  New England will meet resurgent Buffalo next week.  If the Patriots win, they are the #1 seed,  If they manage to lose, it opens the door for either the Steelers to be the #1 seed.

Of course, none of this matters if the Steelers do not beat the Browns in Cleveland.

Basically, it works out like this: 

Steelers win + Ravens loss + Patriots loss = Steelers #1 Seed
Steelers win + Ravens win = Steelers #5 Wild Card seed
Steelers win + Ravens loss + Patriots win = Steelers #2 seed

That's it, the only scenarios that matter for Steelers fans.  Any hope of Heinz Field seeing another football game this season hinges on those pesky Bengals and their opie QB. 

The week will determine the injury situations, and the NFL schedule committee did no favors for Pittsburgh by moving both the Steelers-Browns and Bengals-Ravens games to the 4:15 start time.  The Patriots play at 1:00, so if they lose, you can imagine Ben Roethlisberger perhaps playing in this game.  We will keep Steel World Order updated with all pertinent Steelers injury news all week, so manke sure you stop by daily to get the scoop.  We have contacts inside the Steelers organization and local media, and will be breaking news as we get it.

To all of our readers, please have a happy and SAFE Christmas, and enjoy time with your loved ones.  Forget about football for a day and concentrate on the important things in life.  Maybe even watch some NBA basketball if you get really drunk...errr...bored.

Happy Holidays!

The sWo - 4 LIFE

Steelers vs. Rams: Week 16

Steven Jackson leads the 2-12 Rams into Heinz Field

Back in 2001, the St. Louis Rams were the top dogs in the National Football league.  "The Greatest Show on Turf" laid waste to teams as if they were toying with them, led by QB Kurt Warner, RB Marshall Faulk, and a bevy of WR talent.

Just a few short years earlier, the Rams were the worst team in football.  In a division largely dominated by San Francisco for over a decade, the Rams - first in LA, then in the STL - always seemed to be the whipping boys.  A bold move by Head Coach Dick Vermeil during the 1999 preseason set the wheels in motion for those great Rams teams to come.  The Rams had gone out and signed free agent QB Trent Green to a 4-year $17.5 million contract to be their starter, a bold move by a team just trying to get their head above water.  In a 1999 preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, Green sustained a major knee injury that was bad enough to place him on Injured Reserve for the entire season.  With no true NFL back-up on their roster, Vermeil put the team in the hands of former Arena League player Kurt Warner, who had a career NFL QB rating of 42.7% in minimal playing time.

The Rams never looked back.  They won Super Bowl XXXIV over Tennessee in one of the great championship games ever, and by the time 2001 rolled around, they had become the alpha male of the NFL.  Under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Martz and his bizarre passing offense, the Rams went 14-2 and were once again headed to the Super Bowl after steamrolling through the NFC playoffs.

In Pittsburgh, the team was still in what us locals call "The Slash Era".  Head Coach Bill Cowher had given the reins to QB Kordell Stewart and Stewart went on to have a fantastic season, throwing for 3,000 yards and making the Pro Bowl.  The Steelers were led by Stewart, RB Jerome Bettis, the WR tandem of a young Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress.  On Defense, the Steelers relied on their LB core of Jason Gildon and Joey Porter, as well as rookie NT Casey Hampton and rookie ILB Kendrell Bell.  After an opening day loss in Jacksonville, the Steelers proceeded to run through the AFC in due fashion, on their way to the AFC Championship Game - the first played at Heinz Field - against the up-start New England Patriots and rookie QB Tom Brady.

You all know how that story ends.  Bottom line, had it not been for a man named Brady....the Steelers and Rams would have more history between them than just Super Bowl XIV.  We came very close to a match-up of "The Greatest Show on Turf" vs. "Blitzburgh" in 2001.

The game tomorrow at Heinz Field will not bring the same type of hype.  The Rams have once again fallen on hard times, and are just hoping to not finish the season 2-14.  The Steelers still have hopes of a top 2 seed and a bye in the AFC Playoffs that start in two weeks time.  The Rams are now playing with their third QB of the season, journeyman Kellen Clemens.  Clemens will be starting Saturday in Pittsburgh barring any miracle comeback by starter Sam Bradford.  The Rams are fighting for the job of head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who just a year ago appeared to have this team on the right track.  If the Rams do finish 2-14, Spagnuolo will be looking for employment elsewhere in 2012.

The Steelers got another break Thursday night when Indianapolis took out Houston 19-16, ending any hope of a top 2 seed for the Texans.  Once again, the Steelers are looking for a slip up by the Baltimore Ravens to get them back into the #2 seed.  Either way, it will all be happening under the watchful eye of someone other than QB Ben Roethlisberger.  After toughing it out in San Francisco, Big Ben will be out for this game and probably next week at Cleveland as well.  Dig a little deeper, and you will find a Steelers team that greatly needs that bye week provided by the #2 seed,  Injuries are mounting, and it seems that the NFL may have finally caught up to Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau.  In order to make a deep run at defending their AFC Title, the Steelers will need to adjust on both sides of the ball to account for missing personnel.  They may need to change up their pass defense strategy, figure out a way to get pressure on the QB again, and perhaps find a running game on offense.

The Steelers picked a great week to do that, as the Rams are near dead last in every defensive and offensive category.  Hopefully the combination of Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon can get the job done, because a loss here would be one of the worst in team history.

Predication:  Steelers 34, Rams 10

Merry Christmas from Steel World Order!

Pitt hires Chryst as new head football coach

The University of Pittsburgh has a new head football coach, and fittingly enough for the Christmas season the Panthers have hired Chryst.

No, not Christ, although the Panthers are hoping this coach has at least a tad more "Christian values" than Todd Graham, who lied and stole his way to the exit and - also fittingly enough - is now a Devil.

Paul Chryst was announced as the new Pitt Football coach this afternoon at a press conference.  His resume includes an outstanding 8-year run as offensive coordinator for the Rose-Bowl bound Wisconsin Badgers.  Under the direction of Paul Chryst, Wisconsin has fielded some of the top offensive units in all of college football.  The development of such players as recent Heisman finalist Montee Ball and QB Russell Wilson have been credited to their relationship with Coach Chryst.

Pitt seems to have found a coach that actually wants to be here.  For a fan base that has been burned so many times by coaches and administration over the past few years, trepidation is to be expected.  However, this hiring seems to be right along the lines of what many people were clamoring for - a coach getting his first true head coaching job at a University that has history but has been an afterthought in recent years.  His level of dedication to the Pitt program will only be discovered through the test of time.

Chryst will be taking over a program that has a good bit of underclassmen talent coming back next season, along with highly touted recruits in Hopewell, PA RB Rushel Shell and QB Chad Voytik from Tennessee.  The situation is not dire, although the stink of Todd Graham still permeates the South Side Complex, even with High Octane Todd and his fruity wife sipping drinks at the MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas.

Hopefully for Pitt, this hire is a means to an end.  The program has major issues that need fixed over the next 5 years to truly be considered a National power again.  Let us all hope that Santa brought us a winner here for this holiday season in the form of Head Coach Paul Chryst.

AD Steve Pederson introduces Head Coach Paul Chryst

Steelers vs. 49ers: Monday Night Football contest holds future for both teams

The X Factor:  Will Ben play?

Over the course of the 2011 NFL season, we have seen many amazing stories.  The Detroit Lions are relevant for the first time since Barry Sanders was breaking records in Mo-Town.  The Green Bay Packers were questing for a perfect season up until running a trap game yesterday in Kansas City.  The Philadelphia Eagles - "The Dream Team" - and their roster of Pro Bowl players have failed to live up to lofty preseason expectations.  Tim Tebow has become the most talked about man in the free world.

While all of those are deserving of their headline stealing capability, no story in the NFL this season has been bigger than the turnaround of the San Francisco 49ers and their first-year head coach.  The last time the 49ers were in the playoffs was 2002, a team led by QB Jeff Garcia and WR Terrell Owens.  After spending most of the 80's and 90's as the premiere team in all of football, San Francisco has endured a stretch of eight seasons as one of the whipping boys of the NFC.

Enter Jim Harbaugh.  The man who turned around the Stanford Cardinal football program has worked his magic on the professional level, taking a roster of players that finished 6-10 in 2010 and molded them into the NFC West Division champions.  At 10-3, the 49ers have already clinched that division title and a playoff spot, all that is left is to secure a top two seed in the NFC Playoffs.  With the New Orleans Saints breathing down their backs, San Francisco is in "must-win" territory as much as their Monday Night Football opponents - the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers are in their usual spot, on the way to the AFC Playoffs and fighting for position in a conference that currently fields four teams with 10 or more wins under their belt.  The Steelers have scrapped and fought their way to a 10-3 record and thanks to the Baltimore Ravens no-show performance in San Diego last night, Pittsburgh is one big win away from reclaiming their our destiny in the AFC North.  Furthermore, a win tonight would give the Steelers a leg up on the #1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Despite losing both games to arch rival Baltimore, the Steelers have a victory over the New England Patriots and thus hold the tiebreaker over the Brady Bunch.  With games remaining against Cleveland and St. Louis, the path to the AFC Title will once again go through the Steel City if the Steelers can pull off a win tonight and then run the table against two of the worst teams in football.

The X-Factor of this match-up tonight is the health of QB Ben Roethlisberger.  After suffering a dreaded "high-ankle sprain" in the win over Cleveland last Thursday night, Big Ben is still being called a game-time decision to play in this game.  Those of us in Pittsburgh know better.  Games like this are the reason #7 gets up every morning.  Barring any massive pre-game setbacks, the odds of the Steelers heading into battle without their star QB are very slim. 

Although the Roethlisberger situation has become the top story for this game, there are other concerns for the Steelers.  After sustaining the same high ankle sprain in the Cleveland game, C Maurkice Pouncey is out tonight.  He will be replaced by back-up Doug Legursky, leaving a rotation of Trai Essex and Chris Kemoeatu to handle left guard duties.  With Roethlisberger essentially playing on one leg, protection will be a major issue against the swarming 49ers defense.  Also missing this contest will be OLB James Harrison, who is serving his one-game suspension for scrambling the eggs of Cleveland QB Colt McCoy a week ago.  His spot will be taken by back-up Jason Worilds.  The Steelers will also be without slot WR Emmanuel Sanders, another injury casualty.  Against a team the caliber of San Francisco, head coach Mike Tomlin's mantra of "The standard is the standard" will be put to its most extreme test yet.

The difference between a win and a loss tonight for the Steelers is monumental.  A win and they control their own destiny - forcing teams to come to the hostile "Steel City Insane Asylum" in January.  A loss, and the Steelers could be looking at a wild card slot and a month long road trip if they plan on making the journey to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl.  The 49ers face the same type of scenario, already 2 games behind Green Bay for the top seed in the NFC.  Currently a game behind San Francisco is New Orleans, the hottest team in football.  A loss tonight would put the Saints on the fast track to the #2 seed, and allow them to play playoff games at home in the Superdome, where they are almost unbeatable.

The Steelers and 49ers both know what is on the line tonight.  This is the biggest game the 49ers have played at home in a decade.  The difference could come down to experience, the Steelers are battle-tested under pressure, and they have the hardware to prove it.  San Francisco has yet to prove they can do the same.  Pittsburgh will have their hands full in this contest, but in the end the Steelers will show that they still have the power to punch that Super Bowl ticket.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) at San Francisco 49ers (10-3)

8:30 pm EST, ESPN

Line:  49ers -3

Prediction:

Steelers 17, 49ers 13

Erik Bedard: Introducing the newest Pirates hurler

In their eternal search for good starting pitching in the bargain section of the free-agent department store, the Pittsburgh Pirates have failed more than they have succeeded.  One of the trademarks of the Pirates free-agent plan has always been to offset the limitations of their financial situation by finding players who may be coming off down seasons, have had injury issues, or have failed to live up to lofty expectations.

With that, we welcome the Pirates newest free agent hurler - SP Erik Bedard.

Bedard is a well-traveled pitcher, mainly due to injury issues.  He started out his career in the Baltimore Orioles organization, where he quickly became a top prospect.  He made his ML debut in 2002, but a serious elbow ligament injury shelved him until 2004.  It was then that he was introduced to former Pirates Pitching Coach Ray Miller, who was working in the same capacity for the Orioles.  Miller helped Bedard refine his mechanics, adding a change-up to go with his mid-90's fastball and devastating curveball.  He started 2005 on fire, posting a 2.08 ERA over the first 2 months of the season, but another injury - this time a sprained knee - took him out of action until the second half.

In 2006, Bedard once again started out dominating the AL, and had his most productive season thus far.  He made 33 starts, posting a 15-11 record for the last-place Orioles.  His 196 IP were a career high, and he finished with a 3.76 ERA/1.35 WHIP.

Bedard earned the Opening Day start for Baltimore in 2007, and never looked back.  Despite playing for another bad Orioles team, Bedard was in the running for the AL Cy Young Award until he suffered a strained oblique muscle in early September.  The injury forced manager Dave Trembley to shut down Bedard for the season to avoid further issues.  he finished the 2007 season with a 13-5 record, 3.16 ERA and 221 K's.  It was by far his best season, and his value as a trade chip for the rebuilding Orioles became a much-discussed issue.

The rumors of a trade became reality in February 2008.  Bedard was the key piece of a trade that would haunt the Seattle Mariners to this day.  The Mariners traded five players - including OF Adam Jones - for Bedard.  Jones would go on to become one of the best CF in baseball, and is the cornerstone of the Orioles franchise to this day.  Bedard would limp through two seasons in Seattle, and missed the entire 2010 season due to a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder. 

Prior to 2011, Bedard re-signed with Seattle.  He made 16 quality starts for the Mariners, and became the subject of trade talk once again.  Right at the Trade Deadline, he was dealt to Boston for the stretch run and posted a 4.03 ERA over 8 starts for the Red Sox during their epic collapse to miss the postseason.

Bedard comes to the Pirates on a 1yr/4.5m deal, healthy and ready to become a major piece of the rotation puzzle for Clint Hurdle in 2012.  By the standards of free agent contracts dished out this winter, Bedard seems to be a major bargain if he can stay healthy.  With Bedard and Kevin Correia in the rotation, the Pirates finally have some veteran presence on their young pitching staff.  If Bedard can make 30 starts for the Pirates and embrace his new National League lifestyle, he could end up being one of the best signings of the 2011 Hot Stove season.

Pirates off-season has been fairly productive, by Pirates standards

New Bucs 1B/3B Casey McGehee

Since the Pirates decided to crank Piratefest up a full month early this year, I thought it would be prudent to review what has been a decent hot stove season for the Battlin' Bucs.  Bear in mind that there are no Pujols or Reyes or even a Latos in here, but for the Pirates and their youth dominated team, the moves they made might just be the right flavor.

GONE and FORGOTTEN

SS Ronny Cedeno - The last remaining piece from the Ian Snell trade with Seattle back in 2009, Cedeno hasn't latched on with another club yet, but at some point he will get a minor league invite from someone.  While Ronny wasn't the worst shortstop the Pirates have fielded over the course of their 19-year futility streak, he was probably the most criticized.  In 2011, he was one of the better defensive SS in the NL, that fact alone will get him into camp somewhere.  However, that place won't be here.  Happy trails, Ronny Cedeno.

SP Paul Maholm - The Bucs 2003 1st round pick has had a very bittersweet career in the Black and Gold.  He was due to make over $9.0m in 2012, and that just isn't going to fly with the Bucs.  His leadership and durability will be missed, as will his off-field contributions.  Recent rumors have him signing with the Cubs, where he will inevitably become Jon Lieber Version 2.0 and haunt the Pirates for the next 5 years.  Happy trails, Paul Maholm.

1B/C Ryan Doumit - He teased us with his bat in 2008, hitting .318/15/69 over 465 PA.  He mocked us with his defense behind the plate and his horrific attempt to play RF in PNC Park.  He can't stay healthy, he can't hit the low slider, and his beard was one of the worst visuals of each summer.  He signed with the Minnesota Twins for 1yr/$3m, where he will back up All-Star C Joe Mauer.  Happy trails, Mr. Doumit.

RP Jose Veras - It was a fun summer watching this nutjob pitch, but for a team that needs to rely on its bullpen, he was a bad fit.  Veras can be downright nasty at times, but may be the worst clutch pitcher the Pirates have had since Matt Capps imploded a few years back.  The trade that sent Veras packing brought in Casey McGehee, so all's well that ends well.

Pirates Shortstop Clint Barmes

Get to know....

SS Clint Barmes - I have to admit, the first name that popped in my head upon hearing the news of this signing was Pat Meares.  On the plus side, Barmes has had his best seasons on Clint Hurdle managed teams.  On the minus side, he is coming off a terrible season in Houston where he posted an almost surreal .312 OBP in just 446 AB, making him a serious liability anywhere in this lineup.  He signed a 2yr/$10.5m contract with the Bucs, so he is your starting SS.  His glove is on the plus side, as was the glove of predecessor Ronny Cedeno.  It is entirely possible that his 23 HR season of 2009 could have been a product of Coors Field, so don't look for power.  Barmes is a gamer, and Pittsburgh fans will appreciate his hard-nosed style - if they can stomach the low on-base numbers.

C Rod Barajas

C Rod Barajas - This signing gives the Pirates a good bat to platoon with defensive whiz "The Fort" Mike McKenry behind the plate.  Barajas is not a star by any means, but his mere presence is better for this team than the Snyder/Doumit/Jaramillo/Fryer quagmire of the past few years.  McKenry should eventually be the starter, once his bat catches up to his glove.  For now, Barajas offers a veteran insurance policy and some pop from a weak spot in the lineup. 

OF Nate McLouth -  McLouth's departure from Pittsburgh in 2009 was a tough pill to swallow for Pirates fans.  Granted, the team had young stud OF Andrew McCutchen on his way to the majors and the trade cleared the way for his amazing rookie campaign.  On the other side, McLouth was beloved in Pittsburgh for the way he played - tough, gritty, and at the time All-Star caliber.  After he went to Atlanta, he never regained the form he showed with the Bucs.  He spent the past 2 seasons on the bench, in the minors, and eventually released.  The Pirates resigned him for 1yr/$1.75m deal with a major incentives package.  He will be the 4th OF unless injuries strike, and he gives the Pirates a McCutchen/Tabata/Presley/McLouth line for the OF - not too shabby.  If he regains any of his past form, this deal could be a big time steal.

SP Erik Bedard - Bedard was coveted by a number of teams this off season, and he chose to sign with the Pirates for 1yr/$4.5m.  Bedard can be a dominant SP when healthy, and in 2011 he showed that promise with the Red Sox and Mariners.  He is a power pitcher who should fit into the rotation and immediately become at minimum the #2 starter.  He averaged 8.7K per 9 IP and walked only 48.  After years of injury issues, Bedard seems to have found the form that many thought would make him the ace of Baltimores staff back in the early 2000's.  A very high-upside signing for the Bucs, and a trade chip for the deadline that could bring back a nice haul from a contender.

1B/3B Casey McGehee - Acquired from Milwaukee for Jose Veras, McGehee is coming off a down season in 2011.  He has major upside as a power bat and can play 1B, 3B and even catch in a pinch.  In 2010, McGehee hit .285/23/104 for the Brewers and was considered one of the major pieces to the puzzle for a team that was on the rise.  When the Brewers decided to sign Aramis Ramirez to play 3B this winter, McGehee was deemed expendable.  The Pirates swooped in and bought low, giving up only Veras in the deal.  This could be an insurance policy for Pedro Alvarez if he comes out of the shoot slow again in 2011.  Good move for the Bucs.


Various Minor Moves

The Pirates made a few signings and one more small trade.  They signed Utility Player Jake Fox to a minor league deal, as well as OF Brandon Boggs.  They signed C Jose Morales to another minor league deal.  All 3 players have ML experience and could provide depth on a roster that sorely lacks it.

The minor trade occurred on Dec 7, when the Bucs acquired INF Yamaico Navarro for 2 minor league players.  Navarro has a chance to make the club as a utility player in the mold of Pedro Ciriaco. 

INF Yamaico Navarro

While these moves do not signal a major commitment to 2012, they do show that the current leadership team is committed to surrounding their young talent of Walker/McCutchen/Tabata/Alvarez with solid major-league talent.  In a NL Central Division sans Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and possibly Ryan Braun, the Pirates have a chance to get out to another good start in 2012.

1B Derek Lee may still end up back in Pittsburgh, where he found his stroke again late this past summer.  If he does come back, the Pirates have a chance to go into Spring Training with every key position locked down on the position player roster.  The pitching staff will be open competition past Kevin Correia, Erik Bedard, Charlie Morton, and James McDonald.  The bullpen will have RP Even Meek back to offer 8th inning help in getting the ball to "The Hammer" Joel Hanrahan in the 9th.  RP Jason Grilli, Jeff Karstens, Danny Moskos, Chris LeRoux all look to be locks.  The Pirates will go out and invite a slew of RP to camp in hopes of finding a few good arms to round out that group.

Things are looking up in Buccoland, but patience will need to be a virtue for fans that are itching for a winner right now.  This team has a chance to make some noise, and it is up to Manager Clint Hurdle to bring them together and do just that.

Steel World Order has a new look for the Holidays!

We cleaned up the site, made it easier to read and added more functions to make it easier for our readers to follow the blog.  We also added new links to our sister sites in the ForeverPittsburgh Sports Network.  Look around, bookmark us, and make Steel World Order one of your daily stops.  We are going full on retard here with daily updates, contests, and more.  Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook by using the buttons on the sidebar.

Thank you all for the reads and the support over the past year!  As the ForeverPittsburgh Sports Network grows, we will be adding many more great sites, blogs, and social media options.  We love Pittsburgh, and we love our readers!

Happy Holidays and Thank you!

Jeff Snedden
Owner/CEO - ForeverPittsburgh Sports Network

Pitt Football is on life support, how to fix a dying program

The University of Pittsburgh football program has undergone many ups and downs over its 121-year history.  While the program has undergone many runs of sustained success, for the most part it has been an afterthought in the modern college football world.  Over the past 12 months, the program has hit maybe its lowest point since the brutal 1991-1996 run, culminating with the sledgehammer job that now-former head coach Todd Graham perpetrated over the course of the 2011 season.

With Graham gone, taking his "high-octane" brand of shitty football out to Arizona State, the Pitt football program is again at a crossroads.  Todd Graham may only be a footnote in the history of this program, but his blatant chop-job of coming and going has once again diluted the program and destroyed the significance of a position that was once considered among the elite in all of college football.  The unfortunate result is a FBS football program that is closer to becoming Temple than it is to becoming Penn State.

So what needs to happen to begin the slow climb back from stepping-stone program to legit national power?  We can start with the firing of Athletic Director Steve Pederson, a man who has done more damage to the value of Pitt Football in his two terms as AD than any other person ever associated with the school.  In his first tenure, Pederson successfully lobbied to rip college football from the campus setting it had enjoyed for 75 years.  He personally made the call to eliminate the logo, uniforms, and identity of the University sports programs, destroying a valuable commodity to re-brand the University as "Pittsburgh".   Once he was finished killing off the history of a once proud program, he ran away to become the Athletic Director at his alma mater.  Luckily for Nebraska, they realized the error of their way after only five years.  Under Pederson, Nebraska went from National power to afterthought in the highly competitive Big 12. 

For some reason, Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg decided to bring Pederson back to Oakland in 2007 to replace Jeff Long.  His handling of Dave Wannstedt created a wedge between the devoted fans and alumni and the University, and his failed hirings of both Mike Haywood and Todd Graham should be the final nail in the coffin of his career with the University of Pittsburgh.

Getting rid of Pederson would be a long-term solution.  There are many Athletic Directors out there at smaller schools who would jump at a chance to come to Pitt and restore the pride and history of the football program.

So what could a new Athletic Director do to get Pitt football back on track? 

1. Restore the original "Pitt" brand to its historic look.  Bring back the script logo, the royal blue and yellow colors, and the classic uniforms.  This would be a bold move that would instantly invigorate a program that needs an energy boost.  The identity of a university - for better of worse - is the look of its football team.  Pitt once had an identity, and its time to bring it back.

2.  Do whatever it takes to get football back on campus.  The decision to take Pitt football to Heinz Field may have been the worst call ever for this program.  Heinz Field is a great NFL stadium - one of the best in fact - but for college football it is sterile.  The stadium sits miles off the Oakland campus, and is very tough to get to for the bulk of Pitt's student population.  College football is meant to be played on-campus, its part of the mystique.  Finding a place to put a stadium would be a challenge, but the revenue it could bring to the University would offset the cost within a decade.  Pitt does not need a 100,000 seat monstrosity, but a nice 50k-60k seat stadium in the heart of campus would be the best case scenario for a program that sorely needs the support of its students on gameday. 

3.  Hire a coach that is dedicated to the city and the University of Pittsburgh.  Dave Wannstedt was the perfect guy for this program, but unfortunately he couldn't get the job done on Saturdays.  He could recruit, he could motivate, and he was a great ambassador for the city.  The new coach doesn't have to be a Pitt graduate, a Pittsburgh native, or even a guy who knows the area.  They just have to be dedicated to the program.  Pitt needs a coach that can spend the minimum 3-4 years it will take to recruit and build this team back into a powerhouse.  There are plenty of qualified coaches out there at non-BCS schools that would love a shot to rebuild a BCS program, especially one that is entering a new era as a member of the ACC. 

Pitt football is as close to irrelevant as it has ever been.  It will take bold moves to get this train back on the tracks.  This program has a multitude of fans, alumni, students, and boosters that are willing to support it if a real effort is made to re-connect them to the program.  The time is now for Pitt to start working towards the future by finding the right head coach.  The 2011 recruiting class is top-notch, with RB Rushel Shell and QB Chad Voytik both reaffirming their commitment to the program, and the Todd Graham situation has opened the eyes of many inside the University.  The road to respectability will be long and hard, but it is worth it.

Steelers vs. Browns: Naughty vs. Nice List

Steelers vs. Browns, TONIGHT

Before the Baltimore Ravens became Public Enemy #1, before the Cincinnati Bengals became a legit opponent, before the New England Patriots employed a pretty-boy QB named Brady, the Cleveland Browns were the most hated enemy of your Pittsburgh Steelers.

A decade of domination over the Brownies has turned what used to be a major rivalry into a twice-per-season extended practice for the Steelers.  The Browns are well into their 4th rebuilding phase since they returned to the NFL in 1999.  The Tim Couch era......the Kelly Holcomb era......the Jeff Garcia era......now the Colt McCoy era, all of the Browns well-laid plans to become a force in the brutal AFC North have been met with a thud.

The Browns arrive tonight at Heinz Field at 4-8, last place, nothing to lose.  The Steelers arrive home with a 9-3 record - a record that could easily become 13-3 by seasons end.  Without a Ravens loss mixed in, the Steelers would simply become the best 13-3 wild card team in NFL history.  The Steelers need to win out, and that includes two games against these Brownies, who would love nothing better than to throw a loss at the Steelers and cause a major shift in plans for Pittsburgh come the Playoffs.  The Steelers have had a bad habit this season of playing down to the competition, as seen against Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and most recently Kansas City.  In 2009, the Steelers visited Cleveland on another bitter cold Thursday night, thick in the AFC Playoff race.  That night, the Steelers never showed up.  They were beaten 9-6 by the Browns in a game that essentially ended the 2009 season for the team.  That CAN NOT and WILL NOT happen tonight.

So, thanks to a call to the North Pole by yours truly, I have procured a "Naughty and Nice" list for tonights game, courtesy of the big man himself, Santa Claus.  This is a list of Naughty things the Steelers need to look out for, and the Nice things the Steelers need to do to ensure the proper gifts are under the tree come Christmas.

The Naughty List

1.  Joshua Cribbs is NAUGHTY - the Browns have a habit of being naughty with their versatile KR/PR/WR/RB Joshua Cribbs.  The Steelers have - in the past - allowed Cribbs to impact games with long returns and big plays on special teams.  The Browns have  since employed Cribbs even deeper into their gameplan, using him as a WR and a RB at times.  Cribbs is by far the most talented player wearing Orange tonight, and the Steelers must isolate him and keep the ball out of his hands.  Cribbs is the only player the Browns have that could change the outcome of this game on his own.  Kick away from him, and do not allow him to get open downfield in the passing game. 

2.  Peyton Hillis is NAUGHTY - the "Madden Curse" has stolen 2011 from the bruising RB of the Browns.  Injuries, illnesses, and a subtle disagreement between player and franchise has turned him into a dangerous late season player.  He has fresh legs, and needs a few big games down the stretch to justify the contract he was signed to.  As if that wasn't enough motivation, Hillis is being pushed for carries by fellow RB Monterio Hardesty, and will be looking to lock down the RB1 slot for next season.  The Steelers need to avoid allowing Hillis to get in rhythm.  Expect the Steelers to get ahead early, forcing Colt McCoy to abandon the running game.  If the score stays close, Hillis could be a major factor.

3. Joe Haden is NAUGHTY - The Browns top defensive player is CB Joe Haden.  Haden is a top-level CB talent in his 2nd season out of Florida.  He is the main reason the Browns currently hold the #1 Pass Defense in the NFL.  Chances are he locks onto WR Mike Wallace and trys to take Wallace's big play ability out of the mix.  The Steelers will need thge other "Young Money" crew members to step up, including Antonio Brown and old faithful Hines Ward.  If Haden successfully covers Wallace all game, the Steelers will need to adjust on the fly and maybe even get TE Heath Miller more involved in the passing game.

The NICE List

1.  Hines Ward is NICE - Hines Ward has become a distant 4th WR for the Steelers behind the Wallace/Brown/Sanders threesome, and is chasing personal records at this point.  For Hines, the Browns offer an opportunity to relive his glory years against the team he has absolutely OWNED over his career.  Cleveland will be spending a great deal of energy trying to contain Wallace and Brown, leaving Hines to do what he does best - score TD's against the Brownies.  Tonight, expect Ward to turn back the hands of time and have the best game of his season.

2.  Ben Roethlisberger is NICE - It has seemed over the years that Big Ben has made it his mission to continue to remind Cleveland that they could have had #7 in orange and brown if they would have selected him in the 2004 Draft.  Instead, Cleveland drafted TE Kellen Winslow at #6, leaving the Steelers to scoop up their franchise QB at #11.  After 2 Lombardi Trophies, multiple Pro Bowl trips, and a record breaking career, Ben has done everything to secure his place as one of the all-time elite QB's in NFL history.  Ben always plays his heart out against the Browns, and tonight he will once again show why the Browns made the biggest mistake in their franchise history by passing him over in that long-forgotten draft.

3.  James Harrison is NAUGHTY, but NICE - #92 is on his way to another Pro Bowl season, and he just loves matching up against Cleveland LT Joe Thomas.  Harrison is the X Factor for the Steelers Defense against Colt McCoy, a QB who makes mistakes whenever he is pressured.  If Harrison gets past Thomas a few times early, and hits McCoy, expect the young QB to start rushing his throws.  The Steelers are back to ctor etheir turnover hawking ways in the last few weeks, and Ike, Troy & Co. will be out there waiting for those mistakes.  Expect Harrison to dominate tonight, and to be the deciding factor early in what should be a blowout for the Steelers.


Although the Browns do not represent nearly as much as they used to, the hatred between these teams is still palpable.  Intensity brings out the best in the Steelers, and on a night where the wind chill will be in the teens, expect the Steelers to flex their muscles and get to 10-3, heading into a long layoff before they go to San Francisco next Monday night for a Nationally televised game.  There can be no letdown here, and the Steelers know it.

Sorry Brownies, please enjoy your bus ride home.

Steelers 42, Browns 10

Aaron Smith goes on IR, could be the end for career Steeler

The Steelers today announced that DE Aaron Smith is headed to IR for 2011, ending his season and perhaps the career of one of their best all-time defensive stars.  

A career Pittsburgh Steeler, Smith was drafted out of Northern Colorado in 1999.  From 2000-2006, Smith played in every game for the Black and Gold.  He was the stalwart on a defense that led the franchise to 2 Super Bowl championships, and one of the certified leaders for the team both on and off the field.

In the community, Smith has been one of the most generous athletes to ever suit up in the Steel City.  His charity contributions are virtually unmatched, and rarely achieve any media attention.  

While he only played in one Pro Bowl, every fan of the Steelers knows the importance of Aaron Smith to this franchise, and his passion and hard-nosed play has made every one of us proud over his stellar career.  

Here's hoping that #91 can make it back from this setback, but the odds of a successful return at what will be age 36 are long.  Regardless of the outcome, Aaron Smith will always be remembered as a proud Steeler, and ever prouder Pittsburgher.

Is this the least impressive 4-2 team in Steelers history?

Coach Tomlin has his work cut out for him over the next month.

After disposing of the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars this past weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers sit in a familiar spot at 4-2.  The team is poised to make another run at an AFC North title, the first stop on the 7th Heaven Express.  Unfortunately for this team and its fans, the Steelers have yet to put together more than one complete game thus far in 2011.

The victory against Jacksonville was a tale of two very different football games.  In the first half, the Steelers looked as if they could do no wrong.  All facets of the offense were clicking, as RB Rashard Mendenhall led them out to a seemingly blowout worthy 17-3 halftime lead.  In past years, this team would have put the clamps down once they re-emerged from the depths of Heinz Field.  They would have maintained a feverish pace, scored a few key turnovers, and disposed of their Florida-based former division rivals by a 20 or 30 point margin.

Tennessee was the victim of the only true 100% performance by this team so far this season.  That 38-17 victory in Week 5 gave us all a false sense of security that our beloved Black and Gold was ready to roll through the "salad days" of the season en route to their usual back 8 dominance.  Usually, back to back home games against Tennessee and Jacksonville would be daunting, but with both former AFC Central squads dealing with issues of their own, this seemed to be the perfect time for the Steelers to get their act together prior to moving into big boy territory in Weeks 7-8.  A quick trip to Arizona could prove to be a roadblock, since the Steelers never seem to be able to fully get over that hump.  The lackluster 2nd half performance this past Sunday has now cast a shadow of doubt on whether this team can truly compete with the New England and Baltimore teams they will see Halloween week.

The key for the Steelers in the next portion of their schedule will be to once again regain their "60 Minute Men" swagger.  QB Ben Roethlisberger must find a way to get on key with his exceptional WR crew, after misfiring on 3 sure TD tosses this past Sunday.  RB Rashard Mendenhall looked like the same guy who rushed for 1200+ yards in 2010 this past week, but it will only take one more rough game before the "Issac Redman for President" calls become the norm once again on 93.7 "The Fan".  The vaunted LeBeau defense has finally found a way to stop the pass, leading the entire NFL in yards against through the air.  The turnovers are still just out of reach, which has made the unit seem very unreliable.  In reality, the unit has played as well as can be expected minus the Pro Bowl caliber losses of Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Brett Kiesel and James Harrison as various times this season.  Moving forward without #92 wreaking havoc is a monster loss for this team, but the Woodley/Timmons tandem at OLB may be the real future for the Steelers.  

The 2011 Steelers are a parallel to this blog post, all the potential in the world but lacking the ability to piece it all together and formulate a true victory.  Hopefully, what we have seen in 6 quarters of real Steelers football the past 2 weeks (minus the entire 2nd half of the Jacksonville game) will continue and the added element of returning starters on defense will jack up the turnover machine.  The #1 goal of this team should be to maximize the opportunities for Big Ben and the "Young Money" WR crew.  Opening up the running game for Mendenhall/Redman/Dwyer will give the talented RB stable a chance to average 100+ per game.  Matching up Emmanuel Sanders against nickel back sets will enable him to break free of mediocre coverage and maybe become the 5-hole hitter to Mike Wallace's "cleanup" spot.  Careful use of Hines Ward in the soft middle of the field could be a surefire method to picking up those troublesome 3 and 4s'/5's.  Heath Miller can continue to do what he does best, decoy the LB pass coverage into taking that one step in that will allow all of the aforementioned names to do what they can do, BURN down the field.  If Ben can hit them in stride, this offense could put up 30 points a game and this team will end up 12-4 and polishing off another home field playoff matchup come January.  

It needs to all come together....and FAST.  Arizona is a nice vacation spot, but for the Steelers it will be followed by the biggest 2 games Heinz Field will see during this regular season.  Considering that games with Kansas City, St. Louis, Cleveland (twice) and a Bengals team that is playing way over its head are the home stretch for 2011, a few true "team" games against the big boys could springboard the 2011 Steelers to another AFC North title.  Lets hope that they find that cohesive fire in the desert this weekend. 

Derrek Lee makes an impression in debut game with Bucs

New Pittsburgh Pirates 1st baseman Derrek Lee is making new fans all over PNC Park tonight.  First, he signed autographs before the game.  He followed that by depositing a souvenir into the left field corner seats in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game 1-1.

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek!

Ludwick and Lee: Too little, too late?

New Pirates 1st Baseman Derrek Lee

Once the dust settled on the MLB Trade Deadline yesterday, it was apparent that the Pittsburgh Pirates were hell-bent on being buyers in the market.  It was the right thing to do: for the players, for the fans, and for the franchise.

It may have been too little, too late.

The deals that Neal Huntington made were smart moves for a team in the position the Bucs are in.  They needed to add some power bats, without decimating a farm system that was rebuilt from the ground up over the past tree years.  With that in mind, the Pirates aimed high at first, kicking the tires on Hunter Pence, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Pena, and  BJ Upton.  Once it became apparent that none of those players were realistic goals for what the Pirates wanted to do, it became time to dive a little deeper into the pool.

While Pirates management was feeling out the "sellers", the Pirates players and coaches were heading into a hellish week of games on the road in Atlanta and Philadelphia.  The Pirates sat 1 game out of 1st Place last Sunday, and were on the verge of facing seven games against the likes of Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Vance Worley.  

The Pirates managed to split the four game series with Atlanta, but it cost them.  The Pirates and Braves played 29 innings in 4 games, and the Bucs were battered and beaten as they headed towards the weekend series against the top team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies.  It was obvious that the team was tired, emotionally drained from a series that played like an NLCS, and made them easy pickings for a team like Philly.  

Neal Huntington continued to play the "we are open to all options" card as the Pirates flew North on Thursday night.  Its safe to say that by this point, the Pirates knew they had no shot at any of the big name trade pieces.  With his club in peril, Huntington should have made a deal before the Phillies series.  It would have at least given the players a shot in the arm, and maybe gave them some extra motivation for the weekend, despite having drained their bullpen and bench during the Atlanta series.  Maybe the Bucs would have had the energy to salvage a game in the Philly series, instead of being swept out of town.  

Friday night, the Phillies hammered Charlie Morton for 7 runs in the 1st inning, en route to a blow-out 10-3 victory.  On Saturday, it was more of the same as the Bucs could not get to SP Cliff Lee, and the Phillies won 7-4.  On Sunday, the Pirates led 5-3 in the 8th when RP Jose Veras gave up a game-tying 2-run HR to Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez topped that with a walk-off double in the 10th to sink the Pirate Ship.

This was a defining series for the 2011 Pirates, and they failed to step up to the challenge.  They now find themselves 4 1/2 out in the NL Central behind the surging Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.

Too little, too late?

The Pirates will have their new "sluggers" in the lineup tonight as they embark on a 7-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.  Every game is a must win now, as the Pirates need to find a way to scrape back into this division race before their next major challenge.  The Pirates need to win both series this week, and to be honest - sweeps may be in order here.

Once they finish with San Diego on Sunday, the schedule is as follows:

@ Giants 8/8 - 8/10
@ Brewers 8/12 - 8/14

vs. Cardinals 8/15 - 8/17
vs. Reds 8/19 - 8/21
vs. Brewers 8/22 - 8/24


@ Cardinals 8/25 - 8/28


By August 28, we will know if the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates story will include a pennant chase.  Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick will help, no doubt.  Both guys have proven track records in NL Central play.  Will it be enough?  Can the pitching hold up?  Will the Pirates dip into the waiver wire trade market if they need to?


We welcome two new Buccos into the fold tonight.  Hopefully, it isn't too little, too late.

Trade Deadline virus has infected Pittsburgh sports fans. "Big Snedsy" has the cure.

MLB Trade Deadline fever, medically known as "Weneedthatguynowisitis", has infected the Pittsburgh sports scene.

Anyone who has listened to 93.7 The Fan or picked up a newspaper over the last week is possibly infected with this virus, which causes disillusions and crazy talk, not to mention rapid uncontrollable eye movement and possible anger fits.  It is recommended that you all read the Steel World Order Blog daily to counter-act the effects of this virus.

Reality.  Reality is not something that many people are living in right now in regards to this Pirates season.  We all feel like we are going to wake up one day and realize that Kevin Polcovich is playing SS for the Bucs.  We have nightmares about grabbing that Sunday paper and checking the standings, only to find the Pirates in their usual spot below the other five teams in the NL Central.  As each day goes by, we wipe the sleepy from our morning eyes to find out that yes........the Pirates are contenders.  Honest to goodness, way above .500, in a pennant race CONTENDERS.


So of course our imaginations run wild.  We dream of Carlos Beltran chasing down fly balls in front of the Clemente Wall, we wonder what Carlos Pena would look like driving HR after HR into the Riverwalk.  We remember back to the glory days of 1990, when the Bucs stunning trade for SP Zane Smith propelled them to their first postseason berth in a decade.  The fact that the trade ended up costing Pirates fans a chance to see Moises Alou develop his All-Star career in the Steel City isn't even a footnote in these parts.  Zane Smith pitched his ugly ass into our hearts that summer, and the Pirates were on their way to 3 consecutive division titles.


Now it is this teams turn to play the MLB Musical chairs game at the deadline.  Could Carlos Beltran REALLY end up in Black and Gold?  Could Carlos Pena REALLY be our 1st baseman in August and September?  Who would the Pirates have to send packing to obtain a player of this magnitude?  Its safe to sage that Real Deal Neil has his work cut out for him.  Pirates fans are back, en force, and won't take no for an answer.  This virus has its hooks in real good on the Tri-state area.


So far, we have heard that the Pirates went as far as to scout the Oakland A's over the past week.  Possible deals include the Bucs getting OF Josh Willingham, OF David DeJesus, or a multitude of proven RP to bolster the bullpen.  While it is debatable whether ANY of those players would be considered upgrades for this team, it does show that the Pirates are for real in their efforts to add to their surprising squad.  


I'm here to tell you that the Pittsburgh Pirates trade status should begin and end with one name.  A trade that would truly stamp the Bucs as "players" and give them an asset they would control for the next 2 years at minimum.  A player in the prime of his career, a player who excels at every facet of the game, a player who fits the mold of Pittsburgh star athlete with his hustle and work ethic.


That player is OF Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros. 


Pence is a rarity in these discussions.  He is under contract under 2014, with arbitration rights after 2012.  He fits in perfectly in RF for these Pirates, and would give them a versatile bat in the lineup either in front of or behind CF Andrew McCutchen.  Although he is an awkward athlete by todays standard, his baseball pedigree is as good as anyone not named Pujols.  Pence has excelled this season for a horrific Astros club, a lineup in which he is essentially alone as the true threat.  Under these conditions, he has hit .316/.361/.484 and drove in 61 RBI.  His 11 HR are right in line with his career numbers, as he is a 25 HR guy at best.  


Pence is a baseball player, plain and simple.  He does the things good players need to do in order to help the team.  He isn't looking to smash 50 HR or get himself into the All-Star game, he plays for the team.....and to WIN.  Hustle, work ethic, and pure heart are the main assets he brings to the table.


Hunter Pence belongs in Pittsburgh.  He is a blue-collar player who would immediately level the talent field in the NL Central race.


Neal Huntington would need to break out the big guns to acquire Pence, as the Astros are not looking to give him away.  Houston is in all-out rebuild mode moving forward, so they are looking to acquire top of the line prospects who are close to ready for the Majors.  What do the Piartes have in their piggy bank that could entice the Astros?


Any deal should start with P Brad Lincoln.  Lincoln has shown signs of finding his way at AAA, dominating during this season.  His lone spot start for the Pirates was solid, and he is now the odd man out barring injuries to the Pirates solid rotation.  Lincoln is ready to be a big league starter right now, and would fit into the Astros rotation from Day One.  

Houston is going to ask for a young, promising OF in any deal.  The Pirates have a few of those, as well as a glut in the minors.  Alex Presley, Jose Tabata, Gorkys Hernandez, Starling Marte.....those are the names that will be discussed.  Marte seems to be the guy everyone is talking about, but in a deal for Pence, the Pirates would have to bite the bullet and send include either Jose Tabata or Alex Presley.  


The deal would likely include another player from Houston, possibly a RP.  The Pirates would need to give Houston a list of prospects to chose from to close the deal.  Either another OF from the list above or one of the Pirates 2nd tier Minor League pitchers.  Jeff Locke, Rudy Owens - both would be in play here.  


If the deal were to get deeper, maybe including SP Wandy Rodriguez or SP Brett Myers, the Pirates would be able to give lesser talent in exchange for eating contract money.  The next level of Pirates prospects would come into play in that case:


OF Andrew Lambo
3B Josh Harrison
1B Matt Hague
OF John Bowker


Any of these players could end up going the other way in a deal with Houston.  


The Pirates have few "untouchables" but the ones they do are legit top-notch type prospects.  Guys like P Jameson Taillon, P Stetson Allie, P Luis Heredia, C Tony Sanchez are the next wave of Pirates stars and unless a team highly overvalued Sanchez, none of them would be discussed in any deal.


OK, so here is my advice to the Pirates.


Offer P Brad Lincoln, OF Starling Marte, OF Jose Tabata, and 3B Josh Harrison to the Houston Astros for OF Hunter Pence and SP Wandy Rodriguez.  Take on the contracts of both players.


Pence starts in RF immediately.  Rodriguez takes over the 5th spot in the rotation, giving us Maholm/Morton/Karstens/McDonald/Rodriguez/Correia battling it out for the 5 spots.  Loser goes to the bullpen as an effective long relief pitcher for the rest of the season.  


Make the run NOW, this is the season we see October baseball at PNC Park.


Do it today Neil.

 

The 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates: America's Summer Fling

The term "America's Sweethearts" is used far too much in professional sports.  "America's Team" is taken also, either by the Dallas Cowboys or the Steelers - depending on where you are from.

As the Pirates continue their all-out assault on all that is holy in Major League Baseball, the national media have not only taken notice - they are literally stalking the Buccos.  Once the season is over in October (or November, hopefully), the hype will die down.  The Pirates will either be finished with their rise from the grave or they will have succumbed to the pressure of the dog days of summer.  Either way, the Pirates will become a footnote.  Anything less than a World Series win, and the Pirates will take their place next to the 2010-11 Oklahoma City Thunder and the USA Womens World Cup Soccer Team as the underdog stories of summer 2011.

Until then - the lovefest has officially started.  America is having a sticky, dirty, summer fling with YOUR Buccos.  It started with a peck on the cheek in June, when the National networks and websites began to notice the Pirates were hovering around .500, and it went into full make out session recently with the Bucs sitting 7 games over .500 and a game up in the NL Central.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have gone as mainstream as Captain America, as trendy as Rebecca Black, a curiosity that even the novice baseball fan is watching the highlights to see.  Yes, from Sacramento to Salt Lake City, from Kalamazoo to Burlington, from New York to the great state of Florida.....its Bucco love 24/7.

The Pirates will become even more of a curiosity over the next 2 weeks.  After taking 2 in a row from the Reds at PNC Park, they look to finish off a series tomorrow that will likely eliminate the Reds from the NL Central mix for a few weeks and maybe the season.  Then its on to a 3-game weekend set against those hates St. Louis Cardinals in what could be considered a playoff series for both teams.  Sweep the Cardinals, and the Pirates will likely enter the last week of July at least 4-5 games up on the rest of the division.  Then its on to Philly and Atlanta.  The NL-best Phillies will be looking to avenge the series loss they sustained at PNC Park earlier this summer, this time at Citizens Bank Park - a launching pad compared to PNC Park.  The series with the Atlanta Braves will always be big, since the Braves are the team that pounded the nails into the coffin of Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992.  They have owned the Bucs since then, and it will take a major effort by this team to win a series in ATL.  That brings us to the trade deadline.

If the Pirates are within 3 games of the NL Central Divisional lead on July 31, they WILL make a deal to enhance this team.  As I stated in my article the other night (available in the achived section of steelworldorder.com), the next 14 days are the most important 14 days in the history of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball.  The Bucs spend 2 straight weeks playing the best of the best in the National League, and it ends with the trade deadline.  This is the real deal folks, a pennant race in Pittsburgh.

An open note to ESPN Magazine:  If the Pirates make the playoffs, the Steelers do their thing (win), and the Pens rebound from an injury-riddled season to win the Cup again I fully expect Pittsburgh to be the #1 Sports City in the next ranking!

SWO 4 Life!

Will the next 14 days define the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise?

After their victory today in Houston, your 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates sit exactly 1/2 game out of 1st Place in the NL Central.  For that reason, July 17 2011 is an important day.

The other reason?  Once pumpkin hour hits tonight, the Bucs and GM Neal "The Real Deal" Huntington will have 14 days to do whatever it takes to WIN this division and land in the NLDS.

That's right folks, WIN.  Not make .500, not "remain competitive" or its retard cousin "remain relevant".  These Pirates are in this to win this.  In the infamous words of Lou Brown in "Major League"  - "It's all coming together Charlie!".

The team has exceeded all expectations to this point, and Clint Hurdle has gone from a manager given a shot to reclaim his career in baseball purgatory, to a Manager of a team in a pennant race.  The fans have noticed, witness the 9 sell-outs at PNC Park this past month.  Notice the continued attendance figures over 25,000 for each and every home game.  The city has noticed.  Pirates gear is flying off the shelves everywhere in the tri-state area.  The Players are noticing it, excitement in the locker room is at an all time high.

Pittsburgh has become - ONCE AGAIN - a Baseball Town.  How about a history lesson for you newbies?

In 1969, Chuck Noll inherited a job as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The job he took had been recently laughed at by Joe Paterno, the man Art Rooney originally wanted.  In 1969, Noll inherited a roster that was full of nobodies - and Rocky Blier, Andy Russell, and Roy Jefferson.  Pittsburgh WAS NOT a football town.  It was a 110% Baseball town, and for good reason.

The Steelers were the laughingstock of professional sports until Noll took over.  His amazing drafting and talent evaluation created one of the most powerful sports dynasties in history.  He personally changed a baseball town into a football crazed city that lives on today 3 generations later.

Chuck Noll being hired as Steelers head coach was the crowning moment of that change.  

2011 is the crowning moment in the metamorphosis of Pittsburgh into a dominate professional sports town in both football and baseball.  The Pirates have arrived, set anchor on the North Side, and don't plan on leaving again for a looooong time.

Now, in the grand tradition of Art Rooney and Chuck Noll, Neal Huntington and Clint Hurdle stand at the doors of Steel City Immortality.  If these 2 men can bring the Pittsburgh Pirates to a playoff berth, they will have essentially dug up the corpse that was Pirates baseball, and played a "Frankenstein" like rebuild of the longest downtrodden franchise in professional sports.

The date of July 31 2011 will determine whether or not we are at that point.  Will the Pirates put their history behind them, and go all in for 2011?  Will Neal pull off a deal to secure the help this team needs to fend off the Brewers and Cardinals and Reds in the NL Central?  

Carlos Pena, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Aramis Ramirez......these are names that are out there amongst many.  All would fill a major hole in the Pirates lineup and all would bridge the gap between the Bucs and the talent of the other teams in the division.  Will the Pirates pull the trigger on a deal?  Will they pull the trigger on a variety of deals, perhaps boosting the bullpen or the bench as well?  Will they allow Paul Maholm to finish what he started in the Black and Gold?

Whatever happens over the next 14 days will define the Pittsburgh Pirates for decades to come.  In Baseball, you win when you CAN.  You play for tomorrow until tomorrow ARRIVES.

Tomorrow has arrived for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  

Just as in 1969, when the Pittsburgh Steelers were a sub-note in the annuals of Pittsburgh sports, just as Chuck Noll and Art Rooney turned that around and created a team that defined a city.  In 2011, the Pirates are staring down the barrel of THEIR 1969.  

The loyal fanbase of this franchise has lived these past 18 years with the team.  Will this be the year that we see Pittsburgh become more than a great "football town"?

14 days for the next 18 years.  

14 days for TODAY.

Let's Go Bucs!