It was worth staying up for. I picked the Pirates’ game against San Diego this past Friday night because I wanted to see the Buccos, plus the Fanjam concert featuring Chicago. I never expected the event to go into the wee hours of the morning, but that’s what happened. The game was delayed two hours by rain, with the first pitching coming at 9:10. What followed was a three and a half hour marathon that ended after 12:30. Chicago didn’t hit the stage until a few minutes after 1 and played until 2 AM. What a game and what a show. I got home in the middle of the night. Yea, it was worth it.
· Gregory Polanco came off the bench in the Friday thriller to hit a three run pitch hit homer in the seventh that landed in the Allegheny River. It was a monster shot, and just what the Pirates needed. Polanco had only hit nine homers prior to this. I’ve said all along that anything less than 25-30 homers out of Polanco is a disappointment. Given his big body, the fact that he’s left handed and plays in lefty friendly PNC Park, Polanco should put up big numbers. In fact, he needs to if the Pirates are going to win.
· Sean Rodriguez sure knows how to come back home. After being reacquired by the Bucs over the weekend, Sean Rod won the Sunday game vs the Padres with a game winning homer in the 12th. It came after the usually reliable Felipe Rivero blew a ninth inning save. It gave the Pirates a much needed series win. Rodriguez had a heck of a year for the Pirates in 2016 before signing with Atlanta as a free agent in the offseason. He gives the Pirates much needed depth, and is a guy who can play nearly everywhere for the Buccos. Good acquisition by Neal Huntington.
· It was a chamber of commerce day in Latrobe on Saturday for Steelers’ practice at St. Vincent. Temperatures were in the low 70s as the Steelers went through a spirited workout. The team focused on red zone drills for most of the day, giving fans a chance to watch Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers put on a show. It was impressive.
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· Big Ben is a very vocal leader in camp. He communicates with his receivers after nearly every drill. He’s really like a coach on the field. It was fun to watch. Roethlisberger also looks thinner than in past years. I expect him to have a big year for the Black and Gold.
· Antonio Brown is always the showman. He made play after play during the Saturday practice, and played to the crowd after each one. All practice long you heard chants of “AB” from the thousands fans surrounding the practice field. Brown is being paid big money under his new contract. He doesn’t look like a guy who is going to rest on his laurels.
· Rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster looks like the real deal. The second rounder from USC was really impressive during redzone drills. You can see why the Steelers took him so high in the draft.
· JuJu got a lot of personal attention on the field from former Steelers’ great Hines Ward, who is in camp as a coaching intern. That’s a pretty good guy to have around to help the young wide receivers. Ward seems to have taken a real interest in JuJu. He gave him personal instruction after every play. Ward even looked like a guy who has been coaching for a long time. Great move by the Steelers having their former great in camp to help their talented young receivers.
· Mike Tomlin got a much deserved contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2020. It’s not a surprise, because that’s how the Steelers operate. Now it’s up to Tomlin to get the Steelers to a third Super Bowl under his direction. Tomlin has had a great career in Pittsburgh already. If he can lead the Steelers to another championship he may very well be on his way to Canton. The coach spent part of Saturday’s practice talking with veteran referee Gene Steratore, who was one of several officials on hand.
· Count me among those who can’t understand why Martavis Bryant can’t practice with the Steelers. After being suspended all last season, Bryant is in camp with the Steelers but isn’t allowed to actually put on the pads with his teammates. The Steelers seem frustrated by the fact he hasn’t been fully reinstated. The NFL isn’t saying anything. Before observing practice, our group heard a talk from Jim Rooney. Mr. Rooney, son of the late Dan Rooney, said the team can’t even ask the NFL about when Bryant will be reinstatement. The Steelers have to wait, just like everyone else involved.
