It’s tough to figure out these Pirates. They are the majors’ streakiest team. The Buccos had won five straight before losing their series finale at home to the Giants on Sunday. We’re nearly a quarter of the way into the season and this Pirates’ team has overachieved. General Manager Neal Huntington, speaking on his Sunday radio show, says the organization believed all along this team could contend. I’m not drinking that Kool Aid, but I will say that when the Pirates are on they aren’t bad. I doubt they’ll stay that way all season, but it’s been enjoyable watching the Buccos in April and May.
• It was great to see Andrew McCutchen back in Pittsburgh, even if he was there as a member of the San Francisco Giants. Equally great was seeing the reaction he got from Pirates’ fans. It was most likely the feel good moments of the year for this team. Cutch may no longer be a Pirate, but in the minds of fans of the Black and Gold he will forever be a Bucco.
• I wrote a long time ago that I didn’t think the Pens would win a third straight Stanley Cup. It’s just too hard to do in the salary cap era. It’s no crime that the Pens didn’t make it out of the second round. They had a great run, but weren’t good enough to beat the Capitals. I do believe the Pens could have beaten Washington, but they didn’t get the goaltending they needed from Matt Murray and failed to get scoring they needed from guys other than Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. The Pens had a good year, just not a great year.
• Phil Kessel and Derick Brassard were brutal against the Capitals. Each scored only one goal in the entire playoffs, and had no points against Washington. It was obvious that each player was hurt. Kessel didn’t seem to have much on his shot, and was even reluctant to shoot. Brassard, who was a major disappointment since coming over in the blockbuster trade from Ottawa, never got going as a Penguin. Some have speculated that Brassard could be dealt. I’m not buying that. I expect him to return and have a big year for the Pens.
• The future is still bright for the Pens, and the window is not closed on this team when it comes to winning another Stanley Cup or two. When you have players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company you will be in most games. Still, there’s no doubt that Jim Rutherford will make moves, probably not major, but moves that will re-shape the 2008-2019 Penguins. Some people and media are wondering if Rutherford will trade away Kris Letang and Phil Kessel. I’d be really surprised if that happened. But, you never know. All it takes is one team willing to take on their big salaries.
• Now that the Penguins are out of the playoffs, the Vegas Golden Knights are the favorite of most Pens’ fans, plus most of the hockey world. If they were to win the Stanley Cup, it would go down as the most improbably story in the history of sports. I’d love to see Marc Andre Fleury lead Vegas to the Cup. I would also be quite happy if Winnipeg wins it all. They’re coached by Paul Maurice, who was the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes during my time in the team’s front office. Maurice is one of the great guys in sports. Both of these guys are good at what they do and class acts. Hopefully one will lift the Cup in June.
• You don’t really learn much about players at football mini camps. There’s no hitting and the veterans aren’t around. Still, from what observers noted from the Steelers’ mini camp, quarterback Mason Rudolph is a special talent. Both media and his fellow rookies had a lot of good things to say about the third round pick, who could eventually take over for Ben Roethlisberger. Rudolph, for his part, said all the right things when interviewed. I’m looking forward to watching this kid. He could end up being the steal of the draft, even if he won’t play for a few more years.
• I still don’t think Tiger Woods will ever catch Jack Nicklaus for most major wins, and may not even win another major in his career. Yet when I watched Woods at the TPC over the weekend it reminded me of the Tiger we saw during a period when he simply dominated the sport. Tiger was pretty darn good, which is good for Tiger and for golf fans. We know he’s now focused on Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament, followed by the U.S. Open and British Open. I doubt he’ll contend at either major, but if he plays like he did at TPC, he could make it interesting.