PIRATES MISS OPPORTUNITY

The Pirates sure laid an egg over the weekend. They had a chance to continue their magical season to date. Instead, they ended up losing three straight to the lowly San Diego Padres and lost a series at home that they should have won easily. Go figure. It just goes to show you what can happen in baseball. One minute you’re on top, the next you lose to one of the worst teams in baseball.
• I took in my first game of the year on Saturday night. It ended up being a glorious night for baseball in Pittsburgh. I figured it would be a packaged house, given the weather and the bobblehead giveaway. Instead, only twenty thousand fans showed up, which was surprising and disappointing. The Pirates have not drawn well this year. Part of it has to be due to the bad weather in April and May. But it’s also apparent that Pirates’ fans are either still upset with owner Bob Nutting, or they’re just not interested in the 2019 Pirates.
• There’s been a lot of speculation with the Penguins’ season over so soon that the team will make some major trades. Jim Rutherford has already said that changes are coming. Yet to hear some media reports you’d think the Pens’ GM is almost ready to blow up the team that has won the last two Stanley Cups. Several reports this past week have speculated that the Pen will try to trade Phil Kessel, Kris Letang and perhaps Derick Brassard. If Wayne Gretzky can get traded, I supposed anyone can be dealt. That said, I’d be surprised if any of these three players aren’t back in Pittsburgh next year. Kessel and Letang aren’t kids and have big salaries. I just don’t see anyone making an offer to Rutherford that would cause him to deal these two. Brassard had a bad first year with the Pens, but I just don’t think Rutherford will deal him after one season. Then again, I’ve been wrong many times before.
• One interesting rumor going around the NHL has Islanders’ star John Tavares coming to Pittsburgh. I’ll believe that one when I see it. Unless they clear tons of salary through trades, the Pens don’t have the salary cap room to it happen. I don’t understand why reporters even put out this kind of garbage. It’s never going to happen.
• The Vegas Golden Knights are the story of the year in sports, and are now four games away from winning the Stanley Cup in their first year of existence. If they go on to win the Cup I would say it’s the greatest story in the history of North American team sports. There’s no question fans in this area are pulling for Vegas. I’m guessing most hockey fans around the world are too.
• Is former Pens’ goaltender Marc Andre Fleury a future Hall of Famer? As a starter in Pittsburgh, The Flower led the Pens to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, winning one and losing one. After losing his job to Matt Murray due to injury, he was a key contributor as a backup when the Pens won their recent back to back titles. What he’s done in Vegas has made people take note. If Fleury wins a Cup with the Golden Knights I believe he will be a lock for the Hall of Fame. Even if he doesn’t, I think he will eventually get in. That would make a lot of people around here very happy.
• I don’t gamble, so I’m no expert on the ins and outs of gambling. What I do know is that now that many states will legalize sports gambling things are about to change in a big way. If pro leagues get their cut the money changing hands could be astronomical. And if that were to happen, you know the players will want their cut. It’s going to be interesting to see what will happen, both good and bad.
• RIP Billy Cannon. I was lucky enough to know LSU’s college football legend during my sportscasting days in Baton Rouge. Billy was larger than live in Louisiana. He was also a great storyteller. I’m glad I got to know him. He will be missed.