Now that’s more like it. The Pirates swept the Padres over the weekend, and in doing so gave hope to a fan base that still thinks this club isn’t very good. All three games were worth the price of admission. Sunday’s finale, however, was the best of the bunch as the Pirates rallied in the ninth and again in extra innings for the victory. It was some pretty good baseball by this battered bunch of Buccos. Wouldn’t it be great if it continues all summer?
• The Pirates don’t have much time to celebrate the weekend victories. They’re now off to Houston and Atlanta. It won’t be an easy trip. The Pirates simply don’t have the talent that these two teams possess. They’re also not the greatest road team. A great trip would do a lot for the Pirates. I just don’t expect that to happen against these two teams.
• Sure sounds like the Pirates could be active at or before the trade deadline. It appears to me that as the team continues to fall out of the race that teams will ask about some of the Pirates’ top players. If I was a team looking to improve I would do the same thing. And if I’m the Pirates I would look to make deals if the return is worth it. It’s interesting how the name of Felipe Vasquez keeps being mentioned. That tells me he is already in play. The next few weeks are going to be interesting.
• It was nice to see the Pirates hold on to their first round draft pick in the NHL Draft. It’s about time. I completely understand that the Pens are in a win now mode with stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. That’s why they’ve made so many trades and have given up their top selections over the past few seasons. That said, the time has come for the organization to re-stock the farm system. The Pens simply don’t have the talent in the pipeline they will need in the coming years. And when Crosby and Malkin are gone we could be looking at some very lean years for the Penguins. Their stars will have moved on and they won’t have the young talent to replace them.
• It will take a few years to know if the players picked over the weekend will help the Pens. Many just aren’t physically ready to play in the NHL. Some take years to develop. Others just don’t ever make it for one reason or another. Going forward the Pens need to continue to hold on to their draft picks if they are ever going to contend years from now.
• Jim Rutherford did not make any player trades at the draft, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make some moves before the summer is over. I still think he’ll try to deal Phil Kessel. I don’t think he’ll move Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang, and Rutherford pretty much said as much at the draft. The Pens are still a good team with the players they currently have. But changes are coming, and I’m anxious to see if they will be small or major.
• The Le’Veon Bell stories just keep getting better. When Bell called authorities to report he had over a half a million dollars of jewelry and money stolen from him he also told authorities that the two women who took his things were naked and in his bed when he left. You can’t make this stuff up. Bell may be a great football player, but he’s not exactly a Mensa off the field. He does make for great entertainment, however. Wait until he gets to New York. The stories should get even better.
• Is Major League Baseball serious? They’re actually on board with a possible plan to have the Tampa Bay Rays play games in Tampa and also Montreal in the future. Furthermore, to make it happen both cities would have to build new stadiums. Tampa has tried for years to get a new ballpark and has struck out each time. Montreal would love a team and deserves one. The Expos were a national treasure in Canada. MLB would very much like to see them return, and so would I. But not under this arrangement. It just doesn’t make any sense.
