The Pirates have stunk it up since the All Star Break. They’re a pathetic 2-7 and have lost three straight series. The Pirates are not a contender, that’s pretty obvious. I’ve even written that for weeks. Yes, the Pirates have had injuries, a ton of them. That said, this team just isn’t that good. They’ll be lucky to get close to finishing 500 this year.
• Neal Huntington was evasive when asked about what he might do with the trade deadline just days away. He has talked about trying to add to his club for some time. The past few weeks should change that. The Pirates are going nowhere and are best served trying to deal some players and look toward the future.
• Huntington says he looks forward to having All Star close Felipe Vasquez close for the Pirates the next time the Bucs are in the playoffs. That could be a long time, so if I’m the Pirates’ GM I would seriously consider dealing Vasquez if a team like the Dodgers is willing to surrender a few of their top prospects. Vasquez is worth the huge haul. If a team won’t pay that price the Pirates can control their closer for at least four more years. They hold all the cards.
• It was nice to see many of the World Champion 1979 Pirates at PNC Park Saturday night for the team’s 40th anniversary reunion. It was brutally hot and humid at the ballpark, and there were thousands of Phillies’ fans on hand as well. Still, it was fun to see the old guys. I was at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium for Game Seven in 1979 when the Bucs came from a three games to one deficit to beat the heavily favored Orioles. I never thought the Pirates would go more than four decades before they would even get to another World Series. Here’s to the 79 Buccos, The Family, a team for the ages!
• Dave Parker was a star on that 79 team. The Cobra was one of the best players in baseball for several years but has never gotten close to making it to Cooperstown. Many on hand at PNC Park say it’s time for Parker to finally get the call to the hall. His only hope at this point is through the Veteran’s Committee vote. Parker’s numbers certainly stack up with other Hall of Famers. I think he’s a worthy candidate, just like another former Pirate, Al Oliver.
• The Steelers report to training camp this week. There will be no more entrances by Antonio Brown in a helicopter or limo. Brown will be missed on the field, but the Steelers won’t his other antics. I think this will be one of the more interesting camps in the past several years. I’m anxious to see how the new guys on defense, especially first-round pick Devin Bush, show in camp. The Steelers have to be better on defense if they’re going to make the playoffs again. Look for big crowds in Latrobe. It’s hard to believe football season is right around the corner.
• Northern Ireland was hoping that native son Rory McElroy would win the British Open when it returned after many decades. McElroy didn’t even make the cut, to the dismay of many. Instead, Shane Lowry picked up his country on his back and won golf’s final major. You couldn’t have scripted a better and more emotional story. Lowry was terrific at Royal Portrush, despite playing in heavy rain and winds on Sunday. I love watching links golf. I’m hoping to go to St. Andrews two years from now for the 150th Open Championship.
• I just don’t understand who makes the news decisions on ESPN’s Sportscenter. On Friday’s telecast the network didn’t even lead with the British Open. It was the second or third story on the show and the only golfer featured was Tiger Woods, who once again didn’t even make the cut. ESPN didn’t even show highlights of the leaders until more than a half hour into the show. It’s the same way on ESPN’s website. It’s all Tiger, all the time. Woods won the Masters, which I still find hard to believe, but he’s not the player he once was. Yes, he will always be a story when he tees it up, but he shouldn’t be the only story. Someone needs to mention that to the geniuses at ESPN.
