PIRATES CURRENTLY A GREAT STORY, CONTENDER OR NOT

I never expected to be writing about the red hot Pirates entering the All Star Break. Suddenly the Buccos are on fire, having won six in a row, including a five-game sweep of Milwaukee. The win also puts the Pirates just one game below five hundred. The Pirates have been streaky all year long. They’re hard to figure out. They went seven and one on the homestand against the Nationals and Brew Crew. While all of this is great for the Pirates and their fans, I still don’t think the Pirates are a very good team. They’re not a contender and will probably be out of the race long before we get to September. But heading into the All Star Break, the Pirates are a great story.
• Neal Huntington was noncommittal on his Sunday radio show when asked about making deals at the upcoming trade deadline. I still believe the Pirates should move guys that don’t figure into their long-range plans and whose contracts are about to expire. Go with the young kids and start the rebuilding process now. With Francisco Cervelli out with another concussion, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be much in demand. Others, however, could be attractive for contending teams. I wouldn’t give up prospects for rental players if I’m Huntington. The Pirates aren’t a contender. The best thing they can do is hold on to the guys they think can help them and see if they can add to their system by trading away the players who don’t have a future in Pittsburgh.
• Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic the team will work out a new long-term deal with running back Le’Veon Bell by Monday’s 4 PM deadline. I’ll believe it when I see it. The two parties have tried to make a deal for two years and still haven’t done so. Bell has this inflated opinion of himself and his value. The Steelers also have a pretty good history of knowing what to pay and what not to pay. I do think the Steelers are a much better team with Bell and will be if they sign him. But, if they can’t reach an agreement, and I’m betting they won’t, the Steelers will be just fine.
• I used to love the Baseball All Star Game. I’ve been to eight over the years, including the last three in Pittsburgh. These days the game just doesn’t get me that excited. Maybe I’m getting old because I still remember my first All Star Game in 1974 at the old Three Rivers Stadium. There were so many future Hall of Famers in that game that it spoiled me. They just don’t make them like that anymore.
• It’s hard to believe the Steelers report for training camp in a matter of days. That’s almost like a holiday around these parts. The Steelers and Latrobe just seem to go together, and as long as the Rooney family is in charge that will never change. I look forward to taking in a practice before the summer is over.
• The Pens’ signing of defenseman Jamie Oleksiak will probably be the last move we’ll see the team make until the regular season gets here. It’s been a pretty good offseason for the Pens. Jim Rutherford has made several moves that on paper make the Pens better. The team will also benefit from having a long offseason after looking like they were running on fumes late in the playoffs.
• It’s also been a pretty good offseason for former Pens goaltender Marc Andre Fleury. The Flower just signed a new three year deal to keep him in hockey-crazy Las Vegas. Good for him. Fleury was brilliant this past season in leading the Golden Knights to the Cup Finals. The now certain future Hall of Famer has to be loving life these days.
• Tennis isn’t the popular sport it once was, but the finals at Wimbledon are still fun to watch. I was hoping to see Roger Federer win another major, but he didn’t make it to the finals. I’ve always wanted to go to Wimbledon, and will try to do so in the summer of 2025.
• I didn’t watch any of the World Cup until the final on Sunday. I know soccer is incredibly popular all over the world, but it just doesn’t do much for me at all. It still hasn’t caught on here like many predicted it would decades ago, and I doubt it ever will.
• Good for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for pretty much ignoring Terrell Owens at the upcoming induction ceremonies. Since Owens has decided he won’t show up, the Hall will move on without him. I still find it hard to believe even a head case like Owens would pull such a stunt, but that’s what he’s going to do. I just hope he never shows his face in Canton for good.